In a hard-fought NHL matchup, the Pittsburgh Penguins staged a spectacular comeback, scoring four unanswered goals to secure a 4–2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night. Team icons Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin led the offense with a goal and an assist each, once again showcasing their leadership and talent in critical moments.
Crosby sealed the Penguins’ win with a power-play goal in the third period, redirecting a shot from the slot to put Pittsburgh ahead 3–2. The pivotal goal not only gave the Penguins the lead, but also highlighted the team’s determination to fight until the final whistle despite their challenging position in the standings.
Following the thrilling victory, Crosby offered a candid perspective on the team’s mindset during this final stretch of the season. “It’s just accountability to one another,” Crosby told NHL.com.
“It’s not an easy situation. Some days it’s not as fun when you’re dropping games and you’re not going to make the [Stanley Cup Playoffs]. I think it’s just up to us to help one another handle that. I thought we’ve done as good a job as we possibly could, given the situation.” Crosby added.
Penguins spark momentum with much-needed win
Bryan Rust also delivered a strong performance for Pittsburgh, recording a goal and an assist. Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk chipped in with two assists, while goaltender Tristan Jarry stood tall with 26 saves, earning his third consecutive win. The Penguins (33-35-12) have displayed renewed competitiveness in their last 15 outings, compiling a solid 9-4-2 record over that span.
On the other side, the Devils (41-31-7) dropped their second straight game, though they’ve gone 4-3-0 in their last seven contests. New Jersey struggled on the power play, going 0-for-3, while the Penguins capitalized on two of their four opportunities with the man advantage.
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Despite the setback, the Devils remain third in the Metropolitan Division and are set to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the First Round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.