The Pittsburgh Penguins picked up a 4-1 road win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
Pittsburgh entered the game without its top two defenseman, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson, due to injuries. Despite missing the team’s best two defenseman, the Penguins played well defensively in the win, which head coach Dan Muse was pleased with.
“I thought they did a good job,” Muse said postgame on Wednesday about the team’s defense. “I think as a team, I didn’t like our second period. But I thought that group, they were working. They were working to get back, they were working to do the right things, reading off of each other, working off of each other as well.
“We’ve said it before, there’s times when guys aren’t available due to injury or whatever it might be, it’s an opportunity for guys to maybe take a little bit more or to be a new situation, and show that you can do it if called on. I thought overall, it was good tonight.”
Pittsburgh played sound in front of goalie Stuart Skinner, who stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced. Skinner was also impressed with the team’s blue line despite the key injuries.
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“I saw a lot of composure,” Skinner said postgame. “Really simple plays. We were able to make some really good passes, just to get in the O-zone. So huge credit to the D in front of me, the blocked shots, the sacrifices in front of me – I mean, all around really solid game by the guys in front.”
With the win, the Penguins improved to 24-14-11 and are now in second place in the Metro division. Pittsburgh will return to the ice on Thursday for the second-half of a back-to-back against the Edmonton Oilers.
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