Third-string goalie Jeff Zatkoff had 'chills' winning NHL playoffs debut
PITTSBURGH – Penguins reserve goalie Jeff Zatkoff has been waiting since Feb. 20 for a chance to start a game. But he’s been waiting his entire life to have a moment like he experienced in his first NHL playoff game.
In the closing moments of Zatkoff’s 5-2 win against the New York Rangers, fans stood and began chanting Zatkoff’s name.
“It definitely sent chills through me,” Zatkoff said. “It’s fun. It’s exciting. That’s why you play the game. It’s fun getting the job done in front of your fans at home. It’s a special moment.”
Zatkoff, 28, played 14 games this season and ended up as Pittsburgh's No. 3 goalie. But he received his chance to play Wednesday because Marc-Andre Fleury isn’t quite ready to return from a concussion that has kept him sidelined since March 21. Plus, Pittsburgh’s prized young goalie, Matt Murray, is also out with an injury.
In battle of the backups, Penguins handle Rangers to take Game 1
Posting 35 saves, Zatkoff is the first Penguins’ goalie to win his NHL playoff debut since Frank Pietrangelo beat the New Jersey Devils in 1991.
“It’s funny how this game works because you never know when an opportunity is going to come,” said Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. “Zack prepares so he can be at his best when that opportunity does come. We saw that tonight."
The Rangers had 12 of the first 15 shots in the game, and Zatkoff stopped them all.
“He was our best player for sure,” said Pittsburgh winger Patric Hornqvist who had three goals and four points. “He kept it 0-0. If they get a goal there, it is probably a different game.”
The Rangers were unable to get a puck past him until Derek Stepan scored on a 5-on-3 power play 3:10 into the third period. Keep in mind that Zatkoff was routinely a healthy scratch at the end of the regular season. But he remained popular with teammates.
“(Zatkoff) is one of the glue guys in the room that you always want around,” said Penguins center Nick Bonino. “You always like having them on the road and going out to dinner. He’s a great guy and a great goalie.”
The Penguins said Fleury’s ability to play would be a game-time decision, but Zatkoff said he had a “pretty good idea” Tuesday night that he would be starting.
“I prepared all week as if I was going to play,” Zatkoff said. “The guys have been playing so well I just wanted to come in and let them do what they do and give them a chance.”
Strange twists, and unlikely heroes, are a staple of NHL postseason play. But we don’t usually see it all happen in Game 1.
Henrik Lundqvist takes stick to the eye from teammate, out for Rangers
In this game, both teams ended up using reserve goalies because Rangers star Henrik Lundqvist left the game at the end of the first period after being struck near the eye inadvertently by teammate Marc Staal’s high stick.
“When he goes out like that, and it’s my stick, it’s not a good sign,” Staal said.
Battling out front with a Pittsburgh player, Staal brought his stick up and it wedged under Lundqvist’s mask with 48.2 seconds left in the first period.
After receiving medical attention, Lundqvist elected to stay in the game. With 18 seconds, he was beaten on a rebound by Hornqvist for the first goal of the game.
During an in-game interview with NBC analyst Brian Boucher, Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said Lundqvist was “day-to-day.” In his postgame news conference, Vigneault said Lundqvist will be evaluated on Thursday.
It’s hard to guess who will be goal for either team Saturday when the Rangers and Penguins play Game 2 in Pittsburgh. The loss of Lundqvist for an extended period would be a devastating loss for the Rangers. Lundqvist has the ability to steal a series.
Fleury’s status is also unknown. He practiced for three days and then determined he wasn’t quite ready.
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