Penguins rally past devils in 4-1 victory, close in metro

Penguins surge to victory over devils

The Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a slow start to defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Thursday night, boosting their chances of playoff contention. The game saw a flurry of goals in the third period, ultimately securing a crucial win for Pittsburgh in a competitive Metropolitan Division.

Clifton and chinakhov spark third-period rally

Connor Clifton and Egor Chinakhov scored 50 seconds apart in the third period, turning the tide for the Penguins. Clifton’s shot at 6:30 gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead, quickly followed by Chinakhov’s goal less than a minute later. Chinakhov’s goal, a slip past Jacob Markstrom, was a significant contribution since his acquisition from Columbus in December.

Novak steps up as center

With Sidney Crosby sidelined due to a lower-body injury sustained at the Milan Cortina Olympics, Tommy Novak stepped into the first-line center role and delivered. Novak netted his 12th goal of the season in the game, proving his value to the Penguins’ lineup during Crosby’s absence.

Devils struggle to contain penguins’ offense

Paul Cotter scored his sixth goal of the season for the Devils, but it wasn’t enough to halt their downward trend. The Devils have lost seven of their last eight games, significantly impacting their position in the Eastern Conference’s wild-card race.

Silovs shines in net

Arturs Silovs earned the win for the Penguins, stopping 28 shots. This marks his fourth win in his last five starts, showcasing his consistent performance between the pipes and providing stability for the team during a busy stretch without Crosby.

Looking ahead: upcoming matchups

The Devils will travel to St. Louis on Saturday, while the Penguins face the New York Rangers on the same night. Both teams will be looking to regain momentum as they navigate the final stretch of the NHL season.