PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It wasn't 500, but Sidney Crosby's 499th career goal the game-winner as the Pens came back to win Tuesday night 4-2 at Boston.
Boston thoroughly outplayed the Pens in the first period leading 2-0 at home after one. Danton Heinen scored 28 seconds apart to tie the game with 15 minutes to go in the second. It was just the second NHL multi-goal game in his career, the other came playing for the Bruins. Brock McGinn with a great backhand pass to set up the first Heinen goal.
"It felt good to see it go in a couple of times there," Heinen said. "Hockey is a funny game, it doesn't go in sometimes then two go in, in one shift."
Later in the period, on what started as a sloppy power play, Crosby with a body check to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Bryan Rust would miss off the side of the cage, go behind the net and find Crosby who went down to one knee to lift it past Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman for the lead and his 73rd career game-winning goal (one behind Evgeni Malkin and Mario Lemieux for second place on the Pens all-time list).
Rust would add an empty net goal with 1:29 left as the Pens tie the Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
"I give our players a lot of credit," Sullivan said. "They showed a whole of lot resilience under difficult circumstances, knowing we didn't have our best."
Jarry saves
Earlier in the day, Sullivan said he wanted to watch the minutes Tristan Jarry plays and then started him. Jarry made 43 saves, including 17 in the first period, 18 in the second.
"I thought I was seeing the puck well," Jarry said. "I think being able to be in the All-Star Game, get a couple of extra reps. It helped in a way to be able to get those reps and not be off the ice that long. I think that helped."
"He was terrific," Sullivan said. "I thought he made some big saves all night long. I thought he was locked in all night. That's what he's done consistently for us this season. He's a terrific goalie when he is playing the game, seeing the puck and he's locked in the way he is. In my mind, he's one of the better goaltenders in the league."
Marchand cheap shot
Known for his cheap shots as well as his skill, Bruins forward Brad Marchand punched Jarry after the whistle with seconds left and the Pens up two. Then as a ref was lightly escorting Marchand off the ice, he extended his stick into Jarry's face.
"It's part of the game," Jarry said after, taking the high road.
"Obviously emotions got carried away there at the end," Sullivan said. "I didn't see some of it. Obviously, that's not something we can control, so we aren't focused on it."
"No one likes to see that," Heinen said. "We will see what the league says. It's tough to see."
Injured center
In week three of a projected six-to-eight-week recovery due to a broken jaw, Teddy Blueger was on the ice Tuesday morning.
"Teddy is on the trip with us right now," Sullivan said. "We brought him with us so we can skate him. He's been cleared to skate, but hasn't been cleared to play. He's not skating with the team. He came on the ice yesterday and did the same thing this morning."
Pens were also without Evgeni Malkin, put in COVID protocol on Monday.
Up Next
Pens are in Ottawa Thursday night at 7p. The Senators are coming off a 4-3 win over first place Carolina.
