PITTSBURGH — Jordan Binnington was public enemy No. 1 at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday night after his latest cheap shot sent Jason Zucker barreling into the end boards.
Boos rained down on Binnington as Zucker made his way to the dressing room in some pain and the Jumbotron aired replays of Binnington’s sneaky punch.
As it turned out, Zucker’s face would be the only thing he got his glove all game.
The Penguins chased the high-strung St. Louis Blues goalie on their way to a 6-2 victory, their second win in a row. Kasperi Kapanen had a hat trick, Bryan Rust ended his drought and their power play took another step in the right direction.
Binnington allowed four goals on just 17 shots before the Blues yanked him.
Fittingly, it was Zucker who scored the final goal on Binnington. His shot from the high slot in the second period fooled Binnington. Then, as the goalie glared at the home bench on his way off the ice, Zucker hit him with a playful shrug.
Binnington was also assessed a game misconduct penalty for yapping at Penguins fans before he stomped down the tunnel toward the Blues dressing room.
Thomas Greiss replaced Binnington and later in the period gave up the third goal scored by Kapanen. It was Kapanen’s second hat trick with the Penguins.
Kapanen has now netted four goals in three games since returning to the Penguins lineup. He was a healthy scratch in Pittsburgh’s previous seven games.
Kapanen gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead 6:58 into the first period. He whiffed on a one-timer but the puck ricocheted off his skate, bounced off Binnington and went in. Kapanen’s hard work on the forecheck set that whole play in motion.
About five minutes later, Rust skated out of the left corner and into the slot, where he whipped a perfect wrist shot over the outstretched glove of Binnington. The struggling winger, who had gone six games without a point with just one goal in the previous 14 games, celebrated the goal with an emphatic uppercut.
After Rust made it 2-0, Pavel Buchnevich bombed in a one-timer for the Blues. Kapanen restored the two-goal lead late in another power play. Malkin, spinning in the slot, slid a pretty pass across to Kapanen for his second of the night.
Binnington’s latest temper tantrum came in the final minute of the first period.
As Zucker ducked behind the St. Louis net to put pressure on puck-carrier Justin Faulk, Binnington intentionally reached out with his glove and clipped Zucker in the face. Zucker went down hard then finished the period in the dressing room.
Binnington was initially assessed a double minor for high sticking but after a video review the officials overturned it because he made contact with his glove.
It was the latest controversial play involving Binnington, who in his last Blues start tried to hit Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes on a similar play behind his net. But Staal, the former Penguins forward, bowled over Binnington instead.
Vladimir Tarasenko beat Tristan Jarry on a breakaway to get the Blues back within two goals. Two minutes later, Kapanen’s hat trick tally made the lead 5-2.
Sidney Crosby scored an empty-netter with 4:48 remaining in the third period.
ICE CHIPS
— Rickard Rakell replaced Rust on the top power play Saturday against the Blues. But it was the second unit that did most of the damage in this one. The Penguins went 2 for 4 on the power play, with Kapanen getting both of the goals. The second unit scored goal another just seconds after a Blues penalty ended.
— Kapanen was in over Danton Heinen for the third straight game as coach Mike Sullivan kept intact his forward lines from Thursday’s victory over Vegas.
— Sullivan shuffled his defensive pairs Saturday. Marcus Pettersson and Jeff Petry were reunited on the top pair. Brian Dumoulin partnered with Jan Rutta.
— Kris Letang was the only player who did not participate in Saturday’s morning skate. But Sullivan said he again skated informally Friday in Cranberry.
COMING UP
Penguins players have a scheduled day off on Sunday then the team will practice Monday at the arena. They host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
