Another game. Another poor offensive showing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Jaromir Jagr scored twice to put the Penguins away in the third period as Marty Brodeur won his fourth straight game for the New Jersey Devils, Saturday night. Adam Larsson’s first goal of the season held up as the winner as the Penguins couldn’t get anything going for most of the night.
Andy Greene scored with 19 seconds remaining in the first period to give the Devils a 1-0 lead. Greene’s shot looked innocent on its way to the net, but the puck bounced a couple times and somehow found its way through Marc-Andre Fleury before sitting an inch behind the goal line.
Chris Kunitz evened the score four minutes into the second period on a breakaway. Kunitz skated in on Brodeur who went out to make a poke check. Kunitz faked the shot then went around Brodeur and backhanded the puck into the net.
Larsson scored with under two minutes remaining in the second period. Brodeur sticked away a chance in front which allowed the Devils to come back in transition. Travis Zajac went wide with the puck before dishing it to Larsson who fired a wrist shot through Fleury’s right armpit.
The Devils had a chance to add to their lead early in the third period when Sidney Crosby went off for a double minor high sticking penalty. But the Penguins responded with a great penalty kill before earning two power plays back to back. Unfortunately, the power play couldn’t generate a goal which set up Jaromir Jagr for two put away goals.
Kris Letang fell down in his own end and turned the puck over to Jagr. The former Penguin took the puck, skated in on Fleury, and beat the goaltender with a powerful wrist shot.
Jagr would add an empty-net goal to close out the game.
- Pens have lost four straight on the road since 2012.
- Jagr is now just two goals behind Mario Lemieux for ninth on the all-time scoring list.
- Sidney Crosby has two points in his last five games.
Three Stars
- Martin Brodeur
- Andy Greene
- Chris Kunitz
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
