Pittsburgh Review

Phil Tomasino, recently acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins from Nashville, made a significant impact in his second game with the team. His first goal as a Penguin was crucial in securing a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Friday. This win marked Pittsburgh's second consecutive triumph following their previous victory against Vancouver.

Tomasino expressed satisfaction with his performance and teamwork, stating, “I thought tonight, our whole group did a heck of a job... it was a great goal for our team. Obviously a pretty big one, and a pretty big one for myself as well.”

The Penguins see potential in Tomasino, who was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Head Coach Mike Sullivan noted that “sometimes in a different environment, players can find their respective games and can thrive.” The coaching staff discussed Tomasino's role extensively to ensure he could succeed alongside teammates like Evgeni Malkin.

After the game, Tomasino shared his admiration for Malkin: “Oh my gosh, I think I’ve said it 10 times that I've looked up to this guy my whole life... He made a heck of a play, and it's nice to finally get one here.”

Tomasino's decisive goal came with just over 12 minutes left in the game. The play began when he got the puck to Drew O’Connor near the net. After some strategic adjustments by Sullivan involving O’Connor and Michael Bunting, Tomasino capitalized on an opportunity created by Malkin’s assist.

Reflecting on his performance, Tomasino said he felt more comfortable during this game and emphasized continuous improvement: “Just got to continue to keep getting better... just excited to continue to get better here day by day.”

The Penguins faced pressure from Boston but maintained their lead through solid defense and goaltending. Tristan Jarry stopped 32 out of 33 shots after returning from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Despite conceding an early goal, Jarry remained focused: “It is tough letting those early goals in... But I think we did a great job tonight just responding.”

Rickard Rakell also contributed significantly with an important goal at the end of the second period. He acknowledged its impact: “It was momentum-changing going into the third period... overall, tough battle, but huge win.”