PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In need of a spark to turn the season around, it was a couple of plays that weren’t happening enough that propelled the Pens to a 4-1 win over Montreal on Thursday night. It was also a night where they took advantage of some help in the Metropolitan Division.
“At this time of year, the situation that we are in, we need to find ways to win as many games as we possibly can,” said forward Bryan Rust. “Tonight, we didn’t have a great start, but we found a way to win.”
How It Happened
The first unusual play, a power play goal and it happened quickly. Pens controlled the faceoff as Sidney Crosby got it to Erik Karlsson and Karlsson’s shot was deflected in front by Rust as the puck trickled by Cayden Primeau. Lars Eller’s stick was there to bury it just in case and it turned a tie game after one period to a 2-1 lead.
· Despite all the struggles, it’s the second power play goal in their last three games.
· It’s also Rust’s fourth goal in his last six games.
Then seconds later, Drew O’Connor battled for a pick along the boards and got it ahead to Karlsson. He found Valtteri Puustinen, who found O’Connor streaking into the Canadiens zone. The 25-year-old buried it high glove side for a 3-1 lead and goals in back-to-back games for O’Connor.
The first goal of the night coming from Kris Letang on assists by Evgeni Malkin and O’Connor and the last goal also by the defenseman into an empty net on Letang Bobblehead Night.
"I thought the special units did the job so we didn't give them a power play goal, power play got us a big one,” Letang said. “Jars has been really good since the beginning of the year. It's a loose team on the other side. They have a lot of creativity. They play with some swag and it's tough to read so we to have a good defensive posture all game was key."
“I think we played well enough to win,” said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan. “Our power play gets an important goal for us. Hopefully that will help those guys moving forward.”
“I think the good thing through our group is that the last couple of games we are getting contributions offensively throughout our lineup. I think that’s a really important aspect moving forward if we are going to win games consistently. I think we can look at that and say that’s real encouraging.”
"It's been a challenge this year to try and string wins together consecutively,” said goalie Tristan Jarry. “I hope this is some good momentum for our group. Hopefully it carries on and we're able to string together a couple of games from this."
Tristan on
It wasn’t a quiet night for Jarry. The Pens goalie sopped 31 shots including a power play save at 4:30 of the second period where he slid over to thwart a shot from Cole Caufield. He also had a pair of stops in front of the net early in the third period with the Pens holding the 3-1 lead.
"I thought he was terrific all night, especially early in the game,” Sullivan said. “We didn't have a good start. ... I thought Jars was really good at key times during the game."
Standings
Good results for the Pens with the Rangers beating the Devils 5-1 and St. Louis with a 4-0 win over the Islanders. Washington beat Tampa Bay 5-3 and the Red Wings over Colorado 2-1, as other results impacting the Pens.
Metropolitan Division
Rangers (57 games) 79 points
Hurricanes (56 games) 73 points
Flyers (57 games) 67 points
Capitals (55 games) 60 points
Islanders (55 games) 60 points
Devils (56 games) 60 points
Pens (54 games) 58 points
Wild Card
Red Wings (56 games) 66 points
Lightning (58 games) 65 points
6th Pens (54 games) 58 points
F return
Out since a cheap hit from Winnipeg’s Brenden Dillon giving him a concussion, center Noel Acciari return to the lineup Thursday night. He played 15 minutes, nearly four on the penalty kill with a pair of hits and blocked shots and won 71% of his faceoffs.
“He brings a certain energy to our team with the way he plays,” Sullivan said. “I think he’s an inspiring guy with how gritty he plays the game.”
Minor trade
The Pens and Blue Jackets exchanged minor-league forwards as Wilkes-Barre Scranton leading scorer Alex Nylander and a sixth-round pick to Columbus for 24-year-old Emil Bernstrom. The 6’, 195-pound Swede had five goals and six assists in 32 games with Columbus and 10 goals, four assists in eight games in the AHL. In 204 career regular-season NHL games. Bernstrom has 31 goals and 38 assists.
Up Next
Pens finish up the homestand before a four-game western swing hosting the Flyers Sunday at 3:30p.