McGroarty, Koivunen connect for first of many in NHL
The Penguins were trailing the Blues by a goal in the final two minutes tonight here at the Enterprise Center when Mike Sullivan pulled Tristan Jarry for the extra attacker.
He sent the usuals over the boards: Erik Karlsson, and the common top line of Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. To join them, though, Sullivan also sent out the two recently arrived rookies, Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen.
The kids got the job done. McGroarty's first NHL goal brought about overtime, with Koivunen earning his first NHL point on the assist. The Blues got the extra point in overtime, with Robert Thomas' goal on a power play giving the home team the 5-4 win.
Look, the result is inconsequential at this point. The real win is getting to see a peek into the franchise's future, which will have a lot of plays like this one:
"I just saw Rutger open," Koivunen said. "Rutger was doing his magic there, just get him the puck."
Sullivan called it a "super-nice goal."
"Rutger chased a puck down prior to that, where if we gave them the separation they might have hit an empty net," Sullivan added. "They don't, because he puts pressure on it. I thought they were terrific."
This was Koivunen's second NHL game. It was McGroarty's fifth, his second game of this recall. They're both 21 years old. And they were both out there, alongside all those established names, entrusted with fighting for a tying goal against a team that had won its last 10 games. It worked. But even being sent out there in the first place was huge for growing the confidence of both players.
"It means a lot," McGroarty said. "A minute and a half left, six-on-five, pulled the goalie, down by one? It means a lot. It's pretty cool."
"It helps the confidence," Koivunen said. "It's a very big thing, I was pretty happy. ... It helps to know that the coach is trusting you and giving you that kind of chance just to play."
It also helps knowing that situation wasn't a one-off. McGroarty has been on Crosby's line the last two games with Rust, and Koivunen on the second line with Rakell and another younger player in Connor Dewar. Koivunen is on the top power play, McGroarty on the second. McGroarty saw time on the penalty-kill in this game, and Koivunen was in the second group that came onto the ice in overtime. They've earned elevated roles, are being rewarded with playing time in key situations, and it's paying off.
"If we didn't think they were deserving, we wouldn't put them out there," Sullivan said. "We think they're making a difference. They're earning their opportunities."
McGroarty's presence on the top line benefitted the Penguins early on in this game. It was early into the first period when McGroarty had the puck along the left wall in the St. Louis end, was patient and held onto it for a moment, then found Rust, who took it to the net and beat Joel Hofer. It was McGroarty's first point in the NHL.
The game started to get away from the Penguins in a span of less than eight minutes in the second. Jake Neighbours tied the game with the Blues' first shot of the period. Dewar regained the lead four minutes later, knocking in the rebound of a Rakell shot from the crease. But Pavel Buchnevich quickly responded to tie the game, and a Jordan Kyrou breakaway goal gave St. Louis its first lead. Neighbours made it a 4-2 game in the third period. Rakell brought the Penguins back within a goal with a power-play goal with Koivunen on the ice, setting the stage for the rookie pair's late-game heroics to force overtime.
Generally, when a player gets his first NHL point or goal, he keeps the puck. The equipment staff wraps the edge in tape, and someone writes the date and milestone on the outside.
A problem arose here, though: The goal was McGroarty's first, but it was also Koivunen's first point. What do they do? McGroarty gets it on weekdays, Koivunen on the weekends? Alternate holidays?
McGroarty immediately offered up the idea of cutting the puck in half so each rookie could have a souvenir. I asked Koivunen about the conundrum, and he had an easier solution.
"I think we give it to him," Koivunen said with a smile. "A goal is a little bit bigger than an assist. So, we can give it to him."
Both Koivunen and McGroarty will be key parts of the Penguins' next era. There will be more milestone pucks in the years to come. For now, Koivunen will let his buddy keep this first one.
SYDNEY BLACKMAN / PENGUINS
Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty with their shared puck Thursday in St. Louis.
