Penguins Winning Streak Snapped After Lousy Performance
The Pittsburgh Penguins would not extend their winning streak to a sixth game.
The New Jersey Devils were without multiple key faces, but the contest was still set to be a huge test for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Riding a five-game winning streak, the Penguins also caught the Devils in the midst of a three-game skid.
With Tristan Jarry between the pipes, he and a number of his teammates looked to not only extend their own productive streaks, but also push the winning streak to six.
First Period
Not only did the Penguins enter the game with the advantage, they took the early lead with a big goal from Bryan Rust.
The Penguins just barely missed an opportunity against a sprawling Vitek Vanecek, but just moments later, Rust made sure to notch another redemption-style goal.
Later in the period, the Penguins were given a man advantage opportunity, but it was the Devils who capitalized.
The Penguins struggled to gain any kind of momentum on the power play and multiple passes failed completion.
The Devils hopped on an opportunity and tied the game with an easy short-handed goal.
Without much more action for the remainder of the frame, the Penguins and Devils entered the first intermission tied at one.
Second Period
After that blown power play, the Penguins really never found their legs for the remainder of the period, forcing a wake up call to start the second.
Rust gave them a quick shot in the arm with his second goal of the contest as Erik Karlsson laid a perfect puck onto Rust’s stick.
All Rust had to do was poke it through Vanecek for his second of the game.
The Devils wasted no time in answering back, however, when Nathan Bastian converted on a scrum in front of Jarry.
Both teams traded opportunities through the rest of the second frame, but no one was able to punch in another, leaving the score tied into the second intermission.
Third Period
This third period was set up to be crucial for the Penguins and they got off to a tough start.
Sidney Crosby took a penalty in the opening minute, giving the Devils a man advantage.
The Devils eventually took a penalty of their own, opening up 4-on-4 play, but the Devils took advantage of the extra ice and picked up their first lead of the game.
After taking the lead, the Devils dominated the momentum and kept the ice tilted in their favor.
The Devils took a 4-2 lead and before anyone could think about it, they made it 5-2.
There would be no fight back for the Penguins as they see their winning streak snap at five games.
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