The game was not well played nor a sparkling example of the capabilities of the Pittsburgh Penguins, yet they beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 at PPG Paints Arena.
Evgeni Malkin had a pair of goals, Michael Bunting stirred the pot, and Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 17 of 19 shots. Malkin’s parents were back in town for the first time since before the COVID pandemic, and the Penguins center played an inspired game.
Must Read: Penguins Grades — Sloppy Effort, New Players Drag Pens Into Fight
The Penguins yielded far too many odd-man rushes but avoided giving up the third goal. Sidney Crosby registered two assists, closing in on Wayne Gretzky’s record of 19 seasons with a point-per-game.
In the latest Penguins postgame video, PHN’s Dan Kingerski analyzed the four players that made the difference Thursday but also answered the two primary questions that poured in on X: Why did coach Mike Sullivan start Alex Nedeljkovic, and why was Jeff Carter back in the lineup.
The answer to the former may surprise just a bit.
Dan also had a little surprise regarding the playoff race that put everything in a different context.
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