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 Sprong joined a small but elite group of 18-year-olds to score as a
Pittsburgh rookie, center Evgeni Malkin also scored, and Penguins
finally won for the first time this season, beating the Ottawa
Senators 2-0 Thursday night.
Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 22 shots in his 39th
career NHL shutout and his 11th over the past two seasons as the
Penguins -- off to their worst start in 10 years -- won after
dropping their first three games.
"We kept pressing and building momentum," Sprong said. "It's a good
feeling to win."
Sprong, getting an early-season trial with Pittsburgh after being
the 46th player drafted overall last spring, scored 2:02 after
Malkin early in the second period. Ottawa was shut out one night
after blowing out the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-3 on the road.
With the Penguins up 1-0, Sprong took a drop pass from center Matt
Cullen in the lower left circle, and the right winger quickly
wristed the puck past Senators goalie Craig Anderson at 2:25.
Sprong is the first Dutch-born NHL player since defenseman Ed Kea
played for Atlanta and St. Louis from 1974-83. He had a chance for a
second goal, but he shot wide against Anderson (34 saves) with about
eight minutes remaining.
Sprong, who was born in Amsterdam but moved to Montreal at age 7
because he convinced his father that he could someday be an NHL
player, joined Crosby, Mario Lemieux, Jordan Staal, Jarmoir Jagr and
Robert Dome among a handful of players to score for the Penguins at
18.
"I have to wait for my opportunity and whatever minutes I get to
play strong," said Sprong, who was bumped up to the third line
because Beau Bennett has an undisclosed injury. "It's a pretty
special moment, especially because I've got a few friends in town."
However, he didn't have any family in Pittsburgh; his parents stayed
behind in Montreal and didn't see the goal in person. Because he
could be returned to junior hockey after nine games, he said, "I
still have to prove myself, and I didn't want to put pressure on
myself (by having his parents around)."
The Penguins haven't yet decided whether to keep Sprong, despite his
quick shooting release and obvious talent, the way they did Staal at
age 18 in 2006.
"I really think he's going to be good player for the organization,
but I still consider him a junior player," coach Mike Johnston said.
"Those players have to learn habits away from the puck and
responsibilities so the coach trusts them. I felt he's been coming
along. I felt he deserved to bump up, and he responded."
Malkin has 19 goals in 31 games against the Senators, who lost in
regulation for the first time in 18 regular-season games (14-1-3).
They closed last season with a 23-4-4 surge that carried them into
the playoffs.
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Center Sidney Crosby was held scoreless for the fourth consecutive
game, the first time that happened at the start of a season in his
NHL career. The Penguins were also 0-for-2 on the power play,
including a five-on-three in the third period, dropping them to
0-for-11 for the season. However, playing with a lead clearly made a
difference for the Penguins, who never led in their first three
games.
Malkin scored his first in his last 19 regular-season games only 23
seconds into the second period. Right winger Patric Hornqvist dug
the puck out along the boards at center ice and passed ahead to
Malkin, who beat Anderson cleanly as defenseman Erik Karlsson gave
him plenty of room to get off a wrist shot from the right circle.
"They came out really hard. They did what they had to do -- they
knew we were coming off a back-to-back on the road," Senators
defenseman Mark Methot said. "I thought we were a little flat."
The Senators were outshot 36-22.
"But we got our chances," Anderson said. "It was one of those nights
where the sights weren't on."
NOTES: Senators LW Clarke MacArthur, who missed a quarter of last
season with a concussion, was held out with an apparent head injury
that occurred in Columbus. LW Shane Price was active for the first
time this season and was placed on the fourth line. Also scratched
was D Chris Wideman. ... Ottawa G Craig Anderson started the second
night of the back-to-back because coach Dave Cameron wants to give
backup Andrew Hammond (groin) more practice time. ... Pittsburgh
coach Mike Johnston didn't estimate how long RW Beau Bennett would
be out. ... Penguins D Adam Clendening was active for the first time
and replaced Ben Lovejoy on the No. 2 pairing with Olli Maatta. LW
Bryan Rust was recalled from the minors and played on the fourth
line. ... Pittsburgh centers Sidney Crosby and Malkin were back on
the top power-play unit after Johnston split them up for the first
three games. ... During the morning skate, Penguins F Eric Fehr
skated with teammates for the first time since his June 3 elbow
operation. It still is uncertain when he will be ready to play. ...
The Penguins also sat out LW Sergei Plotnikov, who began the season
on Malkin's line, and D Rob Scuderi.
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