Jeff Carter Scores First Goal as Penguin; Dumoulin Scores 100-Foot Goal

On Tuesday, the New Jersey Devils were being generous guests. The Pittsburgh Penguins scored only six goals in the previous three games but exploded for a four-spot in the first period at PPG Paints Arena, including Jeff Carter and his first goal as a Penguins center.

The Penguins led 4-0 after the first 20 minutes, and New Jersey goalie Scott Wedgewood earned a few Bronx cheers in the process.

We’ll begin with Carter’s first marker in black and gold. After nearly a decade in Los Angeles, the Penguins acquired the 6-foot-3 forward at the NHL trade deadline. Late in the first period of his fourth game with the Penguins, he slapped a bouncing puck past the rattled Wedgewood for the Penguins’ fourth goal of the period.

Jeff Carter had one assist in his first three games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. This season, he has 21 points (including the goal above) and nine goals in 43 games (and one period).

The Penguins earned a 3-0 lead midway through the first period. Brian Dumoulin scored his third goal of the season, but probably one of the most unlikely goals of his hockey life.

Brian Dumoulin chipped the puck into the zone from the red line. A moment later, the red light was lit. The bouncing puck skipped right past Wedgewood as the PPG Paints Arena crowd roared.

Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson scored the first goal of the period on a hard shot from the point, which eluded Wedgewood because of a screen by Jason Zucker.

Sidney Crosby sprang winger Bryan Rust for a breakaway goal in the middle of the first period, and just 45 seconds before Dumoulin’s “excuse me” goal from center ice.

The Penguins have won three of the previous five games against New Jersey and trail the first-place Washington Capitals by three points for first place in the East Division.

The Penguins made it 5-0 in the first 72 seconds of the second period when Teddy Blueger scored, too.