TAMPA, Fla. — The gloves came off and the fists flew on Thursday night at Amalie Arena.
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, who hadn’t sparred since the 2018 postseason, met the challenge when Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point attempted to spark his club in the dying seconds of the first period. The bout between two cruiserweights likely would have been scored as a split decision, with the 200-pound Letang and 183-pound Point each landing a few punches.
But in the main event – a heavyweight showdown between two recent back-to-back Cup champions – the Penguins put the Lightning on the ropes early and kept on swinging in one of their more-complete and impressive wins of the season.
During a 5-1 victory, the Penguins set the tone in a dominant first period. Sidney Crosby kept the power play buzzing. Evgeni Malkin went beast mode with a one-goal, two-assist outburst that ignited “Geno! Geno! Geno!” chants throughout the road arena. And secondary scorers Danton Heinen and Brock McGinn snapped droughts.
Goalie Tristan Jarry shut the door with 20 saves.
The Penguins (34-14-8, 76 points) insisted in the days leading up to the matchup that it was not a measuring stick matchup. But, whether they wanted to admit it or not, it was. During a game with plenty of star power and playoff-like post-whistle scrums that eventually led Lightning coach Jon Cooper to get ejected, the Penguins stood toe-to-toe with one of the NHL’s best in more ways than one. And won decisively.
The Penguins jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead and, with just five minutes remaining in the first, were out-shooting the Lighting 15-3. That lopsided shot total was reflective of the way the Penguins titled the ice, winning puck battles and controlling possession time to nullify Tampa Bay’s quick-strike transition game.
Throughout the game, Malkin’s energy was palpable. Less than four minutes in, off a feed from Geno, Kasperi Kapanen ripped an initial shot on net. Heinen followed it up to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead and snap an eight-game scoring drought.
Then, the Penguins’ surging power play remained on fire to extend the lead to 2-0. From his net-front position, Jake Guentzel fed the puck to Crosby, who ripped a wrister from the left circle. Malkin earned the secondary assists, his second of the night.
With Letang in the box to start the second, the Lighting made their push. Then, the Penguins defenseman backhanded an ill-advised pass in his own zone that was picked off by Pat Maroon. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare took advantage to cut the Penguins lead to 2-1.
With just under three minutes remaining in the second, the Penguins reclaimed a two-goal lead. Evan Rodrigues sprung McGinn for a breakaway opportunity. The goal snapped a 13-game scoreless drought.
Then, all hell broke loose.
Late in the period, emerging Penguins instigator Mark Friedman had his stick slashed out of his hands by Corey Perry. When a penalty wasn’t called, the Penguins defenseman jumped Perry. An all-out, tag-team brawl ensued, with virtually every player on the ice engaged in some form or fashion. Bryan Rust wrestled in the blue paint with Anthony Cirelli. And Friedman was mixed up somewhere under the rubble.
By the time the officials sorted out all the infractions, which was no small task, the Penguins had two players in the box (Rust and Friedman), Tampa had three, Cooper was ejected and the Pittsburgh earned a 5-on-3 power play.
The bad blood spilled over into the third – and so did Malkin’s impressive evening.
Bellemare tried to start, um… stuff with Malkin. Instead, Geno went beast mode. He leveled the Lightning center with a shoulder, stole the puck and then scored on a breakaway. The goal extended the Penguins lead to 4-1, essentially putting the game away, as a loud “Let’s go Pens!” chant rang out in a crowd full of black and gold. Finally, Guentzel capped the night with an empty netter.
After enduring a recent slump, the Penguins now appear to have their game and their swagger back with their third win in a row.
The tests continue for the Penguins. After playing the Atlantic Division’s best on Thursday, the Penguins will see the Metro-leading Carolina Hurricanes on the road Friday.
