Penguins Forward Boko Imama Opens Up on His Breakout Performance
Photo credit: Edit from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bokondji Imama played a fantastic game for the Penguins last night vs. the Blue Jackets, and he spoke to the media afterward to talk about his excellent performance.
Mike Sullivan never misses an opportunity to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets. As the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, beating their Metropolitan Division rivals is always on his to-do list.
On Friday night at PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins wore down a scrappy but short-handed Blue Jackets team and recorded a 6-3 win.
Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, who last played on March 7, had a heavy workload but was up to the challenge, making 44 of 47 saves. The victory took his record to 13-14-5.
For fans who have an investment in the Penguins, fourth-liner enforcer Bokondji Imama gave a delightful performance. Not only did he drop his gloves, but he also scored a big goal, the game-winner, no less.
At 11:49 of the first period, Imama battled Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier. The two enforcers exchanged blows in a lengthy fight before fatigue set in.
Imama scored his first of the season and just the second of his career
Imama also contributed in a different way later on, offensively. He tallied his first goal of the season and the second of his NHL career at 8:15 of the second period.
The series of events leading to his goal began with Kevin Hayes' faceoff victory in Columbus' left circle. Danton Heinen picked up the puck and moved toward the near corner before making a slick pass back to the circle.
Imama did not hesitate to shoot a wrist shot past goaltender Elvis Merzlikins' blocker. Hayes played a key role in creating a screen, while Heinen and Hayes each had an assist.
Imama spoke about his memorable performance that involved a fight and a goal following the game, and he was all smiles in the dressing room.
"I definitely asked for it," Imama said. "Obviously, I want to let my teammates know and everybody know that's what I'm here to do. Play that physical game, and I'm just willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win."
For that purpose, Imama became the 582nd Penguin to register a goal in a regular-season game.
Before Friday night, his only other regular-season goal for the NHL was with the Coyotes on April 23, 2022, during a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.
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