PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He is the seventh in the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin era and just the 37th in Penguins history to reach 30 goals in a season. A few days ago, many Pens fans were hoping he would have been traded.
Rickard Rakell stayed and scored the game-winner along with an empty-netter. Now it was ruled after the game that Rakell’s shot on the game-winner nicked the stick of Bryan Rust, so Rust got that goal. However, the score with eight seconds left ended up officially being number 30 in a 5-3 win over the Blues Thursday night.
It was his first 30-goal season with the Pens and first in his NHL since the 2017-18 season with Anaheim.
When talking about his abilities, both head coach Mike Sullivan and goalie Tristan Jarry credited Rakell with having a decisive shot. Jarry said it’s just different than the regular person how he’s able to move his hands and stick. Sullivan said Rakell is also brave to be able to go to the net, doesn’t needs a lot of room to get his shot off and he’s smart. There is also something different about this season.
“What’s impressed me about Raks this year is his ability to sustain the level of play that he’s been able to do virtually all year long,” Sullivan said. “He came into camp in great shape. I think that fitness level that he came into has allowed him to sustain the level of play that he’s had.”
“I think he’s playing with a lot of confidence at this point. He just has good offensive instincts. He’s a heck of a player.”
Known for being streaky, his longest time between goals this year has been nine games. He had six in October, four in November, seven in December, six in January, two in February (only eight games), five so far in March.
Last year, for example, he a 15 and a 19-game goal-less streak.
“It’s a great feeling.” Rakell said. “I love scoring goals, especially with the win tonight it feels so good.”
FIRSTS
· Ryan Graves scored his first goal at home since November 19, 2023 and first overall since January 20, 2024.
“I just kind of put it on net,” Graves said. “It’s obviously a nice shot. Finds its way through. It’s nice. They didn’t sign me to score goals. But it’s nice when it happens.”
· In his third game with the Penguins defenseman Conor Timmons scored his first goal. His last in the NHL was December 12, 2023 while with Toronto at Madison Square Garden.
"I just saw (Heinen) was looking, went out to the weak side, tried to jump down on (the puck), they gave me some space to take it to the net and I just tried to fire it,” Timmons said.
· Also in his third game with the Pens, forward Connor Dewar scored. It was his first since March 28, 2024 when he scored for Toronto against Washington.
“He brings a ton of energy, has a hardness to his game, an honest to his game,” Sullivan said. “Has some physicality, plays with an edge and goes to the net. That came to the forefront in the goal he scored.”
NOTES
· Sidney Crosby finished with two assists and is now seven points from setting an NHL record for averaging a point-a-game in 20 consecutive seasons. He attempted only one shot Thursday night.
· Tristan Jarry made 33 saves for his, and the team’s, third straight win. He’s stopped 97 of the last 103 shots.
· Kris Letang blocked seven shots.