The hats rained from the rafters at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night — a proper salute in so many ways.
Jake Guentzel’s hat-trick evening was simultaneously a milestone moment. With an empty-netter from his own defensive blue line about 115 feet away, Guentzel tied a bow on a 4-0 victory over the Boston Bruins. He notched his third goal of the night. And, maybe most significantly, he hit the 40-goal plateau for the second time in his career.
“It was definitely a cool moment,” Guentzel said when asked about the fan reaction. “It’s one you just kind of get chills just thinking about it.”
Forty goals is no small feat. By accomplishing it for the second time in his career, Guentzel joins Mario Lemieux (10 times), Jaromir Jagr (five times), Kevin Stevens (four times), Jean Pronovost (four times), Evgeni Malkin (three times), Sidney Crosby (two times) and Mike Bullard (two times) as the only Penguins to hit the benchmark more than once.
“It’s a cool number,” Guentzel said. “You put a lot of time and effort into this game. Just to score goals in this league is pretty special. I’m fortunate to play alongside a lot of really good players. We just have a good, strong group of coaches and teammates and staff.”
That aforementioned cast full of Hall of Famers illustrates the level of skill it takes to reach this kind of a milestone. But after hitting the 40-goal mark for the first time during the 2018-19 season, Guentzel learned that it takes more than just that.
It also requires luck. Linemates. Health. A few good bounces. And more.
In 2019-20, Guentzel was on pace for his second consecutive 40-goal season when he crashed head-first into the boards on the same day he found out he’d been selected to his first All-Star Game. That chance went by the wayside. Last year, a shortened 56-game season made 40 an impossibility.
This year? A 40-goal season felt like far from a certainty when it began.
Hopes of a fast start on the scoresheet were soon dashed. First, a case of COVID-19 disrupted Guentzel’s training camp and eventually delayed his season debut.
When he returned for Game 2 after 10 days away from the ice, what he found was a mishmash lineup still dealing with significant injuries and illnesses. Guentzel’s typical center, Sidney Crosby, missed 12 of the first 13 games. Top-line right winger Bryan Rust was likewise sidelined for seven games with a lower-body injury.
By mid-October, Guentzel was mired in an uncharacteristic six-game scoreless streak. By mid-November? He had tallied just three goals in the 12 games that he played.
“I’ve got to be better,” Guentzel said at the time. “I’ve got to help as much as I can. I’ve just got to start producing.”
The spark was lit by Crosby.
Beginning with the captain’s mid-November return, Guentzel netted goals in each of the first five games with Crosby. He only continued to build momentum from there.
By Dec. 8, Guentzel was in the midst of a 13-game point streak that included 12 goals and 19 points. However, yet another setback threatened his pace. The forward missed a month with a broken knuckle.
Since returning from that injury in early January, Guentzel picked up where he left off. He’s racked up 25 goals in the last 48 games to earn All-Star recognition for the second time in his career.
“He’s quietly emerged as one of the superstars in the league,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think he’s one of the best goal scorers in the league. And he shows it year-in and year-out. It’s a credit to his competitiveness. It’s a credit to his talent level. It’s a credit to how hard he works to keep his game at such a high level.”
Now comes the next challenge: The postseason.
Guentzel burst onto the scene during the 2017 Stanley Cup run, breaking records to help the Penguins host another parade in Pittsburgh. He recorded 13 goals — five of them game-winners — and 21 points on the way to scrawling his name on the best trophy in sports.
However, over the last three postseasons, Guentzel’s postseason has mirrored that of the Penguins. Since 2019-20, he’s tallied just three goals in 14 playoff games. While it’s true that almost no one on the Penguins has scored much over the last three postseasons, the winger shouldered the blame following last year’s first-round flameout.
“I let a lot of people down,” he said on locker clean-out day, likely referring to those who like half-priced milkshakes.
If the Penguins are going to make some noise this postseason, they’ll do it as underdogs. After playing below their standards for most of the last month, they’re fighting to hang on to the third spot in the Metro division. With goalie Tristan Jarry’s status uncertain, getting consistent run support from the top six will be critical.
And if there’s someone who can do it? It’s the Penguins’ leading scorer.
“You can score as much as you want in the regular season,” Guentzel said. “But it’s a whole ‘nother game in the postseason.”
