PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It had been a couple of years since the Pens beat San Jose. They would come out with a statement and then end it on a first-ever hat trick and then another.
It was the first game back following two weeks away due to Christmas break and COVID postponements. Pens would erupt for six goals in the first and then survive allowing four-straight for an 8-5 win.
“Anytime you score that amount of goals early in a game as a coaching staff we are always concerned because there is so much hockey left to play,” said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan. “You are fighting against human nature, as much as you try to fend it off. It is human nature to exhale.”
“I love the start we had. We brought a ton of energy at the start of the game. We talked about simplifying the game, I thought we did. We got rewarded.”
“We got off to that hot start and everyone was felling good,” said forward Evan Rodrigues. “It was kind of that mental battle saying fulling engaged. In your head you know you have to, but it’s just natural to let your foot off the gas a little bit. When it got to a one-goal game, everyone snapped back in and knew we had to take care of business. Glad to see we did.”
“We did a lot of really good things,” said forward Bryan Rust. “There were some spurts where we left our foot off the gas. We didn’t quite play the right way.”
Hat tricks
A pair of goals in the first four minutes, 11 seconds of the game, Rodrigues would add a third with two minutes left to seal the win. A minute later, Bryan Rust would add his own hat trick.
“I was shocked there were any left,” Rust joked about still seeing hats thrown after a second hat trick. “I don’t know what those people were do saving them.”
“It sucks being out,” Rust added. “I was just happy to be in the lineup, being around the guys. To have the night I did was the cherry on top. I was hoping to be able to come right in and make an impact. I was happy that I did.”
“He plays the game hard,” Sullivan said. “He puts himself in harms’ way. You can see the impact he has on our team. The impact on the line he plays on when he’s at his very best. He brings an element of speed to that line. I thought he had a great game tonight.”
He wasn’t the only one. Rodrigues had his first career hat trick and now has crushed his previous career-high with 13 goals.
“I’ve always believed I had the ability,” Rodrigues said. “I’ve always believed in my talent. I’ve had good years throughout my career. I had a good start and from there I knew I could do it and finally it started rolling over. Continued to get that ice time, continued to get that opportunity. Now it’s just coming into every day, doing the right things and continuing to play the way that I am.”
“E-Rod has had a great year for us,” Sullivan said. “He’s obviously scored a fair amount of goals. He’s helping us generate offense. He has good offensive instincts. His performance to this point has earned him the opportunities he’s been given here.”
1st period breakdown
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Bjorkqvist 1st
The Pens fifth goal Sunday, the first ever for forward Kasper Bjorkqvist. The 24-year-old called up due to injuries and COVID issues. Bjorkqvist overcoming a major knee injury himself.
“I’m not going to try and change much,” Bjorkqvist said. “Make the small, right decisions every day and learn. I’m very excited about being a hockey player, coming to the rink and play. Try to get better every day and focus on what I can do to get as good as possible.”
“He’s had some tough luck in terms of his injuries,” Sullivan said. “That has been a hurdle to overcome in the NHL. I really like Kasper’s game. He’s one of those guys that helps your team become hard to play against.”
“He’s good on the wall, good size, good strength, strong on the puck, willing to block shots, good penalty killer. I think his pace is improving. I was so happy for him to score his first NHL goal in his first NHL game.”
Roster Moves
· Forward Teddy Blueger was not in Sunday’s lineup, but was activated from the COVID-19 list.
· Tristan Jarry remains in COVID-19 protocols with Jeff Carter, Kasperi Kapanen and PO Joseph.
· Louis Domingue worked as the back-up goalie to DeSmith with Bjorkqvist, Zohorna and Anthony Angello activated off the Taxi Squad.
· Brian Boyle did not play due to personal reasons.
· Guentzel and Rust were activated off injured reserve with Jason Zucker officially placed on the list retroactive to December 19.
Up Next
Pens remain home and scheduled to host St. Louis at 7:30p on Wednesday.