Less than a week ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins (31-17-13) were a nearly sure bet to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, a tumultuous week has broadsided the team. From a counted goal due to a controversial goaltender interference rejection to Evgeni Malkin’s five-game suspension, Sidney Crosby’s continued injury absence, and the Columbus Blue Jackets’ hot streak, the Penguins’ playoff cushion is down to just three points.
They face the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday at PPG Paints Arena. Note the early start time. It’s a 5:30 p.m. start (we don’t know why) after Mr. Jeff Jimerson delivers the national anthem.
In Malkin’s absence, the Penguins have recalled Ville Koivunen on an emergency basis. Koivunen was the AHL player of the month for February and has rediscovered his best with multi-point efforts in five of his last six games (4-7-11).
The Penguins became unglued Thursday in a 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena. With the game tied 1-1, Evgeni Malkin slashed Rasmus Dahlin, earning a five-minute major and game misconduct (and the suspension). Buffalo scored a disputed goal on the power play. The Penguins challenged and lost, further extending Buffalo’s power play advantage, but also became emotionally distracted.
Buffalo added a couple more goals before an empty-netter. Bryan Rust scored the only Penguins goal, which was a shorthanded marker in the first period.
The fallout from the goaltender interference has become a running topic among the Penguins and fans, with general manager Kyle Dubas admitting in a nearly five-minute answer Friday that he’s “at his wits’ end.”
The Penguins have lost two straight and are 2-2-1 without Sidney Crosby in the lineup. They’ll also be without Malkin Saturday, in the first game of his five-game suspension.
The Flyers were shutout by the Utah Mammoth 3-0 in Utah Thursday.
Based on coach Dan Muse’s goalie rotation, Stuart Skinner will start in goal for the Penguins. Since the Penguins did not have a full practice on Friday and no morning skate on Saturday, the lines are a bit of a guessing game.
Dan Vladar is the likely starter for Philadelphia, and prospect LW Alex Bump could make his NHL debut.
TV: Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
Avery Hayes-Rickard Rakell-Bryan Rust
Ville Koivunen-Tommy Novak-Egor Chinakhov
Anthony Mantha-Ben Kindel-Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard-Kris Letang
Ryan Shea-Connor Clifton
Goalie: Stuart Skinner, expected
Trevor Zegras–Christian Dvorak–Travis Konecny
Denver Barkey–Noah Cates–Matvei Michkov
Nikita Grebenkin–Sean Couturier–Owen Tippett
Carl Grundstrom–Luke Glendening–Garnet Hathaway
Travis Sanheim–Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York–Jamie Drysdale
Emil Andrae–Noah Juulsen
Goalie: Dan Vladar, expected
Penguins’ power play: 25.3%, 6th. Penguins penalty kill: 84.5%, 2nd.
Flyers power play: 15.9%, 30th. Flyers penalty kill: 79.3%, 15th.
The Penguins have points in 12 of their last 14 games against Philadelphia (9-2-3). The Penguins also have points in 11-consecutive home games against Philadelphia (9-0-2) dating back to Mar. 6, 2021.
Connor Dewar will skate in his 300th career game on Saturday. He has set career highs in goals (13) and points (24) and is one assist shy from matching his career high of 12.
Since entering the league in 2006-07, no defenseman has more points against the Flyers than Kris Letang (56).
Erik Karlsson enters tonight one point shy of 40 on the season (5-34-39). He is set to become the 10th defenseman in NHL history with 13 or more 40-point seasons.
Defenseman 40-Point Seasons
Ray Bourque 22
Larry Murphy 19
Al MacInnis 18
Nicklas Lidstrom 17
Phil Housley 16
Paul Coffey 16
Denis Potvin 15
Larry Robinson 14
Brian Leetch 13
Erik Karlsson 12*
Anthony Mantha has 15 points over his last 14 games, and leads the Penguins in that span.
Stuart Skinner has helped the team earn points in seven of his last eight starts (5-1-2) and has points in 10 of his last 12 starts overall (8-2-2). In that stretch, he only allowed two goals or fewer in eight of those 12 games.
Categorized:Penguins Pregame
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