Pittsburgh Steam Rolls Minnesota

Don Wright-USA TODAY Sports
Don Wright-USA TODAY Sports
Don Wright-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Wild and the Pittsburgh squared off against one another on Thursday Night at PPG Paints Arena and this would be the last game played before the all-star break. Pittsburgh dominated from the start and they defeated Minnesota 6-3.

Dominik Simon and Evgeni Malkin (power play) scored for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period. In the second period Carl Hagelin and Brian Dumoulin scored for the Penguins.

Devan Dubnyk was pulled after the fourth goal. He made 17 saves for the Minnesota Wild. Alex Stalock came in relief and he made 16 saves. Minnesota would've scored on the power play in the second-period, but Pittsburgh challenged the goal for goaltender's interference and the Penguins won the challenge. Minnesota's coach Bruce Boudreau was furious.

Evgeni Malkin (power play) and Dominik Simon scored goals in the third-period for the Penguins. Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel each had three assists. Pittsburgh was tremendous forcing turnovers in the neutral zone all game long.

Minnesota called a timeout after Pittsburgh's sixth goal and it injected life into the Wild, but it was way too late. Eric Staal, Mikael Granlund (power play), and Jonas Brodin. Casey DeSmith made 23 saves for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Matt Murray was the backup to DeSmith yesterday and Tristan Jarry was sent back down to the minors.

The Minnesota Wild are currently on the outside looking in, in the Western Conference Standings heading into the all-star break. The Pittsburgh Penguins are momentarily in the number two spot in the Metropolitan Division because the New Jersey Devils lost to the Nashville Predators and the Philadelphia Flyers lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

If the Columbus Blue Jackets defeat the Arizona Coyotes, Pittsburgh will be in the number three spot at the break. If Columbus loses, Pittsburgh will be in the number two spot at the break and they are only six points behind the Washington Capitals for first in the Metropolitan Division.

The Minnesota Wild and the Pittsburgh Penguins split the season series.