Penguins Forward Praises Play Of Stuart Skinner Despite Lopsided Loss

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rutger McGroarty had plenty of praise for his goaltender, Stuart Skinner, after Tuesday’s game.

The Penguins played the Toronto Maple Leafs on the road on Tuesday in Pittsburgh’s final game before the Holiday break. Pittsburgh trailed 3-1 midway through the second, but the Penguins tied it 3-3 just a minute into the third period.

However, Toronto went on to score three unanswered goals, including two empty-net goals, to win 6-3. Although the Penguins lost, McGroarty believes Skinner kept the team in it.

“He’s been great,” McGroarty said postgame on Tuesday. “I mean, from the second he got here, just an incredible guy. Super easy guy to root for. It makes it very easy once you’re stepping in front of a puck or in a battle or whatever, it just motivates you that much more because of how good of a guy is.

“And I think overall, I think that he stood on his head, and he was there when we needed him. And we just can’t give up that many good looks.”

Skinner stopped 25 of the 29 shots he faced in the loss. Since being traded to the Penguins, Skinner is 0-3-0 with a 4.18 GAA and a .831 SV%.

With the loss to Toronto, Pittsburgh fell to 15-12-9 and is three points out of a playoff spot. The Penguins will return to the ice on Sunday on the road against the Chicago Blackhawks.

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