PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Coming off a 6-3 loss on Saturday, the Pens were coming into back-to-back games against teams fighting for the playoffs. They were playing a team record 16th and 17th games of a single month and after trailing 3-1 in the second period in New York, they put the hammer down for two big wins including the 5-1 blowout of Detroit Tuesday at home.
“It’s massive,” said goalie Stuart Skinner. “Just a massive four-point swing for us,” said goalie Stuart Skinner. “Especially against those teams you are fighting spots for.”
“That’s not an easy one, tt’s a credit to the players,” said Pens head coach Dan Muse. “You got to travel and you get in and it would be easy to say we are a little tired, but the guys dug in. They wanted to keep that feeling going. Points are so important right now, it’s a huge credit to them.”
“It’s a big point of our year,” said forward Justin Brazeau. “I’m pretty proud of the way we came out the last two nights. Like the guys said after the game last night, it’s the rearview mirror now. The next two (points) are the biggest.”
Pens scored 13 goals in the two wins.
Standings
The Islanders (4-3 at Buffalo), Flyers (6-4 at Washington) and Columbus (5-2 at home to Carolina) all lost Tuesday as did Wild Card contender Ottawa.
UPDATED Metropolitan Division
- Carolina 100 points, 8 to play
- PENS 92 points, 7 to play
- Islanders 89 points, 6 to play
- Columbus 88 points, 7 to play
- Flyers 86 points, 8 to play
- Capitals 85 points, 7 to play
30
302 games and six seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Anthony Mantha reached a career-high in his first season with the Penguins after a hard-working goal in front to make it 2-0. The 32-year-old battled for a puck in front and got it past John Gibson for his 30th career goal. That is five more than his previous career-high of 25 with Detroit seven years ago.
“30 goals is hard to do in this league,” Muse said. “Huge credit to Mo, the work that he’s put in. It’s been huge for us to have that.”
“It’s been awesome to see especially what he came off last year to come here on an earn it contract,” Brazeau said of Mantha. “Really happy for him, been a great player and a great teammate.”
Mantha has four goals in his last three games.
20
For the third time in his four full seasons with the Pens, Rickard Rakell scored at least 20 goals, his goal early in the first gave the Pens a 1-0 lead and him 20. He had 35 last season and 28 in 2022-23. Overall with the Pens, Rakell has 102 goals in 207 games. That moved him past Randy Cunneyworth and a goal shy of Robert Lang for 33rd on the Pens all-time list.
18
Egor Chinahkov’s career-high for goals in a season and his 15th with the Penguins. The 25-year-old acquired in a trade with Columbus hesitated and went over the stick side of Gibson to make it 3-0. It was Kris Letang’s 625th career assist for the only helper.
12
Justin Brazeau had his first goal in a dozen games and 17th of the season. That continues to raise the 28-year-old’s career-high in goals to go with 17 assists, including three on Monday. Brazeau scored deflecting a Connor Clifton shot off the shaft of the stick to make it 4-1.
“It’s tough, especially when you score one that doesn’t count,” Brazeau said. “It’s a little hard for the confidence. Just trying to stick with it and make sure I’m getting to the areas that make me successful and hopefully they start going in.”
4
With Noel Acciari’s 11th of the season in the third period, that meant every line was represented in goal scoring Tuesday.
“Right now, when we can go up and down the lineup and take the pressure off the top lines, it’s big,” Acciari said. “Especially this time of year, especially what the East looks like. Every goal counts, the fact that we have four lines that can do that is huge for our group.”
1
The last time goalie Stuart Skinner only gave up one goal was January 21st at Calgary. It’s the first time in six starts Skinner had an above .900 save percentage, .956 after stopping 22 of 23 shots.
“I felt really sharp right from the get-go,” Skinner said. “I think the way we came out as a team too gives you a huge boost of confidence.”
“He was awesome, start to finish,” Muse said. “Really some big saves in huge moments.”
Bryan Rust was on the ice for warmups Tuesday, but he was a late scratch with a lower-body injury. They are still evaluating his status.
Up Next
Pens play at Tampa Bay on Thursday before back-to-back home games against Florida this weekend.
LISTEN to post-game reaction, plus a few goal milestones
