Penguins Nostalgia Triumphs; Malkin, Crosby Beat Fleury

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Nearly 22 years after the Pittsburgh Penguins made goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury the first pick in the 2003 NHL Draft and eight years after the sides parted company following their 2017 Stanley Cup championship, the Penguins and Fleury faced each other for the final time.

But it was the Penguins goalie with his own backstory who stole the show. Tristan Jarry made his first NHL start since Jan. 14 and stopped 29 of 30 for the win.

Fittingly, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby scored the Penguins’ goals against Fleury, and Crosby scored the empty netter for a 3-1 Penguins win at Xcel

The Penguins were generally responsible Sunday, but Minnesota converted a four-on-one late in the third period after a dubious non-call as defenseman Conor Timmins was knocked down from behind and Minnesota swarmed. Ryan Hartman (8) finally broke the Penguins shutout at 14:54.

Hartman’s goal sliced the Penguins comfortable lead to 2-1.

The games within the games are as important, if not more so, for the Penguins as players fight for their futures, and management evaluates those who will and those who will not be part of those future plans.

Or, as the Penguins general manager referred to it Friday, “the program.”

One of the players most in danger of not being part of those plans is Jarry.

Jarry cleared his first hurdle on the first shift of the game when he stopped the first shot. While stopping the first shot of the game might sound perfunctory, and it certainly is to most teams, Jarry unleashed an epidemic upon the Penguins season by allowing a goal on the first shot. The Penguins are currently one goal shy of tying the NHL record (14).

In fact, Jarry was quite good for the entirety Sunday. He stopped all 10 shots he faced in the first period, including Minnesota top-liner Matt Bouldy, whom the Penguins defense didn’t feel a need to cover mid-way through the first. Bouldy deked and attempted to slip his shot through the five-hole, but Jarry kept his paddle in proper position and made the save.

However, the Penguins defensemen continued to have issues throughout the period.

The second period was a contest of special teams and goaltending, and the Penguins won both battles. Minnesota’s penalty killing is ranked 31st in the NHL, but they well contained the Penguins’ power play until the final seconds of the second attempt.

Just a few feet to the right side of the net, Malkin (13) pounced on Kris Letang’s rebound before Fleury could get his pads to the ice. The moment surely had a bittersweet moment. If anyone should beat Fleury during his final game against the Penguins, it just had to be one of the Penguins’ original core four (Crosby, Letang, Malkin, Fleury) who won the 2009, 2016, and 2017 Stanley Cups.

Aside from the goal, the teams struggled to generate consistent offense. After 40 minutes, Minnesota outshot the Penguins only 20-13. In fact, the Penguins weathered a four-minute Minnesota power play when Vladislav Kolyachonok high-sticked Hartman.

The Penguins’ penalty killers didn’t allow a shot for about 3:15 of the four minutes, and Jarry made a pair of fine saves on deflections in the final moments of the power play.

Jarry was stellar Sunday, he stopped the first 29 shots, before Hartman scored on the 30th.

Fleury stopped 16 of the first 18 shots and 21 of 23 overall.

Penguins Notes

The only Penguins player to have more than one hit in the first 40 minutes was newly Connor Dewar, who had two.

Erik Karlsson led all players with five turnovers.

Sidney Crosby won seven of his first nine faceoffs, and the Penguins won 64% overall.

Coach Mike Sullivan became the first American-born coach to win 400 NHL games with one team.

Penguins Lines:

Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Tommy Novak-Evgeni Malkin-Emil Bemstrom

Connor Dewar-Kevin Hayes-Philip Tomasino

Boko Imama-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari

Defense

Ryan Shea-Kris Letang

Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson

Valdislav Kolyachonok-Conor Timmins