Penguins
Guentzel Back; Penguins Game 71 vs. Hurricanes: Lines, Notes & How to Watch
There is one certainty for Tuesday night when the Carolina Hurricanes visit the Pittsburgh Penguins – there will be a tribute video for Jake Guentzel.
Guentzel returns to Pittsburgh as a visiting player less than three weeks after he was traded to the Hurricanes for Michael Bunting, prospects and draft picks.
Beyond that, the game is a matchup of teams moving in very different directions.
The Penguins (30-30-10) seem to be on the verge of locking up a spot in the draft lottery; Carolina (45-20-7) is in contention for everything from the Metropolitan Division crown to the Presidents’ Trophy.
Game Time
The game starts a little after 7 p.m.
Penguins Preview
The Penguins are 3-9-2 in their past 14 games and are coming off yet another gut-wrenching loss. They built a four-goal lead Sunday at Colorado, with Sidney Crosby logging a goal and three assists, before the Avalanche scored five unanswered goals, including the winner in overtime, for a 5-4 win.
It was the Penguins’ sixth loss this season when leading after two periods.
Now the Penguins face a team in the same echelon, standings-wise, as Colorado. And they do it with the emotion of seeing Guentzel playing for the opposition.
With the Penguins, Guentzel won a Stanley Cup, had two 40-goal seasons and established himself as a nearly perfect left winger for Crosby.
Bunting has three goals, six points in nine games with the Penguins. He has fit in nicely but is not Guentzel.
The Penguins on Tuesday recalled forward Sam Poulin, who could play after center Noel Acciari went on IR. Forward Jeff Carter (three games, injury) and Ryan Graves (two games, family matter) took part in the morning skate and could return. Poulin also skated, wearing No. 22.
Defenseman Ryan Graves has missed the past two games because of a family matter. It’s not clear whether he will be available, or whether he will play if it his available.
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Carolina is 9-1-1 in its past 11 games.
In eight games with the Hurricanes, Guentzel has two goals, 12 points. In Sunday’s 2-1 win over Toronto, he had an assist.
He has been skating with Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho, who had a goal Sunday, giving him a six-game point streak and 80 points, including 31 goals.
Penguins Expected Lines
Drew O’Connor-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting-Evgeni Malkin-Rickard Rakell
Reilly Smith-Lars Eller-Valtteri Pusstinen
Sam Poulin-Jeff Carter-Jesse Puljujarvi
Defense
P.O Joseph-Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson
John Ludvig-Jack St. Ivany
Goalies
Alex Nedeljkovic
Tristan Jarry
Expected Hurricanes Lines
Jake Guentzel-Sebastian Aho-Seth Jarvis
Teuvo Teravainen-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook-Jordan Staal- Andrei Svechnikov
Jack Drury-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Stefan Noesen
Defense
Jaccob Slavin-Brent Burns
Brady Skjei-Brett Pesce
Dmitry Orlov-Jalen Chatfield
Goalies
Spencer Martin
Frederik Andersen
Penguins Special Teams
Penguins power play: 14.5%, 30th
Penguins penalty kill: 80.8%, 12th
Hurricanes power play: 26.5%, 3rd
Hurricanes penalty kill: 85.3%, 2nd
Penguins Game Notes
The three games between the teams this season have been close – a 4-2 Penguins loss Nov. 18 on the road, a 2-1 Penguins shootout win Dec. 21 at home, and a 3-2 Penguins overtime loss Jan. 13 on the road.
Eight of the past 10 games between the teams have been decided by one goal.
Sidney Crosby is one assist shy of becoming the first active player, 14th in NHL history to reach 40 in at least 15 seasons.
Crosby has 64 points (23 goals, 41 assists) in 58 career games against the Hurricanes.
Evgeni Malkin has 42 points (14 goals, 28 assists) in 49 career games against Carolina.
Lars Eller is three points from 400 for his career.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 FM The X