NHL: Penguins beat Jets 3-0 in Sean Monahan's debut

PITTSBURGH — Kristofer Letang scored his fourth goal of the season and the Winnipeg Jets were shut out 3-0 by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday in center Sean Monahan's first appearance in his new uniform.

As head coach Rick Bowness suggested earlier in the week, Monahan rotated a unit completed by Nikolaj Ehlers and Cole Perfetti.

The guy who will wear No. 23 for Winnipeg had a shot on goal, made a check, and spent 15:26 on the ice.

Last Friday, the veteran forward was traded by the Canadiens for a first-round pick and a conditional third-round pick.

“I'm coming into a new group, I want to make a good impression and help the team win. There's a little bit of nerves for sure, so I'm glad the first period is over,” the new Jets forward told Dan Robertson. TSN After the first period of play.

Rick Bowness's team is winless in its last four games (0-3-1), their longest losing streak of the season.

The Jets (30-13-5) were limited to five defensemen for nearly two periods after Brenden Dillon was ejected following a head hit by forward Noel Acciari.

“We will let the league do its analysis of the sequence, as it always does,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. We can have our opinion [sur le geste de Dillon], but they don't change much. Our priority is Noel's health, and he appears to be doing well under the circumstances. »

Near the end of a five-minute Penguins power play, veteran Jeff Carter pounced on a loose ball near Connor Hellebuyck's semicircle to double the lead.

Ninety seconds later, with only 12 seconds remaining on Pittsburgh's advantage, Brian Rust delivered a devastating blow to the Jets.

Rust brought the score to 3-0 by depositing a cross behind Hellebuyck by Jake Guentzel, for whom it was his 500th appearance at Bettman Arena. Sidney Crosby also set the table for this goal.

The Pens (23-17-7) were content to protect a three-goal lead, even going nearly 20 minutes without a shot on Hellebuyck's cage, about halfway through the second and third periods.

Mark Scheifele thought he had Winnipeg on the scoreboard in the final third, but his net was cleared from the scoreboard as his club committed an uncalled offside moments later.

Scheifele returns after missing six games (lower body).

Tristan Jarry made 24 saves for his sixth shutout of the campaign, out of 14 total wins. He particularly frustrated Kyle Connor six times.

This game was Sullivan's 800th game as a hockey head coach. The 55-year-old American's 430 victories constitute the 11th-highest total among coaches who have officiated 800 or more games.