Connor Dewar went 31 games without a single goal for the Maple Leafs this season, only recording three assists.
He's now skated in four games with the Penguins since being acquired, along with Conor Timmins for just a fifth-round pick on trade deadline day, and he has three goals.
He scored the Penguins' opening goal in their 7-3 win over the Devils at PPG Paints Arena here today at PPG Paints Arena, and added an empty-netter that made it 6-3. It was his third goal in two games, after first getting on the scoresheet Thursday in the win over the Blues.
"It's been great to come in and contribute right away," Dewar said. "It makes you feel a lot more comfortable, and it's nice to help out."
He credited the "team in general" as the reason for his recent goal-scoring, saying "everyone's been very welcoming, all the staff and everyone."
Both of his non-empty-net goals have come in the same way, by going to the net-front. Thursday, it was going to the net and redirecting a pass from Blake Lizotte. This time, it was going to the net and getting a stick on a setup from Noel Acciari, then putting in his own rebound:
"It's not a highlight-reel goal," Mike Sullivan said. "But it's pretty effective. You go to the net, you put a puck at the net, and that next play a lot of times is real hard to defend."
Acciari said that he thinks Dewar has brought "a little bit of everything" since the trade.
"It's our second game together, but I think we have some chemistry," Acciari added. "He's been great to play with."
Lizotte, the other member of that line, had been the previous recipient of the team's MVP helmet. He chose his new linemate to wear the helmet today:
"Oh my God, it looks normal," Kevin Hayes said after Dewar put the helmet on. It's been a running gag that the helmet doesn't fit most guys, being way too tight on just about everyone except Marcus Pettersson, whose head was way too small for the helmet.
For Dewar, it's looking like he's a great fit.
• Phil Tomasino's goal was his 10th. The only other time he hit 10 in a season was 2021-22, when he scored 11. "I feel like over the last two weeks, I feel like my game has kind of gone to the next stage, personally," Tomasino said.
• Kevin Hayes scored the Penguins' seventh goal (not an empty-netter, a legit goal) to also hit the 10-goal mark for an 11th consecutive season.
• Kris Letang's secondary assist on Erik Karlsson's goal was his 769th point, marking the 10th-most points by a defenseman with a single team in NHL history. He surpassed Borje Salming's total with the Maple Leafs.
• Timminswas a career-best plus-4 and is plus-7 over the past two games.
• Bryan Rust had four shots on 10 attempts, leading the team in both.
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
21 hours ago - 03.16.2025UptownLoose Pucks: Two more for Dewar
Connor Dewar went 31 games without a single goal for the Maple Leafs this season, only recording three assists.
He's now skated in four games with the Penguins since being acquired, along with Conor Timmins for just a fifth-round pick on trade deadline day, and he has three goals.
He scored the Penguins' opening goal in their 7-3 win over the Devils at PPG Paints Arena here today at PPG Paints Arena, and added an empty-netter that made it 6-3. It was his third goal in two games, after first getting on the scoresheet Thursday in the win over the Blues.
"It's been great to come in and contribute right away," Dewar said. "It makes you feel a lot more comfortable, and it's nice to help out."
He credited the "team in general" as the reason for his recent goal-scoring, saying "everyone's been very welcoming, all the staff and everyone."
Both of his non-empty-net goals have come in the same way, by going to the net-front. Thursday, it was going to the net and redirecting a pass from Blake Lizotte. This time, it was going to the net and getting a stick on a setup from Noel Acciari, then putting in his own rebound:
"It's not a highlight-reel goal," Mike Sullivan said. "But it's pretty effective. You go to the net, you put a puck at the net, and that next play a lot of times is real hard to defend."
Acciari said that he thinks Dewar has brought "a little bit of everything" since the trade.
"It's our second game together, but I think we have some chemistry," Acciari added. "He's been great to play with."
Lizotte, the other member of that line, had been the previous recipient of the team's MVP helmet. He chose his new linemate to wear the helmet today:
"Oh my God, it looks normal," Kevin Hayes said after Dewar put the helmet on. It's been a running gag that the helmet doesn't fit most guys, being way too tight on just about everyone except Marcus Pettersson, whose head was way too small for the helmet.
For Dewar, it's looking like he's a great fit.
• Phil Tomasino's goal was his 10th. The only other time he hit 10 in a season was 2021-22, when he scored 11. "I feel like over the last two weeks, I feel like my game has kind of gone to the next stage, personally," Tomasino said.
• Kevin Hayes scored the Penguins' seventh goal (not an empty-netter, a legit goal) to also hit the 10-goal mark for an 11th consecutive season.
• Kris Letang's secondary assist on Erik Karlsson's goal was his 769th point, marking the 10th-most points by a defenseman with a single team in NHL history. He surpassed Borje Salming's total with the Maple Leafs.
• Timmins was a career-best plus-4 and is plus-7 over the past two games.
• Bryan Rust had four shots on 10 attempts, leading the team in both.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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