Geno Nets Two, Penguins Malkin-ize Lightning, 5-4

Back in 2009, my friend Tom Blanciak predicted the Penguins would acquire feisty left wing Chris Kunitz from Anaheim at the trade deadline. Tom proved to be prescient. The Pens, indeed, acquired Kunitz from the Ducks for defenseman Ryan Whitney of Spittin Chiclets fame.

Kuny would go on to enjoy an exemplary nine-season run with the black-and-gold as a frequent Sidney Crosby sidecar and net-front presence extraordinaire. He was particularly adept at deflections and tip-ins, much like future teammate Patric Hornqvist.

Fast forward 15 years to the most recent deadline. When the Pens acquired left wing Michael Bunting as part of the return for all-star forward Jake Guentzel, Tom had a premonition. I’m not going to share what that premonition was just yet for fear of jinxing it…or worse…invoking the dreaded PenguinPoop curse. But needless to say, it’s something good.

Speaking of Kunitz, Bunting is doing a pretty fair imitation of the four-time Cup winner. Perhaps he’s not quite as physical as Kuny, who was a jarring hitter, but he plays with the same kind of drive, tenacity and fearlessness.

Just as effective around the net, too.

This afternoon, with a crucial matinee matchup against the Lightning threatening to slip through our fingers, Bunting came up HUGE. With just over five minutes left to play, the plucky winger flagged down a hot net-front feed from Evgeni Malkin, coolly soccered the puck to his stick blade, and backhanded the biscuit past Andrei Vasilevskiy before Victor Hedman could intervene. In the process touching off a riotous celebration among teammates and fans alike that just about blew the lid off the Paint Can.

All in an afternoon’s work for the newcomer, who assisted on two other goals as well. Giving him a pair of goals and six points over our past three games, and five goals and 13 points in the 16 games since his arrival in the ‘Burgh.

Did I mention his goal was the game-winner?

So how did we get there? Our guys dominated the Lightning right out of the chute, piling up a 14-6 edge in first-period shots on goal and snatching the lead on Sid’s 40^th goal of the campaign off a brilliant setup from Bryan Rust.

Next up, the Malkin line at 6:06 of the second period, with a heaping helping of Erik Karlsson. Bunting swept the puck off the right sideboards to Karlsson at the point. EK65 took a couple of strides toward center point and let ‘er fly. Geno, who’d been lurking the weeds behind the net, suddenly flashed into the slot like a bolt of…uh…lightning and deflected it past Vasilevskiy.

Any immediate thoughts that we might have an easy go of it were dashed six minutes later when Steven Stamkos smoked…and I mean smoked…Alex Nedeljkovic from close range on the power-play. My word, can Stammer shoot the puck.

I kind of held my breath, anticipating an impending Bolts pushback (that would come later). However, in the short term it was our Pens who shoved back…and hard. Just two minutes and change after Stamkos’ tally made it 2-1, Kris Letang airmailed a shot from the right point through a chorus-line of traffic and between Vasilevskiy’s exposed wickets.

Geno closed out the scoring, at least for the period, at 16:57, putting the finishes touches on a stunning, no-look backhand pass off the end boards by…you guessed it…Bunting.

Four-one Pens after 40.

Since Saturday is my get ‘er done day and I was fairly assured our guys were in command (cough), I departed for Wright’s Gym reasonably confident of victory. I checked my phone after I arrived and had settled onto a machine. Oops, Nick Paul scores just 25 seconds into the final period.

Four-two Pens. No biggie.

A few sets and a couple of machines later I took another peek. Speedy Anthony Duclair cashes in at 7:23 for the Bolts.

Four-three Pens. Suddenly, I’m beginning to sweat, and it ain’t from exercise.

Next glance, Stamkos on the power-play again, and we’re all knotted up. So was my stomach, as visions of our collapse in Colorado came stampeding through my mind.

Dear Lord, guys, hang on. We gotta get at least a point out of this.

Over the next several minutes I kept stealing glances at my phone through squinted eyes, as if I really didn’t want to know what was happening.

Then I saw Bunting’s name flash on the screen, along with a 5-4 PIT in bold block type. Relief and elation all at the same time.

But it wasn’t over yet. Normally sound-as-a-pound, Marcus Pettersson flipped the puck over the glass with a full 1:36 remaining. His third penalty of the game for those keeping track. (Perhaps the Dragon owed countryman Hedman some Krona and was trying to make amends. Kidding.)

You got it. More sweating bullets while the visitors launched seven shots while working a 6-on-4 with Vasilevskiy pulled. Five were blocked, three by rookie Jack St. Ivany, and one missed the mark. Bringing the final curtain down on a pulse-pounding 5-4 ‘Guins win.

Puckpourri

The Lightning held sway according to Natural Stat Trick, with advantages in shot attempts (74-65), shots on goal (37-28). They dominated the third period in shot attempts (32-9), shots on goal (15-4) and scoring chances (11-5).

Scoring chances for the entire game? Dead-even at 31 apiece. And the Pens actually held a 13-12 edge in high-danger chances. A consistent theme during our 6-0-2 streak.

I already mentioned Bunting, who earned second-star honors. The star of the game? None other than Malkin, who notched two goals and a helper. At his fired-up, emotional best, he was absolutely superb. The big guy has four goals and six points in his last five games. More important, he’s hunting down pucks like a kid and skating like a man possessed.

Congrats to Geno for topping the 60-point mark for the 13^th time in his illustrious career.

Kudos as well to Sid, who reached 40 goals for the third time in his career and the first time since ’16-17 when he notched 44.

Just a few short games ago, I was wondering if Karlsson had been pirated away with those Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads. And…BAM…as suddenly the coveted trinkets returned so did Erik. (Makes me think there’s a nefarious connection.)

He’s been Norris Trophy terrific of late, carrying and distributing the puck with agility and aplomb, using his edges to perfection, and making crafty plays at the point. His three assists against the Bolts gave him 51 points on the season, his second highest total since ’17-18 when he tallied 62.

Ned was Ned, making the big saves when he needed to.

Up till our recent hot streak, it seemed we couldn’t buy a break. Now it seems all the bounces are going our way.

Referee Steve Kozari was stretchered off the ice after colliding with Lightning defenseman Haydn Fleury in the third period. Mercifully, he’s expected to make a full recovery. Our thoughts and prayers go with him.

…and Dear Lord We’re In!

I cannot for two seconds believe I’m writing this. But as of the posting of this game summary, our Pens occupy the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference!

To say I’m totally dumbfounded would be the understatement of the millennium. I simply didn’t see this coming, but am over the moon that it has.

On Deck

The Pens (36-30-11, 83 points) visit the Maple Leafs (43-23-9, 95 points) on Monday night. Then we return home for a crucial clash with the Red Wings (37-31-8, 82 points) on Thursday night.

GO PENZ!