'I think they enjoy those moments': 'Big 3' lift Penguins over Lightning, into playoffs position

For nearly six years, the presence of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang hasn’t been enough for the Pittsburgh Penguins to win a Stanley Cup postseason series.

The Penguins’ ongoing playoff series win drought, which dates to 2018, not to mention missing the postseason last year for the first time since Crosby’s rookie season in 2005-06, has raised questions as to the wisdom of continuing to structure the club’s roster around the “Big Three,” particularly Letang and Malkin.

But Saturday afternoon at PPG Paints Arena, it largely was the Big Three who lifted the Penguins to arguably their most important win of the year, 5-4, over the Tampa Bay Lightning, breathing more life into the club’s playoffs hopes, which appeared totally moribund only a few weeks ago.

Crosby scored the game’s first goal, Malkin finished with two goals and an assist and Letang netted one, contributing four of the Penguins’ five goals against a tough customer in the Lightning (43-27-7).

“It’s probably appropriate just given their legacy that they’ve built here in Pittsburgh that they’ve shown time and time again how competitive they are and when the stakes get high, they play their best,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “It’s hard to win Stanley Cups if your best players don’t have those attributes, and these guys have shown that time and time again.

“…They’re incredible players, they’re fierce competitors and they play their very best when the stakes are the highest. I think they enjoy those moments. They like playing in these types of games and like playing meaningful hockey.”

With the win, the Penguins (36-30-11, 83 points) officially jumped into the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card position.

Per Penguins historian Bob Grove, Saturday marked only the 13th time Crosby, Malkin and Letang had scored a goal in the same game, with the club’s record in such instances now 12-0-1.

The Penguins’ frustrating inability to protect leads nearly neutralized the performances of Crosby, Malkin and Letang, with the Lightning tying the score in the third period after entering the final frame trailing 4-1.

And it was Michael Bunting who provided the winning goal (in addition to assisting on both of Malkin’s goals), backhanding a rebound past Andrei Vasilevskiy with 5 minutes, 28 seconds left in regulation.

But the fingerprints of Crosby, Malkin and Letang were all over Saturday’s win.

Following the game, Crosby deflected credit and instead distributed it around the Penguins’ locker room.

“I think everyone played a huge role,” Crosby said. “Obviously, we ended up on the scoresheet but I think if you look at the game, the plays and what went into it, you can go right through this room and see that everyone had an impact.

“Definitely nice that we were all able to contribute, but this time of year and leading up to this, I think we’ve had different guys stepping up.”

Crosby, who opened up the scoring Saturday just over four minutes into the first period, continues an ultra-hot streak that recently propelled him to his 19th consecutive point-per-game NHL season, tying him with Wayne Gretzky for most all-time.

Since March 24, in his last eight games, Crosby has contributed seven goals and nine assists.

“It’s pretty crazy to watch,” said winger Drew O’Connor, who’s skated with Crosby following Jake Guentzel’s trade to Carolina. “He’s so good every night. It’s been such a privilege playing with him the last little while, learning from him, seeing the work ethic he brings every night and how he’s just dragged us back into it. He’s definitely our heartbeat. He’s found us a way to get back into it.”

Early in the first period, following a Tampa Bay turnover near the offensive blue line, Bryan Rust took possession of the puck and was off to the races with Crosby, with Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh caught in a 2-on-1.

Rust, displaying impressive patience, waited until Raddysh had sprawled out on the ice in an attempt to block a pass, managing to find Crosby, who easily tapped the puck in net past Vasilevskiy.

The goal went for Crosby’s 40th on the year, marking just the third time (2009-10, 2016-17) in his career he’s reached that plateau.

Sidney Crosby now has the third-highest single-season goal total of his career with five games remaining. Aging like a fine wine. pic.twitter.com/mo9np6PreI

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 6, 2024

It was Crosby’s only point of the night, but it was far from the only impactful play he made.

Roughly a minute later, after O’Connor absorbed a big hit from Tampa Bay’s Emil Lilleberg in the offensive zone corner that knocked him down, Crosby flew over and delivered a hit of his own on Lilleberg, sending the 6-foot-2 blueliner tumbling to the ice.

pic.twitter.com/QFjAMjBQCh https://t.co/OvIgHNsbJm

— Mike Rupp (@Rupper17) April 6, 2024

Later, in the second period, Crosby just missed converting a between-the-legs deflection attempt on a shot from Rust.

Sidney Crosby's greatness is on full display today#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/bC6dHuRlp9

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 6, 2024

Like Crosby, Malkin has turned up the heat of late when the Penguins have needed it most.

His three-point performance gave him six points in as many games and three multi-goal games dating to March 28.

At 6:06 of the second period, Malkin made the score 2-0, deflecting a shot from Erik Karlsson past Vasilevskiy.

Malkin netted his 25th goal of the year later in the period with about three minutes remaining, burying the puck on a no-look feed courtesy of Bunting from behind the cage.

SIX GOALS IN HIS LAST SIX GAMES ????

Evgeni Malkin will not relent. pic.twitter.com/VGq41QAsQD

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 6, 2024

“It’s fun to see how inspired he is playing right now, the way he competes out there,” defenseman Marcus Pettersson said. “Him and (Crosby) have been carrying us there for the last few weeks. We’re going to hop on their back and keep going.”

In between Malkin’s goals, Letang scored his ninth of the season, a 66-foot slap shot from the point that penetrated Vasilevskiy and slid slowly into the back of the net.

Kris Letang's point shot sneaks through Vasilevskiy, putting Pittsburgh back up by 2!#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/t0E0EvwnqW

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 6, 2024

For Letang, scoring with Crosby and Malkin in the same game is just business as usual.

“We don’t care who scores the goals,” Letang said. “At the end of the day, we just want the (win). When it happens, it’s a cool fact but it doesn’t matter who scores the goals.”

For Sullivan, Saturday’s collective performance by Crosby, Malkin and Letang is evidence the Penguins’ franchise players remain steadfast in believing that reaching the playoffs is attainable.

“I think they see an opportunity with this group,” Sullivan said. “They know we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, but they see an opportunity and they’re going to do everything they can to help us have success.”

Notes: Defensemen Ryan Graves (concussion) and John Ludvig (illness) were scratches Saturday, as was forward Sam Poulin. Per Sullivan, forward Jansen Harkins (right hand) is being sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on a conditioning assignment. He has not suited up since March 7 because of an injury to his hand that required surgery.