Guentzel HAT TRICK, Penguins Rip Bruins 4-0 to Control 3rd Place

It was the best effort by the Pittsburgh Penguins in several weeks. Winger Jake Guentzel scored the hat trick capped by a later third-period empty netter, the Penguins got secondary scoring and the defensemen played well. Head coach Mike Sullivan did a little bit of line-matching to get Sidney Crosby and Guentzel away from Boston Bruins Selke-quality center Patrice Bergeron and the Penguins beat their black-and-gold-clad guests 4-0 at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins wore the home whites and Boston wore the black and gold jerseys. Perhaps the superstitious Penguins will keep the trend.

Casey DeSmith stopped a career-best 52 shots, eclipsing his previous best of 48 set in 2018 (Stick tap, Bob Grove).

Jake Guentzel’s EN was his 40th goal of the season.

UPDATE: Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said Jeff Carter is being evaluated for a lower-body injury. He left the game in the third period.

The struggling Penguins had four days off and two solid practices on Tuesday and Wednesday, which are a rarity in the final weeks of an NHL season. It appears they put the rest to good use. The team had just three wins in their last 10 games since they destroyed the Detroit Red Wings 11-2. In that time, the Washington Capitals caught the Penguins in the Metro Division at 97 points and Boston pulled ahead by two points in a potential wild-card race.

The Penguins now control third place.

The early first period had a few ebbs and flows for both, but was otherwise a low-event start until the Penguins first line pressed midway through the period. Mike Matheson’s shot was deflected and trickled just wide. On the following rush a moment later, Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (38) stepped behind defenseman Kyle Clifton for a short breakaway goal.

The Penguins had 13 shots in the first period, and three high-danger chances, compared to 11 Boston shots and one high-danger opportunity.

Boston was able to pressure the Penguins in the second period, but the Penguins got the goal. Jeff Carter made a magnificent touch pass at the red line to spring Jason Zucker on a breakaway–again through the middle of the Boston defense. Zucker (8) ripped the shot top-shelf over Swayman.

Boston took 14 of the first 19 shots in the second period but didn’t crack the Penguins or goalie Casey DeSmith.

Later in the period, Jake Guentzel showed the results of his tutelage under Sidney Crosby, with a Crosby-esque goal. The Penguins forecheck created a busted play and Kris Letang bolted deep in the Boston zone. As defenders and Swayman converged on Letang, he slipped a pass to Guentzel deep in the corner. Despite the impossible angle and distance, Guentzel (39) hit the empty net over the diving goalie.

The game was the fourth and final game Evgeni Malkin will miss due to his suspension for cross-checking Nashville defenseman Mark Borowiecki.