MONTREAL — In an impressive display of offensive power, the Pittsburgh Penguins overwhelmed the Montreal Canadiens with a 9-2 victory on Thursday evening.
Bryan Rust was a standout player in this contest, netting three goals, marking the sixth hat trick of his career. He notched two of his goals in the second period, along with another mid-way through the third. Rickard Rakell contributed significantly as well, scoring twice and providing two assists for the Penguins’ offense.
The third period was particularly brutal for the Canadiens, as Kris Letang, Anthony Beauvillier, Matt Nieto, and Noel Acciari all found the back of the net during this final frame. Fans at the Bell Centre expressed their displeasure and began to leave prematurely as the game spiraled out of control for the home team.
Sidney Crosby continued to add to his legacy by assisting on three goals, bringing his career total to 1,026, which surpasses Gordie Howe’s franchise record of 1,023 assists.
Tristan Jarry had a robust performance in goal, making 21 saves. This outing was a rebound from a previous game where he conceded five goals in a 6-2 loss to Colorado. The Penguins have notably triumphed in six of their last eight matches.
For the Canadiens, Nick Suzuki and Joel Armia were the only players to beat Jarry, capping off a 3-2 homestand.
Sam Montembeault, who started his fifth consecutive game, faced 26 shots, making 20 saves before being replaced after surrendering three goals in the third period. Cayden Primeau stepped in and halted four of the seven shots he faced in relief.
In the first period, an essential moment occurred when Kris Letang assisted Bryan Rust on a power play goal 4:18 into the game, equalizing the score at 1-1 after a turnover led to Suzuki’s early goal for Montreal.
Notably, Lane Hutson’s remarkable point streak as a rookie defenseman for Montreal came to an end at seven games. During this game, he assisted on goals by Christian Dvorak and Josh Anderson, but missed the chance to extend his record further.
Looking ahead, the Penguins will face off against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, while the Canadiens will travel to Winnipeg for their next match on the same day.