Depth and Traffic Carry Penguins to 4-1 Win Without Crosby
In their first game back from the Olympic break, the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 to show off depth and a relentless front-of-net presence even with Sidney Crosby sidelined for a month with a knee injury. The Devils pressed early, but Pittsburgh pulled away in the third as Connor Clifton and Ryan Shea scored, Evgeni Malkin chipped in with two assists, and the penalty kill went 5-for-5. The win keeps the Penguins rolling (15-3-3 since Christmas) and sets up a big test vs. the Rangers, illustrating how the team’s depth and gritty play can carry them in Crosby’s absence.
