*Sorry for the lack of photos! Hoping to get permission eventually.*
After losing two games straight, the Penguins defeated the Montreal Canadiens in a 4-1 final. Tristan Jarry made 30 saves for Pittsburgh and Kris Letang scored two goals, ending a six-game goal drought. In his return after missing six games with a concussion, Noel Acciari had one shot on goal and two hits in 15:10. This is the fourth game straight the Canadiens have lost.
Canadiens lineup against the Penguins:
Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Roy - Newhook - Anderson
Armia - Evans - Gallagher
Pearson - White - Ylonen
Matheson - Guhle
Struble - Harris
Xhekaj - Savard
Primeau
Allen
Penguins lineup against the Canadiens:
Rakell - Crosby - Rust
O'Connor - Malkin - Phillips
Smith - Eller - Puustinen
Harkins - Acciari - Carter
Joseph - Letang
Pettersson - Karlsson
Graves - Ruhwedel
Jarry
Nedeljkovic
Opening the scoring and giving Montreal a 1-0 lead, Mike Matheson scored his eighth goal of the season. He intercepted a pass from Kris Letang and cracked a snap shot at the high slot. Matheson has recorded a point in each of four games against the Pittsburgh Penguins since being traded by them on July 16, 2022 (one goal, three assists). At 8:36 of the first period, Letang tied the game at 1-1 from the point with a shot that went through traffic.
Bryan Rust put the Penguins ahead 2-1 at 8:30 of the second period. Rust deflected a shot from Erik Karlsson at the point, six seconds into the power play. It was his fourth goal in six games. Just 21 seconds later after Rust's goal, Drew O'Connor from the high slot shot a fabulous wrister to put Pittsburgh at 3-1.
Kris Letang scored an empty-netter for his second of the game and for the 4-1 final with 1:25 remaining in the final frame.
Tristan Jarry on the team's 4-1 victory, Noel Acciari, and his 30 saves: "I hope this is some good momentum for our group. Hopefully, it carries on and we're able to string together a couple of wins from this," - "I think he's a big part of our group. He leads us on the PK, he blocks shots, he wins face-offs, and I think that obviously helps a lot when we can start with possession and get some clears. He does a great job and he's a leader for us - I think the guys did a great job. Obviously, when the pucks are staying in tight like that, you need a lot of help from everyone. I think the defense did a great job... I think the guys just did a great job getting the pucks first before they did."
For all the Tristan Jarry haters:
Notes:
- Drew O'Connor had a goal and an assist, Erik Karlsson recorded two assists, and Sidney Crosby recorded one assist.
O'Connor scored two goals in his last two games, following a 10-game drought.
Karlsson cracked the 40-point plateau for the 11th time in his career and became the 18th defenseman in NHL history, as well as the second active blueliner, to record 11 seasons of 40+ points.
- The Penguins acquired Emil Bemstrom in a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets for Alex Nylander, as well as a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Bemstrom has 11 points in 32 games this season (five goals, six assists)
- Cayden Primeau made 23 saves for Montreal
- Colin White had one shot on goal, 11:11 of ice time after he was claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Postgame: Kris Letang
Postgame: Mike Sullivan
Postgame: Colin White
Postgame: Mike Matheson
Postgame: Martin St-Louis
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