PITTSBURGH -- The lead-up to Tuesday night's game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers centered on a marquee matchup of star players.

In the end -- which came 42 seconds into overtime -- it wasn't Pittsburgh standout Sidney Crosby or Edmonton's Connor McDavid who played the hero. Two other players with their own star power combined to give the Penguins a 2-1 win at PPG Paints Arena.

Shaking off a tying goal by McDavid late in regulation, the Penguins turned to Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel, who sped their way into a two-on-one. Kessel took a pass from Malkin and beat Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot inside the right post for the winner.

"Just try to catch up to (Malkin) and get open. He found me and it was fortunate to get in," said Kessel, whose winner was his 299th career goal and his third of the season, but just his second in eight games.

Ian Cole scored in the third period for Pittsburgh (6-3-1) and McDavid tied it with 2:53 left in regulation for Edmonton (2-6-0).

Most of the game was dominated by the goaltending rather than the anticipated work of team captains Crosby and McDavid.

Matt Murray stopped 29 shots for the Penguins. Cam Talbot made 42 saves for Edmonton.

It was only the third head-to-head meeting between Crosby and McDavid because of injuries and limited games between the clubs from opposite conferences.

Crosby has no points in the games, and McDavid has two goals and three assists, but Pittsburgh has won all three.

Crosby and McDavid each had five shots Tuesday.

"We both had some chances," Crosby said. "I wouldn't say it's crazy competitive. We don't play each other that much. We're both trying to create chances and prevent them the other way."

The Penguins are 11-0-3 in the past 14 meetings, the longest point streak for either team in the history of their series.

The Crosby and McDavid lines were matched regularly, but through two periods Talbot and Murray were the driving forces as Pittsburgh took a 26-21 lead in shots.

Early in the second, Malkin and Kessel played give-and-go on a two-on-one before Talbot made a left toe save on Kessel.

Later in the second, with Edmonton on a power play, Murray reached behind his back to make a slick stick save on a shot by Mark Letestu.

"I'm going to make that same shot 100 times," Letestu said. "You have to, sometimes, give the goalie credit for the desperation there. He comes up with a big save, but we had a lot of chances around the net where we need some finish.

"Tonight, there were opportunities for it and we didn't get it done."

On the same scramble, Pittsburgh winger Bryan Rust rejected a shot and defenseman Brian Dumoulin blocked a shot by McDavid from short range.

"We had four guys playing goalie back there and making some saves, too," Murray said. "(Dumoulin) made an unbelievable block with an open net on the far side.

"I'm really proud of how we performed."

Edmonton, meanwhile, is struggling to score and to win. The Oilers have 15 goals in eight games.

"We just have to relax. Just calm down," said McDavid, whose goal was his and fourth and increased his team-leading point total to nine. "I mean, we're getting these chances in front of the net that should be automatic and we're not scoring them. Myself included.

"So we have to get better in that area. (Talbot) is standing on his head. Our defense, they're playing great. The forwards, we have to be better."

It was a defenseman scoring his first goal of the season that broke the ice.

Cole scored on Pittsburgh's 32nd shot, at 3:24 of the third. He threaded a shot from the right edge of the high slot around a crowd and over the blocker of Talbot.

Ryan Reaves, who earlier ignited the crowd by fighting the Oilers' Darnell Nurse, and Riley Sheahan in his first game with Pittsburgh after being acquired Saturday in a trade with Detroit, picked up the assists.

McDavid tied it 1-1 at 17:07 of the third when he lofted a shot from the left dot over the glove of Murray.

"You never want to give up anything late like that, but we found a way to get the victory, and that's all that counts," Kessel said.

NOTES: Pittsburgh D Justin Schultz left late in the first period after taking a hit up high. He is in the concussion protocol, coach Mike Sullivan said. ... Pittsburgh C Carter Rowney, who left Saturday's game after getting hit with the puck, has a broken hand and is out at least four weeks, Sullivan said. ... Pittsburgh lost G Antti Niemi, who was claimed by Florida. The Penguins placed Niemi on waivers Monday. ... Penguins G Casey DeSmith, recalled Monday from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, was G Matt Murray's backup, the first time he dressed for a NHL game. ... Edmonton C Leon Draisaitl (four games, eye/concussion) was activated from IR and played after missing four games. ... Edmonton LW Drake Caggiula (undisclosed injury) was activated from IR and played after missing five games.