PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Pens had lacked something recently and not just talking about scoring. Whether they were stale, tired, GM Ron Hextall said Friday before the game he wanted to see more energy from his team.
They had it to start Friday night with 16 shots in the first period, regressed in the second, but got some hustle plays in the third and a much-needed win 5-2 hosting Las Vegas.
"It was big for our confidence especially coming up and having a good first period," said forward Bryan Rust. "That has been a focal point of ours here, we haven't had great starts. I think we did."
"We were really happy with our first period," said forward Jeff Carter. "Our start was really good and that's something we've been focusing on. We did a good job of regrouping in the third."
"There's a lot of positives to take from that," said Pens Head Coach Mike Sullivan. "Can we be better, sure we can. We'll take a lot of the positives to build upon."
It's not as if they've fallen out of playoff contention, but started the day tied for second with the Rangers with 77 points. Carolina pulling away with an eight-point lead in the division. What was concerning was losing six of the last eight at home.
Sullivan shook up the lineup, looking for options. He benched struggling forward and former first-round pick Kasperi Kapanen. Forward Dominik Simon had played all but six games, he also got a seat in the press box.
Valtteri Puustinen made his NHL debut on a line with Jeff Carter and Brock McGinn and the high-energy, do-it-all Evan Rodrigues up to Evgeni Malkin's line. Rodrigues played his best game in the last couple of weeks.
So much attention on Kapanen's struggles, Carter had one goal since January 23rd before Friday night. His goal the epitome of hustle, the 36-year-old busting down after a McGinn breakaway was stopped. He was able to poke home a barely loose puck in front of the goalie for a 2-0 lead.
"I've been through many slumps in my career," Carter said. "When you are in them, you just have to simplify. There is really nothing else to it. You shoot pucks, you go to the net and you score goals in the weirdest way when you are at the net."
"It's going to go off your (butt), off your shin pad, off your skate. You can't try and skill your way out of it. Playing as direct as you can and simplify your game. If you do that, it's eventually going to come."
Defenseman Mark Friedman is taking advantage of his opportunity due to injury. He sat for months of the season waiting. He's noticeable. Carter said he provides a spark. Rust called him a 'wild man' on the ice.
"I don't know if it's the greatest reputation to have," Friedman said of the wild man analogy. "If it's something I can do for the team and it brings energy, so be it. Whatever they want me to do, I will do it."
This game wasn't perfect, but the effort in the third period was. Now it's about building on it with the best team in the East in your building on Sunday.
"That's a big key here coming down the stretch and into the postseason," Rust said. "Things aren't going to come easy, especially with some of the teams we are playing against. That's just something that we are going to have to get ingrained into our head here."
"It's a really good example of the type of team we are trying to build here," Sullivan said. "What the expectations are throughout our lineup. That's the essence of being a team and that's what we are trying to become a team in the true sense of the word."
