ST. LOUIS — Saturday’s contest had all the makings of a playoff game for two teams currently on the outside looking in: a rowdy crowd, chippy play on the ice and a low-scoring affair that required extra time.
Unlike many other overtime games this season, the Penguins found a way, making up for their blown 2-1 lead late in the third period. Bryan Rust netted the game-winning goal for Pittsburgh as the Penguins earned a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Penguins controlled play from the opening puck drop and continued to so throughout the game’s first 16 minutes, though no shots found twine for either side in the first period. Jason Zucker struck a post with one of his attempts, one of the few Penguins shots Blues netminder Jordan Binnington didn’t stop himself.
Binnington, who turned back the clock to his rookie season self when he was the Calder Trophy’s runner-up, made 21 saves in the first period, all of which came before a double-minor against Zucker for high-sticking that extended into the early stages of the second frame.
Shortly after Zucker’s penalty expired, Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich commenced the afternoon’s scoring. Buchnevich batted down a shot from the blue line by Robert Thomas through the wickets of Tristan Jarry. The netminder appeared to say something to referee Dan O’Rourke after the score, perhaps to ask whether Buchnevich’s goal should’ve been disallowed for high-sticking.
Evgeni Malkin finally put a tally on the scoreboard in the Penguins’ favor with his 22nd goal of the season, which came on Pittsburgh’s 26th shot attempt. Zucker let a pass up the boards from Marcus Pettersson slide past him, which presented Malkin with a surprise 2-on-1 alongside Rust. The duo orchestrated it beautifully, with Rust dishing off to Malkin, who had a vacated net to tap the puck into.
Pettersson unlocked his scoring touch in the final period of regulation, notching his first goal of the season to put the Penguins up 2-1 with under six minutes to go. St. Louis didn’t simply lie down, though. The Blues’ Justin Faulk got the game’s equalizer and crammed in a loose puck after a couple of his teammates crashed the net and created all sorts of confusion around Jarry.
ICE CHIPS
— With Kasperi Kapanen now a member of St. Louis, Danton Heinen drew back into the starting lineup. Heinen skated on the Penguins’ third line with Brock McGinn and Jeff Carter after being a healthy scratch for the Penguins’ last eight games. His presence jolted life into the much-lambasted third line, especially so in the first period. Heinen’s return wasn’t a perfect one though, considering he was booked for an interference penalty in the second frame.
— Kapanen, whom the Blues claimed off waivers from the Penguins on Saturday afternoon, did not suit up for St. Louis. He’s eligible to play for his new team when the Blues host the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.
— Jan Rutta was activated from long-term injured reserve prior to Saturday afternoon’s game and partnered with Pierre-Olivier Joseph on the third defensive unit. Rutta had not played since Jan. 14 due to an upper-body injury. His return meant Chad Ruhwedel was relegated to being a healthy scratch.
— The Blues took exception to a hit by Pettersson on St. Louis’ Brandon Saad midway through the second period, which led to a brief scrum involving all skaters on the ice. Only St. Louis’ Jordan Kyrou, who threw a punch at Jeff Petry, received a penalty for roughing. The Penguins did not score on their subsequent power play.
— Teddy Blueger’s quest for his second goal of the season continues, but he remains oh-so-close to doubling his output. The defensive-minded center baffled Binnington with a wrister in the second period, but it clanked off the crossbar of St. Louis’ goal.
STAT N’AT
3 — Tristan Jarry’s third straight start marked the first time he’s done that in 2023. Jarry last got the nod in net in three consecutive games at Christmastime, with two of his starts coming before the holiday and the last of the three being at the New York Islanders on Dec. 27.
COMING UP
Pittsburgh has a quick turnaround after its brief road trip to the Midwest. The Penguins will host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday evening at PPG Paints Arena before embarking on a three-game road trip.
