‘It Gives Me Juice…I’ll Tell You That,’ Sullivan and Rakell Beam in Postgame (+)

The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t waste time on Tuesday night. They had great chances in the first period, and by the middle of the second period, they pulled away from the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-1 at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins’ energy was evident from the opening puck drop, even if they trailed by a goal after the first period. The outcome didn’t seem to be in doubt, even then. The Penguins “only” had 37 shots on goal. It would have been many more had they needed them, but they led 4-1 after two periods and called off the dogs in the third.

The team was buoyed by the arrival of winger Rickard Rakell, who wore No. 67. Rakell took the red-eye from Anaheim and arrived in Pittsburgh just after 10 a.m.

He played on the third line with Jeff Carter, but head coach Mike Sullivan broke from custom and indicated Rakell wouldn’t be on the third line for long. Sullivan gave him a lesser assignment on Tuesday to ease him into the lineup because he only had a few hours of sleep and a long flight in his race to Pittsburgh.

After the game on Tuesday, we also learned that fellow Swedes Rakell and Marcus Pettersson are best buds. Rakell’s wife is from Pettersson’s hometown and recently built a cottage there.

We’ve got the video of the pair talking post-game, though we peppered most of the questions at Rakell.

Sullivan beamed when talking about the acquisition. He said Rakell won’t be on the third  Sullivan also dished some mighty praise for Jake Guentzel, too.