Penguins crash Lightning's party, beat defending champs in opener

TAMPA, Fla. — Tuesday was nearly perfect for Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper.

His team raised its latest banner recognizing the Stanley Cup championship from last season.

And Amalie Arena was packed from the ice to the rafters, an occurrence that morphed into a rarity all over North America the past 19 months given the harsh realities of covid-19.

It was a marvelous day for the sport, regardless of rooting interests. And it was another step closer to life being a little bit more normal, perhaps.

But one thing was missing.

“Sid’s not playing,” Cooper lamented. “When you go play other teams, you want to see the other team locked and loaded and see their stars.”

Presumably, the Penguins would have liked to have spotted captain Sidney Crosby on the ice as well. But despite his absence, the visitors claimed a 6-2 victory to begin the 2021-22 season.

With Crosby sidelined as a result of offseason surgery to his left wrist, the Penguins got goals from a handful of newcomers — as well as one returnee — and defeated a stout Lightning squad that is a legit candidate to win the Stanley Cup for a third consecutive year.

“We all know who’s out of the lineup,” said forward Danton Heinen, a free-agent signing this past offseason. “Everybody’s just got to pick up their game a little and carry a little more weight. It’s a good opportunity for some guys.”

It was also an opportunity for goaltender Tristan Jarry to muzzle many misanthropes for one night, at least. Making 26 saves on 28 shots, he claimed a victory that was important in ways beyond the standings.

“It’s a big win for him,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He played it very well. He made a handful of real good saves. No matter how you try to defend against (the Lightning), they have some game-breakers and they have that quick-strike offense and they’re going to get chances.

“When they did, Tristan was there to make some big saves for us.”

After a scoreless first 20 minutes, the Penguins struck first 12 seconds into the second period. Playing a puck from behind his net, Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy lost it on the end boards to Penguins forward Jeff Carter on a determined forecheck.

Stopping the puck with his right leg, Carter settled it, then shuffled a pass to the right circle. As Vasilevskiy scrambled in vain to get into position, Heinen leaned down and put a forehand shot into a mostly vacant net for the first goal of the entire NHL season.

Penguins forward Brian Boyle, who attended training camp on a tryout basis and formally signed with the team Tuesday morning, got in on the act at 4:11 of the second. From the right point of the offensive zone, Penguins forward Sam Lafferty slipped a sharp pass behind Lightning defenseman Zach Bogosian to the slot for Boyle, who attacked the net and fired a wrister through Vasilevskiy’s legs.

It became a three-goal lead at 11:32 of the third period. Controlling a puck off the right half wall of the offensive zone, Penguins forward Dominik Simon, who returned to the Penguins’ nest after spending a season with the Calgary Flames, lobbed a ho-hum wrister toward the cage. The puck glanced off the left leg of Lightning forward Taylor Raddysh, who was positioned above the crease battling Penguins forward Teddy Blueger, and through Vasilevskiy’s legs.

It was Simon’s first regular season goal since Feb. 20, 2020.

“I thought I’d just put it on the net,” Simon said. “A couple of bodies in there. Put it in there and yeah, it went in. So that was great it went through all the bodies and just sunk in there.”

Defensive metrics plummetted quite a bit during the third period as the teams combined for six goals, including three by the Penguins on an empty net.

The Lightning avoided the shutout at 14:23 of the third. With Vasilevskiy pulled for an extra attacker, forward Anthony Cirelli deflected a shot through Jarry’s legs. Only 30 seconds later, Blueger claimed an empty-net score.

The Lightning persisted as forward Alex Killorn converted a defensive-zone turnover by a combination of Jarry and Letang on the end boards into a goal at 16:49 of the third.

Victory was secured thanks to additionally empty-net scores by forwards Evan Rodrigues (17:35 of the third) and forward Bryan Rust (18:11).

Tuesday’s impressive win came without Crosby as well as fellow franchise icon Evgeni Malkin (right knee). The Penguins accomplished it through an aggressive but disciplined approach against one of the NHL’s top teams.

They see this as a blueprint for how to operate without their stars.

“Obviously, we’re a way better team with those two guys. There’s no doubt about it,” Letang said. “But we also have a great team when they’re not in the lineup. … It’s also a big moment for a lot of guys to step up and fill big shoes. Guys are excited. They see that as a challenge.

“Most of the time, when a challenge has been put ahead of us, we’ve reacted the right way.”