‘Playoff Jake’ Guentzel nets two in opener

“Playoff Jake” picked up where he left off last spring, giving hope in Thursday’s season opener at PPG Paints Arena that “Regular Season Jake” is on the verge of becoming an everyday star for the Penguins this season.

Jake Guentzel, the thirdyear left winger, scored a pair of goals in a 7-6 overtime victory against the rival Washington Capitals Thursday. Guentzel fired five shots on net and was a plus-1 on the wild night.

“He played great. He’s in and around the net. He had two [goals] and he probably could have had a couple more, too,” center Sidney Crosby said. “He’s right there and he’s finding different ways, whether it’s around the net or off the rush, different ways to create offense, create goals. That’s great to see.”

Late in a first-period power play, after the Penguins sent out their second unit, Daniel Sprong’s shot from the slot caromed off a Capitals stick and directly to Guentzel, alone off the right post. Guentzel swatted it past Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, who was out of position, to tie the game, 2-2.

“I was just in the right spot,” Guentzel said.

Guentzel got his second tally during a prolonged Penguins possession in the second period. After Holtby stopped Guentzel’s low-angle shot, Patric Hornqvist wrestled a couple of Capitals behind the net to reclaim the puck, then sent it back to the point. Guentzel, fighting for position in the high slot, deflected Justin Schultz’s shot from the point through Holtby’s legs to make it 4-4.

“I was just trying to find the high slot and get a stick out there. Schultzy just found it and hit the stick,” Guentzel said. “So obviously after missing one, it’s nice to come back and get one.”

Guentzel was referring to a squandered opportunity in the second period. From the goal line, Crosby slid the puck past Capitals defenseman Madison Bowey and Holtby’s outstretched paddle to Guentzel, who was unchecked as he drove the net. But Guentzel, just outside the crease, couldn’t elevate his shot. Holtby, on his belly, kicked out his right leg to keep it out.

That unbelievable save had Guentzel staring at the rafters – and still shaking his head two hours later.

“Yeah, I don’t even …” Guentzel said.

Last season, he scored 22 goals and dished 26 assists in 82 games – pretty good for a 23-year-old in his second year. But there were extended stretches that he went without finding the back of the net, at one point leading to a midseason sitdown with coach Mike Sullivan, who ripped into Guentzel for getting complacent, but also reassured him that he was a big part of the organization’s future.

Then, in the Stanley Cup Playoffs – again – Guentzel was a different player, a force. He had a goal and three assists in the first game of those playoffs and scored four goals 11 days later to eliminate the Philadelphia Flyers.

He had four goals and four assists in the second round before the Penguins lost in six games to the Capitals.

The Penguins, after giving Sprong a look at right wing on Crosby and Guentzel’s line during training camp, reunited their hottest line from last year’s playoffs by replacing Sprong with Hornqvist. The three picked up where they left off Thursday and were on the ice for two of the team’s evenstrength goals.

It was the culmination of a summer of hard work for Guentzel, who got a new trainer, ate better, slept better, added 10 pounds of muscle, then tore up the recreational “Da Beauty League” back in Minnesota.

“This is what you’re hoping for. You wait all summer for this,” Guentzel said. “When you can come out and bang a couple in, get some confidence going, hopefully it rolls into the season.”

“He had two [goals] and he probably could have had a couple more, too.” Sidney Crosby on Jake Guentzel