Newcomer Philip Tomasino, power play propel Penguins past Flames for season-best third consecutive win

Andrew Destin, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Nov 30, 2024

Published in Hockey

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PITTSBURGH — All it took for the Penguins to produce their fleeting first three-game win streak of the season was some outside help — and a resurgent power play.

Winger Philip Tomasino, whom the Penguins acquired from the Predators on Monday in exchange for a fourth-round pick, scored his second goal in as many games on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena. The newcomer continued his strong first impression, while the Penguins secured a 6-2 win over the Flames, which was their third victory in four days.

Tomasino came to Pittsburgh with just one point in 11 games this year for Nashville but has quickly ingratiated himself to teammates with a shoot-first mentality. Unlike his game-winning goal on Friday against the Bruins, though, Tomasino need not overthink his latest goal.

With the Penguins on the power play and already holding a 2-0 advantage, Tomasino had a wide-open net to shoot at after defenseman Kris Letang feathered a brilliant feed from behind Calgary’s net. Flames goalie Dan Vladar was caught sprawling, and Tomasino was more than willing to oblige with the vacated post.

Tomasino’s tally was one of three power-play goals for the Penguins on Saturday night. Michael Bunting pounced on a rebound for his fifth goal of the year in the second period, and Letang successfully ripped a one-timer past Vladar in the final frame. The Penguins have 17 power-play goals this season; last year, it wasn’t until Jan. 4 that the team scored its 17th power-play goal.

Yet the Penguins first got on the board — and took a lead they wouldn’t concede — at even strength. Late in the first period, Blake Lizotte brilliantly set up Anthony Beauvillier on a 2-on-3 rush, and the Penguins winger flipped a backhand over Vladar’s left shoulder. The nifty goal was Beauvillier’s seventh of the year.

Rickard Rakell sandwiched the two power-play goals by scoring at even strength early in the third period. Sidney Crosby saucered a textbook backhand pass to the net front, and Rakell did the rest for his team-leading 10th goal of the season.

For as much as the Penguins commanded play after Beauvillier broke a scoreless tie, such wasn’t the case before that point. Alex Nedeljkovic, who has struggled on the whole to start an up-and-down year, made some key saves, none more so than when robbing Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson of a sure goal.

Andersson seemingly had an open goal to shoot at following a perfect pass off the end boards. But Nedeljkovic slid to his left just in the nick of time and pulled off an improbable, highlight-reel glove save. In total, Nedeljkovic made 30 stops, as only Calgary’s Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri could wiggle pucks past him in garbage time.

While Nedeljkovic weathered an early storm, Tomasino and the Penguins power play also propelled the club to victory. With Tomasino in their lineup, the Penguins are now a perfect 3-0-0 — and find themselves a bit closer to playoff position than before they acquired his services.

Ice chips

— Evgeni Malkin was fined $5,000, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced on Saturday. During Friday night’s win against the Bruins in Boston, Malkin was poked from the bench by defenseman Nikita Zadorov. Malkin retaliated by swinging his stick toward the bench, and a scrum ensued. Zadorov was also fined $5,000, the maximum allowable fine.

— Owen Pickering returned to the starting lineup after missing the past two games due to illness. The rookie defenseman partnered with left-shot Ryan Shea, who skated on the right side.

— Drew O’Connor re-entered the top six and skated on Malkin’s line. Bunting dropped down to the third line and skated on the left side, while Beauvillier slotted in at right wing.

— Jack St. Ivany, Ryan Graves and Jesse Puljujarvi were healthy scratches.

— The Penguins’ penalty kill went a perfect 3 for 3. That special teams unit has not yielded a goal over the Penguins’ last three games. The Penguins had permitted nine power-play goals over their previous seven games before that.

— Thanks to his third-period goal, Rakell has scored 10 or more goals in nine NHL seasons. He has also scored 10 or more goals thrice with the Penguins.

Stat n’at

7 — Power-play goals for the Penguins over their last six games. They’ve netted eight in their last eight contests, as well.

Coming up

The Penguins have a scheduled off day on Sunday. They’ll practice on Monday before returning to PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday evening to host the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.