Things were looking up for Jason Zucker. After a long time away from the team rehabbing a core injury he was set to return to the lineup. His first game back would be in Minnesota where he spent the first nine years of his career.
Welcome back, Jason.#mnwild pic.twitter.com/0LF1TMzxnd
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 1, 2022
He registered an assist on his first shift back. He was playing on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell. So far so good. Until...
Hoping Jason Zucker is ok after a nudge from Fiala put him off balance at the boards pic.twitter.com/baocsuRFF1
— CJ Fogler AKA Perc70 #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) April 1, 2022
This really sucks. The time and effort to rehab his core injury and then have this happen almost immediately after coming back is really unfortunate. For the Penguins to be a legit threat in the playoffs they need all hands on deck and part of it is having Jason Zucker playing the way he was this year. He was playing good hockey, albeit unlucky with his shooting percentage and now another injury.
Jason Zucker was an absolute stud in his prime. One of the key pieces on the Wild several years ago. He's only played 31 games this season, but he's been very good in them. pic.twitter.com/j2QRQg4z9k
— EvolvingWild (@EvolvingWild) April 1, 2022
We don’t really have a specific update on Zucker at the moment. There are a number of things that could have gone wrong with the hit from last night. Zucker was in the locker room after the game in a suit
Teammates in sickness and in health 💛💤 pic.twitter.com/FNdtoXiy1P
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 1, 2022
We’ll see what kind of news we get in the near future.
Zucker wasn’t the only homecoming in the game last night. Jake Guentzel only gets to play in his hometown once per year and he made the most of it by scoring his 32nd goal of the year in front of family and friends.
SIX STRAIGHT GAMES WITH POWER-PLAY GOALS! pic.twitter.com/vzeqrFxYor
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 1, 2022
Because of the COVID shortened season this was the first time since 2019 Guentzel has played against the Wild in Minnesota. He scored in that game as well.
Rickard Rakell is acclimating himself to the Penguins just fine. He picked up his second and third goal with the team last night. This was his first goal
Fun fact: Jason Zucker has been back less than two minutes and he already has an assist.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 1, 2022
Rickard Rakell tallies his second goal as a member of the Penguins. pic.twitter.com/UVrpMKJii8
Since his arrival in Pittsburgh, Rickard Rakell has scored three goals in six games 🤩 pic.twitter.com/UPTvukur5e
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 1, 2022
Rickard Rakell is no stranger to going to the net since he joined the Penguins. He is always in the vicinity ready and willing to make a play. You don’t have to look like Patric Hornqvist to be an effective presence near the net. There are different ways to do it. Rakell is now another guy the Penguins can rely on to get near the front and it *should* help in the playoffs. This trade was exactly what the Penguins needed.
Last but certainly not least Evgeni Malkin ended the game in overtime
PURE DETERMINATION FROM EVGENI MALKIN!
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 1, 2022
With this overtime tally, Malkin ties Jagr for the most game-winning goals in Penguins history (78). He also has points in six-straight games (7G-4A). pic.twitter.com/HnlQfyP1Z5
The win keeps the Penguins within one point of the Rangers for home-ice advantage in round one. The Rangers still have a game in hand. Next up for the Penguins is going to be the powerhouse that is the Colorado Avalanche. Should be a fun one with all that talent on the ice.
Thanks for reading!