It was closer than you’d like to see against the 30th place team in the league. It was also a much needed two points. The Penguins squeaked by the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 in overtime on a Jake Guentzel goal on a 2v1. The goal came after the Penguins allowed a 2-0 in the overtime session to Trevor Zegras and Cam Fowler.
"JAKE GUENTZEL HAS JUST BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN! PENGUINS WIN IN OVERTIME!" pic.twitter.com/lnqt6MqsVS
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 17, 2023
Before the team could even get to over time they had to score with about 25 seconds left in a desperate last attempt. It was Bryan Rust who scored the huge goal which effectively took the Penguins from zero points to two.
With 24.8 seconds left 🤯 pic.twitter.com/K0CTrXePwL
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 17, 2023
The issues with this team are well documented. Until their GM decides to take action my expectations are tempered. Taking two points on any night is a good thing with the current situation. Although, there’s an argument a loss to the Anaheim Ducks would have created a sky is falling situation where the roster issues could no longer be ignored by ownership. It certainly would have been a vibe today if Bryan Rust didn’t get the goal he did at the end of the game.
Even if there are no moves on the horizon there are some positives on the way. Both Kris Letang and Jeff Petry are moving towards making a return to the lineup.
Per Coach Sullivan: We anticipate Kris Letang will rejoin the team over the next day or so.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 16, 2023
Archibald and Jarry skated this morning on their own.
Poehling and Petry skated with the team this morning and are one step closer to a return.
I assume we’ll get some updates about Letang’s injury and his new timeline. He suffered a lower-body injury before his father’s passing.
Jeff Petry, who is wearing a white no-contact jersey, is skating with the team for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury on Dec. 10. Ryan Poehling (upper body) is also taking part in a white no-contact jersey.
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) January 16, 2023
Mike Sullivan said both Petry and Poehling have made significant progress. It looks like the Penguins will be getting at least one of their top four right defenseman back in the near future. Hopefully, last night was the last game the team is missing all three of their right-handed defensemen (Letang, Petry, Rutta).
Jon Gruden made his NHL debut for the Penguins last night. He also rang the post and came close to scoring his first career goal. Seven’s were wild for Gruden. He played 7 minutes and had a CF 7 and CA 7 on the evening. All in all a successful debut and a good moment in his career. Moving forward it appears Ryan Poehling and Josh Archibald will be healthy. Gruden will go back down to WB/S.
The home and home with the Ottawa Senators is next on the agenda. Things will kick off tomorrow night in Ottawa with the return battle happening in Pittsburgh on Friday. There should be some internal roster help at some point this week.
Thanks for reading!