NASHVILLE, Tenn. _ The Penguins probably expected to see Nashville's second goalie, Juuse Saros, at some point this weekend.
After all, with games against the Predators on back-to-back nights, it's only logical that Nashville would give Pekka Rinne a night off _ likely on the second half of the two games.
Turned out, it didn't even take that long. Less than 15 minutes into the first period, Rinne took the skate of shame from the crease to the bench. His stat line was not pretty: six shots on goal, three allowed.
By the time he traded his mask for a ball cap, the stage had been set for the Penguins 5-2 victory at Bridgestone Arena. The Penguins improved to 22-11-4 on the season. And they're now 12-5-3 without their captain Sidney Crosby.
That second part is a remarkable stat. To understand how the Penguins have weathered the injury to Crosby so gracefully over the last six weeks, just look at the goal scorers: Dominik Simon, Alex Galchenyuk, Teddy Blueger, Bryan Rust and Juuso Riikola.
Aside from Rust, who is on pace to shatter his career best for goals in a season, those aren't exactly the Penguins' biggest guns. Not even close. And that's the point.
Add them up. Players who entered the game with a combined eight goals _ Blueger (four), Galchenyuk (two), Simon (two) and Riikola (zero) _ tallied three goals in the first 20 minutes and four in the first 40.
Coach Mike Sullivan has consistently talked about the team-oriented approach his club has taken and the contributions he's getting up and down the lineup. Typically, that comes in the form of plays that are often overlooked. A blocked shot here. A key penalty kill there. Friday night, it came in the form of goals.
Simon hadn't scored since the Oct. 29 rout of Philadelphia. On Friday night, he flicked a harmless-looking shot at Rinne that trickled through the goalie's five hole for the first goal.
Galchenyuk, acquired this offseason in the Phil Kessel trade, started his Penguins tenure slowly and disappointingly. A third-overall pick who once scored 30 goals in 2015-16, he had found the back of the net just twice through Pittsburgh's first 36 games. But just as a Nashville penalty was expiring on Friday, Marcus Pettersson ripped a shot from the point. Galchenyuk shoveled away to poke the puck into the net.
Not even a minute later, before the broadcaster could announce Galchenyuk's goal, Teddy Blueger whacked in a rebound. That was it for Rinne.
Rust, the speedy right winger added the fourth goal on a beautiful assist from Jake Guentzel. After missing the first month of the season with a hand injury, Rust has now scored 14 goals in just 23 games, a pace of .61 goals per game. He's now just four away from his career best of 18 that he scored in the 2018-19 season.
Then, late in the second period, Riikola made it 5-1. The Finish defenseman had been forced to play forward earlier this season because of the rash of injuries. He showed off that offensive prowess by racing to the front of the net and smacking home his own rebound.
While Nashville's goaltender called it an early night, the Penguins got another solid performance from what's essentially become their new No. 1, Tristan Jarry. Friday marked his eighth start in 10 games this December. He stopped 30 Nashville shots, showing pretty clearly why Sullivan has continued to ride the hot hand.
The Penguins will complete the second half of the back-to-back on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena. Matt Murray is likely to get just his third start of December.
Time will tell who makes the start in goal for Nashville... or how long he remains there.
