JOHNSON SCORES AGAIN, BUT PENGUINS LOSE TO DEVILS AT PROSPECTS CHALLENGE

BUFFALO, N.Y. – It was all about the Johnsons at Harborcenter on Saturday afternoon. Adam Johnson scored for the second game in a row for the Pittsburgh Penguins prospects at the 2018 Prospects Challenge, but the play of New Jersey Devils goalie Cam Johnson held his opponents at bay enough for the red and black to earn a 6-2 victory.

The Penguins prospects came out and clearly had more jump compared to their start from the night before, but Cam Johnson and his two best friends prevented them from finding the back of the net. The Penguins hit two posts throughout the first period, and Cam Johnson ended up robbing Pittsburgh’s Justin Almeida and Adam Johnson on what appeared to be sure goals.

Later in the opening frame, Brandon Gignac scored during a Devils power play, granting New Jersey the first goal of the contest.

Forty-nine seconds into the second period, a bouncing puck landed right on the tape of Blake Speers in the slot, who deposited it across the goal line for a 2-0 Devils advantage. Things then started to unravel for the Penguins prospects, who paraded to the penalty box and allowed the Devils to tack on four more goals in the middle frame.

With the score 6-0 and the Penguins finally back at even strength for an extended period of time, Cam Johnson continued his stellar play in net to maintain the clean sheet.

After some more dazzling saves from Cam Johnson and striking another post early in the third period, Troy Josephs finally solved the Devils goalie by redirected a point shot through his five-hole. Adam Johnson soared down the wings and cut across the crease for a lovely backhand roofjob shortly thereafter, making it 6-2. However, much like the game before, the Penguins’ third period push was a little too late, and time expired before they could put a greater dent in New Jersey’s commanding lead.

OTHER NOTES:

• The Penguins saw two new faces in the crease today, starting Tristan Tristan Côté-Cazenave for the first two periods, then utilizing Christian Propp for the third and final frame. Both goalies are undrafted free agents attending the Prospects Challenge with Pittsburgh on an invite basis.

• Propp made a very nice save early in his tenure to deny Brandon Gignac of the hat trick.

• Anthony Angello was still very physically imposing, but didn’t feel quite as impactful as he did on Friday against Boston. Wheeling Nailers signee Cédric Lacroix opened some eyes with his physicality and tenacity, as well.

• Jan Drozg is fast.