Penguins’ netminder Tristan Jarry can chalk up another shutout to his name—it would have been his third this season, but it goes to the team instead.
Late in the second period, Jarry collided with Adam Henrique, cutting his eyebrow. Without missing a beat, he made a beeline for the locker room. Enter Magnus Hellberg, the proverbial ‘next man up,’ tasked with preserving the Penguins’ razor-thin 1-0 lead. And preserve he did, standing tall between the pipes.
Jarry’s Lone Shutout Performance Cut Short by Injury
Tristan Jarry has had his ups and downs this season, but last night against the Ducks, he was on his game. Before he had to leave in the second period because of his injury, he was like a wall in the net. Jarry stopped all 21 shots that came his way, keeping his save percentage at a perfect 100%. It’s anyone’s guess what could have happened, but I’ll bet that if that collision hadn’t met his eyebrow, Jarry would have nailed that shutout all by himself.
Hellberg Completes the Shutout
The moment Jarry was sidelined, Magnus Hellberg had to step in during a tense part of the game. The Penguins have a reputation for letting third-period leads slip through their fingers, which only turned up the heat for Hellberg to protect that slim 1-0 advantage. But despite the jitters about the Penguins possibly dropping the ball again, Hellberg rose to the occasion.
He stopped 11 shots, keeping his save percentage flawless at 100%. Together, Jarry and Hellberg combined for a stellar 32 saves, sealing the shutout against a Ducks team that had outplayed the Penguins just a week earlier. This victory was crucial, marking a strong start to the Pens’ California trip, with two wins out of three games.
The Penguins Win 2-0 Against the Ducks
Besides the shutout performance by their goalies, the Penguins found some scoring punch from their bottom six, with Radim Zohorna snagging his third goal of the season in the opening period. Erik Karlsson and Lars Eller played the role of the setup crew. Clinging to a 1-0 lead in the third, the Penguins were itching for a bit of breathing room.
Who better to deliver than their captain? Sidney Crosby came through with his sixth goal of the season, off assists from Kris Letang and Jake Guentzel. The Penguins clinched the game 2-0, riding the wave of an unlikely goal scorer, a timely strike from their leader, and a tag-team shutout from the goaltending duo. That’s not just a win; that’s a statement.
What’s Next for the Pens?
The Pittsburgh Penguins are suiting up for a showdown with the Los Angeles Kings come November 9, 2023. The stage is set at the crypto.com Arena, with the puck dropping at 10:30 PM ET.
Armed with a 5-6-0 record, the Pens are itching to notch another victory after blanking the Ducks. Jake Guentzel is firing on all cylinders, topping the team with 14 points. But don’t count the Kings out—they’re perched high with a 7-2-2 record, even if their castle’s foundation seems a bit shaky with a 1-2-2 record on home ice. Adrian Kempe is their leading knight with 12 points.
As the Pens wrap up their California crusade, a perfect 3-0 sweep is within grasp. All eyes are on Tristan Jarry’s next move post-injury. The big question looms: Can the Pens bring their A-game and rise above the competition? This isn’t just another game—it’s a must-win. No more excuses, no margins for error.
All stats courtesy of The Score.