PITTSBURGH (93.7 the Fan) Going into their Thursday night battle against the Montreal Canadiens, the Pittsburgh Penguins were riding a three game losing streak.
Not just a three game losing streak but the Pens have been 2-3-2 through the month of November.
The Penguins needed a big high scoring game to hopefully kick them into gear and return to form as a fully healthy lineup is just about here, missing only Evgeni Malkin of course.
That blowout is exactly what the Penguins got against the Candiens, pulling out a 6-0 victory.
Sidney Crosby finally found the back of the net to open up the scoring three and a half minutes into the first period.
The Penguins would reach three goals in the first period; Crosby followed by Danton Heinen for his fifth of the year and Jake Guentzel with his sixth.
The Heinen goal was a power play goal; An area of play that the Penguins have needed to greatly improve upon after going 27-straight extra man opportunities to no avail.
The Penguins finally broke through for a power play goal in Tuesday’s loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
One thing that the Penguins needed to do over their losing streak was play with more hunger and sense of urgency, specifically early in the game.
They did just that in Montreal, putting up 31 shots on Canadiens goalie Cayden Primeau through the first two periods.
The Canadiens would pull Primeau after the second period and put out Sam Montembeault to close the game.
Montembeault only gave up one goal in the period; A break away goal by Blueger scoring his second of the night in the closing seconds of the game.
One game is not enough to say the Penguins are all the way back and rolling on all cylinders, but a big win is a big confidence boost and the step in the right direction.
The Canadiens aren’t a good team right now, missing captain Shea Weber and starting goalie Carey Price.
But the Penguins needed a big win to get their mojo back; Not just a big win but a game where five different players found the net to contribute a goal.
Tristan Jarry had himself a game, as well, putting up 23 saves for his first shutout of the seasaon.
The Pens are off to face the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto for Hockey Night in Canada.