PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The power play went 0 for 4 and despite coming back to tie it in the third at 2. A late goal by Tom Wilson on the power play and a couple of empty netters made the final 5-2.
Man disadvantage
“I just think we passed up opportunities to shoot the puck,” Sullivan said of a scoreless power play. “We had a significant amount of zone time and it didn’t translate into as many plays at the net as we could have. I think if we had opportunities to put the puck in the net a little bit more. We could have generated more.”
“I think we just have to keep moving and shooting the puck,” said forward Jake Guentzel. “And just crashing to the net. Maybe we got a little stagnant at times. We have to get one there and I think it changes the game.”
“It’s not the work ethic. I think maybe sometimes we are looking to pass it in the net instead of just throwing it at the net and breaking down the coverage. Trying to get one that way.”
Wilson!
Not only did Tom Wilson get the game winning goal, he laid another big hit on a Penguin. This time he knocked Mark Jankowski out for a few minutes as he was attempting to head for a change. Jankowski would return to the game.
It easily could have been called a major penalty, but only two minutes for interference.
“It doesn’t matter,” Sullivan said. “The referees are going to make the calls. They are going to call it as they see it. We are just going to play.”
“Teams are going to try and play physical against us. They always do. We are just going to try to play the game that gives us the best chance to win.”
“It’s not in our control,” said forward Brandon Tanev. “It’s up to the refs and their judgement and what they want to do in that situation. We just have to continue to play the game and play the game the right way.”
As for what Wilson thought.
"I thought it was a great hit,” Wilson said. “But I haven't watched it at all in live time. He batted it out of the air and I finished him through the body right after. I think that's a great hockey play and I'll watch the replay."
Shorty
The Pens did get a special teams goal, a shorty from Brandon Tanev to get the team on the board in the third period.
“Saw I had some space carrying the puck up the ice,” Tanev said. I think Teddy did a great job in pushing the defensemen back and creating some more space for me. I was fortunate to put a puck on net. The end result was a goal.”
Up next
Pens close out the month with back-to-back games at the Islanders starting Saturday at 7p.