Stars shine, but Rutger McGroarty is injured as Penguins cruise to 5-0 win against Blackhawks

Matt Vensel, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 8, 2025

Published in Hockey

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PITTSBURGH — The Penguins have much work to do over the next year or two to build their roster back up to the point where they can win consistently again. But Tuesday’s victory was the latest reminder that they still have starpower that can take over a game.

That should be the case as long as they still have that Sidney Crosby fella on their roster.

The captain continued his late-season scoring spree on Tuesday. Their top line was buzzing again. And Erik Karlsson buried a milestone goal as the Penguins dominated Connor Bedard and a young Chicago Blackhawks squad, 5-0, at PPG Paints Arena.

There was a potentially concerning piece of news coming out of the victory. Rookie forward Rutger McGroarty blocked a shot with his left skate on the penalty kill late in the second period. He went right to the dressing room and didn’t return to the game.

Crosby helped the Penguins snap out of their early funk with his power-play goal.

Rickard Rakell set him up from the left corner, and Crosby spun like a bubble hockey player to score on Spencer Knight. All in one motion, Crosby turned to face the play after he won the offensive zone faceoff and then uncorked a one-timer from the slot.

That goal, scored late in the first period, was Crosby’s 12th over the last 14 games.

Karlsson’s 200th career goal pushed the Penguins’ lead to 2-0 in the second period.

Bryan Rust did the dirty work before and after the milestone goal. His sneaky stick lift on Frank Nazar allowed the Penguins to keep possession in Blackhawks territory. Then, after rookie Ville Koivunen made a nifty pass to set up Karlsson for the score, Rust made a beeline into the blue paint to retrieve the keepsake puck for Karlsson.

Kris Letang got in on the scoring in the third period, sniping a slim-angle shot over Knight’s shoulder. That moved him into 23rd all-time in points among defensemen.

That was more than enough goal support for Tristan Jarry, who was on his A game Tuesday. He stopped 26 shots to secure his second shutout in his last four starts.

Jarry needed to be sharp in the first period to give the Penguins a chance to build a lead. He made a point-blank pad stop on Philipp Kurashev two minutes in. Later in the period, he got a piece of Teuvo Teravainen’s shot on a 2-on-1 rush for Chicago.

And once Crosby scored, the Penguins took control of the game and ran away for a decisive victory against Bedard and the Blackhawks, one of the NHL’s worst teams.

Around the boards

— Kevin Hayes got two garbage-time goals, snapping a four-game scoreless skid.

— Karlsson became the 24th defenseman in NHL history to score 200 career goals. Only Brent Burns, his former teammate, has tallied more among active blue-liners.

— After the first period, Mike Sullivan swapped the two rookie forwards, Koivunen and McGroarty, within his top six. Koivunen was bumped up to the Crosby line and McGroarty was moved down to play with Evgeni Malkin and Rakell on the second.

— Philip Tomasino missed his second straight game. He has been diagnosed with a concussion. Fellow forward Blake Lizotte was also sidelined Tuesday. He suffered a lower-body injury Sunday, when the Penguins lost to these Blackhawks in Chicago.

— With those two unavailable, the Penguins recalled winger Matt Nieto from their American Hockey League club. Nieto suited up Tuesday, skating on the fourth line.

Coming up next

The Penguins have a scheduled off day on Wednesday. They will practice Thursday in Cranberry before heading to New Jersey for their final road game of the season.