Penguins Overpower Red Wings, 5-1

Coming off a huge, emotionally charged comeback win over the Islanders the night before, one had to wonder how much our Penguins would have left in the tank for last night’s equally crucial tilt with the Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena.

Plenty, as it turned out.

With the exception of brief stretch at the start of the second period when the Red Wings effectively clogged the neutral zone, the Pens pretty much dominated from start to finish en route to a thoroughly impressive 5-1 victory.

Playing the fast, connected hockey that’s become our calling card, the Pens got the jump on the visitors from the opening draw.

Rickard Rakell staked us to an early lead on our first shot on goal at 4:10, ripping a high, hard one past Pittsburgh native John Gibson from the slot off a feed from Sidney Crosby. Just over four minutes later, Anthony Mantha scored against his old team following a net-front pileup. Credit Evgeni Malkin for digging with the voracity of Mike Lange’s coal miner to pry the puck loose from Gibson’s pads.

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