Crosby v. McDavid, Penguins Game 6: Lines, Notes & What to Watch vs. Oilers

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Pittsburgh Penguins (4-0-1) have won four of their first five games and scored 26 goals in the process. Captain Sidney Crosby is among the NHL scoring leaders with 10 points (3-7-10), the Penguins’ defensemen are among the leaders for points by defensemen (20), and goalie Tristan Jarry is turning aside more than 94% of shots. Monday, they face the Edmonton Oilers (2-3-0) at Rogers Place.

The puck drops just after 8 p.m. EST (6 p.m. in Edmonton).

The Penguins placed Teddy Blueger on LTIR and recalled Sam Poulin and Drake Caggiula on Sunday. Poulin could make his NHL debut, although it’s more likely that Caggiula, a winger, will slot beside Ryan Poehling on the fourth line. Caggiula played three seasons with Edmonton.

Mike Sullivan said it will be a gametime decision.

The Penguins don’t feel like they’ve played a great game yet.

“The reality is, there’s been some good and some not so good in every game that we’ve played. And we’re trying to point out those areas to our team where we encourage them in the areas we’ve shown the ability to be good,” Sullivan said. “But there’s been other areas where we know we’ve got to get better if we’re going to sustain winning hockey games.”

Starts have been an issue. Despite scoring six goals in each of their four wins, the Penguins have been on their heels in first periods.

Of course, if the team knew what has been going wrong, it would fix it. Instead, they’ll focus on the issue in an attempt course-correct.

Scoring six goals is a pretty good fix to any problem. As Dave Molinari noted on Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins are showing few flaws, except for a little problem of their stars being attacked. The issue was again highlighted last Thursday against the LA Kings when Brendan Lemieux cheap-shotted winger Jake Guentzel without recompense.

Tristan Jarry will start in goal tonight. The Penguins will visit the Calgary Flames Tuesday, so Casey DeSmith likely will start then, since Sullivan typically uses his backup goalie in the second game of back-to-backs.

Of course, the game tonight will be featured for the marquee matchup: Sidney Crosby vs. Connor McDavid. An all-time great vs. an all-time great in waiting. Both players have 10 points, but McDavid ranks ahead because he has five goals.

Former Penguins defenseman Cody Cedi is on the Oilers’ top pairing with Darnell Nurse.

Pittsburgh Penguins Lines:

Edmonton Oilers Lines, per Puckpedia.com

Kane-McDavid-Yamamoto

Nugent-Hopkins–Draisaitl–Hyman

Foegele-McLeod-Puljujarvi

Shore-Ryan-Niemelainen

Defence:

Nurse-Ceci

Kulak-Barrie

Murray-Bouchard

Goalie:

Jack Campbell

Special Teams

Pittsburgh Penguins Game Notes

How to Watch: