The waddling dark figure the New Jersey Devils can see in their rear view mirror sure looks and moves like a Penguin. After Thursday night’s victory over the Florida Panthers the Pittsburgh Penguins are now 12-1-1 in their last 14 games. At the start of this 14-game run the Penguins were 11 points below the Devils in the standings. Today, they are only four. It is really tough to make up points in this league and to close the gap by seven in a month’s time is pretty impressive.

Tristan Jarry led the way last night stopping 32 out of 34 shots. It was another stellar performance and it was much needed. High-danger chances favored the Panthers 17-11 and Jarry was up to the task. He stopped 16 out of those 17 high-danger chances and it bought the Penguins skaters some time to get enough goals for the victory.

JARRY! JARRY! https://t.co/Ubz1HPX30G pic.twitter.com/zFGZT78buw

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 16, 2022

This was a matchup between two teams dealing with quite a number of injuries. The Panthers were without Matthew Tkachuk, Patric Hornqvist, Anthony Duclair, Radko Gudas, Anton lundell, Chris Tierney, Colin White, and Carter Verhaeghe. Pittsburgh didn’t have as long of a list, but were without Jason Zucker and Jeff Petry. The bigger issue is the way Evgeni Malkin scored his goal last night. It wasn’t with his stick. It was with his right leg.

Not the way we wanted to score. pic.twitter.com/h4ciZo5fs0

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 16, 2022

Why did this shot hurt so much. Josh Yohe of The Athletic was able to get this from Sid

An update on Geno Malkin, with a nugget that probably made that injury hurt a little more. Plus other thoughts on the Penguins’ seventh straight win as they close on the Devils. Read about it here: https://t.co/tAKb8XUvlH

— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) December 16, 2022

And here’s another nugget for you. I was talking with Crosby about the play after his gathering with reporters and he told me something interesting. Believe it or not, he hasn’t been thrilled with the velocity on his shots lately. Really. So, before the game, he opted to change sticks. He said he’ll keep using the same stick for long stretches when he’s pleased, but opted to go with this stick because it was giving him more power on his shots.
He confirmed that, indeed, the shot he fired at Malkin was hit flush.

Malkin was in great pain and left the game. Fortunately, it sounds like there is no structural damage and he should be good to go moving forward.

Here are both of Mike Sullivan’s answers on Evgeni Malkin’s injury.

“I think the preliminary prognosis is positive.” pic.twitter.com/j9PkiL4U5Y

— Danny Shirey (@DannyShireyPGH) December 16, 2022

Looks like we will get to avoid Jeff Carter, second line center, for now.

Kris Letang’s goal was only his second of the season. Even rarer, it was on the penalty kill. It was his first shorthanded goal in four years. He definitely utilized his skating to join the play on this one.

YOU LOVE TO SEE A SHORTHANDED GAME-TYING GOAL 💛 pic.twitter.com/BO9CeQgfOb

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 16, 2022

The Penguins power play was putrid in the early goings of the season. Not lately, they’ve been scoring quite a bit. It has found a level of consistency they have had in about seven seasons

Jake Guentzel's 14th goal of the season gives the @penguins power-play goals in seven-consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 17-Dec. 1, 2015. pic.twitter.com/KNptAZRL0C

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) December 16, 2022

The Penguins are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes in the standings at the moment with Carolina having a game in hand. They will meet on Sunday in what will be the Penguins next game. It will be a real good test for Pittsburgh.

Thanks for reading!

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