COLUMBUS — The Pittsburgh Penguins (11-6-5) enter the meat of their December schedule, though they will get no cranberries as they face their Metro Division little brother, the Columbus Blue Jackets (11-9-4) at Nationwide Arena.
The puck drops at 7:08 p.m. after Leo! Welsh sings the National Anthem.
The Penguins desperately need to build on their win Wednesday over the Buffalo Sabres. The Penguins deflated the game for the first 30 minutes, holding a 1-0 lead. However, Buffalo flipped the Penguins’ script and largely carried the play for the final 35 minutes. Yet, it was the Penguins who found a way to win the game when Bryan Rust and Kevin Hayes scored third period goals for a 3-2 Penguins win at PPG Paints Arena.
Rust’s goal was just 31 seconds after Buffalo tied the game 1-1.
The win elevated the Penguins close to hockey .500 in November, at 3-4-3. More importantly, the victory put the Penguins in the second wild card spot on American Thanksgiving.
Traditionally, teams in a playoff spot on Thanksgiving have a 77% chance of making the playoffs.
Columbus is 1-2-2 in their last five games and have just two regulation win in November, registering a 5-5-4 record this month. Columbus is winless in their last three with OT losses to Detroit and Toronto, respectively.
Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko lead the team with 22 points each, but Marchenko remains out of the lineup due to injury. Evgeni Malkin leads the Penguins with 24 points. Sidney Crosby leads the team with 13 goals.
It appears Tristan Broz will be a healthy scratch after making his NHL debut Wednesday. Ben Kindel will return to the lineup.
Tristan Jarry will start in goal for the Penguins. Jet Greaves will start for Columbus.
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-Ben Kindel-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 Blue Jackets Lines
Dmitri Voronkov-Adam Fantilli-Kent Johnson
Luca Pinelli-Sean Monahan-Cole Sillinger
Miles Wood-Charlie Coyle-Isac Lundeström
Zach Aston-Reese-Brendan Gaunce-Yegor Chinakhov
Defense
Zach Werenski-Ivan Provorov
Denton Mateychuk-Damon Severson
Brendan Smith-Dante Fabbro
Goalie: Jet Greaves
Special Teams
Penguins’ power play: 31.4%, 1st. Penguins penalty kill: 85.2%, 5th.
Blue Jackets power play: 16.1%, 25th. Blue Jackets penalty kill: 74.6%, 27th
Notable Injuries
Penguins: Justin Brazeau, Noel Acciari, Rickard Rakell.
Blue Jackets: Kirill Marchenko, Boone Jenner, Erik Gudbranson.
Penguins Game Notes
Tristan Jarry has an 8-2-2 record in 12 starts against the Blue Jackets in his career, with a 2.64 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.
The Penguins PK penalty kill has allowed just three power-play goals against over its last 14 games (33-for-36, 91.7%).
The Penguins have points in 16 of their last 17 games (12-1-4) against the Blue Jackets dating back to Dec. 12, 2019.
The Penguins are tied with the New York Rangers for second-best team save percentage in the NHL (.909), behind only the Colorado Avalanche (.920).
Categorized: Penguins Pregame
