PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pens opened the preseason Monday with a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Bryan Rust was the number one star, Avery Hayes had a highlight goal, the two young goalies played and an injury to a starter.
Here is a wrap-up from PPG Paints Arena.
Kindel hurt
- 2nd year forward Ben Kindel suffered a lower body injury in the first period & didn’t return. It wasn’t noticeable during the action. The 19-year-old scored 17 goals and 18 assists in his rookie season.
There was no update on his status after the game.
Brazeau injured but returns
- 28-year-old forward Justin Brazeau had career-highs in every category last year (17 goals, 17 assists) and had to leave the ice in the second period. Brazeau boarded and down on the ice for a short period, skated gingerly off the ice and slammed his stick off the boards in frustration upon leaving the ice and limping down the tunnel.
- Brazeau would return to the game even with how serious it looked.
Goalscoring
- Bryan Rust showing off his skating early with a couple of moves in the middle of the ice, fed Connor Dewar, 1-0 1st period
- 5-on-3 in the second period, Kris Letang from the blue line fed Hendrix Lapierre low right to Rust in the slot for the power play goal, 2-0
- Late in 2nd, Avery Hayes stole a puck behind the net, skated quickly past the goal line, spun and wicked shot over the goalie’s right shoulder and under the crossbar in a tight window with 2 seconds left, 3-1
“I just stripped the guy of the puck, I knew there wasn’t much time left,” Hayes said. “I saw one of the D coming down, but I didn’t want to risk it, so I threw something on net and luckily it went in.”
“You want to make the most of every chance you get. It was a big goal for the team most importantly and when you are in the lineup, you want the team to win.”
“It’s just an extra-effort play with almost no time left in the period,” Rust said. “Those things can be momentum-killers or momentum-builders. I think for us that was huge. Obviously, it’s a preseason game, but you can see he outworked everyone on the ice and then he sniped. The more that he does that, the more he’s going to impact this team in the most positive way.”
“You saw him get in on the hunt, getting on the forecheck, that’s a big part of his game,” said Pens head coach Dan Muse. “It’s nice when it results in a goal like that, but that tenacious, puck-pressure, never quit player, that’s when he’s at his best.”
#1 star
One of two players from a Stanley Cup team playing Monday, Rust was the number one star with a goal and two assists. He led the top line and was making plays all over the ice.
“In a situation like this, try to lead by example,” Rust said. “I might be in a different situation than some of the other guys in the room. I don’t think that changes the way that I should play or how I should handle the situation.”
“I’m still trying to get ready for the season. Just try to talk it out with some of these younger guys on certain plays and help them feel more comfortable. Try to be as helpful as I can be.”
Goalies
Sergei Murashov started and stopped all 12 shots. As what was working Monday night?
“Stopping puck,” Murashov said, adding a laugh.
“It’s a nice feeling when you are working hard and you just trust your preparation and it all works. It’s a really nice feeling.”
Murashov said everything is easier this year.
Joel Blomqvist gave up a power play goal on 11 shots, saying he was a little bit screened on the goal.
“It felt great to be back here playing in the home arena,” Blomqvist said. “I’m trying to work hard to be back many times.”
“I thought they played well,” Muse said. “It was one of those games where it came in waves for them a little bit. I thought both guys competed hard, they battled. Good job by both of them.”
Future pairing
- Young defensemen Harrison Brunicke (2nd round 2024) and 2022 first-round pick Owen Pickering were listed as the third defensive pairing. The two played together at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the playoffs before Pickering’s injury. While on the ice on the penalty kill Buffalo scored, both made some solid plays and Pickering showed off a little physicality. Brunicke impressed Muse with his overall play.
Tuesday night lineup
Second and final preseason home game is Tuesday against Detroit. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell will play.
Among the newcomers
- Nick Robertson
- Kaedan Korczak
Veterans
- Tommy Novak
- Egor Chinakhov
- Sam Girard
- Arturs Silovs
Competing forwards (players trying for an outside shot to make this roster or be one of the first called up)
- Rutger McGroarty
- Ville Koivunen
Other names
- 2026 draft picks Markus and Liam Ruck, Tomas Galvas
- Billy Zonnon-2025 1st round pick
A breakdown of the highlights from the Pens preseason opener
A breakdown of the highlights from the Pens preseason opener
