Pittsburgh desperately needed a result against Columbus and got one. They defeated the Blue Jackets by a score of 5-2.
Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel led the way with two goals apiece and Matt Murray earned his first career victory in the process.
The Penguins dominated the last place Blue Jackets
CBJ vs. PIT 2015-12-21 pic.twitter.com/RJahUMo54X
— DTM About Heart (@DTMAboutHeart) December 22, 2015
Pittsburgh only allowed 32 shot attempts at even-strength which was the second best number they have posted all season. In fact Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Carolina was the best at 28. Mike Sullivan is accomplishing what Mike Johnston tried to by playing successful defense. Shot attempts are also up. Three of the Penguins six best games in shot generation have come under Mike Sullivan.
The win doesn’t save their season but a loss was another step towards ending it. Pittsburgh has been a better team under Mike Sullivan but the team does not have the luxury of playing well without results right now. Good process will win out over time but Pittsburgh’s recent losing streak has eliminated time as an asset.
Pittsburgh’s offensive depth which was supposed to be a strength has not been so far this year. Last night that depth stepped up. David Perron and Nick Bonino both had two assists. Also helping were Patric Hornqvist, Scott Wilson, Olli Maatta, Trevor Daley, David Warsofsky, Matt Cullen, and Chris Kunitz with one point each. For Warsofky it was his first career NHL goal and Wilson his first NHL point.
Nick Bonino had a very nice 2 on 1 with Phil Kessel which yielded the kind of goal we all thought would happen when Kessel joined the Penguins
Kessel gives Pens a 3-1 lead pic.twitter.com/rCL8Jnnj3j
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 22, 2015
Phil Kessel has 11 goals in 33 games and is currently on pace for 27 goals. I think he will finish above 30 but the 40 goal plateau that has alluded him to this point in the year will remain out of reach.
Matt Murray stopped 22 out of the 24 pucks that Columbus threw towards the Penguins net. He has provided the Penguins with two quality starts in his two career games. He has an EVSV% of .951. He should be the everyday starter as long as Marc-Andre Fleury is out of action.
An update on Dalton Prout
Told no further discipline for #CBJ Prout. Given a double-minor for high-sticking at end of 5-2 loss to #Pens.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) December 22, 2015
the two dubinsky incidents (crosscheck on crosby, knee on voracek) plus the prout attack resulted in a total of one game of suspension.
— rl (yung intelligece (@twolinepass) December 22, 2015
Not all Columbus players are evil. Ryan Johansen showed he has normal temperament by giving a stick to a fan. Johansen checked Ian Cole through the glass and it fell in the area of the kid.
.@RyanJohansen19 = gentleman pic.twitter.com/bxoQ2qebja
— NHL Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) December 22, 2015
Maybe being a decent human being is why he is on the trading block.
Pittsburgh doesn’t play again until Saturday and I believe that it is likely to see both Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang in the lineup.
Thanks for reading!