PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - Bryan Rust buries shootout goal in fourth round as Pens top Blues 3-2 in St. Louis.
What could have been a disastrous start turned into a crisis averted as the Penguins fought off a 5 on 3 power play not even a minute into the hockey game. The Pens penalty kill did a great job fighting off the disadvantage and avoiding a deficit early into the game.
“That’s huge,” said Bryan Rust. “Obviously it’s very quickly into the game and things can go south very quickly if we don’t get it done there and I think everyone did a great job.”
Pittsburgh struck first as Chad Ruhwedel blasted a slap shot from the blue line following a faceoff win to make it 1-0 Pittsburgh with 5:18 to play in the period.
Halfway through the second period Mike Matheson buried his ninth goal of the season to make it 2-0 Penguins. David Perron got the Blues on the board late in the second period after a blocked shot by John Marino was then passed to Perron and he dangled past Jarry for a goal to cut the Penguins lead to 1.
The Penguins escaped the period with some self-inflicted wounds with a hooking penalty and too many men on the ice, but they were able to hold the Blues out of the net on those power plays.
The third period the Blues came out aggressive and attacked the net early as they tied the game on an Ivan Barbashev goal making it 2-2 early into the third period.
The Penguins went on the power play just after the halfway mark of the third period and Ville Husso saved multiple great chances for the Pens keeping the game tied at 2. The Pens and Blues finished a combined 0 for 9 on the power play in the game.
60 minutes wasn’t long enough as this one headed to overtime.
An exciting overtime with multiple spectacular saves from both goaltenders kept the game tied at 2 as they headed to a shootout.
Just like in regulation and overtime, the goaltenders were incredible in the shootout as no goal was scored through three rounds. After a Tristan Jarry save on Ryan O’Reilly, Bryan Rust ended the game shooting a wrist shot past Husso giving the Pens a 3-2 win.
Even though his teammates took it slowly headed to the net, Rust said it’s the same approach for him every shootout.
“I have a similar thought process pretty much every time I go down there. I was able to pick my spot and score.”
Jarry Spectacular
As if 25 saves in regulation and overtime wasn’t enough, Jarry made 4 saves in the shootout to help the Penguins win the game. The Blues had multiple chances to win the game in overtime but Jarry stood strong in the net making save after save down the stretch.
Penalty Kill Strong
The Penguins penalty kill fought off five power plays and have now not allowed a power play goal in 13 straight attempts, Mike Sullivan has been very impressed with them.
“The guys are doing a good job,” said Sullivan. They’re committed. We’re winning more faceoffs, we’re getting 200 foot clears, we’re doing a better job making the entries tough. When we do well in those three areas we limit zone time.”
Up Next
Pens are in the desert Saturday as they take on the Arizona Coyotes at 5 PM. Arizona is coming off a 6-3 win in Montreal Tuesday.