The situation has quickly turned from rosy optimism to dread. The Pittsburgh Penguins (31-17-14) began the post-Olympic stretch well but have quickly fallen into disrepair. The team held serve Saturday and maintained a three-point playoff cushion, but with their recent poor play and depleted lineup, it now seems quite perilous as they host the Boston Bruins (35-22-5) at PPG Paints Arena Sunday afternoon.
The game is listed as a 4:30 p.m. start, but the national TV coverage will push back the actual puck drop. Mr. Jeff Jimerson will render the national anthem.
Sunday will also mark the second game the Penguins will play without Sidney Crosby (injury) and Evgeni Malkin (suspension).
The Penguins were the better team Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers, but they did not play like it. Blue line struggles and several ghastly mistakes kept Philadelphia in the game long enough to go to a shootout. And the Penguins are fantastically awful in shootouts.
The Penguins’ shooters were 0-for-3, and goalie Stuart Skinner stopped one of two attempts. Trevor Zegras, who is a career 63% shooter, scored the winner.
Ultimately, the Flyers claimed a 4-3 SO win. However, the loser point was valuable to the Penguins because the Columbus Blue Jackets lost in overtime to the Utah Mammoth, keeping the Penguins’ playoff cushion at three points.
Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karslsson scored for the Penguins. Egor Chinakhov had a pair of assists, and Rakell had a goal and an assist as the pair were a formidable combination.
However, the Penguins were plagued by mistakes, such as an Avery Hayes turnover at the defensive blue line and defensive struggles centering on the Sam Girard-Kris Letang pairing.
For a full analysis of the problems with execution and the lineup, read more in the Penguins Report Card.
The Penguins and Boston tangled on Tuesday, and Boston won 2-1 at TD Garden. It was another disjointed game for the Penguins that featured several solid performances and plenty of offensive zone time, but was also offset by disappointing performances and perimeter play.
Boston pulled away from the Washington Capitals with a pair of third period goals for a 3- 1 win at TD Garden Saturday.
Pavel Zacha and Victor Arvidsson scored before David Pastrnak added the empty-netter.
Boston is holding onto the second wild-card spot with 75 points. They lead Columbus by two points for the final at-large playoff berth. The Ottawa Senators have closed to within four points, too.
Arturs Silovs will start for the Penguins in goal. Joonas Korpisalo, who has fantastic career numbers against the Penguins, will get the crease for Boston.
Korpisalo has a career .900 save percentage, but in 13 starts against the Penguins split between Columbus, Ottawa, and Boston, his save percentage is an astounding .929.
The Penguins’ reconfigured power play without Malkin was also abysmal, registering just four shots on six chances, though PP2 did score on their first opportunity.
Coach Dan Muse also juggled his lines during the game Saturday; more potential changes are expected, including on defense, as left-handed defenseman Ryan Graves could draw into the lineup.
TV: TNT
Radio: 105.9 The X
Egor Chinakhov-Rickard Rakell-Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha-Ben Kindel-Justin Brazeau
Ville Koivunen-Ben Kindel-Avery Hayes
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard-Kris Letang
Ryan Shea-Connor Clifton
Goalie: Arturs Silovs, likely
From Boston Hockey Now beat writer Jack Studley.
Marat Khusnutdinov-Elias Lindholm-David Pastrnak
Casey Mittelstadt-Pavel Zacha-Viktor Arvidsson
Alex Steeves-Fraser Minten-Morgan Geekie
Tanner Jeannot-Sean Kuraly-Mark Kastelic
Defensemen
Jonathan Aspirot-Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm-Mason Lohrei
Nikita Zadorov-Andrew Peeke
Goalie: Jonas Korpisalo, expected
Penguins’ power play: 25.0%, 7th. Penguins penalty kill: 84.7%, 2nd.
Bruins power play: 25.3%, 5th. Bruins penalty kill: 77.5%, 22nd.
The Penguins have lost four straight to Boston, including 1-0 and 2-1 games at TD Garden this season.
Despite the current malaise, the Penguins have points in 15 of their last 18 games overall (10-3-5).
Rickard Rakell has 19 points (10-9-19) in 24 games played against Boston, which includes four multi-point games.
Malkin will serve the second of his five-game suspension.
Newly acquired winger Elmer Soderblom was a healthy scratch Saturday as Muse wants to get him acclimated to the system and comfortable before inserting him into the lineup.
Bryan Rust has an active five-game points streak (2-4-6).
The Penguins are 14-5-5 with Chinakhov in the lineup. The Russian winger has 16 points (10-6-16) in 24 games with the team.
Categorized:Penguins Pregame
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