The Penguins are rolling-and Thursday night in Pittsburgh, they kept the good times going with a 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, stretching their win streak to five games. The second period?
That’s where the game flipped on its head. Four goals in one frame, including a pair just 31 seconds apart, turned a tight contest into a statement win.
Egor Chinakhov and Anthony Mantha lit the lamp in rapid succession midway through the second, both finishing off rushes that left Chicago chasing. Chinakhov slipped one five-hole on Arvid Soderblom with 4:30 left in the period, and before the Blackhawks could regroup, Mantha followed suit-also going through the legs-to pile on. Ryan Shea capped off the second-period blitz with a goal in the final 30 seconds, making it four unanswered in the frame and giving Pittsburgh full control.
Connor Dewar had himself a night, too. He opened his scoring account early, tying the game just under two minutes after Chicago struck first, and then added his second of the game in the third to put the finishing touches on the win. Ben Kindel also found the back of the net, giving the Penguins six different goal scorers on the night-a testament to just how deep and dangerous this lineup has become.
Arturs Silovs didn’t have to be spectacular, but he was solid, stopping 17 shots and keeping the Blackhawks at bay during key stretches. On the other end, Soderblom had a busy night, facing 44 shots and turning aside 38. But the Penguins’ relentless attack was too much, especially during that second-period onslaught.
Chicago got goals from Connor Murphy and rookie standout Connor Bedard, who notched his 21st of the season with a wrist shot late in the third. But that was about the only silver lining for a Blackhawks team that’s now dropped four straight, including a shootout loss to Minnesota earlier in the week.
For Pittsburgh, the win comes after a successful four-game road sweep, capped off by a victory in Vancouver. They returned home without Bryan Rust, who began serving a three-game suspension for a hit on Brock Boeser, but didn’t miss a beat. Mantha, Shea, and Noel Acciari each chipped in with two assists, and the team’s depth once again proved to be a major asset.
Also making his return: forward Rutger McGroarty, called up from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for his first NHL action since suffering a concussion in practice on January 6. He made the most of his 10:36 of ice time, registering five shots, three hits, and a blocked shot-bringing energy and physicality to the Penguins’ bottom six.
Next up, the Penguins will host the New York Rangers on Saturday in what promises to be a marquee matchup. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, have to regroup quickly-they’re back at it Friday night at home against Columbus.