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Penguins Locker Room: What Rust, Jarry & Sullivan Had to Say About Stifling Win

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Pittsburgh Penguins, Bryan Rust

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Pittsburgh Penguins locked it down against the Winnipeg Jets. The errors were removed from their game. The top players played like, well, top players. And the Penguins beat the Jets, 3-0.

Tristan Jarry, Bryan Rust, and Mike Sullivan spoke after the Penguins’ win. There were three of us working the small locker room, which quickly emptied out because the Penguins had to get to Chicago for a night’s sleep and the game on Sunday. (PHN will be there, Air Canada with a connection through Toronto willing. I’m holding my breath on that one).

Get the PHN game recap here.

There were plenty of good grades on the Report Card, but a couple of Cs, too. I almost gave one D. Get the PHN+ Penguins grades.

It’s been a cold and unique two days in Winnipeg. From the kids lining the hallway, cheering and asking for high-fives as the guys came and went to practice, to the cleanest Penguins performance of the season.

I don’t know if the guys realized how much the kids’ enthusiasm helped. That Friday practice was crisp. They were flying. And they were having a lot of fun. I don’t think it was a coincidence.

Also, I just found out there’s a skywalk from the arena to the street behind my hotel. I twice showed up at the arena with a bright red nose and icicle ears. The people here are incredibly friendly. Even when you impose just a bit, they make space. How ironic, the coldest city in the NHL might have the warmest people.

Of course, the Penguins’ win allowed us to ask more probative questions. Things haven’t been going well, and their starts have not been so hot. When things are bad, the players tend to shorten the answers, and it might violate professional conduct to ask, “What the hell?”

On Saturday, you could tell from the drop that the Penguins were doing their best to play simply. Whether or not they could maintain it was a running question, which they answered in the affirmative.

You can always see the postgame video and wrap-up on our YouTube channel. The arena closes early in Winnipeg. I didn’t have time to do standup at ice level, but there’s always the next game (Chicago).

First, Bryan Rust. He broke his seven-game scoreless streak. The smile was genuine, and that goal was a huge relief.

 

Tristan Jarry, “I thought the guys did a great job. They were boxing out early. I could see the puck.”

It’s always fun when an athlete just rejects the question. Jarry also shut down any notion that he changed his approach, “No.”

 

Mike Sullivan might have an easier job in the coming days. His Pittsburgh Penguins were rewarded for doing the little things right and avoiding the big mistakes.