It was quite a night in Pittsburgh, and not just because Jake Guentzel returned to PPG Paints Arena for the first time since his trade to Carolina this month. There were some new faces on the ice for the Penguins, and there was, of course, a hockey game to be played. Paul Steigerwald has the recap of a big Penguins win. (4-1).
Coach Mike Sullivan was impressed by the work of the Penguins despite a lull in the second period.
Before the game, the Penguins recalled forwards Jonathan Gruden and Sam Poulin, their talented 2019 first round draft choice who has never quite clicked at the NHL level. Sullivan loved the energy Gruden and Poulin brought to the game.
Jeff Carter remained out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury but the veteran forward did skate with the team earlier in the day and was termed a game-time decision, indicating that he’s close to returning.
As for Guentzel, he was held off the scoresheet for the game, which featured a video tribute to him in the first period and a standing ovation from the appreciative Penguins fans. He told a media gathering that he intended to stay with the Penguins, but the team felt a trade was the better direction to go. When asked whether he’d consider returning to Pittsburgh when he becomes a free agent this summer, he said he didn’t know…but he really likes it in Carolina.
The Penguins still have a long way to go to contend for the second Wild Card in the Eastern Conference. The Lightning and Capitals are holding down the two playoff slots for now, with the Pens trailing the Caps by nine points and four other teams between them with Pittsburgh having only eleven games left to play.
Next up is a home-and-away series with the Blue Jackets, tomorrow night in Pittsburgh and Saturday in Columbus.
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