Pittsburgh Penguins Rout Devils 8-3 after 7 Unanswered Goals

The Pittsburgh Penguins pulled off a comeback and then some on Tuesday night, rallying from 3-1 deficit to finish with an 8-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils following a final 30 minutes that saw Pittsburgh score seven unanswered goals.

The offensive balance sought by Pittsburgh’s head office this summer was on full display tonight, as the Penguins got goals from seven different scorers, spread among all four lines, with captain Sidney Crosby the only one to record multiple tallies.

Despite the dominant final score, the first half of the contest was a shaky one for Pittsburgh.

New Jersey’s Dainius Zubrus got things going early (real early) with a quick goal just nine seconds into the game. Blake Comeau would tie it up for the Pens before the first period’s close, however, allowing the Pens to recoup.

The second period didn’t start any better than the first, though. With the Pens on the man-advantage after an early holding call, Jersey’s Jacob Josefson exposed the weakness of Pittsburgh’s four-forward powerplay as he slipped through the legs of Evgeni Malkin on the point and broke free for a shorthanded breakaway goal. The Devils added a third goal just a few minutes later, as the Pens looked to be unraveling.

Another penalty from the Devils, however, offered Malkin a chance at redemption. The powerful Russian took full advantage as he dropped to one knee and buried a one-timer into the top right corner. The powerplay marker would key an unending rush of offensive chances for Pittsburgh as they went on to score six more goals, including two more on the man-advantage.

While the Penguins’ most lethal scorers played a key role in this one, with Malkin, Crosby, and Patric Hornqvist all scoring for the black & gold, it was their depth that truly keyed them to a win.

Depth forwards Steve Downie, Pascal Dupuis, Brandon Sutter, and Comeau all finished with two points apiece. Oft-maligned fourth-liner Craig Adams even chipped in with a goal – tucking in a beauty after breaking free from the penalty box, giving the Pens their first lead of the game.

On the defensive side, Olli Maatta, Simon Despres, and Kris Letang led the way as the three defenders combined for four points.

While Pittsburgh’s offense delivered a season-best performance that masked the team’s early mistakes, the Pens still showed their defensive flaws through their first half of the game. With a touch match-up against the reigning champion Los Angeles Kings on the horizon, the Pens will have to shore up these defensive holes as soon as possible.

What did you think of the game, Pens fans? Comment below and let us know!