Pittsburgh Penguins: Revisiting Jason Zucker’s Biggest Games
By Rob Joncas
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Jason Zucker prior to the trade deadline on Feb. 10, 2020, and for all intents and purposes, it seems like he is a perfect fit with the club. In 12 games with Pittsburgh, Zucker has scored 6 goals and 11 points.
When the Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild executed their deal to bring Zucker to Pittsburgh, it wasn’t the first time the teams had discussed a trade for the proficient left-winger.
The Penguins were linked to Zucker in the summer of 2019, but Phil Kessel flexed his no-trade clause and put an end to a deal at that time.
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford proved his tenacity yet again and finally got his man by sending Alex Galchenyuk, Calen Addison and a conditional 2020 first-round pick to the Wild.
Zucker’s Condensed stats:
- 10 – three-point games
- 38 – two-point games
- 140 – single point games
- 138 goals and 254 points in 468 games
- 24 game-winning goals
- Four goals and 8 points in 31 playoff games
- 0 for 2 on penalty shots
- 2018-2019 King Clancy Award winner
Fun Fact:
When Zucker joined the Penguins he was reunited with his 2011 Team U.S.A teammates Nick Bjugstad and Brian Dumoulin
While we wait to see what else Zucker has in store with the Penguins, here is a look back at 5 of his biggest games.
Language Lessons
Nov. 9, 2017
This early Nov. game in Montreal provided the setting for one of Zucker’s biggest games.
Zucker provided all the offense as he rattled off three-straight goals (two on Charlie Lindgren and one on an empty net) to help the Wild earn a 3-0 victory over Les Canadiens.
Zucker finished the evening with three goals on 7 shots and even found the time to take a high-sticking call between the flurry of goals.
Feb. 27, 2018
Sometimes it’s better to give than to receive, as Zucker found out in the mid-winter battle vs. Blues.
Zucker collected a goal and four assists in the only 5 point game of his career.
Zucker opened the scoring with his 26th goal on the season on the power-play and earned assists on all three of Eric Staal‘s goals. All-in-all the Wild captured an 8-3 victory over the Blues and Zucker had set a new personal record.
Turning Another Trick
Mar. 7, 2019
Nearly a year has passed since Zucker collected the second hat trick of his career.
Zucker put on a clinic of efficiency, as he scored three goals on three shots against Tampa goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and an empty net.
The goals proved to be all the Wild needed to zap the juggernaut Lightning by a score of 3-0.
May 5, 2013
Arguably Zucker’s biggest game occurred in game three of the 2013 Western Conference Quarter-Finals vs. Chicago.
Down 2-0 in the series, Minnesota was looking to secure a victory at home and keep themselves from going down 3-0 to the eventual Stanley Cup winners.
The Wild held a slim 2-1 lead heading into the dying minutes of the third period until a Duncan Keith goal at the 17:41 mark notched the game up two goals apiece.
With the two teams heading into overtime Zucker and future Penguin “dad,” Matt Cullen connected on a goal just 2:15 into the extra frame to give Minnesota the only victory of the series and give Zucker one the biggest games of his career.
Best Yet to Come?
Mar. 3, 2020
Although Zucker has had a couple “big” games with Pittsburgh so far, scoring two goals on two occasions and adding two game-winning goals. It was the game earlier this month that held larger implications for the Penguins.
Zucker earned one goal and three points vs Ottawa, to help Pittsburgh break out of their 6 game rut with a 7-3 victory over the Senators.
What do you think about Zucker’s impact thus far? Drop a comment below?