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Penguins Report Card: Pens Finally Beat Hurricanes, What It Really Means (+)

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Pittsburgh Penguins, Evgeni Malkin, Danton Heinen

The Pittsburgh Penguins (36-15-9) finally cracked the Carolina Hurricanes (41-13-5). After two previous failed attempts, which ended in one-goal losses including a frustrating overtime loss, the Penguins got the better of Carolina, 4-2 at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday.

The teams combined for three goals in the final two minutes, including two Penguins empty netters (Sidney Crosby, Zach Aston-Reese) and an extra-attacker goal by Carolina (Sebastian Aho).

Secondary scoring was on display as Danton Heinen earned a pretty deflection goal, and Brian Boyle unloaded his defender and charged to the net for marker.

While the Penguins got their goals from down the lineup, goalie Tristan Jarry was nearly unbeatable. Jarry made every save he should have and a handful he shouldn’t have.

However, head coach Mike Sullivan correctly referred to the Penguins recent play, including Sunday, as “a mixed bag.”

Sullivan scratched Marcus Pettersson and shuffled his defensive pairings. So what does the win and the Penguins performances, including on the blue line, mean?

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