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Goaltender Joel Blomqvist leads Penguins to much-needed win over Capitals | TribLIVE.com
Penguins/NHL

Goaltender Joel Blomqvist leads Penguins to much-needed win over Capitals

Seth Rorabaugh
Seth Rorabaugh
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Pittsburgh Penguins goaltenders Joel Blomqvist and Alex Nedeljkovic celebrate after a 3-2 win against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in Washington on Friday.
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A shot by Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin gets by Penguins goaltender Joel Blomqvist for a goal during the first period Friday.
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Penguins left wing Drew O’Connor (10) and Capitals center Nic Dowd collide along the boards during the first period Friday.
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Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson celebrates his goal during the first period against the Capitals on Friday.
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Penguins left wing Michael Bunting celebrates his goal during the first period against the Capitals on Friday.
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Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson celebrates his goal during the first period against the Capitals on Friday.
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Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin takes the ice during the first period Friday against the Penguins.
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Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin shoots during the first period Friday against the Penguins.
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Penguins center Sidney Crosby skates by the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin (8) and Jakub Vrana (13) during the second period Friday.
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Capitals defenseman Matt Roy and Penguins center Sidney Crosby collide during the second period Friday.
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Penguins center Blake Lizotte falls in front of Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren during the second period Friday.
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Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell tries to get the puck past Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren during the second period Friday.
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Capitals defenseman Matt Roy battles for the puck puck against Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell during the second period Friday.

Pittsburgh Penguins rookie goaltender Joel Blomqvist doesn’t have an overly elaborate approach to what is arguably the most demanding position in all of sports.

“I felt pretty good in these games that I’ve had a chance to play in,” Blomqvist said Oct. 16. “It just comes from the everyday work in practice. Work hard and have a good feeling in practice. That’s the key.”

Blomqvist was certainly key for the Penguins on Friday in a sorely needed 4-2 win against the rival Washington Capitals at the Capital One Arena in Washington. He made 32 saves on 34 shots to improve his record to 3-4-0.

“He was huge for us,” Penguins forward Rickard Rakell said to reporters in Washington. “He played great for us. … Making big saves.”

With two-time All-Star goaltender Tristan Jarry expected to return to the NHL club possibly as soon as Saturday following a two-week conditioning assignment with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League to get his malfunctioning game squared away, Blomqvist might not see the Pittsburgh Penguins’ net for the foreseeable future.

To be certain, Blomqvist’s play largely has been satisfactory for a goaltender playing his first NHL games. But as a player on an entry-level contract with limited service time as a professional, the 22-year-old easily can be assigned to a minor-league affiliate without having to be exposed to waivers.

Blomqvist likely will be back at some point this season. It’s just a question of when.

As for the team’s immediate concerns, Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson’s second goal of the season opened the scoring 3 minutes, 11 seconds into regulation.

Settling a loose puck behind the Capitals’ net, Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin circumnavigated his way to the left half-wall and flicked a clever backhand pass between the hashmarks for Karlsson who pumped a wrister by goaltender Charlie Lindgren’s glove. It was Karlsson’s first goal in nearly a month (Oct. 10). Malkin and linemate Sidney Crosby had assists.

Penguins forward Michael Bunting’s second goal came at 6:59 of the first period.

Via a cross-ice bank pass off the right wing boards of the neutral zone by Bunting, Karlsson gained the offensive zone with speed and returned the favor to Bunting, sending a forehand pass toward the crease. Bunting hustled past Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary and while holding his stick with only his right hand, jabbed a backhander over Lindgren’s glove. Karlsson claimed the lone assist.

The Capitals responded at 8:22 of the first period with defenseman Rasmus Sandin’s first goal.

Gaining the Penguins’ zone on the left wing, Capitals forward Connor McMichael offloaded a forehand pass to a trailing Sandin. Advancing below the left faceoff dot and past passive resistance by Karlsson, Sandin roofed a wrister over Blomqvist’s right shoulder on the near side. McMichael and linemate Tom Wilson tallied assists.

Things were tied at 6:04 of the second period when Capitals forward Andrew Mangiapane found his fourth goal.

Following an offensive zone turnover by Penguins forward Noel Acciari, Capitals forward Jakub Vrana claimed possession and surged to the neutral zone on the right wing, generating a two-on-one rush into the Penguins’ zone against Karlsson. While Karlsson slid to prevent a pass, Wilson was able to pitchfork a backhand feed to the slot where Mangiapane shoveled a forehand shot by Blomqvist’s left leg. Assists went to Vrana and linemate Hendrix Lapierre.

Malkin restored a lead for the Penguins with his fifth goal at 10:28 of the third period.

Pushing the puck into the offensive zone on the left wing, Penguins forward Bryan Rust got a step on McMichael and backhanded a shot attempt into Lindgren’s right leg. The rebound was booted to the slot where Malkin charged in and swept in a forehand shot through the goaltender’s legs. Rust and defenseman Kris Letang logged assists.

Acciari capped the scoring with his second goal on an empty net at 19:37 of the final frame. Defenseman Marcus Pettersson had the only assist.

“I felt pretty good,” Blomqvist said following the game. “Our team played really, really good today. … It was fun to play.”

Notes:

• Rust returned to the lineup after he was activated from injured reserve earlier in the day. Forward Cody Glass was placed on injured reserve. Neither of their ailments has been disclosed.

Sidelined for the previous five games, Rust logged 18:27 of ice time on 27 shifts and recorded a team-high five shots on six attempts.

• The Penguins have won three consecutive road games against the Capitals. That is their longest active road winning streak against any one opponent.

• Pettersson (130 points) surpassed forward Ross Lonsberry (129) for 72nd place on the franchise’s career scoring list.

• In 63 career games against the Capitals, Malkin has 80 points (27 goals, 53 assists).

• In 72 career games against the Capitals, Crosby has 91 points (31 goals, 60 assists).

• Penguins forward Kevin Hayes was scratched for the second consecutive game because of an undisclosed injury.

• Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea was a healthy scratch.

• Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin had a five-game goal-scoring streak halted.

Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.

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