PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pens won for the ninth time in their last 11 at home against Boston, a 4-0 shutout Thursday night. This one though was bigger.
Bigger because of the time of year. Bigger because they lost to the Bruins in their last game. Bigger because the Caps had tied them in the standings.
It looked like a fresh Pens team that hadn't played since Saturday. They much of the game outskated Boston with an aggressive mindset, active sticks and buried chances.
"If we go out and we execute and we play a team game, a collective game," said Pens Head Coach Mike Sullivan. "We are as competitive a team as there is in the league. I think we can play with any team."
Goalie Casey DeSmith was also really good. A career-high 52 saves after losing 2-0 to the Bruins on Saturday.
Pens showed off their skill on the first goal. Mike Matheson settled down a puck at mid-ice, ahead to Rickard Rakell, quickly to Sidney Crosby at the blue line and ahead to Jake Guetzel in strike. He takes it down the middle of the ice and beats Jeremy Swayman high for a 1-0 lead. Pens would get several chances on a first power play and that kept the momentum and a one-goal lead after one period.
Boston would get the first couple of shots of the second period, but Jason Zucker capitalizes high after a pass from the Pens zone by John Marino was tipped ahead by Jeff Carter right onto the stick of Zucker. He would take it in stride, and like Guentzel, he would go high. 2-0 Pens.
Ten minutes later the Pens pressure would force a sloppy exit intercepted by Kris Letang in front of the Bruins net, he would feed out to Guentzel from the right wing for a 3-0 lead and his 39th goal of the season. 3-0 Pens.
Guentzel would score his 40th, tying a career-high, on an empty-netter with 2:05 to play in the third for the hat trick.
"I just think he's a great player," said Pens Head Coach Mike Sullivan. "He's quietly emerged as one of the superstars in the league. I think he's one of the best goal scorers in the league and he shows it year-in and year-out."
Another injury
Just when you thought the Pens could be getting healthy, Sullivan said Jeff Carter left with a lower-body injury. There likely won't be an update until Saturday morning.
Lines without Malkin
Evgeni Malkin serving the last game of his suspension. Here were the line combinations.
Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Rickard Rakell
Jason Zucker-Jeff Carter-Bryan Rust
Danton Heinen-Teddy Bluger-Brock McGinn
Evan Rodrigues-Brian Boyle-Kasperi Kapanen
Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang
Mike Matheson-Chad Ruhwedel
Marcus Pettersson-John Marino
The pairings going back to the original Brian Dumoulin and Kris Letang as the top defensive pairing with Mike Matheson joining Chad Ruhwedel and Marcus Pettersson out there again.
"Trying to figure out what gives us the most success going into the playoffs," Matheson said. "I think these five games are super important for that. We want to set ourselves up to peak at that point and feel good about our game. Their job is to figure out the best pairings, our job is to make sure each and every night we are doing the best we can within that role to help our team."
"I think we are looking for consistency of play," Sullivan said. "We are looking for reliable, conscientious, trustworthy play. When we get that throughout our three pairs I think it exponentially improves our team's ability to have success. We're looking for three pairs that we can put over the boards that help us accomplish that goal."
Up Next
Pens are at Detroit at 12:30p on Saturday and then Sunday at Philadelphia at 4p.
