Penguins Lean on Jarry, Lizotte, and the Kids to Ground Flyers in 5-1 Win
The scoreboard said 5-1, but this wasn’t a blowout in the traditional sense. The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t steamroll the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night - they simply took control, held it, and then slammed the door shut in the third period. It was a methodical, composed win, the kind that speaks more to a team’s structure and resolve than just raw firepower.
The Flyers, under first-year coach Rick Tocchet, have shown plenty of fight this season. But by the final frame, even they seemed to realize this wasn’t going to be their night. And while special teams played a big role - Pittsburgh cashed in three times on the power play and killed off five of six penalties, including two lengthy 5-on-3s - the real story was how the Penguins dictated the game at even strength and leaned on a few key players who continue to shape this team’s identity.
Tristan Jarry Slams the Door
Let’s start with the man between the pipes. Tristan Jarry didn’t just stop 28 of 29 shots - he was the difference early, when the Flyers came out with energy and generated a pair of dangerous chances right off the hop.
A three-on-two on the first shift. A short breakaway on the second.
Last year, those might’ve gone in. This year?
Jarry shut them down with poise and precision.
He was quick, compact, and composed - especially during those 5-on-3 penalty kills, where he moved post-to-post with control and confidence. It’s not just the saves, it’s how he’s making them.
He looks different this season. Calmer.
More assured. Like a goalie who’s figured out how to manage both his body and his mindset.
“He was great. I thought he was really sharp,” head coach Dan Muse said.
“Breakdowns are going to happen. I thought he was on when some of those breakdowns occurred.”
Rookie forward Rutger McGroarty, never one to shy away from a good soundbite, put it more bluntly: “I think the best penalty killer has to be a goalie, and Tristan Jarry is quite incredible.”
After a rough outing in relief over the weekend, where he gave up three goals to the Maple Leafs, Jarry bounced back in a big way. His save percentage is back up to .911, and his quality start percentage - sitting at .700 - would be a career high if it holds. Quietly, he’s stacking up one of his best seasons to date.
And yes, he’s finished seventh in Vezina voting twice before. But this version of Jarry? He might be inching toward something even better.
Blake Lizotte: The Glue Guy
When the Penguins picked up Blake Lizotte after the LA Kings let him walk in the summer of 2024, it didn’t exactly make headlines. A light-scoring center joining a crowded training camp group? It looked like a depth move.
It’s turned into much more than that.
Lizotte has become a staple on the fourth line and one of the Penguins’ most trusted penalty killers. He only has three goals this season, but that’s not the point. His value shows up in the details - the relentless puck pressure, the smart reads, the ability to flip the ice even when starting in his own zone.
And he rarely starts anywhere else. Just 4.5% of his shifts have begun in the offensive zone.
That’s staggeringly low. Yet, when Lizotte is on the ice, the Penguins are generating 53.5% of shot attempts and 54% of high-danger chances.
That’s a massive territorial swing - and it’s not by accident.
“He’s been a huge part of (the penalty kill) all year,” Muse said. “He’s so quick, he can get on top of things, get some down-ice pressure, the entry pressure, and then in the end zone, he makes really good reads.”
On Monday, even during a 5-on-3 kill, Lizotte seemed to be the first forward on every loose puck. He’s become the kind of player who shifts momentum in subtle but significant ways - the type of guy who helps put Sidney Crosby on the ice in the offensive zone, where Crosby is currently leading the league in goals.
The Youth Movement: McGroarty, Kindel & Koivunen
The Penguins might be building something special with their young trio of Rutger McGroarty, Ben Kindel, and Ville Koivunen. Monday night, that line didn’t just show flashes - they looked like a future top unit.
McGroarty’s arrival seemed to elevate both Kindel and Koivunen, especially the latter, who’s been searching for consistency. The chemistry was immediate.
The puck movement was crisp. And the defensive commitment?
That’s what really stood out.
“I mean, from my perspective, they’re just two really smart players,” McGroarty said. “For me, it’s just finding areas. If I find an open area, I know they’re going to find me.”
And they did. The trio controlled 70% of the expected goals and 70% of the scoring chances when they were on the ice.
They generated four high-danger chances while allowing just two. That’s not just good - that’s dominant.
It’s early, of course. But the potential is clear.
All three players have the pedigree, and now they’re starting to show they can produce at the NHL level. If McGroarty can help unlock Koivunen’s finishing touch, the Penguins might have a homegrown top line in the making.
A Win That Meant More Than the Score
This wasn’t just a win over a division rival. It was a glimpse at what the Penguins can be when all three phases - goaltending, special teams, and depth - are clicking.
Jarry was locked in. Lizotte was a force in the trenches.
And the kids? They looked like they belonged.
It’s the kind of game that doesn’t just earn two points. It builds belief.
And for a team trying to blend veterans with emerging talent, that’s exactly what you want to see.