In recent weeks, the Penguins have often taken the game to their opponents, only to end up on the short end of the score. Well, last night against the visiting Sabers they took a more counterpuncher stance, especially in the third period when they were outscored by a whopping 19-8 score.
The result? A delightful pre-turkey day victory.
Razor sharp on his return from IR, Tristan Jarry played a major role in the 4-2 victory. The much-maligned netminder made 29 saves, including several of the 10-bell variety. Nothing bigger than his left path, except at the post on an old friend Jason Sugar with 71 seconds left and the Pens clinging to a one-goal lead. A performance that earned him the third star award.
In my eyes, Jarry was the best player on the ice and the difference maker.
Unlike recent outings, when it was pretty much Sid and Geno’s show or bust, the Pens took offense from an unexpected source. He’s only playing in his eighth game of the season and Matt Duma pounced on a turnover in the neutral zone and knocked the puck home Bowen Byrams stick blade to give us a 1-0 lead at 17:09 of the first period.
It was the only foul either team would muster in a fairly benign 40 minutes. However, the Sabers began tilting the ice late in the second period and continued their attack in the third.
When Zucker tied the score at 1-all at 7:20 on a slot deflection, it looked like we were about to let another game slip through our fingers. However, Bryan Rust hit back on the ensuing shift with a determined, second chance effort to regain the lead for our pens.
Kevin Hayes extended our lead at 12:34, thanks to a masterful cross-seam pass from Erik Karlsson. However, the Sabers kept coming. Jack Quinnwho can really tear up the cookie, beat Jarry with a booming shot from the slot off a slick feed from Zucker’s end boards to make it 3-2 with just over four minutes to play.
Luckily, Jarry slammed the door shut and stopped four Sabers shots, including one by a scoring machine Take Thompson. Setting the stage Connor Dewars empty-netter with 58 seconds to play.
Puckpourri
Needless to say, it was great that we got offense from unexpected sources. For Hayes and Dumba it was the first goal of the season for both. Rust broke a six-match goalless streak.
In addition to his numbers, Dumba was at his physical best and rocked the Sabres’ rookie Jos Doan with a stiff body check from open ice high in the black and gold zone midway through the third period.
Tristan Broz made his NHL debut, centering the third line in place of his fellow rookie Ben Kindel (healthy scratch). I thought he did a great job, putting two shots on goal and winning three of six faceoffs in 11:30 of ice time. I especially liked his opportunistic, direct style.
I’ve been critical of the dressing of veterans like Hayes and… Danton Heinen above the children. Both proved their worth last night. Hayes with his goal and Heinen with his surprisingly fast, super involved play. In particular, he made a really nice play in crunch time by skating the puck out of danger and feeding Dewar for the empty-netter.
A random thought. I love Zucker, especially his exuberance. I wish we still had it.
The pens came back Sergei Murashov to the Baby Pens to make room for Jarry. Speaking of the two-time All-Star, he’s rumored to be drawing interest from the Oilers. Tristan played junior hockey in Edmonton, where he led the WHL Oil Kings to a Memorial Cup.
Whether he stays or goes, I give him a lot of credit for reviving his game.
With the win, the Pens improve to 3-4-3 in November and 11-6-5 overall. We are tied for fifth in the Metro with 27 points and currently occupy the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot by the narrowest margin.
You know what they say about a playoff spot on Thanksgiving…
The Pens then visit CBJ on Friday night before returning home to take on the Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
#Penguins #split #sabers #Thanksgiving