There’s minimal changes for the Penguins compared to the norm this season; Ben Kindel gets back into the lineup at the expense of Philip Tomasino and Tristan Jarry rotates back in the cage.

The hometown Sharks are going with this lineup:

The first period is definitely something that happened. Free flowing, end to end action with a bunch of shots flung to net. No penalties, goals or really any close calls. Shots go 18-11 PIT, but that somehow makes it seem a little more exciting than it was.

The second period ambles on, out of no where Kris Letang shoots from the right side and Sidney Crosby gets a really fine deflection on the puck from in front. 1-0 Pens.

That goal puts a fire under the Sharks, they push hard for the rest of the period but can’t find a way to beat Jarry. 1-0 game.

Shots overall are 23-22 PIT. It’s a Jarry/Alex Nedeljkovic goalie duel through 40 minutes, just like everyone expected.

More ugly play all around, eventually the aptly nicknamed Mutant Line strikes for the Pens. Evgeni Malkin wanders into the o-zone, feeds Justin Brazeau. Brazeau holds the puck for a beat and then lays a great pass over for Anthony Mantha. Mantha whips a hard shot that hits the back of the net. That was a slow, slow, slow, boom in the net. 2-0 Pens.

With 7:26 to go, finally the first penalty of the game is called on Bryan Rust. The Pens killed it off and Rust made a power move when he came out of the box and forced the Sharks to hold him and earn Pittsburgh’s first power play with 4:55 to play. Crosby ended the power play early, with a hooking penalty and not a goal or assist.

Sane Jose used their timeout with 2:50 play and with 1:16 of power play time. San Jose pulls the goalie, Jarry takes a shot at the open net but it gets knocked down.

Malkin salts the game away with his second goal of the season into the open net to set the final score at 3-0.

A 2-1-0 California swing is always a plus, the Pens will head back home for a game Tuesday night full of confidence and looking to continue their nice start to the season after taking care of business in this one.