Hold on to your hats, hockey fans! The Pittsburgh Penguins absolutely exploded against the Edmonton Oilers, delivering a stunning 6-2 victory that left everyone, especially former Penguin goalie Tristan Jarry, reeling. But how did this unexpected rout unfold? Let's dive in.
Pregame Surprises:
Both teams received unexpected boosts before the puck even dropped. The Penguins welcomed back Erik Karlsson a full two weeks ahead of schedule – a huge defensive lift. Arturs Silovs got the nod in goal. Meanwhile, the Oilers were thrilled to have Leon Draisaitl back from a family matter in Germany, just in time to face off. And, adding extra intrigue, Tristan Jarry, now an Oiler, was set to face his former team for only the second time. The stage was set for a potentially emotional and high-stakes game.
First Period: An Avalanche of Goals
The Penguins came out like a team possessed. Just minutes into the game, Anthony Mantha found himself behind the Oilers' defense, thanks to a beautiful pass from Justin Brazeau. Mantha made no mistake, slipping the puck past Jarry. But here's where it gets controversial... Replays suggested Mantha might have been offside. The Oilers immediately called a timeout, scrutinizing the play from every angle. Ultimately, they decided against challenging the call, and the goal stood. Should they have challenged? That's a debate that's likely still raging in Edmonton!
And the Penguins weren't done. A mere 22 seconds later, Mantha struck again! This time, he broke free in the neutral zone, once again capitalizing on a Brazeau feed for a breakaway. Jarry tried to make the save, but Mantha beat him low, extending the lead to 2-0. The Oilers looked completely shell-shocked.
Then, just 15 seconds after that, Sidney Crosby joined the party. Ryan Shea threw a puck towards the net, and Crosby, seemingly out of nowhere, deflected it past a bewildered Jarry. Three goals in a blistering 37 seconds! You could almost feel Jarry's despair from the stands. What was going through his head facing his old team?
Edmonton desperately needed something positive. Connor Dewar nearly provided it, ringing a shot off the post. Silovs then made a crucial save at the other end to keep the Oilers off the board. The Penguins then received their first power play. Bryan Rust fired a good shot, but Jarry managed to stop it. Connor McDavid then exploded up the ice, with Crosby doing his best to keep pace. Crosby even interfered with McDavid's hands a few times, leading to offsetting penalties. The Penguins successfully killed off the penalty.
The period continued to be a rollercoaster. Evgeni Malkin set up Egor Chinakhov in front, but a sprawling Jarry somehow kept the puck out. The play immediately swung back the other way, with Zach Hyman beating Silovs, only to be denied by the post! The puck then sat precariously on the goal line, but miraculously stayed out amidst a frantic scramble. Talk about a lucky escape!
Adding to the drama, Connor Clifton delivered a heavy hit on Mattias Janmark, sending him crashing into the boards from behind, further escalating the tension.
In summary, the first period was nothing short of breathtaking. Pittsburgh stormed out to a 3-0 lead with that incredible 37-second goal barrage. While Edmonton outshot the Penguins 13-9, they couldn't find the back of the net. A truly wild opening frame!
Second Period: Malkin Magic
McDavid started the second period by taking a slashing penalty against Erik Karlsson. And this is the part most people miss... Even while shorthanded, the Oilers managed to score! Jake Walman capitalized on the penalty kill, making it a 3-1 game.
However, the Penguins quickly responded. On a delayed penalty against the Oilers, Pittsburgh executed a beautiful 6-on-5 play. Malkin, with an incredible pass from behind the net, threaded the puck through multiple sticks to find Rickard Rakell, who then fired an equally impressive wrist shot past Jarry. 4-1 Penguins! The goal negated the Oilers' penalty, a fortunate turn for Pittsburgh's struggling power play.
Bouchard then hit the crossbar for the Oilers. Shortly after, Malkin stole the puck from McDavid and, despite being at the tail end of a 1:21 shift, broke away towards the net. He deked to his backhand, and despite seemingly running out of room, he created just enough space to slide the puck past Jarry. 5-1 Penguins! Malkin was putting on a show.
With just over three minutes remaining in the period, Ben Kindel accidentally shot the puck over the glass, giving Edmonton another power play. The Oilers spent considerable time in the offensive zone, but the Penguins' penalty kill unit, led by some stellar saves from Silovs, held strong.
To quote the legendary Doc Emerick: "What action!" The second period was another captivating display of hockey, highlighted by Malkin's two moments of sheer brilliance. The Penguins entered the third period with a commanding four-goal lead.
Third Period: Sealing the Deal
The Penguins weren't content to sit back and defend. Novak entered the zone and delivered a seemingly routine pass to Egor Chinakhov. But there was nothing routine about Chinakhov's shot, which blazed into the net so quickly that Malkin nearly scored on the rebound! 6-1 Penguins.
Edmonton managed to score a consolation goal late in the game. Matt Savoie unleashed a top-shelf shot from the right faceoff circle with about six minutes remaining, making the score 6-2.
The remainder of the game played out without much further incident. Pittsburgh secured a convincing win, capping off another strong performance.
Final Thoughts and Observations:
- Let's be honest, that first Mantha goal probably should have been called back for offside. The Edmonton video team had access to better replay angles and technology, so their decision not to challenge suggests it was either too close to call or they saw something we didn't. Still, it looked mighty close!
- The Oilers played a "welcome back" video for Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak during the first TV timeout, resulting in a standing ovation. However, with the score already 3-0 at that point, many fans were likely questioning the trade that brought them to Edmonton, at least for one night.
- Three goals in 37 seconds is a rare sight in the NHL.
- Crosby's competitive fire was on full display as he chased down McDavid, even taking slashing penalties along the way. It was clear that Crosby wasn't going to let McDavid get away.
- Jack St. Ivany absorbed the full force of a slapshot from Evan Bouchard, leaving him visibly shaken. Yet, he returned for the start of the second period, demonstrating his toughness.
- There was much discussion about the Penguins' goalie rotation. Ultimately, when both goalies are playing well, there's no wrong choice. Silovs' performance shouldn't be overlooked, as he made 29 saves on 31 shots and kept both McDavid and Draisaitl off the scoresheet.
- While the final score suggested a blowout, the game was far from one-sided. The first goal was almost overturned, potentially changing the entire course of the game. The puck teetered on the goal line after hitting the post, and Malkin turned a near miss by Bouchard into a breakaway goal. The Penguins made their own luck, but the game could have easily swung in a different direction.
- The Penguins weren't perfect, even in victory. They were sometimes reckless with the puck, traded chances with Edmonton when they didn't need to, and even gave up a shorthanded goal. A huge goal outburst masks the imperfections.
- Malkin, at 39 years old, showcased his incredible skill and determination. His breakaway goal, in particular, was a reminder that he's still a special player.
- This marked the Penguins' first win in Edmonton since December 2019. A long time coming!
Overall, this was one of the Penguins' most thrilling and satisfying wins of the season, especially considering their struggles in Edmonton in recent years. They won their third game on this road trip and hope to finish the trip strong in Vancouver.
Now, let's hear from you! Do you think the Oilers should have challenged the first Penguins goal? Was Malkin's performance the best individual effort of the night? And can the Penguins maintain this momentum heading into the final stretch of the season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
