The Pittsburgh Penguins (10-6-5) are in the midst of a mind-bending streak in which they have played very well but still lost. One of the most compressed parts of their schedule beckons as they host the forlorn Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena.
The puck drops just after 7 p.m. on the Penguins’ annual pre-Thanksgiving game. And the annual tradition continues with the porcelain gravy boat giveaway, too.
The Penguins have not played a lot of hockey over the last three weeks. They had a pair of games in Stockholm, Sweden, and a pair of games at home last weekend. The Penguins game the Minnesota Wild little trouble in a 5-0 Wild win last Friday. Then, the Penguins dramatically outplayed the Seattle Kraken but lost in overtime, 3-2.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin scored for the Penguins Saturday.
The Penguins’ record in extra time dropped to 0-5 (O-2 in OT, and 0-3 in shootouts).
After Wednesday, the Penguins are in Columbus Friday, home against Toronto on Saturday, and then on the road for a three-game trip beginning in Philadelphia.
Conversely, Buffalo’s season has been rife with consternation and frustration. Despite a slightly better than hockey .500 record, trade rumors and reports of disgruntled players have dominated the headlines. It has been 14 seasons since Buffalo made the playoffs.
However, they have won four of their last five games, including a solid 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Sunday.
Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Jack Quinn, and Jack Malenstyn scored for Buffalo, and Ukko-Pekka Luukonen stopped 29 of 30 shots in the win.
The Penguins’ injury front is improving. Coach Dan Muse said Tristan Jarry and Ville Koivunen will be available Wednesday. The Penguins will activate Jarry on Wednesday, and most likely demote rookie goalie Sergei Musharov to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Following the morning skate, Muse confirmed Jarry will start Wednesday and Koivunen will play. Muse will also make a couple of lineup tweaks, including making Ben Kindel a healthy scratch for developmental purposes.
Penguins center Tristan Broz will make his NHL debut, and Ben Kindel will be a healthy scratch as part of his development process.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
Expected Penguins Lines
Connor Dewar-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Kevin Hayes-Evgeni Malkin-Anthony Mantha
Tommy Novak-TRISTAN BROZ-Ville Koivunen
Joona Koppanen-Blake Lizotta-Danton Heinen
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea-Kris Letang
Ryan Graves-Matt Dumba
Goalie: Tristan Jarry
Expected Sabres Lines
Doan-Thompson-Tuch
Zucker-McLeod-Quinn
Benson-Ostlund-Kozak
Dunne-Krebs-Malenstyn
Defense
Mattias Samuelsson-Rasmus Dahlin
Bo Byram-Conor Timmins
Jacob Bryson-Owen Power
Goalie: Ukko-Pekka Luukonen, expected
Special Teams
Penguins’ power play: 32.0%, 1st. Penguins penalty kill: 85.2%, 5th.
Sabres power play: 17.9%, 20th. Sabres penalty kill: 87.7%, 1st
Penguins Game Notes
The Penguins are 14-6-1 in their last 21 games against Buffalo.
Erik Karlsson’s 41 points (14-27-41) and Kris Letang’s 33 points (6-27-33) against the Sabres rank first and second, respectively, among active defensemen.
The Penguins’ penalty kill has allowed just three power-play goals against over its last 13 games (33-for-36, 91.7%).
The Penguins have allowed the second fewest goals against in the NHL (55) and have held their opponents to two goals or less nine times this season (6-0-3 when doing so).
Broz will be the ninth rookie to play for the Penguins this season, which leads the league.
Categorized: Penguins Pregame
