It wasn’t the way they drew it up beforehand, but the Penguins got the two points they were seeking last night with a dramatic come-from-behind win over Columbus. It was the Penguins’ first win over a Metro Division rival since December 20th, snapping a nine-game division losing streak. Paul Steigerwald reports on the overtime win.
Coach Mike Sullivan says his veteran team knows they can’t play the game the way they’ve been playing lately.
Sullivan says winger Jason Zucker is having his best season since coming to the Penguins, now that he is finally healthy, and his teammates are feeding off his energy.
Goaltender Tristan Jarry was chased from the game when the Blue Jackets scored their fourth goal early in the second period. Jarry made only eight saves on twelve shots. Sullivan says his All-Star goaltender it’s been tough for Jarry to find his game since returning from two injury-plagued months.
Penguins left wing Jason Zucker scored two more goals last night to give him 21 on the season. He says the Pens were lucky to be able to get the two points, and it was keyed by Jake Guentzel’s goal at the start of the third period.
Zucker has been a powerful force for the Penguins this season, both on the ice and off it. He says he is finally healthy and confident.
The Penguins played shorthanded, with forward Bryan Rust missing the game for personal reasons and another forward, newly-acquired Mikael Granlund, out with illness. Forward Alex Nylander was called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earlier in the day to replace Ryan Poehling in the lineup. Poehling was placed on long-term injured reserve.
The Pens play the New York Islanders tomorrow night at PPG Paints Arena. They are 0-3 against the Islanders this year and trail them by a point in the Metro standings. The Islanders and Penguins hold the final two Wild Card playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, with Florida trailing Pittsburgh by three points.
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