Domingue Dominant as Penguins Rally to Nip Sharks in OT

A scant three seasons ago, Louis Domingue was at the apex of his professional career. Serving as the backup netminder for a Tampa Bay team that piled up an astonishing 128 points, the then 26-year-old was a solid contributor, recording a sparkling 21-5 record.

Since then, his on-ice fortunes sagged along with his spirit as he bounced from team to team. Eight in all if you count his numerous stops in the AHL. After signing with the Pens this past summer, the St-Hyacinthe, Quebec native spoke openly of his struggles, including bouts of depression, before rediscovering his purpose and passion for the game.

After performing admirably for a less-than-stellar Baby Pens team (2.69 goals against average, .918 save percentage), Domingue was finally given an opportunity to backstop the big boys last night and made the most it.

“Ever since camp, I was prepared for this moment,” Domingue said after the game. “I saw an opportunity, you either take it or you don’t. I thought I was focused. It wasn’t hard tonight to stay focused. I play for the Penguins. It’s a privilege to play for this team and this organization.”

Subbing for all-star Tristan Jarry, Louis turned in a stellar performance, turning aside 40 of 41 shots to pace the Pens to a 2-1 overtime victory of the Sharks in San Jose they surely didn’t deserve but were thrilled to get. Outdueling fellow former Coyote and No. 3 star Adin Hill in the process and serving notice to incumbent backup Casey DeSmith that his job might not be secure.

There was nothing easy about Domingue’s night. The Sharks tested him right out of the chute, running up an early 7-1 edge in shots on goal and kept pouring it on (28-12 shots advantage after 40 minutes). But Domingue was superb. After yielding a goal to a wide-open Rudolfs Balcers at the seven-minute mark from point-blank range, he slammed the door. Giving his sleep-walking teammates a chance to regroup.

Kris Letang tied it for the black and gold at 10:56. Reading the play beautifully, the quicksilver defenseman jumped up to lead the rush. After taking a short pass from Jake Guentzel in the neutral zone, he burst past flatfooted Remi Elie at the San Jose line, cruised in on Hill and beat the Sharks’ netminder with a silky forehand-to-backhand move.

Aside from Domingue’s stellar goaltending, it was one of the few Pens positives over the first two periods. Indeed, our guys seemed to be suffering from the same malaise that afflicted them during the blowout loss to the Kings two nights earlier. Namely, sloppy, sluggish, disinterested play.

With a hideous Corsi of 18.18, the second line of Evgeni Malkin, Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen was especially culpable.

I don’t know what was said in the locker room during the second intermission. But coach Mike Sullivan no doubt had a few choice words for his charges, some of the paint-peeling variety. He also shuffled his bottom three lines and appeared to hit on a winner with Radim Zohorna joining Malkin and Carter and later, Dominik Simon.

The PK helped turned things around as well. Killing off the remnants of a Guentzel high-sticking penalty early in the third, the Pens sprang to the attack, with Brock McGinn and Brian Boyle testing Hill on a couple of good chances. Holding a slight edge in third-period shots (14-13) we pushed the game to overtime.

From there our captain took over. Thirty-seven seconds into the extra stanza, Sidney Crosby gathered in a pass from Letang, cut diagonally across the slot to elude Brent Burns, and held, held, held the puck until Guentzel got into position for an easy goalmouth tap in.

Maybe Malkin summed it up best in the victorious locker room. “Not best game, but who cares? We have Louis.”

Indeed.

Puckpourri

The Sharks outshot the Pens, 41-27, and dominated the faceoff circle, winning 67 percent of the draws. They also held a stunning 47-21 advantage in scoring chances and 16-11 edge in high danger chances. But Domingue held serve to earn top star honors.

Letang didn’t receive a star, but should’ve. He was arguably our best player aside from Domingue. Tanger recorded a goal and an assist, unleashed a team-high five shots on goal, blocked a game-high six shots and finished plus-two, all in a tidy 24:48 of ice time. With 32 points in 33 games to go with a team-best plus-15, he’s quietly enjoying a brilliant season. Perhaps his best-ever.

Guentzel earned second-star honors thanks to an assist and the OT winner. Jake now has 19 goals and 37 points in 31 games. McGinn returned from Covid, bumping rookie Kasper Bjorkqvist to the press box. A vastly underrated cog in the Pens’ scheme…Pensburgh’s Hooks Orpik aptly described him as a “glue guy,”…Brock dished out four hits and logged 5:06 of shorthanded ice time.

The Pens (22-10-5, 49 points) currently occupy fourth place in the Metro, two points behind the Capitals and five points behind the division leading Rangers. On deck…we wrap up our six-game road trip in Vegas on Monday night.