In Pittsburgh, the Penguins got Sidney Crosby back in the lineup, but it was hardly a effective addition on Saturday night.
Sidney Crosby returned to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup on Saturday.
Crosby was called for tripping on Jesper Bratt resulting in a penalty shot being award.
“It’s his first game in probably five months,” Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said. “We all have such high expectations of him. But for him, it’s not an easy thing to jump into a regular-season NHL game when you’ve gone through what he’s gone through.”
Bratt promptly potted the goal to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 lead with just three minutes left in regulation.
“I was kind of just a little relieved,” said Bratt, who also had an assist after not scoring a point in his previous five games this season. “… It was just nice that it went in, finally. It’s been a little struggle to put the puck in the back of the net.”
Jonathan Bernier made 33 saves for the New Jersey win.
Brock McGinn and Danton Heinen had the Pittsburgh goals.
Jimmy Vesey scored a shorthanded goal for New Jersey in the middle frame to give them a 2-1 lead.
“It was a big goal for us,” New Jersey head coach Lindy Ruff said. “There were probably two or three opportunities before that to take the lead. I thought Jimmy, we get the opportunity and he puts it in the back of the net. So I thought it changed the momentum.”
Andreas Johnsson had two goals for New Jersey including an empty-net strike to ice the win.
Tristan Jarry made 36 saves in the Pens loss.
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