The Penguins came into this game against the Senators, knowing they had momentum from beating the Oilers, and knowing it was a huge weekend where they could pick up a possible big 4 points. But they started out really flat, gave up the first goal on the first shot, and never recovered. Alex Nedeljkovic was pulled for Tristan Jarry after he let in goal number five and that was all she wrote in a 5-0 dud on home ice.
Final. pic.twitter.com/aTdUjkEDFQ
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 11, 2025
First Period
As previously stated, this one started out really flat for the Penguins. Same game different day as Nedeljkovic let the first shot go by him and it was 1-0 Senators thanks to Tyler Kleven.
Mike Sullivan challenged this one for goaltender interference, he sort of had a case, it was real close, but it was deemed there was no goaltender interference, and the Penguins got a delay of game penalty for a wrong challenge.
The Senators made the Penguins pay on that ensuing powerplay as Shane Pinto found the back of the net and it was 2-0 Senators.
But Pinto was not done as super late in the first period on a penalty kill, he found the back of the net again and the Penguins were stumbling. The Senators took a 3-0 lead into the second period.
The Senators take an early 1-0 lead on a deflection goal. The Penguins unsuccessfully challenged for goalie interference and are assessed a delay of game penalty.
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) January 11, 2025
Second Period
The second period was more of the same as the Penguins were shorthanded to open the second because of a Sidney Crosby penalty, and the Senators made the Penguins pay again.
Batherson found the back of the net for the Senators and suddenly it was 4-0.
The Senators scored one more time in the second as Stutzle found the back of the net as Nedeljkovic thought he had the puck frozen but Stutzle poked it past him for a 5-0 lead and that was the end of the night for Nedeljkovic.
Ottawa makes it 4-0 early in the second, with Drake Batherson finding the loose puck on a long netfront scramble.
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) January 11, 2025
It's been a tough stretch for Pittsburgh's PK, who did come up with a timely kill in the win over Edmonton, but have given up two PPGs today.
Third Period
There was really not much to report on in the third period as both teams were held scoreless and the Penguins dropped this big home game and first of the back-to-back Saturday and Sunday.
The Penguins will host the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow night at 5:00 p.m. EST from PPG Paints Arena to finish the back-to-back.