Brian Boyle scored the goal early in the third period, Tristan Jarry made 28 saves, and the Pittsburgh Penguins continued their hot streak with a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
Mike Matheson, Bryan Rust, and Jake Guentzel also scored for the Penguins, who won their third straight game overall and sixth straight on the road. Pittsburgh is now 7-1-3 in its last 11 games.
“We’re trying to play the game that gives us the best chance to win, and our players have a real good understanding of what that looks like,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “When we’re on the same page from a collective effort standpoint, I think we’re a team that plays a stingy game.”
Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier scored for the Devils, who had scored seven goals in each of their last two games but fell to 3-8-0 in their last 11.
“We were right there. Some plays we just left out there,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “Our puck play was not quite as strong as in the previous two games we won.”
Boyle’s tiebreaker came at 6:58 of the third period when he whipped the puck past Devils goalie Jon Gillies. The 37-year-old forward, who played for New Jersey from 2017-19, celebrated his sixth season goal.
Boyle signed a tryout contract with Pittsburgh and made the team after not playing in the NHL last season. After returning from leukemia treatment early in the 2017-18 season, he became a fan favorite with the Devils, helping New Jersey reach the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
“There were some tough times in between, but these fans, this organization, the way they supported my family and me… it’s always great coming back and seeing those people who did so much to lend a helping hand,” Boyle said. “My wife and I talked last night — ‘How’s it feel to be back? Are you happy? Excited?’ — And of course, I am. It’s a great, special place, it really is.”
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan praised Boyle, who has 118 games of playoff experience with six different teams, as a crucial addition to his first-place squad.
“He’s a good pro, first and foremost. And he commands a certain level of respect by his teammates just based on his career,” Sullivan said. He does a lot of the thankless jobs that help teams win, and really, that’s what he’s brought to our team.”
Guentzel secured the win with an empty-netter at 18:53, his team-best 24th goal of the season, with assists from Rust and Sidney Crosby, who had two assists but remains stuck on 499 career goals.
The Penguins are 11-3-1 in their last 15 games against New Jersey and have won five straight at the Prudential Center.
“It’s just effort and determination, really,” Boyle added. We’ve got to continue to maintain momentum.”
Rust put the Penguins ahead 2-1 just 36 seconds into the third, tipping a shot by defenseman Kris Letang past Gillies for his 17th goal. It came six seconds after a bench minor penalty to the Devils had expired.
Rust has scored in five straight games and has 16 goals and 28 points in his last 16 games.
Hischier tied the game at 2 with his 13th goal of the season at 2:51 of the third, extending his goal-scoring streak to four games.
Hughes opened the scoring for the Devils at 7:02 of the second, playing for the first time since missing three games in COVID-19 protocols. He beat Jarry for his 13th goal of the season.
Matheson tied it with his seventh goal of the season at 13:16 of the period, rifling a shot from just inside the blue line.
Gillies made 31 saves for New Jersey.
“A few bounces went for them. That was the difference,” Gillies said.
Game notes
- The Devils were without leading scorer Jesper Bratt (upper-body injury) and forward Janne Kuokkanen (wrist injury). New Jersey also scratched forward Andreas Johnsson and defenseman Christian Jaros.
- Pittsburgh forward Evgeni Malkin returned after missing the previous two games in COVID-19 protocols.
- The Penguins scratched defensemen Radim Zohorna and Mark Friedman.
- Pittsburgh forward Teddy Blueger is out until March with a fractured jaw.
UP NEXT:
- Penguins: Host Philadelphia on Tuesday.
- Devils: Host Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
