Penguins notebook: Evan Rodrigues snaps long goal-less skid

The 15 goals Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues had scored this season before Sunday were something of a surprise.

After all, the seven-year veteran had never tallied more than nine during his first six campaigns in the NHL.

Still, every interested party — Rodrigues, the team, his agent, etc. — probably would have liked to have seen him not go 18 games between his 15th and 16th goals.

During Sunday’s 4-3 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena, Rodrigues scored a six-on-four power-play goal at 18 minutes, 48 seconds of the third period.

Off a cross-ice feed by Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin, Rodrigues cranked a one-timer from the left circle past goaltender Antti Raanta’s glove on the far side.

That score was his first since a 6-2 road win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 6.

“You try not to think about it when the puck’s not going in for you,” Rodrigues said. “You just try to shoot your way through it. Tried to stay confident and positive throughout it. It was obviously nice to see that one go in today and hopefully build from there.”

Despite such a long stretch of futility in putting any in the net, Rodrigues is still the team’s third-leading goal-scorer, trailing only first-line wingers Jake Guentzel (25) and Bryan Rust (18).

“(Rodrigues) played a real good game all (day),” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “The fact that he scored is a bonus for us. It’s a real nice goal; it’s a great shot.”

Staal gets 2nd against the Penguins

Ex-Penguins forward Jordan Staal scored Carolina’s second goal nine seconds into the second period.

After Staal beat Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin on the opening faceoff, Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce gained the offensive zone on the right wing and chucked a pedestrian wrister on net. Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry fought the puck off but was handcuffed a bit and allowed a rebound to bounce loose in the slot. After Penguins defenseman Kris Letang overskated the puck, a backchecking Malkin appeared to gain possession but lost it after Staal barged in and directed the puck with this left leg through Jarry’s legs for his fourth goal of the season.

“(It) was a little faceoff play that worked out in our favor,” Staal said via video conference after the game. “(Colliding with Malkin) was my bad. I saw him late. He was kind of coming the other way. I was going the other way. He’s a big, heavy boy. I’m glad that he got up fine.”

The goal was only the second in Staal’s career against the Penguins, the team that selected him with the second overall pick in the 2006 draft. His first came in a 2-1 road win for the Hurricanes on Dec. 19, 2016, during former Penguins goaltender Matt Murray’s NHL debut.

While never an overly prolific goal-scorer, Staal has struggled to generate offense in his 16th NHL season, with four goals and 12 assists in 47 games. However, he has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past seven games.

“I was telling the boys, my left leg was due,” Staal quipped. “Been telling the guys to go to the net, as well, and good things happen. All those things kind of bounced for me. I’ve been getting quite a few chances, especially coming off the (All-Star) break and starting to play some better hockey offensively. Those are one of those bounces that you take and run with it.”

Ice chips

Hurricanes defenseman Brendan Smith left the game at 10:36 of the first period. He was injured after sliding in his own left circle to block a wrist shot by Penguins forward Danton Heinen and was struck in the head by the puck. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour did not provide an update on Smith’s status after the game. … The Penguins scratched defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Radim Zohorna. … Former Penguins defenseman Ian Cole and forward Derek Stepan were scratched by the Hurricanes.