The Pittsburgh Penguins (21-14-10) have scored just two goals in their last three games, but are dealing with the dichotomy of playing well and getting superb goaltending in the process. The frustrated Penguins host their arch-rival Philadelphia Flyers Thursday at PPG Paints Arena.
The puck drops just after 7 p.m., and the Union Area High School Choir performs the National Anthem.
The Penguins battled the Tampa Bay Lightning to the bitter end Tuesday. Evgeni Malkin scored the game-tying goal with under three-minutes remaining. It was a cathartic moment for the Penguins and their first goal in nearly seven full periods. However, the Penguins fell to 1-6 in shootouts and lost to Tampa Bay, 2-1.
Malkin scored the lone Penguins goal, but rookie netminder Arturs Silovs submitted a sterling performance, stopping 30 of 31. Many, including Silovs, felt it should have been 30 of 30 shots, but referees ruled he didn’t have control of a shot early in the third period and thus didn’t blow the whistle, allowing J.J. Moser to poke the puck into the net at 14:13.
The Penguins are currently dealing with the realization of playing well, but the frustration of no goals to show for their effort.
Conversely, the Flyers are winless in four and have lost three in a row, giving up 17 goals in the process. On Wednesday, they were the latest team to be steamrolled by the Buffalo Sabres, losing 5-2 in Buffalo.
The game is additionally noteworthy as starting goalie Dan Vladar was injured and did not return.
Flyers forward Owen Tippett had two points, including one of the goals. Trevor Zegras had the other tally.
Goalie Samuel Ersson finished the game. Ersson has an abysmal .855 save percentage in 17 appearances this season.
In keeping with the Penguins’ goalie rotation, Stuart Skinner is expected to start in goal. Ersson is expected to start for the Flyers. However, the Flyers may need to make a recall Thursday, which would most likely be 24-year-old Aleksei Kolosov from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
TV: ESPN
Radio: 105.9 The X
Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Evgeni Malkin-Ben Kindel-Egor Chinakhov
Anthony Mantha-Tommy Novak-Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Brett Kulak-Kris Letang
Parker Wotherspoon-Jack St. Ivany
Ryan Shea-Connor Clifton
Goalie: Stuart Skinner, expected.
Trevor Zegras–Christian Dvorak–Travis Konecny
Denver Barkey–Sean Couturier–Owen Tippett
Matvei Michkov–Noah Cates–Carl Grundstrom
Nikita Grebenkin–Rodrigo Abols–Garnet Hathaway
Cam York–Travis Sanheim
Emil Andrae-Noah Juulsen
Nick Seeler-Ramsus Ristolainen
Goalie: TBD
Penguins’ power play: 27.9%, 3rd. Penguins penalty kill: 82.7%, 7th.
Flyers power play: 15.5%, 28th. Flyers penalty kill: 79.3%, 19th.
It has been a one-sided rivalry lately. The Penguins have points in 11 of their last 13 games against the Flyers (8-2-3). The Penguins are 14-5-4 in their last 23 games against them.
Also, the Penguins have points in 10-consecutive home games against the Flyers (8-0-
2) dating back to March 6, 2021.
No player in NHL history has scored more against the Flyers than Sidney Crosby. In 92 career games, Crosby has 59 goals, 78 assists, and 137 points. His 59 goals and his 137 points are the most in NHL history versus Philly.
Stuart Skinner has been red hot since the Christmas Break, winning three of his four starts (3-1-0). During this stretch, he has only allowed one goal in each of the four games. His only loss was a hard-luck 1-0 loss to the Boston Bruins Sunday.
Pairing with their offensive outage, the Penguins have shutdown opponents. Since Dec. 27, they lead the NHL in goals against and goals against per game in that span.
Categorized: Pittsburgh Penguins
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