The Penguins and Rangers met for the first time in the 2021-22 season and both teams showed up ready to go. It was a well-played game featuring stellar goaltending from the Vezina front runner and potential Hart winner, Igor Shesterkin.
Tristan Jarry was also up for the challenge and earned the shutout victory bucking a recent downward trend for the Penguins netminder.
Igor Shesterkin saved 1.2 goals above expected for the #NYR today. Tristian Jarry stood tall between the pipes for the Penguins, saving 2.35 more goals than expected via @EvolvingHockey
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) February 26, 2022
Given the upcoming schedule for Pittsburgh these two points are a really good get especially since Shesterkin played great and that is usually the recipe for the Rangers success.
There was only one goal in the contest and it belonged to Evgeni Malkin on the power play. Kris Letang did a great job keeping the puck in on his backhand and getting the puck down low to Sidney Crosby. Bryan Rust filled a soft spot for support which Crosby utlized. Rust didn’t waste any time slipping the puck across the high-danger area to a wide-open Malkin who made no mistake about it.
HE WILL BE FIRE 🔥
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 26, 2022
Evgeni Malkin extends his point streak to five games with this power-play tally (3G-3A). Of Geno's eight goals this season, five of them have come on the man advantage. pic.twitter.com/egX9R78idA
Just a nice sequence involving skilled players. That’s what it takes to beat Shesterkin with the year he is having. The goal also moves Malkin past Mario Lemieux for career game winning goals with the Penguins.
That was Evgeni Malkin’s 75th career game-winning goal, surpassing Mario Lemieux for sole place of second-most in franchise history.
— Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH) February 26, 2022
Jaromir Jagr is in first with 78.
Mike Matheson’s replacement came in the form of Mark Friedman who did a great job in his first game back
Mark Friedman played 11:30 at 5v5 today. The Penguins with him on the ice during that time:
— Danny Shirey (@DannyShireyPGH) February 26, 2022
14 shot attempts
1 attempt against
98.3% expected goals share
via Natural Stat Trick
While I don’t expect these kinds of results on a nightly basis it highlights the role he is filling in for should be one he can survive in. The Penguins should be able to absorb the Matheson injury successfully.
For whatever reason the ESPN feed I had access to did not have the play by play or color commentary on the broadcast. It was awesome! I know it wasn’t intentional, but with things clearly moving to exclusively streaming in the next decade this should be an intentional feature eventually. It felt way closer to being at a real game. It was like having a seat in the 200 level with great access to replays. It was great just hearing the sounds from the ice without somebody else talking over it. I know this won’t be a thing, but I wish it were.
There is a quick turnaround for the Penguins as they are back in action tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Columbus struggles defensively. They rank in the bottom of the league in expect goals against per 60
Helping the cause for the Blue Jackets how they have scored goals way above average this season. They are fourth in the league
Columbus last played Friday and lost 4-0 to Carolina. They should be rested and ready to go.
Thanks for reading!