3 Takeaways From Penguins Chaotic 5-4 Overtime Win Over Predators

For the third consecutive game, the Pittsburgh Penguins needed some extra time to finish the night, this time rallying back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Nashville Predators 5-4 in overtime.

Bryan Rust was the hero, capping off a four-point night with his overtime lamplighter at 1:07. Additionally, Sidney Crosby snapped a lengthy goal drought with his first in ten games while picking three helpers.

Tristan Jarry collected the win, outduelling former Vezina Trophy finalist Juuse Saros, who was on the hook for the loss with a .750 SV%.

As the Penguins pack up for their trip to New Jersey, let’s discuss their night in the Music City.

It Wasn’t Pretty, to Say the Least

The Predators have one of the worst records in the NHL and have had a boatload of troubles this season, whether scoring goals or keeping pucks out of their net. So, this should have been an easier contest for the Penguins to win.

Instead, Pittsburgh had nothing going and was lucky to be tied 3-3 heading into the third. The visitors had nine shots on goal after 40 minutes.

Yet, timely goals and saves from Jarry allowed the Penguins to stay in the contest and force overtime. Ultimately, they had a chance to win it in regulation but didn’t muster up any opportunities on the man advantage in the final two minutes.

Anyone watching the overtime highlights will wonder how on earth they survived with sloppy passes in all three zones, but all it took was one shot from Rust to give Pittsburgh their eighth win in the last 11 games, the most victories in the NHL during that span.

Always Chasing the Game

The Penguins should inscribe the motto “always chasing the game” somewhere because it describes the team’s first 34 games of the season.

Sportsnet Pittsburgh was shy to point out that Thursday night was the fifth time this year that Jarry has given up a goal on the first shot.

Filip Forsberg dishes a perfect pass to Jonathan Marchessault, who puts the Preds up 1-0.

Penguins initially thought the puck might have gone out at the other end, but declined to challenge. pic.twitter.com/PTZaj6l2NL

— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) December 20, 2024

Meanwhile, the Predators became the 18th team to score the first goal against the Penguins, accounting for 52.9% of their season.

Pittsburgh remains entrenched in the wildcard race because it is 8-8-2 when giving up the first goal. However, it is now 3-1-1 in the last five games, all contests in which it chased the game out of the gate.

Sloppy Play Could Hurt Penguins Moving Forward

If the Penguins continue to play Jekyll and Hyde hockey, unable to beat non-playoff contenders and fringe wildcard teams, they could be in for a rude awakening on Saturday night in New Jersey.

The Devils lead the Metropolitan Division and have a plus-35 goal differential with almost as many goals on the season as Pittsburgh has given up. New Jersey may be a better road team, but the Penguins (6-7-3) are scrapping by as visitors.

Related: 5 Things To Know About Penguins Pierre-Olivier Joseph

Unlike their recent opponents, the Penguins will need a complete game effort, like the one we saw against the Boston Bruins and, most recently, the third period against the Montreal Canadiens.

When looking past the Devils, Pittsburgh returns home for a contest against their feisty cross-state rival, Philadelphia Flyers, on Monday.

The Flyers are doing anything they can to collect points, which means if the Penguins want to remain serious threats to wildcard opponents, they have to clean up their play, or they won’t be so lucky in future games.