SUNRISE, Fla. — Of the 400 regular-season goals that Jeff Carter has now scored in his incredible NHL career, this one certainly was not among the prettiest.
Skating down the right wall with an eye on Bryan Rust as Rust charged toward the crease, Carter snapped the puck towards his winger’s stick. Aaron Ekblad tried to pick off his pass but accidentally steered it into the Florida Panthers net.
As Carter and Rust met in the corner to celebrate the goal, a big one in Thursday’s 5-4 overtime loss, Rust patted Carter’s belly as if to say, “That’s yours, big guy.”
Carter still seemed skeptical. As the 36-year-old slowly skated toward the bench and 14 fist-bumps, he glanced up at the Jumbotron for visual confirmation.
Moments later, it was announced that the goal was scored by Carter, the seventh active NHLer and the third current Penguins player to hit that milestone.
Hey, when you score that many goals, there’s going to be a few goofy ones.
The 400th of his career pulled Pittsburgh even after falling behind, 2-0, at FLA Live Arena in Florida’s season opener. And Jake Guentzel, in his return to the lineup, scored. But the Panthers rallied back from a 4-2 deficit. Carter Verhaeghe won it for them in overtime after Evan Rodrigues got stuffed on a breakaway.
Still, it was a successful first road trip for the Penguins, who started it by thumping the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-2, on Tuesday night.
OK, back to Carter. He’s been one of the league’s most lethal scorers since Philadelphia drafted him 11th overall in 2003. He is 6-3, 200 pounds and still moves well for a big man. Throughout his career, which includes a couple of Stanley Cups with Los Angeles, he has displayed a knack for finding opportunities to get his shot off.
Oh, that shot. What a weapon. Gliding down the wing, Carter can effortlessly cock his right-handed stick back just a few inches and rifle shots into corners.
Penguins fans who might not have followed Carter closely earlier in his career can appreciate it now that he’s snapping pucks past unsuspecting goalies in black and gold. Thursday’s tally was his 14th in 21 games with the Penguins, including last postseason, since they acquired him from the Kings back in April.
He’s quickly become a leader, too. Notice that “A” on his sweater Thursday?
Carter helped spark the Penguins after they fell behind, 2-0, after two fluky goals from the Panthers. On the second one, Casey DeSmith poked the puck off Anthony Duclair’s stick but it bounced off of Mark Friedman and back into the net.
The Penguins finally put one on the board with 11:45 left in the period, on Danton Heinen’s second goal in as many games, but not until after they had drilled the post twice and squandered a pair of 5-on-3 power plays totaling 76 seconds.
Dominik Simon made a nifty play at the blue line to spring Heinen, who unleashed that shot that the Penguins praised throughout training camp. Heinen, a free-agent addition, picked the corner above Sergei Bobrovsky’s right shoulder.
Florida was called for five penalties during the second period, tilting the action into Pittsburgh’s favor. And Carter tied it up, 2-2, on the power play. Guentzel and Rodrigues got goals. But Ekblad scored twice to bring the Panthers back.
Guentzel missed Tuesday’s season opener. The winger was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 3 but he never experienced symptoms. He was back at practice Monday and has since been working himself back into game shape.
Guentzel nearly got the game’s first goal. He zipped down the left wing then cut to the crease. But he couldn’t tuck the puck between Bobrovsky’s pads. He scored one in the third when he smartly banked a shot in off of MacKenzie Weegar.
Thursday was the first time the Penguins played against former playoff hero Patric Hornqvist since trading him to the Panthers last September. He had a quiet night. He didn’t even head-butt DeSmith or put anybody into a wrestling move.
DeSmith got the start in goal over Tristan Jarry, who had a solid outing in Tampa in the opener. He was sharp in the first period, getting his blocker on Barkov’s shot from the back door and later snagging Owen Tippett’s shot on a 2-on-1, to keep the Penguins in it early. He ended up making 33 saves in regulation.
The Penguins are back in action Saturday night, their home opener at PPG Paints Arena. Marc-Andre Fleury and the Chicago Blackhawks will be in town.
