Overview
- Muse also highlighted Chinakhov’s responsible play without the puck and noted the goal could help him settle in.
- Bryan Rust opened the scoring, with Rickard Rakell and Connor Dewar adding late goals; Alex DeBrincat scored for Detroit.
- Acquired from Columbus on Dec. 29, Chinakhov scored in his second appearance for Pittsburgh.
- The victory marked Pittsburgh’s fourth straight as the Penguins reached 47 points to sit fourth in the Metropolitan Division, while Detroit leads the Atlantic with 52.
- Evgeni Malkin missed a 14th consecutive game due to injury, and the Penguins visit Columbus on Jan. 4 before Detroit heads to Ottawa on Jan. 5.