Empty net or not, Penguins' Zach Aston-Reese snaps scoring drought

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese snapped a 14-game streak without a goal during Friday’s 4-1 home win against the Montreal Canadiens.

He didn’t exactly boast about how he scored it, however.

Mainly because it was on an empty net.

“It’s a lot easier when there’s no goalie there, obviously,” said Aston-Reese, whose previous goal came Jan. 4. “It’s nice that coach trusts us in those situations. We made a nice play as a line. Everyone got a touch in on it. Like I said, it’s a lot easier when there isn’t a goalie.”

Down 3-1 late in regulation, the Canadiens pulled goaltender Carey Price in lieu of an extra attacker. The Penguins countered with their defensive line of Aston-Reese, Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev. Blueger and Tanev recorded assists on the goal.

Even if the net was vacant, the significance of Aston-Reese getting a goal of any type wasn’t lost on coach Mike Sullivan.

“Sometimes, it jump starts a guy. They defended well, those guys. They did a real good job in our end, and they got rewarded for it at the other end,” Sullivan said.

“In Zach’s case, that will hopefully take a little bit of pressure off because I know all of these guys want to score. When that doesn’t happen for a while, it’s a natural inclination to squeeze your stick a little bit. Hopefully (the empty-net goal) takes a little bit of pressure off, and he can just go relax and play.”