Pittsburgh Penguins rookie goaltender Joel Blomqvist doesn’t have an overly elaborate approach to what is arguably the most demanding position in all of sports.
“Work hard and have a good feeling in practice,” Blomqvist said earlier this season. “That’s the key.”
Blomqvist was certainly key for the Penguins on Friday in a sorely needed 4-2 win against the rival Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in Washington. He unofficially made 32 saves on 34 shots to improve his record to 3-4-0.
With two-time All-Star goaltender Tristan Jarry expected to return to the NHL club possibly as soon as Saturday after a two-week conditioning assignment with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League to get his malfunctioning game squared away, Blomqvist might not see the Pittsburgh Penguins’ net for the foreseeable future.
To be certain, Blomqvist’s play has largely been satisfactory for a goaltender playing his first NHL games. However, as a player on an entry-level contract with limited service time as a professional, the 22-year-old can easily be assigned to a minor-league affiliate without having to be exposed to waivers.
Blomqvist likely will be back at some point this season. It’s just a question of when.
As for the team’s immediate concerns, Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson’s second goal of the season opened the scoring 3 minutes, 11 seconds into regulation.
Settling a loose puck behind the Capitals’ net, Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin circumnavigated his way to the left half-wall and flicked a clever backhand pass between the hashmarks for Karlsson, who pumped a wrister by goaltender Charlie Lindgren’s glove.
Penguins forward Michael Bunting’s second goal came at 6:59 of the first period.
Via a cross-ice bank pass off the right-wing boards of the neutral zone by Bunting, Karlsson gained the offensive zone with speed and returned the favor to Bunting, sending a forehand pass toward the crease. Bunting hustled past Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary, and while holding his stick with only his right hand, jabbed a backhander over Lindgren’s glove.
The Capitals responded at 8:22 of the first period with defenseman Rasmus Sandin’s first goal.
Upcoming Local Events
Off a feed by Capitals forward Connor McMichael, Sandin advanced below the left faceoff dot and past passive resistance by Karlsson then roofed a wrister over Blomqvist’s right shoulder on the near side.
Things were tied at 6:04 of the second period when Capitals forward Andrew Mangiapane found his fourth goal.
From the right wing, Capitals forward Jakub Vrana generated a two-on-one rush into the Penguins’ zone against Karlsson. While Karlsson slid to prevent a pass, Wilson was able to pitchfork a backhand feed to the slot, where Mangiapane shoveled a forehand shot by Blomqvist’s left leg.
Malkin restored a lead for the Penguins with his fifth goal at 10:28 of the third period.
Pushing the puck into the offensive zone on the left wing, Penguins forward Bryan Rust got a step on McMichael and backhanded a shot attempt into Lindgren’s right leg. The rebound booted to the slot, where Malkin charged in and swept in a forehand shot through the goaltender’s five hole.
Penguins forward Noel Acciari capped the scoring with his second goal on an empty net at 19:37 of the final frame.
Notes: Rust returned to the lineup after he was activated from injured reserve earlier in the day, and forward Cody Glass was placed on injured reserve. Neither of their ailments has been disclosed. … Jarry made 15 saves on 19 shots for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a 5-3 road loss to Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday. This was Jarry’s final scheduled start in his conditioning assignment.