Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust nearly scored off the rush on the first shift of the game, but clanged the post.
The ping of Rust’s shot echoed through the nearly sold-out arena. It was not a bad omen, but of harbinger of good things to come as the Penguins (17-12-9) submitted one of their most impressive performances of the season, beating the first-place Carolina Hurricanes (24-12-3) 5-1 at PPG Paints Arena.
By the third period, the Penguins were dominating, and the Penguins’ towering wingers on the second line, Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha, continued filling the net.
The Penguins not only held a commanding 3-0 lead after the first period, but they also submitted a commanding performance against their division rival and tormentor. The Penguins lit up the scoreboard and kept pressure on Carolina for most of the first.
The Penguins’ hard work in the low zone created the first goal as Rickard Rakell tapped a pass across the crease to Sidney Crosby at the edge of the right circle. Crosby (21) drilled a one-timer past Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen at 3:46 for a 1-0 lead.
Later in the period, Brett Kulak’s stretch pass sprung Brazeau for a breakaway. Carolina defenseman K’Andre Miller pulled down Brazeau (12), but the fallen winger still chipped a backhand past Andersen at 16:07 for a 2-0 lead.
Then the Penguins struck again quickly.
Mantha (13) cleaned a rebound from the top of the crease for a power play goal just 1:05 after Brazeau’s tally for a 3-0 Penguins lead at 17:12.
The second period was largely treading water, but the Penguins still had the better play and chances.
Penguins second-line center Tommy Novak earned a holiday treat for some stellar play throughout the game. Later in the second period, Novak (7) whipped a 50-foot wrist shot through traffic and past Andersen for a 4-0 lead at 15:08.
Exactly three minutes later, Mantha and Brazeau worked a cross-ice giveaway that ended with Mantha (14) deflecting a surgical pass from Brazeau at 18:08.
However, the Penguins took a breath following Mantha’s tally and the 5-0 lead, as former Penguins forward Mark Jankowski had a clean rip on a two-on-one just 17 seconds later. Jankowski (2) punctured Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner’s perfect night with a high wrister at 18:25.
Skinner stopped 27 of 28 shots. Andersen was less fortunate, grabbing 22 of 27.
Penguins Notes
Mantha has goals in three straight games.
Brazeau has four goals in his last two games and six markers in his last eight.
Rust and defenseman Erik Karlsson had two assists and were among the five Penguins, including Brazeau (1-1-2), Novak (1-1-2), and Mantha (2-0-0), who had two points.
Kulak’s assist on Brazeau’s breakaway goal was the 100th assist of his career.
Tags: anthony mantha Carolina Hurricanes justin brazeau Penguins game Pittsburgh Penguins
Categorized: Penguins Postgame