It’s a new look lineup for the Penguins in many ways with players shuttling in and out due to injuries.
The Devils roll out with the following groups, with interestingly enough 1B/backup goalie Jake Allen getting the call in net.
Seconds into the game for reasons only known to him, Connor Timmins makes one of the dumbest pinch attempts at the blueline that you will ever see. If you can even see it, being as he takes himself so far out of the play. The Devils jump out the other way and Erik Haula is haulin’ serious ass up the ice. He beats Jarry on the first shot, but what can ya do as a goalie on this?
Pittsburgh is on the ropes early, Kevin Hayes has to take the first penalty of the game to try and slow New Jersey down. The Devils get zone time but the Pens escape the power play. They don’t get out completely though, seconds after the penalty expires Cody Glass’s shot clicks off Ondrej Palat and jumps into the net. 2-0 NJD.
Jarry makes a big save a little later to keep it at 2-0. Evgeni Malkin gets taken down and the Penguins get their first power play. It’s not that great but seconds after it ends they also get a goal. Malkin jams the puck over Allen’s leg, Luke Hughes can’t rescue it from danger and pretty much drags it into his own net. Very strange there. 2-1.
All things considered, the Penguins are probably lucky to only be one shot away from tying the game after 20 minutes. Not a great period for them.
The Pens get another power play early and this time they score four seconds into it. Malkin unleashes a big shot, the rebound bounces off of Valtteri Puustinen and into the net. 2-2 game. Fortunate bounce, second one of the game that Malkin’s been involved in. Funny how the best players always tend to make the best luck too, isn’t it?
Matt Grzlecyk takes a Devil down, so NJ gets back to a power play of their own. Pittsburgh kills it off.
Timmins’ no good night continues with a tripping penalty of his own once the puck and player got behind him but his teammates rise to the occasion again with another successful PK.
Bryan Rust gets his stick slashed out of his hands in the last sequence of play to send Pittsburgh to a power play at the start of the third period.
Despite the early goal, nothing in the last almost 19 minutes of the second. Tie 2-2 game.
The Pens don’t score on the power play. Malkin nearly banks a puck in off the back of the goalie from behind the goal line but for once it doesn’t go his way.
Cody Glass high-sticked his former teammate and the Pens got another power play. Bryan Rust worked the puck down to Sidney Crosby on one knee at the front of the net and you already know the ending. 3-2 Pens.
Rust and Crosby combined to salt the game away with an empty netter, this time via a slick pass from the captain to set Rust up for the open look. 4-2.
The Pens get back at it with a home afternoon game on Sunday against the Bruins.