Penguins defeat Devils on eve of trade deadline

Colton Sceviour is pragmatic about his job security.

When you’ve played for three teams over a 10-year career in the NHL, there really is no other way to operate.

So when the Penguins placed the reserve forward on waivers Saturday, Sceviour acknowledged the realities of his situation.

Namely, not many teams were going to claim a player who, before Sunday, had three goals in 31 games while carrying a meaty salary cap hit of $1.2 million.

That’s to say, there wasn’t going to be a high demand for his services.

“If anyone has been paying attention this year, not a lot of guys are getting picked up,” said Sceviour, who cleared waivers Sunday. “Teams don’t have a lot of cap space. Once that I went on, I was pretty sure I was going to clear. I was just focused on getting ready for (Sunday’s) game.”

That focus manifested itself into a two-goal effort by Sceviour who helped the Penguins defeat the New Jersey Devils, 5-2, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Such an offensive outburst might not be enough to secure a permanent spot in the lineup, particularly with the NHL’s trade deadline looming at 3 p.m. Monday. But Sceviour made a good final case to remain part of the Penguins’ alchemy as they enter the final stretch of the regular season.

“We’re winning a lot of games right now with guys out,” Sceviour said. “When we’re healthy, this is a heck of a team. Obviously, you never know what happens this time of year. But I’m focusing on getting ready for the (Penguins’ next game at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday) and helping this team win down the stretch.”

The win came at a price, however. Bottom six forward Frederick Gaudreau, whose contributions have surprised management in recent weeks, left the game late in the second period with an undisclosed injury.

That was the only setback on an otherwise buoyant effort for the Penguins that continued a string of contributions from bottom-six forwards such as Gaudreau, Radim Zohorna and others in recent weeks.

Each of Sceviour’s goals came within the first six minutes of play. First, he collected his fourth goal of the season — and second in as many games — by collecting a rebound behind the Devils net and tucking in a forehand wraparound shot 2 minutes, 35 seconds into regulation

Then at 5:26 of the first period, Sceviour used his stick to tip a point shot by defenseman Mike Matheson from the slot below the blocker of goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood’s blocker on the near side.

“A guy that comes to the rink every day with a smile and works hard,” Penguins forward Jake Guentzel said. “It’s always nice to see a guy like that get rewarded. Really happy for him. Just this last two-game stretch for him to score two goals, it’s been big goals for us. We’re definitely lucky to have him.”

The Penguins are fairly fortunate to have Guentzel as well. After a redirection goal by Devils forward Miles Wood at 17:14 of the first period made it a one-goal game, Guentzel collected a hat trick, helping his team claim victory.

The Devils had plenty of opportunities to tie the game as they thoroughly outplayed the Penguins throughout most of the second period but a deflection by Guentzel the 19:20 mark his 18th, put the Penguins up 3-1.

New Jersey issued an unsuccessful coaching challenge on the score, claiming goaltending interference, that resulted in a delay of game penalty. The Penguins converted that into a power-play goal 1:19 into the third period by Guentzel.

The Devils pushed back when defenseman P.K. Subban scored his fourth goal at 7:30 of the third period, but an empty-net score by Guentzel at the 18:37 mark allowed him to reach the 20-goal mark and secure victory.

Goaltender Tristan Jarry made 28 saves on 30 shots in the win that elevated his record to 17-8-2 and reaffirmed the Penguins’ belief they have sufficient depth among their bottom six to contend for the Stanley Cup.

“To get the supporting cast to contribute offensively and be sound defensively and do some of the other jobs, whether it be killing penalties or taking defensive zone starts, things of that nature, all of those little things add up to winning games,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “These guys have stepped in and really maximized the opportunity that’s been given to them. It speaks volumes for how good of players they are.

“These guys are NHL players.”