Another 4-Pointer; Penguins Game 68 vs. Devils: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

It’s another four-point game for the Pittsburgh Penguins, another game that could help keep their playoff hopes alive, as they visit the Devils Tuesday in New Jersey.

The Penguins did well for themselves in a similar situation on Sunday, beating the Detroit Red Wings 6-3.

In the race to make the postseason in the Eastern Conference, things seem to be changing every day with every result. The Penguins (30-28-9) sit one point ahead of New Jersey (32-32-4) and six points out of a wildcard spot.

The Penguins and Devils are among seven teams with a feasible shot a wildcard spot in the East.

The Penguins will be without forward Jeff Carter because of an unspecified injury.

Game Time

The game starts a little after 7 p.m.

Penguins Preview

At an opportune time, the Penguins have rediscovered their offense. They have scored 16 goals over their past three games (2-0-1) after totaling just two goals over their preceding four games.

And that recent scoring has come from up and down the lineup. Twelve players have provided those 16 goals. Sunday, leading scorer Sidney Crosby broke out of an 11-game goal drought.

The Penguins also have a power-play goal in each of their past two games, plus one that was scored a second after a power play ended.

Read more:

Kingerski: Penguins Finally Figured it Out? Getting Best from Lars Eller, Reilly Smith

Molinari: Penguins Six-Pack; Getting Defensive; Crosby Comes Through

The Devils seem to be fading fast. They have lost two in a row, four of their past five games and seven of their past nine.

In those nine games, they have scored 22 goals, including just one each during their two-game skid.

Expected Penguins Lines

Drew O’Connor-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Michael Bunting-Evgeni Malkin-Rickard Rakell

Reilly Smith-Lars Eller-Valtteri Puustinen

Emil Bemstrom-Noel Acciari-Jesse Puljujarvi

Defense

Marcus Pettersson-Kris Letang

Ryan Graves-Erik Karlsson

John Ludvig-P.O Joseph

Goalies

Tristan Jarry

Alex Nedeljkovic

Expected Devils Lines

Jack Hughes-Nico Hischier-Dawson Mercer

Timo Meier-Erik Haula-Jesper Bratt

Ondrej Palat-Tomas Nosek-Curtis Lazar

Kurtis MacDermid-Chris Tierney-Alexander Holtz

Defense

Santeri Hatakka-Brendan Smith

Luke Hughes-Simon Nemec

Kevin Bahl-Nick DeSimone

Goalies

Jake Allen

Kaapo Kahkonen

Penguins Special Teams

Penguins power play: 14.9%, 29th

Penguins penalty kill: 81.6, 8th

Devils power play: 21.6%, 16th

Devils penalty kill: 79.7%, 15th

Penguins Game Notes

This is the second of three games between the clubs. New Jersey won 5-2 Nov. 16 in Pittsburgh. They play again April 2 in Newark.

Bryan Rust has 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists) and is plus-14 in 34 career games against the Devils. It’s his most points against any opponent.

Rust has five goals in his past seven games overall, nine goals over his past 14 games.

Sidney Crosby has 89 points (39 goals, 50 assists) in 83 career games against New Jersey.

Crosby (583 career goals) is one goal shy of surpassing Wayne Gretzky for sole possession of the seventh-most goals with a single franchise in NHL history.

Crosby is two points shy of 70. He would be the first active player, and ninth in NHL history, to log 14 or more 70-point seasons.

Evgeni Malkin has 19 goals, one shy of becoming the 31^st player in NHL history and the fourth active player with 15 20-goal seasons.

Lars Eller has five points (two goals, three assists) over the past three games.

How to Watch

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Radio: 105.9 FM The X

Also visit sister site New Jersey Hockey Now