NHL Game Recap: Malkin Hits 800 Assists, Blomqvist Shines in Debut As Penguins Defeat Red Wings 6-3

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings 6-3 last night at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Forwards Evgeni Malkin (2A), Anthony Beauvillier (2G), and Sidney Crosby (2A), along with defensemen Marcus Patterson (1G, 1A), and Erik Karlsson (1G, 1A), led the way for the Pens. Pittsburgh goalie Joel Blomqvist made 29 saves on 32 shots in his NHL debut. Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat (2G, 1A) led the way for the Red Wings, and goalie Ville Husso made 10 saves on 14 shots before being pulled in the second period after allowing three goals in two and a half minutes. Cam Talbot came in relief of Husso, and made 12 saves on 14 shots.

Game Recap

Early in the first period, Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat scored his first goal of the season after receiving a feed from Lucas Raymond and blasting one by Penguins goalie Joel Blomqvist to give Detroit a 1-0 lead. With just less than five minutes left in the first, forward Anthony Beauvillier banged home a loose puck during a scramble off some bodies to get his first as a Penguin, and the team’s first goal of the season. The Penguins were outshot 14-7 by the Red Wings at the end of the first period.

Early in the second period, Pens forward Sidney Crosby won the face-off, which led to defenseman Marcus Pettersson firing the puck on net, and Beauvillier put home the rebound for his second of the night, and the 2-1 Pens lead. Just 58 seconds later, Pens forward Evgeni Malkin led three Red Wings players and the goalie to him, and fed a pass over to forward Drew O’Connor, who buried it into an open net to give the Penguins the 3-1 lead. With 14:32 left in the second, defenseman Marcus Pettersson delivered a floater to the net from the point that beat goalie Ville Husso and gave the Penguins the 4-1 lead. After this, the Red Wings made a goaltending change, and goalie Cam Talbot came in to make his Red Wings debut. With just over seven minutes left in the game, Red Wings forward Vladimir Tarasenko sniped a shot past Blomqvist right as a Red Wings power play expires to cut the lead to 4-2, and for his first goal as a Red Wing. Just over a minute later, Penguins forward Drew O’Connor thought he had his second goal of the game, however, a review determined that a hand pass was missed, and the goal was taken back.

Early in the third period, the Penguins capitalized on the power-play, as defenseman Erik Karlsson blasted home his first goal of the season to give the Penguins the 5-2 lead. With 11:45 left in the game, the Red Wings capitalized on a five-on-three with Alex DeBrincat grabbing his second goal of the game to cut the Penguins lead to 5-3. With 7:39 left, forward Kevin Hayes grabbed his first goal as a Penguin by roofing a shot past Talbot to make it 6-3, and that would be all she wrote.

Three Stars

PIT F Anthony Beauvillier (2G)
DET F Alex DeBrincat (2G, 1A)
PIT F Evgeni Malkin (2A)*

*hit 800 career assists

Game Notes

DET (0-1-0) 0 PTS

D Jeff Petry left the game during the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return to the game.
Red Wings outshot the Penguins 32-28
Red Wings Next Game: Oct 12. vs NSH (0-1-0)

PIT (1-1-0) 2 PTS

PIT G Joel Blomqvist made his NHL debut in net.
PIT F Evgeni Malkin hit 800 career assists, joining teammate Sidney Crosby and Red Wings forward Patrick Kane as the only active NHL players who have hit that milestone, and the 34th NHL player to hit that milestone all-time.
Penguins PP: 1/2 (50%)
Red Wings PP: 1/5 (20%)
Penguins Next Game: Oct 12. @ TOR (1-1-0)