Zbynek Michalek put his mark on the game just seconds into the first period, when he fell trying to handle the puck off the opening faceoff. The Jets’ Kyle Wellwood immediately capitalized, scoring off the turnover just eight seconds into the game.
Nearly forty minutes later, Michalek would make up for the mistake to put the Pens on the board at MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Michalek would bury the Pens first goal at 18:22 in the second, assisted by Kris Letang and Matt Cooke. The goal came off of an offensive-zone faceoff. The Jets won the faceoff but Cooke quickly wrestled the puck away, getting it to Letang, who rotated it to Michalek at the top. The defenseman ripped it through traffic for the goal.
The Pens overcame three penalties and were still able to pepper Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec with 15 shots in the second period. Joe Vitale had a great chance just four minutes into the period but was turned away by Pavelec. The Jets goalie would make one more amazing save when he stuffed Richard Park’s shot off a 2-on-1 chance. One minute later, Michalek would convert. With most of their stars out injured, the Pens will look to continue that pace in the third period and keep Winnipeg winless.