When the Pittsburgh Penguins faced off against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, rookies Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen made their mark in the NHL. During a crucial 6-on-5 play, McGroarty netted his first NHL goal in the final seconds of regulation, assisted by fellow rookie Koivunen for his first NHL point. “It was pretty cool, especially at that point in the game, versus a team like that, and how hot they are,” McGroarty said after the game.
Head Coach Mike Sullivan expressed his confidence in the young players, stating, “If we didn’t think they were deserving, we wouldn’t put them out there. We think they’re making a difference, and so, they’re earning their opportunities.” He praised McGroarty’s defensive play, which prevented the Blues from potentially scoring into an empty net before making his game-tying goal.
The broadcast captured a moment as Coach Sullivan spoke to McGroarty and Koivunen on the bench before the overtime period. Despite the effort from Pittsburgh’s rookies, the Blues secured their 11th consecutive victory with a power-play goal in overtime.
McGroarty’s performance is characterized by his power game and high hockey IQ, attributes that complement his line with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust. Sullivan likens him to Nick Bonino, citing his ability to think the game at a high level despite not having great speed. McGroarty played 18:28 minutes, which included shorthanded and power-play time.
McGroarty also assisted an early goal by Bryan Rust, marking his first NHL point. The game saw momentum swings, with the Blues entering the final period with a 3-2 lead. The Penguins responded, bringing the score to 4-3 with Rickard Rakell’s goal, assisted by Koivunen.
Goalie Tristan Jarry praised the rookies’ performance, saying, “It’s huge. I think with the opportunity that they have to play some more minutes and play in those key moments of the game, I think that’s big. It’ll be a big learning experience for them.”
Both rookies’ contributions highlight a promising future as they continue to adapt and learn in the NHL.
