Pittsburgh Penguins: Reliving Jake Guentzel’s Rookie Heroics

In 2016-17 Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel leaped into second place on the NHL’s all-time list for most points scored in a playoff season by a rookie with 21 points.

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Jake Guentzel with the 77th pick in the third round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, and what a gem he turned out to be.

Guentzel earned 16 goals and 33 points in 40 regular-season games.

in honor of his historic run, here’s a look back at Guentzel’s finest performances from each series of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Round One Vs. Columbus Blue Jackets 

With the Penguins looking to get a 2-0 series lead on the Blue Jackets, Guentzel started his siege towards the scoring record by earning his first two points of the postseason.

Guentzel picked up the primary assist on Sidney Crosby‘s first goal of the playoffs in the opening period and chipped in his first career playoff goal in the second period, assisted by Crosby, who returned the favor. Pittsburgh took the game 4-1 and went up 2-0.

Arguably, game 4 of the series was Guentzel’s best of the playoffs.

Guentzel scored a game-tying goal, go-ahead goal, and game-winning goal in overtime to complete the hattrick.

The win put the Penguins up 3-0 in the series and virtually guaranteed themselves a trip to the second round.

Guntzel finished the series with 5 goals and 6 points.

Round Two Vs. Washington Capitals

The Penguins held a 2-1 series lead when Guentzel scored his 8th goal of the playoffs in game 4 of the series and it may have been one of the easiest goals of his career.

In the second period, Guentzel tried to feed a streaking Carter Rowney with a cross-crease pass, which deflected off Dmitry Orlov‘s skate and into the Washington net.

Guentzel also picked up a huge helper in the game, when he earned the secondary assist on Justin Schultz‘s game-winning, power-play goal in the third period to give the Penguins the win and a 3-1 series lead.

Guentzel’s best game of the series occurred in game 2, in a 6-2 Penguins win.

Guentzel potted two goals (one of which was the game-winner) and added an assist on Phil Kessel‘s third goal of the postseason to help Pittsburgh go up by two games.

Guentzel finished with 4 goals and 8 points during the 7 game series.

Round Three Vs. Ottawa Senators

The Senators did a great job shutting Guentzel down during their 7 games set against the Penguins.

Guentzel registered two assists, on Olli Maatta and Crosby’s goals in game 4 of the series, helping Pittsburgh take the game 3-2 and draw even at two games each.

Round Four Vs. Nashville Predators

Guentzel waited for the Stanley Cup Finals to have score two of the biggest goals of his career.

The first occurred in game one in the series after Nashville erased a 3-0 deficit to tie the game midway through the third period.

Guentzel popped in the game-winner with less than three minutes left in the game, to secure the victory for Pittsburgh.

Guentzel’s biggest game of the finals occurred in game two.

With Pittsburgh down by one goal, Guentzel’s 11th goal of the postseason tied the game up, and his second goal of the game earned gave him his third game-winning goal of the playoffs.

Pittsburgh took the game 4-1 and gave themselves a 2-0 series lead.

Guentzel finished the series with four goals and five points.

What do you feel was Guentzel’s best game with the Pittsburgh Penguins?