Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith stout in win against Sharks

Seth Rorabaugh
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023 1:02 a.m. | Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023 1:02 a.m.

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San Jose Sharks center Michael Eyssimont prepares to shoot against Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith during the first period Tuesday.

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San Jose Sharks goaltender Aaron Dell (30) follows the puck after save against Penguins during the second period Tuesday.

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Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, left, and San Jose Sharks center Nico Sturm chase the puck during the first period Tuesday.

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Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell celebrates with teammates after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the first period Tuesday.

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San Jose Sharks center Noah Gregor moves the puck while defended by Penguins center Sidney Crosby during the second period Tuesday.

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Penguins left wing Jake Guentzel, left, celebrates with right wing Rickard Rakell after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the second period Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ methods aren’t all that complicated.

If they possess the puck, they’ll probably succeed. That’s not anything specific to them either. It’s pretty much basic Hockey 101.

“When our team is at its best, we control territory,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said to media that traveled to San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday. “We spend more time in the offensive zone than we do in any of the other zone. We have some of the best players in the game at protecting pucks and hanging onto pucks down low and creating offense from below the goal line. … We have a handful of guys that are really good in that area of the game.”

The Penguins weren’t particularly good at any of that Tuesday but still came away with a 3-1 road win against the woebegone San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center. The hosts fell despite a firm 39-28 command in shots.

Thankfully for the visitors, their goaltender was good.

Backup Casey DeSmith, starting his seventh consecutive game in place of injured All-Star Tristan Jarry, stopped 38 of the 39 shots he faced and boosted his record to 10-11-4.

The victory pushed the Penguins (27-17-9, 63 points) ahead of the rival Washington Capitals (28-22-6, 62 points) for the top wild-card seed in the Eastern Conference.

Scoring opened 5:52 into regulation when Penguins forward Rickard Rakell recorded his 19th goal of the campaign.

Corralling a loose puck on the right half wall of the offensive zone, Penguins defenseman Jeff Petry snapped a quick wrister at the cage. Goaltender Aaron Dell made the initial save but allowed a rebound as he was spun to his left after slight contact by Rakell, albeit due in part to a shove from Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson. Settling the puck with his left skate, Rakell elevated a wrister over an out-of-position Dell. Petry and forward Sidney Crosby had assists.

Rickard Rakell scores against the San Jose Sharks to make it 1-0 #SJSvsPIT #SJSharks #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/tP50LQ92YZ

— nopClips (@nopClips) February 15, 2023

Forward Jake Guentzel’s 22nd goal gave the Penguins a 2-0 lead at 11:33 of the second period.

Taking a drop pass in the Sharks’ right circle from Guentzel, Crosby swooped behind the net. Instead of attempting something mundane like a wraparound shot, Crosby slipped a deft backhand pass to the front of the right post, where Guentzel was able to shuffle in a forehand shot past Dell’s left skate. Crosby and Rakell registered assists.

Jake Guentzel scores against the San Jose Sharks to make it 2-0 #SJSvsPIT #SJSharks #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/7sMcM2e827

— nopClips (@nopClips) February 15, 2023

During the sequence, Guentzel appeared to get away with a potential high-sticking penalty against Sharks forward Logan Couture.

The Sharks broke up DeSmith’s shutout bid late in regulation at 15:57 of the third period.

Picking up a loose puck in his own zone, Sharks forward Timo Meier chugged through the neutral zone and gained the offensive zone on the left wing. Fending off pressure from Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson, Meier attacked the cage and slipped a forehand shot through DeSmith for his 31st goal. There were no assists.

Timo Meier scores against the Pittsburgh Penguins to make it 2-1 #SJSvsPIT #SJSharks #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/SfNwmUGAvH

— nopClips (@nopClips) February 15, 2023

An empty net goal by Guentzel at 19:22 of the final frame secured victory. Crosby and Rakell had assists.

Jake Guentzel scores against the San Jose Sharks to make it 3-1 #SJSvsPIT #SJSharks #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/POFI6W1m5P

— nopClips (@nopClips) February 15, 2023

Notes:

• Penguins forward Ryan Poehling was a late scratch from the lineup and replaced by Drew O’Connor. Following the game, Sullivan indicated Poehling was sidelined due to an undisclosed injury he has been dealing with since December.

• Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman (undisclosed injury) and forward Danton Heinen (healthy) were also scratched.

• Guentzel (390 points) surpassed forward Chris Kunitz (388) for 14th place on the franchise’s career scoring list.

• Couture appeared in his 900th career game.

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.