The Pittsburgh Penguins (22-14-10) ended their three-game winless streak with a breakout offensive performance Thursday and need to continue their run of strong performances if they want to keep pace in the quickening Eastern Conference playoff race. The Penguins host the new-coach-inspired Columbus Blue Jackets (21-19-7) at PPG Paints Arena Saturday.
The puck drops just after 7 p.m., and Mr. Jeff Jimerson sings the National Anthem.
The Penguins unloaded on the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. After scoring just two goals in their previous three games, the Penguins scored a pair of first-period goals en route to soundly beating Philadelphia 6-3.
In fact, the score was 6-1 well into the third period before the Penguins relaxed and Philadelphia scored a couple of inconsequential goals.
Justin Brazeau upped his career-best goal total to 13 with an early first-period power-play goal. Bryan Rust, Egor Chinakhov, Blake Lizotte, Sidney Crosby, and Connor Dewar also scored for the Penguins.
Crosby continued his career-long dominance of the Flyers with a two-point game. Tommy Novak and Evgeni Malkin each added a pair of assists in the win. And, the Penguins’ power play was three-for-four.
Stuart Skinner was solid in net. He stopped 30 of 33 and has maintained a save percentage above .900 in each of his last five starts.
Columbus has been spurred by a surprising move behind the bench as general manager Don Waddell terminated Dean Evason in favor of Rick Bowness, who has a contract only for the rest of the season.
Columbus has won three in a row and beat the Vancouver Canucks in Columbus, 4-1, on Thursday.
Charlie Coyle, Kirill Marchenko, Zach Werenski, and Brent Johnson lit the lamp for Columbus as Elvis Merzlikins stopped 30 of 31.
The Penguins currently occupy third place in the Metro Division, and can begin to separate themselves with a few more wins. They’re tied with the Washington Capitals with 54 points, but the Penguins have two games in hand.
In their last meeting, Jan. 4 at Nationwide Arena, the Penguins scored three unanswered goals to overcome a 4-1 deficit and won in overtime, 5-4. The Penguins also beat Columbus 4-3 in OT on Nov. 28.
Columbus will likely be without offensive defenseman Denton Mateychuk, but Erik Gudbranson returned from injury on Thursday.
Statistically, the teams are among the worst in holding leads. The Penguins are 15-2-4 when leading after two periods, and Columbus is 13-1-5.
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov-Tommy Novak-Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha-Ben Kindel-Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Brett Kulak-Kris Letang
Parker Wotherspoon-Jack St. Ivany
Ryan Shea-Connor Clifton
Goalie: Arturs Silovs, Confirmed.
Cole Sillinger-Adam Fantilli-Kirill Marchenko
Boone Jenner-Sean Monahan-Kent Johnson
Dmitri Voronkov-Charlie Coyle-Mathieu Olivier
Danton Heinen-Brendan Gaunce-Mikael Pyyhtia
Zach Werenski-Dante Fabbro
Ivan Provorov-Damon Severson
Jake Christiansen-Erik Gudbranson
Goalie: Jet Greaves, expected
Penguins’ power play: 29.4%, 2nd. Penguins penalty kill: 83.2%, 6th.
Blue Jackets power play: 20.3%, 17th. Blue Jackets penalty kill: 74.2%, 29th.
The Penguins have points in 18 of their last 19 games (14-1-4) against the Blue Jackets dating back to Dec. 12, 2019.
And the Penguins have an active 18-game home point streak against the Blue Jackets (16-0-2) dating back to Dec. 21, 2015. The streak is the longest active streak in the league, and is tied for the longest streak in Penguins history.
With another point Saturday, it will eclipse the Penguins’ 18-straight points against Atlanta/Winnipeg starting in 2007 and ending in 2019.
The Penguins killed off their last 16 penalties over the past four games.
Egor Chinakhov has four points, including three goals, in his first eight games as a Penguin. Only Crosby (4) has more Penguins goals in that time.
Ben Kindel’s power play assist Thursday was his 20th point of the season. He is just the sixth 18-year-old in franchise history to record 20 or more points in a season.
Crosby’s 25 goals are tied for the top spot in the Eastern Conference and fifth overall. Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL with 36.
Categorized: Penguins Pregame
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