Newark, N.J. — The Pittsburgh Penguins mounted an impressive comeback Friday night, erasing a two-goal deficit to defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 at the Prudential Center. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin led the charge with a goal and an assist each.
Bryan Rust also tallied a goal and assist, while Valtteri Puustinen added a power-play goal. Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk chipped in with two assists, and goaltender Tristan Jarry stood tall with 27 saves as the Penguins secured their third win in four games.
The Devils jumped out to a fast start, with Erik Haula scoring on a breakaway just 15 seconds after puck drop. Ondrej Palat doubled the lead less than seven minutes later, giving New Jersey early momentum.
But Pittsburgh fought back. Malkin put the Penguins on the board late in the first period with his 30th career goal against the Devils and 514th overall, moving him past Jeremy Roenick for 42nd all-time in NHL goal scoring.
Puustinen tied the game early in the second on a power play, and Crosby netted the go-ahead goal midway through the third, ripping a one-timer from one knee off a sharp feed from Rust. Rust sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Game Highlights:
- Power Play Surge: Pittsburgh converted two of four power-play opportunities, continuing their hot streak with the man advantage — six straight games with at least one power-play goal, their longest since a 10-game stretch in 2022.
- Devils’ Missed Chances: Despite entering the night ranked third in the league on the power play, New Jersey went 0-for-3 with just four shots.
- Turning Point: Crosby’s 32nd goal of the season proved to be the difference, giving Pittsburgh their first lead of the night with under seven minutes to play.
- Locked In: Jarry rebounded after giving up two quick goals, stopping the final 19 shots he faced.
What’s Next:
The Penguins return home to host the Boston Bruins on Sunday, while the Devils wrap up their five-game homestand against the New York Islanders.
