Penguins 4-1 Devils: February 26, 2026 Game Recap
The Pittsburgh Penguins dominated the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, winning 4-1. Connor Clifton and Egor Chinakhov scored 50 seconds apart in the third period, with Tommy Novak also finding the back of the net. Blake Lizotte added an empty-net goal late in the game, securing Pittsburgh's eighth win in 10 games and second place in the Metropolitan Division.
Arturs Silovs was the star of the show, making 28 saves to win his fourth game in five starts. Paul Cotter scored for the Devils, but couldn't prevent their slide, as they've lost seven of eight games and are falling behind in the Eastern Conference's wild-card race.
Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal in the gold medal game against Canada at the Olympics, received a standing ovation from the Penguins fans, who chanted 'USA! USA!' in his honor. Despite the loss, the Devils' star player received a well-deserved tribute.
The Penguins' commitment to staying in the playoff mix without Sidney Crosby is impressive. They've utilized strong goaltending and strategic playmaking to maintain their momentum. Clifton's goal 6:30 into the third period and Chinakhov's subsequent score put the game out of reach for the Devils.
Up next for the Penguins is a trip to New York to face the Rangers, while the Devils will play at St. Louis on Saturday.
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