PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Maybe the tightest game of the year, the Pens proved they can win playoff-like defensive games, beating a good Dallas team 2-1 on an Evgeni Malkin goal with 35 seconds left in regulation.
“Those are the type of games you want to be able to win,” said Pens goalie Tristan Jarry. “I think that puts you in a good situation knowing that you can come out on top in those games. I think it does nothing but help you in the long run.”
“We were proud of the group,” said Pens Head Coach Mike Sullivan. “I thought in terms of how the game was played out there without a doubt it had a playoff feel from the sense you had to fight for every inch. It was a low-event game.”
“In order to have success in those types of games, you need to have an element of patience in your team game. You can’t force plays that aren’t there and give our opponents easy offense as a result.
I thought for the most part our guys had a certain level of discipline, a certain level of resolve of taking what the game gave us.”
The guy really leading the way in discipline on Monday night is a guy who occasionally has issues with it.
“I know we have skilled guys, I know I have a chance to score in the last minute,” Malkin said. “I tried to be careful because if we turn it over we are in trouble. I know it was a bit of a lucky goal, but I’m glad I’m a little more relaxed (to score, had not scored since November 20).”
“Team played well, we played against a good team. It was a great effort tonight. We stayed patient and we showed good hockey tonight.”
“I thought Geno’s line was really good and Geno drives that line,” Sullivan said. “What I liked about that line was the commitment to play both ways in this type of a game. They didn’t force anything that wasn’t there.”
It wasn’t just the offensive game, but Sullivan credited a great back-check by Malkin that brought a smile to his face. Imagine the reaction on the bench to see a guy with 1,175 points making a key defensive play.
“We get as excited about that as when he scored a goal,” Sullivan said. “We are thrilled he got rewarded. I think Geno, for the most part, has had a pretty consistent game all year long. He drives a lot of offense, both on the power play and five-on-five. When he’s at his best, he commands the puck. I thought he had it an awful lot tonight.”
First goal of the season
While Malkin has 453 career goals, defenseman PO Joseph had one and none this season. That was until Joseph tied the game coming off the bench on the second unit power play taking a feed from Kasperi Kapanen in the offensive zone, made a move and got it by Jason Zucker and the goalie to make it 1-1 midway through the first period.
“It was a terrific play by Kappy,” Sullivan said. “It was a great shot by PO and it was a terrific screen in front by Zucker. That puck probably doesn’t go in the net if Zucker is not taking the goalies’ eyes away.”
“I think I just wanted to get in the zone as fast as I can,” Joseph said. “I know Kappy’s incredible vision saw me coming in late and I just had to finish the beautiful play he made.”
It was the first goal for Joseph, but hardly the first contribution. The 23-year-old had to fight to make this team and may have only made it because he didn’t have a minor-league option left.
Since October 29, he’s played in 17 games and been a minus twice while playing with multiple partners.
“Team effort tonight showed we are pretty good,” Joseph said deflecting to talk about the team. “We showed that we can play a pretty solid defensive game. I’m really happy with the way the boys played tonight.”
Near shutout
Dallas got the first goal 19 seconds in as the Pens were unable to clear an initial rush and Roope Hintz scored on a rebound from Kris Letang’s skate. The Stars got nothing else by Jarry on 25 other shots.
“We got to be a little tighter,” Jarry said. “It’s hard when we give up a goal in the first minute of the game, here and Columbus. Being able to rally behind, I don’t think we got discouraged. PO was able to give us a boost, him getting his first goal was a big boost for our team.”
“He’s been saving us all year,” Joseph said. “That’s why he’s a great goalie in this league. That’s why we trust him every time he’s on the ice.”
Notes
· It was the 11th consecutive game Jarry had a point, it’s four shy of the franchise record set by Tom Barrasso in the 1992-93 season.
· The Pens have now won all six games against the Central Division
· They have the most points in the league since November 9.
· The win moved the Pens into second place alone in the Metropolitan Division
Up Next
Pens go back on the road at Florida on Thursday and then at Carolina on Sunday before returning home against the Rangers on December 20.