Penguins Game 24, More Changes; Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Canucks

The Pittsburgh Penguins (7-12-4) need wins and a few good things to go their way. They are just 1-4-2 since a convincing win over the Washington Capitals on Nov. 8. Since then, it’s been a freefall, and their only win was over the rebuilding San Jose Sharks, in which they yielded a three-goal lead before winning in a shootout.

The puck drops just after 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

Things will not be easy Wednesday as they face the stout Vancouver Canucks (11-6-3), who blanked the Boston Bruins Tuesday night at TD Garden. Vancouver will be without Pittsburgh native J.T. Miller, who has taken personal leave, but the Canucks are finding enough offense elsewhere and remain among the emerging powers in the Western Conference.

The Penguins will have new lines and another new face in the lineup Wednesday. The team acquired Philip Tomasino on Monday for a 2027 fourth-round pick (the one acquired from the New York Rangers for Chad Ruhwedel at the 2023 NHL trade deadline). Tomasino has just one assist in 11 games this season, but the Penguins are hopeful they can mine the talent from the 2019 first-round pick.

Tomasino will likely start on Evgeni Malkin’s right-wing, so his opportunity will be immediate. Based on practice Tuesday, it was not a good day for the Finnish players; Jesse Puljujarvi will be the odd man out, and the team put Valtteri Puustinen on waivers.

UPDATE: Coach Mike Sullivan said Tristan Jarry will start in goal. Blake Lizotte is a game-time decision, but Cody Glass will not be available.

Penguins Lines

Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Anthony Beauvillier-Evgeni Malkin-Philip Tomasino

Michael Bunting-Blake Lizotte-Drew O’Connor

Matt Nieto-Noel Acciari-Kevin Hayes

Defense

Own Pickering-Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Shea-Jack St. Ivany

Goalies: Tristan Jarry/Alex Nedeljkovic

Canucks Lines

Per Daily Faceoff

Jake DeBrusk-Elias Pettersson-Kieffer Sherwood

Danton Heinen-Teddy Blueger-Brock Boeser

Dakota Joshua-Pius Suter-Conor Garland

Arshdeep Bains-Aatu Raty-Nils Hoglander

Defense

Quinn Hughes-Filip Hronek

Erik Brannstrom-Tyler Myers

Carson Soucy-Noah Juulsen

Goalies: Arturs Silovs/Kevin Lankinen

Special Teams

Penguins power play: 20.6%, 15th. Penguins penalty kill: 78.6%, 17th.

Canucks power play: 21.3%, 11th. Canucks penalty kill: 79.7%, 13th.

Penguins Game Notes

The Penguins gave up a 2-0 lead to Vancouver on Oct. 26. Vancouver set a franchise record with three goals in 65 seconds, leading to a 4-3 Vancouver win.