Four days of rest, a hot goalie, and sniper Jake Guentzel guided the Penguins to an impressive win over the Boston Bruins last night.
Paul Steigerwald has the story.
REACTIONS:
Coach Mike Sullivan says whether or not the Penguins get injured goaltender Tristan Jarry back, they like their chances in the upcoming playoffs.
Sullivan says the Pens played the way they need to play last night, especially in the first two periods.
The coach says Jake Guentzel, whose empty net goal completed his hat trick and also was his 40th of the season, is a true NHL superstar.
Guentzel says 40 goals is a special team achievement.
Guentzel was proud of the effort by Casey DeSmith.
The winger says he is well aware that there is a difference between scoring goals in the regular season and scoring in the playoffs.
Casey DeSmith says making 52 saves, and stopping twenty in the third period alone, is a confidence booster.
DeSmith is not thinking about the playoffs, or the fact that he is now the number one goalie in Jarry’s absence.
DeSmith’s 52 saves were the fourth most in a shutout in NHL history. The record is 59 saves by Edmonton goaltender in a 2014 game against San Jose. The win put the Penguins up two points over the Washington Capitals for third place in the Metro Division. The Caps were idle. They have a game in hand on the Penguins.
Sullivan said after the game that forward Jeff Carter, who left the ice in the third period, has a lower body injury that is being evaluated.
Next up for the Penguins is a two-game weekend set, at Detroit tomorrow afternoon and at Philadelphia on Sunday.
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