Malkin Scores In His Return, Luke Scores Lone Goal In 4-1 Loss

 

Photo: Andrew MacLean

The Devils took on the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday, January 8th, where they were defeated 4-1, taking their third straight loss. The New Jersey team has been struggling lately, with one of their recent games ending in a 9-0 loss against the New York Islanders. Luke Hughes scored the lone goal for the Devils, preventing a shutout for Stuart Skinner while giving the team something to build on. For the Penguins, this is their sixth straight win. In his return after missing 15 games, Evgeni Malkin scored for Pittsburgh in their 4-1 victory. Erik Karlsson, Connor Dewar, and Blake Lizotte also scored for the Penguins. The Devils head to Winnipeg on Sunday to take on the Jets to hopefully make a comeback, while the Penguins host the Calgary Flames on Saturday, looking to extend their streak to seven.

New Jersey Devils Lineup:

Hughes - Hischier - Bratt

Meier - Mercer - Gritsyuk

Cotter - Glass - Brown

Palat - Glendening - Noesen

Siegenthaler - Hamilton

Hughes - Pesce

Dillon - Nemec

Allen

Markstrom

Pittsburgh Penguins Lineup:

Rakell - Crosby - Rust

Malkin - Kindel - Chinakhov

Mantha - Novak - Brazeau

Dewar - Lizotte - Acciari

Wotherspoon - Karlsson

Kulak - Letang

Shea - St. Ivany

Skinner

Silovs

Erik Karlsson went top shelf, scoring his fourth of the season at 13:21 of the opening period to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. Down in Pittsburgh's zone, he passed back and forth with Parker Wotherspoon, who sent the puck to Sidney Crosby along the left boards. Crosby flicked the puck ahead for Rickard Rakell, who drove through the neutral zone with both Karlsson and Bryan Rust. Karlsson took a drop pass from Rakell, drove past Jack Hughes, and shot over Jake Allen's glove and under the crossbar from the right face-off circle. The Devils had a chance when Jesper Bratt could have tied it on a breakaway at 11:16 of the first period, but had a wrist shot turned away by Stuart Skinner.

Giving the Penguins a 2-0 lead after leaving the penalty box, serving a high-sticking minor, Connor Dewar found the back of the net for his eighth goal of the season. He received a stretch pass from Rakell, who got the puck from Kris Letang, and Dewar went five-hole on a breakaway at 14:37 of the second period. Evgeni Malkin put in his ninth of the season with 53 seconds on the clock, with eight seconds remaining on a 5-on-3 power play, when Karlsson and Crosby passed back and forth a few times before Crosby set up Malkin for a one-timer from the left circle to make it 3-0.

Luke Hughes broke through early in the third period at 17:05, spoiling Skinner's shutout bid, netting his fifth of the season to cut it to 3-1. After Jack Hughes collected the rebound, he passed it off to Luke, who passed to Hamilton, and got it back before firing a one-timer past Skinner on the power play. Late in the final frame, after Allen sent the puck along the wall for Brendan Dillon or Arseni Gritsyuk to pick up, Dewar grabbed it and passed it to Noel Acciari, who passed it off to Blake Lizotte for the 4-1 final. This was Lizotte's fifth goal of the season and his second goal in his past five games.

Evgeni Malkin on how he felt in his return to the lineup, to score, and the fans: "After first, I play so much better. I think we all play better. Huge goal, power play, 5-on-3. Gives me confidence in next games. I'm just glad how my shoulder is feeling the whole game. (Very) important for me. Goal important, but my body is most important." - "Love our fans. It's always amazing to play at home. Thanks to all the fans... The Steelers play Monday. People love sports here. Good luck to the Steelers, too, as well."

Simon Nemec on being back: "I mean, it's great to be back, but the game wasn't the best. Not a great feeling about that. ... I felt pretty good. I think it's just gonna be better and better each game."

Notes:

- Both goaltenders made a total of 25 saves for their teams.

- Sidney Crosby picked up a pair of assists, extending his point streak to eight games; 14 points - five goals, nine assists. Rickard Rakell recorded two assists. Both Erik Karlsson and Connor Dewar had a goal and an assist. ...Karlsson's game opener and assist padded his nine-game home point streak total to 3-11--14. By a Penguins defenseman in the past 30 years, it is the second-longest run behind Dick Tarnstrom in 2002-03 (10 GP). ...Crosby's assist on the first Penguins' tally made him tie Wayne Gretzky (1,086 with EDM) for the second-most assists with a single franchise; only Ray Bourque has more (1,111 with BOS).

- The Devils have been outscored 16-2 in three consecutive losses, including their 9-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

- The Penguins are 21-12-9, and have won seven of eight. New Jersey is 22-20-2.

- Rutger McGroarty was placed on injured reserve. He is out with a concussion, and there is currently no timetable for his return.