The Penguins started fast and did not let up, jumping to a 4-0 lead on goals by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jake Guentzel, and then after a Montreal goal, Guentzel scored again and Jared McCann added an empty-netter in a 5-1 Pittsburgh win.
Crosby had a goal and three assists and Guentzel had two goals and two assists. Guentzel’s two goals were his team-leading 30th and 31st of the season. Matt Murray made 36 saves for the Pens, who scored on three of their first four shots on Montreal goaltender Carey Price.
The Penguins leapfrogged over Columbus in the Eastern Conference standings. The Pens have 77 points and hold the first Wild Card spot while the Canadiens also have 77 points and hold the second Wild Card. The Blue Jackets lost to Edmonton and have 75 points. The Penguins will play Florida on home ice on Tuesday, and then comes an important home-and-away series with Columbus, on Thursday and Saturday.
