The Pittsburgh Penguins have long been out of the playoff chase, but their stars are still producing going into their Sunday afternoon game against the visiting Boston Bruins.
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust had a goal and an assist each for the Penguins (33-35-12, 78 points) in a 4-2 win over the host New Jersey Devils on Friday night, their second win in a row.
Crosby’s power-play goal with 6:39 left broke a 2-2 tie and was the game winner.
“It’s just accountability to one another,” Crosby said. “It’s not an easy situation. Some days it’s not as fun when you’re dropping games and you’re not going to make the (playoffs). I think it’s just up to us to help one another handle that. I thought we’ve done as good a job as we possibly could, given the situation.”
Pittsburgh has two games remaining.
Crosby has 89 points this season (32 goals, 57 assists) in 78 games. It’s his 20th season of averaging at least a point per game, which breaks Wayne Gretzky’s previous record of 19.
Valtteri Puustinen also scored, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk had two assists and Tristan Jarry made 26 saves on Friday.
“We’re not in playoffs, but we have a lot of pride on the line and we want to build something,” Grzelcyk said. “There’s so many good players who have played for a long time, and we owe it to them to keep battling and not to give up on the season.”
Rust scored into an empty net, giving a career-high 29 goals this season.
“I think he’s grown every year as a player and as a person, and I think it starts in practice,” Jarry said of Rust. “He’s the first one on the ice. He’s the one practicing his craft, and I think that it’s no surprise he’s still doing that at this age (32). It’s fun to see and fun to stand back there and watch.”
The Bruins (32-39-9, 73 points), also well out of playoff contention, are coming off a 5-2 home loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night and have lost two of their last three games.
“It’s still a humbling league,” Boston coach Joe Sacco said. “It’s a good league regardless of where teams are in the standings. You have to be ready for 60 minutes, and it’s a learning lesson. You have to show up and compete for 60 minutes regardless of who you’re playing.”
Two of Boston’s lone bright spots this season produced their offense. David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie had a goal and an assist each.
Pastrnak has 102 points (42 goals, 60 assists) in 80 games and has an eight-game point streak (eight goals, 10 assists). Geekie, in his sixth NHL season, has blossomed with 31 goals and 55 points in 75 games and has a nine-game point streak (seven goals, 10 assists).
“I’m super happy and it’s well-deserved,” Pastrnak said of Geekie. “He works on his game, and you could see it this year. He’s become a real goal-scoring threat. We’re close friends, and it’s good to see him have success this whole year.”
–Field Level Media
