Home ice in the bag for first-round series
the 20 total points — came from players 25 or younger.
“They brought energy once again for us,” Sullivan said.
The Penguins needed that energy in the first period, after a sluggish first few minutes saw them fall behind, 10, on a Stefan Noesen goal that snuck through Matt Murray’s pads from a sharp angle.
“It was no secret we didn’t have our best in the first,” center Matt Cullen said. “We’re coming off an emotional win against Columbus at home. It’s somewhat understandable, but, at the same time, different guys stepped up and provided a spark when we needed it.”
Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel did so in the first, with goals to put the Penguins ahead by the intermission.
John Moore tied the score 10 seconds into the second period, but Josh Archibald and Conor Sheary responded with a pair of goals to give the Penguins a lead they never relinquished.
“Any time you get contributions throughout your lineup like that, it certainly increases your chances of winning games,” Sullivan said. “I think it’s a sign of a real competitive hockey team.”
Granted, the remainder of the game might not have been the best example of that the Penguins have put forward this season. The Devils came into the game last in the NHL in shots on goal per game with 27.7, yet the Penguins got outshot, 38-28. And giving up four goals to a team that averages 2.21 per game certainly wasn’t their best defensive work of the season.
“It wasn’t a pretty game, no one in here’s going to kid themselves,” Cullen said. “We know we didn’t play real well. It was just one of those games where we found a way to get it done.”
If Thursday night wasn’t the best hockey the Penguins have played this season, they now have two road games with nothing on the line to tune up and get ready for their postseason run.
They will play Toronto, which is still fighting for a playoff spot, Saturday, before ending the season Sunday against the New York Rangers in a game that means nothing to either team.
“I think we look at it as an opportunity to tighten a few things up and get our minds geared up for the next week,” Cullen said. “Potentially rest a couple of guys that are logging a lot of minutes, so that’s a nice opportunity.”
Sullivan declined to say what his plans were in terms of resting his regulars in the next two games, saying that he and the coaching staff would discuss that possibility over the next day or two.
After those two, though, it will be time for, as goalie Matt Murray called it, “the real thing.”
“It was a grind of a schedule this season, but coming down the stretch here, this is when it’s awfully easy to get excited,” Cullen said. “You get those good playoff feelings going again.”