Penguins make statement with dominant win over Tristan Jarry, Oilers

King Jemison, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jan 23, 2026

Published in Hockey

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EDMONTON, Alberta — The Penguins were 2-9-0 in their last 11 games against the Oilers. They were 2-3-3 on the second night of back-to-backs this season. Connor McDavid averages two points per game against Pittsburgh in his career.

A lot of numbers were going against the Penguins on Thursday. But the only one that mattered was 37.

That’s how many seconds it took for them to rack up three goals in a first-period flurry that delivered a win in Edmonton — and raised the ceiling of possibilities for the Penguins this season.

They beat the Oilers, 6-2, at Rogers Place to improve to 10-2-2 since the holiday break, including a win in Calgary on Wednesday. Pittsburgh is in sole possession of second in the Metropolitan Division 50 games into the season.

Facing their former goalie, Tristan Jarry, the Penguins scored on three of their first four shots. Anthony Mantha picked up two of those goals, first finishing a beautiful backdoor feed from his linemate Justin Brazeau 2:20 into the game.

The big man struck again 22 seconds later. After not finding the back of the net for 11 games, he scored his second of the night on a breakaway again assisted by Brazeau.

But the Penguins weren’t done. Just 15 seconds after Mantha’s second goal, Sidney Crosby deflected a shot in the slot past Jarry — an incredible play — to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.

That score held through the period, thanks in part to a dramatic goal-line stop by Arturs Silovs and Parker Wotherspoon. In the waning seconds of the first, Zach Hyman got loose on a breakaway. Silovs saved his initial shot, but it deflected off his body and hit the post. He then contorted his body to trap the puck on the line, and Wotherspoon raced back to keep Leon Draisaitl from poking it in.

Silovs was excellent throughout, making 29 saves, unofficially, against one of the most dangerous offenses in hockey.

Edmonton brought it back to 3-1 anyway with a short-handed goal about five minutes into the second period. Egor Chinakhov had the puck stolen as he crossed into the Oilers’ zone, and Jake Walman fired a wrister past Silovs. With the chances the home team had generated in the game to that point, it felt like a comeback was inevitable.

But so is Evgeni Malkin. He led a flurry of his own, first sliding a pass to Rickard Rakell from behind the net on a delayed penalty that the Swede fired into the back of the net for a 4-1 lead.

Two minutes later, Malkin stole the puck at the Penguins’ blue line and flew out on a breakaway. He showcased some nifty stick-handling and beat his former goalie through the five-hole.

At that point, the Penguins’ statement had been made. They’d largely eviscerated Jarry and the team that has tormented them for years — including in a 6-4 win at PPG Paints Arena in December.

Chinakhov delivered another nail in the coffin anyway. His wicked release, again set up by a Tommy Novak pass, rebounded out of the net so hard that it looked like it had clanked off the post. But instead, it was his fifth goal in 12 games as a Penguin — giving his team a 6-1 lead about three minutes into the third period.

Edmonton’s Matt Savoie scored with about six minutes remaining to bring up the final score.

It was over when ...

It was probably over by the second intermission, but you can never be too sure against the Oilers. Chinakhov delivered the knockout punch when he unleashed his latest missile to give his team a five-goal lead in the third period.

Stat of the game

— 22: The Penguins’ points in 14 games since the holiday break. This team is starting to look like more than just a fringe playoff squad.

Around the boards

— Karlsson returned from a five-game absence with a lower-body injury.

— Kris Letang remained out with an upper-body injury. Penguins coach Dan Muse said he’s still day-to-day.

— Ryan Graves was placed on injured reserve Thursday with a lower-body injury. Muse did not offer additional details on the injury. The defenseman did not appear to suffer an injury Wednesday in Calgary.

— Stuart Skinner did not play in his return to Edmonton after becoming the first Penguins goalie since Tristan Jarry in early December to start consecutive games Monday and Wednesday.

— Brett Kulak did take the ice in his return to Edmonton, picking up an assist on Mantha’s second goal and finishing as a +2. The Oilers played a tribute video for their two former players who joined the Penguins in the Jarry trade, and fans gave them a standing ovation.

— Jack St. Ivany picked up two assists for the second consecutive game. He also gritted through a first-period shift where he could barely move after blocking a shot, diving on the ice multiple times. He skated back out for the second period and appeared to be fine.

Up next

The Penguins have Friday off before returning to practice Saturday in Vancouver. They’ll take on the Canucks at 6 p.m. Eastern time Sunday at Rogers Arena.