Penguins Grades: Patient Pens Finally Play Full 60 Minutes in 3-0 Win; Why it Matters (+)

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — “I think we’re making we’re making progress. This was one of our more conscientious games,” Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “Playing the one-goal game is a really good experience for us to go through, because you have to be diligent with the puck, and you have to make sure you have an element of patience associated with your game, so you don’t force something that’s not there. And I thought in the third period, our guys did a really good job.”

The Penguins, with dominant performances from Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, shut out the Winnipeg Jets, 3-0, at Canada Life Centre Saturday. Tristan Jarry stopped all 32 shots he faced.

The Penguins finally practiced what they have been preaching since the dawn of time. After repeating the phrase “a full 60 minutes” for quite a while, the Penguins finally did it. Every opponent will get chances, but the Penguins limited those head-scratching, eye-rolling, remote-throwing, Twitter-raging mistakes that allow opponents to fill the net.

It wasn’t the most exciting game, but winning hockey against a good team isn’t always.

“We played a good, tight game,” Jarry said.  “Especially against a bigger team like them, they wanted to get on us quickly and stay tight — I think just being able to spread the zone and play our game really helped us.”

And in the small arena, I can tell you the boys enjoyed it. They were hooting and hollering, coming off the ice, toward the room. For what’s it worth, I believe the game earned them a treat.

“We get pizza tomorrow!” could be heard from down the hallway.

The game mattered more than just making progress and more than just playing in a one-goal game.

There were a few standout performances, but not every player earned good marks. Here we go …