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
5:58 am - 04.04.2025St. LouisMcGroarty, Koivunen connect for first of many in NHL
The Penguins were trailing the Blues by a goal in the final two minutes tonight here at the Enterprise Center when Mike Sullivan pulled Tristan Jarry for the extra attacker.
He sent the usuals over the boards: Erik Karlsson, and the common top line of Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. To join them, though, Sullivan also sent out the two recently arrived rookies, Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen.
The kids got the job done. McGroarty's first NHL goal brought about overtime, with Koivunen earning his first NHL point on the assist. The Blues got the extra point in overtime, with Robert Thomas' goal on a power play giving the home team the 5-4 win.
Look, the result is inconsequential at this point. The real win is getting to see a peek into the franchise's future, which will have a lot of plays like this one:
"I just saw Rutger open," Koivunen said. "Rutger was doing his magic there, just get him the puck."
Sullivan called it a "super-nice goal."
"Rutger chased a puck down prior to that, where if we gave them the separation they might have hit an empty net," Sullivan added. "They don't, because he puts pressure on it. I thought they were terrific."
This was Koivunen's second NHL game. It was McGroarty's fifth, his second game of this recall. They're both 21 years old. And they were both out there, alongside all those established names, entrusted with fighting for a tying goal against a team that had won its last 10 games. It worked. But even being sent out there in the first place was huge for growing the confidence of both players.
"It means a lot," McGroarty said. "A minute and a half left, six-on-five, pulled the goalie, down by one? It means a lot. It's pretty cool."
"It helps the confidence," Koivunen said. "It's a very big thing, I was pretty happy. ... It helps to know that the coach is trusting you and giving you that kind of chance just to play."
It also helps knowing that situation wasn't a one-off. McGroarty has been on Crosby's line the last two games with Rust, and Koivunen on the second line with Rakell and another younger player in Connor Dewar. Koivunen is on the top power play, McGroarty on the second. McGroarty saw time on the penalty-kill in this game, and Koivunen was in the second group that came onto the ice in overtime. They've earned elevated roles, are being rewarded with playing time in key situations, and it's paying off.
"If we didn't think they were deserving, we wouldn't put them out there," Sullivan said. "We think they're making a difference. They're earning their opportunities."
McGroarty's presence on the top line benefitted the Penguins early on in this game. It was early into the first period when McGroarty had the puck along the left wall in the St. Louis end, was patient and held onto it for a moment, then found Rust, who took it to the net and beat Joel Hofer. It was McGroarty's first point in the NHL.
The game started to get away from the Penguins in a span of less than eight minutes in the second. Jake Neighbours tied the game with the Blues' first shot of the period. Dewar regained the lead four minutes later, knocking in the rebound of a Rakell shot from the crease. But Pavel Buchnevich quickly responded to tie the game, and a Jordan Kyrou breakaway goal gave St. Louis its first lead. Neighbours made it a 4-2 game in the third period. Rakell brought the Penguins back within a goal with a power-play goal with Koivunen on the ice, setting the stage for the rookie pair's late-game heroics to force overtime.
Generally, when a player gets his first NHL point or goal, he keeps the puck. The equipment staff wraps the edge in tape, and someone writes the date and milestone on the outside.
A problem arose here, though: The goal was McGroarty's first, but it was also Koivunen's first point. What do they do? McGroarty gets it on weekdays, Koivunen on the weekends? Alternate holidays?
McGroarty immediately offered up the idea of cutting the puck in half so each rookie could have a souvenir. I asked Koivunen about the conundrum, and he had an easier solution.
"I think we give it to him," Koivunen said with a smile. "A goal is a little bit bigger than an assist. So, we can give it to him."
Both Koivunen and McGroarty will be key parts of the Penguins' next era. There will be more milestone pucks in the years to come. For now, Koivunen will let his buddy keep this first one.
SYDNEY BLACKMAN / PENGUINS
Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty with their shared puck Thursday in St. Louis.
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