The Pittsburgh Penguins (29-32-10) are not going into the night quietly. They are picking up wins against opponents who dominated them most of the season, earning their first victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night by a 6-3 score.
Earlier in the campaign, the Blue Jackets picked up 6-2 and 4-3 (SO) wins, but the Penguins were on a different level Friday. They jumped out to a 1-0 lead and never looked back as Sidney Crosby inches closer to establishing a new NHL record.
Let’s discuss Pittsburgh’s latest triumph.
Nedeljkovic Shines in Return
When Tristan Jarry came back from the AHL, he went on a four-game win streak, all but stealing the crease back from Alex Nedeljkovic. After losing to the New York Islanders, head coach Mike Sullivan gave Nedeljkovic his first start in 14 days, and he didn’t disappoint with 44 saves, hardly showing any signs of rust.
Penguins: Sidney Crosby’s Chase Of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL Point-Per-Game RecordPittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is on pace to break a Wayne Gretzky record many people thought would never fall; most seasons (19) averaging a point-per-game average.
Last year, Nedeljkovic led the late-season playoff push that ended short of the cut-off, but he’s been the savior in the crease this season. Because of his performance on Friday, there’s a new goalie controversy building in Pittsburgh. Which netminder should start against the top team in the Atlantic Division, the Florida Panthers, on Sunday?
Nedeljkovic showed, even with time off, that he’s locked in, so Sullivan should ride the hot hand into another marquee matchup.
Number 29
Bokondji Imama scored his first goal of the season midway through the second period and came within an assist from completing a Gordie Howe hat trick as he fought Mathieu Olivier in the first.
By lighting the lamp at 8:15, Imama became the 29th different Penguins scorer this season, which leads the league in the category.
Can Penguins Achieve Goal Scoring Feat For Second Time In Crosby Era?Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Joona Koppanen scored his first NHL goal on Tuesday night against the New York Islanders.
Moreover, Imama, who has skated in only 14 games this season, scored his first NHL goal since Apr. 23, 2022, when he was a member of the Arizona Coyotes.
In 24 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he’s scored three goals with five points and 47 penalty minutes. Unafraid to mix it up, Imama has 16 penalty minutes in the NHL this season and has made the most of his limited opportunities in black and gold.
Will Malkin Finish the Season on a Tear?
Ahead of the Blue Jackets game, Evgeni Malkin had one goal in the previous nine contests, with just two assists for three points and a minus-5 rating.
He poked home the first goal on Friday and looked energized, finishing the evening with four shots on goal, his first four-shot game since Nov. 13, 2024, against the Detroit Red Wings.
‘He Loves Being A Penguin’: Unlikely Hero Emerges As Penguins Defeat Blue Jackets, 6-3In what was a must-win game for both of the teams on the ice Friday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins sure came ready to play.
Even though it is one goal, it is the type of play that could spark Malkin to finish the year and possibly push him to aim for his 16th-goal campaign since he currently sits at 14. Moreover, the future Hall of Famer needs only five more points to finish with 50.
Ultimately, Malkin needs nine points in the final 11 games to reach 1,350 in his career, which would be a fantastic achievement in an unusual down here for the Penguins’ oldest player. Despite all the ups and downs, Malkin still has a chance to prove he is one of the NHL’s most feared forwards.
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