Mike Sullivan was a happy coach after the Penguins went to Columbus last night with a team loaded with young prospects and beat an NHL lineup for the Blue Jackets, 3-1. After falling behind, 1-0 in the first period, Valtteri Puustinen tied the game for the Pens in the second period, then Jonathan Gruden scored the game-winner with a spectacular between-the-legs goal in the third. Kevin Hayes completed the scoring with an empty-netter.
Tristan Jarry stopped 33 of 34 shots in his final tuneup for the regular season.
Sullivan was proud of his young prospects who he says are making it difficult to decide on a final roster for next Wednesday’s opener against the Rangers.
The coach says a lot of Penguins had great training camps, but Jesse Puljujarvi really stood out, and looks to be finally recovered from surgery on both hips after the 2022-23 season.
Sullivan ticked off a list of potential future stars with whom team president Kyle Dubas has restocked the Pens’ system: Rutger McGroarty, Vasily Ponomarev, Ville Koivunen, and Harrison Brunicke among them.
The Penguins and Blue Jackets play again tonight at PPG Paints Arena in the final preseason game for each team.
NHL
The NHL regular season begins tonight with the Sabres and Devils playing each other in Prague, in the Czech Republic.
Comments