Freeze Frame: Pettersson gets his 'dad goal'

ST LOUIS -- For whatever reason, "dad goals" are a semi-regular occurrence.

Whether a player is becoming a father for the first time or just adding to his growing family, it's not surprising to see him score or have an otherwise big game in his next game or two following the birth of the baby.

One of the more memorable examples in recent history is Bryan Rust's Game 5 goal against the Islanders in 2021, the day after the birth of his first child, a son named Hunter. That still might be one of the longest-range shots that Rust has ever scored on:

With the Penguins coming into St. Louis on a four-game losing streak, it couldn't hurt to have a little "new dad strength" to help break out of the rut. It certainly came in handy in the Penguins' 3-2 overtime win over the Blues here at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

Marcus Pettersson and his fiancee Beatrice welcomed their first child earlier this week, a baby boy named Frans. 

Naturally, Pettersson was the No. 1 star in Saturday's win with his first goal of the season and only his second multi-point performance of the year. He had a secondary assist in the second period, springing Evgeni Malkin and Rust on a 2-on-1 that resulted in Malkin's tying goal:

Pettersson's go-ahead goal in the third period came when he joined Teddy Blueger and Drew O'Connor on the rush and ripped a wrister from the slot:

Rust thought that Pettersson's new dad strength helped him a little bit on that goal.

"I'm shocked it didn't go through the net," he quipped.

I asked Pettersson afterward if he thinks that was a "dad goal."

"Yeah, I think it was!" he said with a laugh. "I've been waiting all year, so good timing for it. ... It's an emotional week for me and my family."

Penguins head athletic trainer Chris Stewart saved the puck from the goal for Pettersson, who plans on taking it home and giving it to his son. 

That goal didn't stand as the game-winner -- the Blues tied it just over three minutes later, forcing overtime. Rust's overtime-winner just 76 seconds into the extra frame gave the Penguins the win. 

Rickard Rakell was the last recipient of the Penguins' MVP gladiator helmet, so he had the responsibility of choosing the holder of the helmet this time. Though he handed the helmet to Pettersson, he said the real MVP was Frans:

Mike Sullivan had to smile afterward when talking about what the goal meant to Pettersson personally.

"That's a huge one for him," Sullivan said. "I'm sure it's an emotional one for him as well. I know he has his baby boy waiting for him at home with his wife. I'm sure that was an emotional moment for him, and I'm sure he'll take that puck home to his newborn."

Luckily for the Penguins, they have some sure "dad strength" on deck from other players. Rust and his wife and Chad Ruhwedel and his wife are both expecting their second child in a couple of months. Casey DeSmith and his wife are expecting their first child -- a baby girl -- as well.