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Lineups
A rare same lineup as last game for the Penguins, with the exception being Matt Murray in net on the back-end of a second game in a row.
Lined up and ready for battle.#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/99L8ucJC4r
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 7, 2019
First period
The Pens strike first early on with Jake Guentzel crashing to the net, we get a review to make sure it’s a good goal, and it is a good goal. 1-0 Pittsburgh.
*insert Final Jeopardy music*
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 8, 2019
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GOOD GOAL! pic.twitter.com/a9RhXV94Ah
The Pens make it 2-0 with Chad Ruhwedel finding plenty of space and wiring a nice shot home past Jonathan Bernier for his first goal of the season.
WARNING: LASER BEAM ZONE
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 8, 2019
Ruhwedel gets his first of the season. pic.twitter.com/a3jI7WWgC5
Shots are 12-7 Pens in the first. Goals 2-0.
Second period
Alex Galchenyuk makes a rare appearance in the game by taking a tripping penalty which leads to the Red Wings first goal on the power play when Robby Fabbri finds a rebound and fires it past Matt Murray to make it 2-1.
Fabbri is #PITvsDET #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Sx3bFWkwJS
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 8, 2019
The Pens reclaim their two goal lead when Guentzel makes a great play to knock the puck out of mid-air and to the net, Evgeni Malkin finds it and swings around with a nice goal here. 3-1.
MALKAMANIA CONTINUES!@emalkin71geno has an active six-game point streak (4G-8A) vs. Detroit. pic.twitter.com/gARNAdKdqu
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 8, 2019
Shots in the second are 13-9 Detroit, but the Pens carry a 3-1 lead into the final intermission.
Third period
Early on (1:38 to be exact) Dominik Kahun makes a nice zone entry and a bounce finds him with space on the rush. He goes forehand to beat Bernier and make it 4-1.
It's our problem-free philosophy... KAHUNA MATATA! pic.twitter.com/HCnK4LX2xJ
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 8, 2019
Detroit gets one back when Ruhwedel and Bryan Rust go swimming, which is never a good thing and Filip Hronek is on the receiving end of a slam dunk. 4-2.
Hronek nets his 6th. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/aG24MSgCEJ
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 8, 2019
Rust takes a high-sticking penalty late and Detroit makes it interesting when Dylan Larkin wires a puck on the power play past Murray to make it 4-3 with 3:04 left in the game.
1 more please. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/CE4cywzjSP
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 8, 2019
The Wings pull their goalie and after empty net maestro Brandon Tanev gets his shot blocked, Kris Letang plays it over for John Marino to wire it in the net. 5-3 final.
And with this empty netter... MEATBALLS FOR ALL!
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 8, 2019
Five goals means a free meatball at @EmporioMeatball, courtesy of John Marino: https://t.co/YzOCeOaTBm pic.twitter.com/jQwYjSS8NF
Final thoughts
Big guns shine hard
Malkin on playing with Guentzel: "We don't play together much, but with Sid injured Coach gives us more time together. I know how he plays. He knows how I play. We just support each other. We are happy with what we're doing right now. He's a smart player."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 8, 2019
Malkin and Guentzel both recorded three points on the night. They were, by far, the most talented players on the ice tonight, and they showed it. Going up against the worst team in the league that’s over-gunned, there’s no need to over-think it. The skill and the stars have to come through. Just have to. They did tonight.
It’s a three game winning streak —all coming in four days — and they now who get a couple of days off to rest and regroup and keep it going for a home-stand next week against not exactly daunting competition. It would be wrong to say the Pens are thriving without Sidney Crosby and Brian Dumoulin, but they’re definitely doing the best they can, with their best players paving the way.