It had been more than 25 years since a Taglianetti had an assist for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
That is, until Thursday night.
As a stickless Sidney Crosby raced up the ice, Jon Taglianetti, the Penguins’ associate head equipment manager, stretched out to hand him a stick as Crosby entered the offensive zone. Crosby drove to the net and banged the puck past Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the second period.
FULL. TEAM. EFFORT. pic.twitter.com/pUjTJrUtCx
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 16, 2021
Crosby had been without a stick because he had given his to defenseman Brian Dumoulin in the defensive zone.
“For that to happen the way it did, how the guys didn’t really care about the guys on the ice and just turned and started mobbing me, it’s a pretty cool moment,” Taglianetti said. “I’ll definitely remember that one.”
Crosby gives stick to defenseman.
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) April 16, 2021
Penguins breakout.
Crosby grabs stick from bench in full sprint.
Scores 479th career goal. https://t.co/3HrkzeGnHG
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was impressed by the effort, too.
“I think if we would have won the game, Tags would have got the helmet at the end,” Sullivan said.
Taglianetti’s father, Peter, played defense for the Penguins, winning the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992. For the record, the last time a Taglianetti had an official assist for the Penguins was Feb. 16, 1995, when Peter recorded one against the Hartford Whalers.
