PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh PenguinsAfter a long layoff I was able to get a solid start of six goals.
The third-period lull was allowed San Jose SharksBack into the game, however Evan RodriguesAnd Bryan RustWhen Pittsburgh was most in need, he came through.
Both Rust and Rodrigues completed hat tricks in third period. Sunday’s win by the Penguins was 8-5. This is their eighth consecutive win and first since Dec. 19.
According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Sunday was the first time the Penguins had two hat tricks in a single game since Dec. 11, 2008. Petr SykoraAnd Pascal DupuisThat night, six goals were scored together.
Mike Sullivan, Penguins coach, said that he loved the way they started. “We brought a lot of energy to the game at the beginning. We were rewarded but, as a result, you have to fight against your human nature to be diligent when you reach that many goals.
As the Pens took a 6-1 lead after the first period, Rust and Rodrigues each scored twice. Both scored insurance goals in the final period. Rodrigues completed his first career hat-trick with 2:01 remaining and Rust made it a 1-0 with 11 seconds left. Rust recorded a career-high five points.
Rust stated, “I was shocked that any hats were left.”
Stanley Cup champions and legend names are the hallmarks of an eminent franchise like this one. Mario Lemieux, Jaromir JagrAnd Sidney CrosbyHistory is rarely made on a random Sunday. Rust and Rodrigues were able to make the club’s history.
San Jose scored three goals in the first period of 4:09, but couldn’t overcome the massive deficit that led to goalie’s early exit. James Reimer. Alexander Barbanov, Brent Burns, Matt Nieto, Jacob MiddletonAnd Logan CoutureFor the Sharks:
Sharks defenseman: “If you had told me it would be a one-goal match with 2 1/2 and 3 minutes remaining in the third, I don’t think anyone would believe that.” Erik Karlsson said.
Casey DeSmithIn place of starter, made 22 saves in Pittsburgh Tristan JarryThe fourth Penguin in COVID-19 protocols is, Pittsbugh hadn’t played since Dec.
Kasper BjorkqvistHis first NHL goal was scored. Jake GuentzelHis 16th win of the season was for the Penguins. They have won eight consecutive games for the first time in their history. It is the first consecutive win for Pittsburgh since the 2018-19 campaign.
Rodrigues has scored a record 13 goals this season, and has seven goals and five points in his last four games. In the first four minutes of play, he scored twice.
The Sharks won two consecutive games, including an 8-7 win over Arizona Dec. 28. They’ve lost four out of seven overall.
Reimer was responsible for six goals on 17 first period shots. Reimer was replaced by Zach Sawchenko in the second period. He made 20 saves during his NHL debut.
Sawchenko stated that he understood the current situation. “I was trying give the team a spark. We made a comeback but fell short of our goals.
Six goals or more were scored by the Penguins in a single period, which was their 16th consecutive franchise record and the first since Nov. 27, 2019. Pittsburgh tied the team record for scoring the most goals in a single period. Only three times has Pittsburgh scored more than six goals per period in its history, the most recent being Feb. 27, 1995.
Burns scored a power-play goal in the second period, and then the Sharks reduced it to 6-5 very early in the 3rd.
DeSmith misplayed Nieto’s point shot at 20 seconds in the period. It caromed off of the end boards and banked off the Penguins’ goaltender, landing in the net.
Middleton’s slapshot from the point made it two-goal at 3:01 in the third. Couture was playing in his 800th NHL match and finished a one timer. Timo MeierMake it 6-5 by 4:09.
To the delight of the home crowd, Rust and Guentzel both played their first game after long absences. Rust had missed the previous 11 games with a lower body injury. Guentzel, on the other hand, hadn’t played since Dec. 6th at Seattle due to an upper-body injury.
Guentzel scored 13 goals in his 13 last games. He has scored goals in all of his previous six games as well as points in each one of his past 14 games. Guentzel, along with Dupuis in the 2011-12 season, is the second Penguin to have scored a point in all 14 of his appearances in the past 10 years.
This report was contributed by The Associated Press.