The Pittsburgh Penguins got a huge jolt thanks to the inclusion of multiple young faces.

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins put together a shocking win over the Carolina Hurricanes to break their way out of a three-game losing streak. While the playoffs may still feel like a long shot, there was something special about this Penguins victory.

As the oldest team in the league all season long, the Penguins won with a lineup that featured seven players under the age of 26. Five of those faces are relatively new to the Penguins and provide a considerable boost of youthful energy.

In the win over the Hurricanes, Sam Poulin (23) centered Jonathan Gruden (23) and Jesse Puljujarvi (25) on the fourth line. It was Poulin’s first NHL appearance in 16 months, and he fit right in. It was his return to the NHL that really spurs a focus on building a younger lineup.

The team recognized the impact those youthful faces brought to the team.

“They brought a ton of energy,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “They brought us a lot of juice.”

Sullivan spoke especially highly of Puljujarvi and his performance in multiple situations.

"We used him down the stretch trying to defend the lead," Sullivan said. "We just felt he was playing a good game, and I ended up moving him up with Lars [Eller] and Reilly Smith. We just thought his size on the wall and his reach could help us."

Puljujarvi opened the scoring for the Penguins with his second goal in as many games. A perfectly placed shot found its way through Ryan Graves to get the Penguins on the board against one of the toughest teams in the NHL.

“He was all over the ice,” Drew O’Connor (25) said. “It’s good to see. That whole line did well tonight. Gruds obviously had that big fight, which got us going a bit in the third.”

Gruden also made waves against the Hurricanes by being forced to drop the gloves for a fight after a huge hit on Jack Drury.

Another young face who continues to impress in his NHL opportunities assisted on Puljujarvi's goal. Valtteri Puustinen (24) notched his 14^th assist in his 41^st appearance of the season. Puustinen has picked up five points (2G-3A) in his last six games to seemingly lead this late-season surge in youth.

For multiple seasons, the Penguins have been among the oldest teams in the NHL, but it appears a youth movement may finally be on the horizon. If not a complete movement, the Penguins are at least starting to skew younger in the season's final games.

Poulin, Gruden, Puljujarvi, and Puustinen are all names that can help the Penguins if they earn regular playing time. O’Connor has had a fantastic season playing just about everywhere in the lineup.

P.O. Joseph (24) has played a handful of games on the first defensive unit with Kris Letang and appears to be settling into the role nicely. Jack St. Ivany (24) played in his third NHL game and has the potential to become an NHL regular soon.

Emil Bemstrom (24) and John Ludvig (23) were scratched against the Hurricanes, but they are equally important to the Penguins’ roster. Ludvig can make a strong case for the lineup next season.

The Penguins may still be one of the oldest teams in the NHL, but they know the kind of jolt a few younger names can bring to the game.

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