Multiple Pittsburgh Penguins skaters struggling to produce finally found some offense in a huge win.
PITTSBURGH - Heading into their contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Pittsburgh Penguins were having massive issues regarding the production of their bottom-six.
While one game doesn’t change everything, a few Penguins took steps in the right direction and found themselves back on the score sheet.
Teddy Blueger, Jeff Carter, and while not known as a goal scorer, Brian Dumoulin all scored just minutes apart from each other to close out a six-goal second period.
The ball got rolling with Blueger who pounced on a loose puck that squibbed through Brian Elliott; the puck was sitting in the blue paint and all Blueger had to do was get to it first.
Blueger managed to out-muscle Brayden Point to knock the puck into the open net for his first tally in 32 games.
“It’s a good feeling to score at any time,” Blueger said. “But, especially when you haven’t done it in a while.”
A minute and a half later, Carter left his mark on the game for his first goal in eight games, but second point in 19.
Carter came flying off of the bench Kris Letang found him breaking in toward the net; Carter launched a perfectly placed shot for his ninth of the season.
In the final seconds of the third period, it was Dumoulin’s turn to break through for his first of the year.
Dumoulin isn’t a standout offensive defender, but it’s always a bullet of a shot when he scores.
A Sidney Crosby face off win found its way all the way to Dumoulin and Elliott couldn’t see it through the maze of bodies.
It was Dumoulin’s first of the season and first since Late-January of 2022.
Despite 13 Penguins skaters tallying a point against the Lightning, one brutal scoreless drought continued.
Brock McGinn extended his scoreless streak to 26 games and failed to record a shot against the Lightning.
The Penguins needs more bursts of offense like that from the bottom-six and hopefully this was just the first step in getting them.
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more!
- Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube
- Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins