Pascal Dupuis Returns, But Pittsburgh Penguins Drop Preseason Game To Wild

Sep 29, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise (11) scores a goal on Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Thomas Greiss (1) during the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Pominville scored a third-period natural hat trick to lead the Minnesota Wild to a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Monday night preseason action at Xcel Energy Center.

The visiting Penguins, now 2-3 in exhibition play, tied the game at 1 late in the second period on Steve Downie‘s first goal in black and Vegas gold. Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang set up a wide-open Downie at the left side of the net with a slick pass through traffic from the right circle.

However, Minnesota star Zach Parise added an assist to his first-period goal when he put the puck in Pominville’s wheelhouse for a one-time goal at 8:39 of the third. Pominville beat Pens goalie Jeff Zatkoff again five minutes later, collecting the rebound of Jonas Brodin‘s slap shot behind the goal and wrapping the puck around the left post.

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Pominville capped his big night with an empty-net goal with 20 seconds to play. Mikael Granlund assisted on that tally, giving him two helpers on the night. The Pens outshot the Wild (2-2 in preseason) 33-18, but Minnesota netminder Darcy Kuemper was strong throughout, especially on a point-blank stop on Downie in the third.

Perhaps the best news for the Penguins on the night was the return of winger Pascal Dupuis. He took a team-high 27 shifts and played over 16 minutes in his return to game action after enduring a long rehab from reconstructive knee surgery. Dupuis missed the final four months of the 2013-14 season with a torn ACL.

Once again, Sidney Crosby (family funeral) and Evgeni Malkin (undisclosed injury) did not suit up for the Penguins, who have played their first five preseason games without the two star centers. Marc-Andre Fleury was also not in uniform, as Thomas Greiss and Zatkoff split time in the Pittsburgh crease.

BOX SCORE

The Pens close their exhibition schedule Wednesday night in Detroit. The game will be televised on Root Sports.