Full credit to Laura @werewolfbrmtzvh for the incredible title of this post.
Before the game the Penguins received more bad news by way of injury; Kasperi Kapanen is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. It truly never ends with this team.
Last night I was chatting with other Penguins fans about potential line combos when the team is finally healthy. At this point it probably won’t even matter with the never-ending injury carousel.
The Sabres received bad news before the game as well. Having lost their last 15-games, any bad news might as well be comic relief. They announced that interim head coach Don Granato and assistant coach Matt Ellis were placed into Covid protocol. General manager Kevyn Adams took the helm behind the bench.
LINEUP
Ready for hockey!
Welcome to the NHL, Radim Zohorna! pic.twitter.com/OZxnvEwnKT
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 25, 2021
Out: Kapanen
In: RADIM ZOHORNA, a 24-year old 6 foot 6 inch giant set to make his NHL debut. He had three goals and six assists in 11 games for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins before the Penguins brought him up due to injuries.
Casey DeSmith in goal.
1st period
As if the Penguins weren’t banged up enough, Sidney Crosby took a high hit from Rasmus Ristolainen just moments after puck drop. It was 100% interference and was the exact kind of play that typically isn’t called a penalty but should be.
Ristolainen hit on Crosby #LetsGoBuffalo #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/ugz1vX8BTB
— Buffalo Hockey moments (@SabresPlays) March 25, 2021
Later in the period, Crosby nearly created a highlight for the ages when he dropped Ristolainen in the corner and set-up Jake Guentzel for a brilliant backdoor chance. If Guentzel had buried it, hoo boy.
PIT GOAL – Zohorna (1) A: Angello [17:21] 1-0 PIT
RADIM ZOHORNA IS SCORING NHL GOALS! pic.twitter.com/xrchzGOfY7
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 25, 2021
Are you kidding me?! The 6 foot 6 inch giant Zohorna got the game’s first goal on his first career shot.
You can’t write it up any better than this. Textbook stuff. Get lost in the slot while all attention is diverted to the puck battle down low. The puck eventually found him and he blistered it to the back of the net.
How could you not love this guy?
2nd period
PIT PP GOAL – McCann (6) A: Letang, Crosby [1:27] 2-0 PIT
Can we convert on the power play? YES, WE MCCANN!
Letang and Crosby pick up the helpers. pic.twitter.com/Uc08kKo3RP
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 26, 2021
Jared McCann padded the lead with a beautiful wrist shot past Dustin Tokarski on the power play. You gotta love the shot, but how about a nod to Crosby for holding the blue line and quickly dishing the puck to Kris Letang, who then found McCann open in the slot.
3rd period
PIT PP Goal – McCann (7) A: Letang, Crosby [8:56] 3-0 PIT
Why have one McCann goal when you can have two? 😁 pic.twitter.com/UeNC9JMvDr
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 26, 2021
McCann double-dipped for his second power play goal of the game to give the Penguins some insurance. Two gorgeous shots off his stick in this one.
PIT EN Goal – Guentzel (14) A: Rust, Crosby [18:54] 4-0 PIT
Bit of an interesting choice to pull the goalie here, but we’ll take it.
Crosby’s third point of the night gives him a total of 1,300 for his career, making him the eighth fastest to do so in league history.
1,300 career points for Sidney Crosby!
With his assist on Jake Guentzel's goal, Crosby becomes the eighth-fastest player in NHL history to record 1,300 points (1,017 GP). pic.twitter.com/0BuGhwQxwY
— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) March 26, 2021
FINAL: 4-0 PIT
It wasn’t a stellar performance but the Pens took care of business. The Sabres had quite a few dangerous looks in this one, posting 4.47 expected goals to the Penguins’ 2.56, per Evolving Hockey.
Notes
- What a brilliant debut for Zohorna. Not only did he score, but when he was on the ice at 5v5, the Penguins controlled 81% of the shot attempts and 81.9% of the expected goals.
- DeSmith turned in another stellar performance including a shorthanded breakaway save against Cody Eakin (lol) and is officially red hot over the past month. The Penguins have gotten a much needed boost from their goaltenders to stay afloat while they battle the never-ending injury bug.
- It wasn’t a great performance from the Pens, but the Sabres are just so, so bad that it didn’t even matter. It’s a damn good thing they were able to get four points out of this back-to-back.
- Don’t forget to appreciate Sidney Crosby. We won’t have him around forever.
The Penguins are back in action Saturday at the Paint Bucket against the New York Islanders. LGP.
Thanks for reading! Let’s talk hockey on Twitter. Follow me @shireyirving.
All data via Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick
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