Penguins Game 63, GTA Invasion; Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Maple Leafs

The Pittsburgh Penguins (24-29-9) are in a bad way as they reach the final quarter of their season. They’ve played well, they’ve played terribly, but their only win in five games since the NHL break was a shocking three-goal comeback overtime win. Otherwise, the Penguins have lost and their task gets no easier Sunday when they host the talented Toronto Maple Leafs (37-20-2) at PPG Paints Arena.

The puck drops just after 1 p.m.

However, the game is also on TNT, so be warned that the puck drop may be closer to 1:20 p.m.

The Penguins have potentially fallen to last place in the Eastern Conference. They lead the Buffalo Sabres by four points, but Buffalo has four games in hand. The two team’s winning percentages are only a few points different. The fall has been hard for the Penguins, who lost to the Boston Bruins 3-2 Saturday at PPG Paints Arena.

Read More: Penguins Grades: Lifeless Efforts Show Cracks

The Penguins trailed 2-0 in the first period after abysmal defensive mistakes and turnovers spotted Boston numerous Grade A chances. Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was stellar, keeping the Penguins in the game.

Anthony Beauvillier scored a short-handed goal in the third goal to make the game competitive, but Boston scored an empty netter before Rickard Rakell scored with 20 seconds remaining to give the Penguins one last Hail Mary.

Nedeljkovic stopped 23 of 25 shots. Boston’s Joonas Korpisalo was very good and kept the Penguins at bay during their 17-shot third period.

The Maple Leafs have won all four games out of the break, and pending your point of view, helped the Penguins Friday by beating the New York Rangers 3-2 at Madison Square Garden. The implications for the Penguins are draft-related. They own the Rangers’ first-round pick in 2025 or ’26. The 2025 pick is Top-13 protected and defaults to an unprotected pick in 2026 if New York finishes in the bottom 13 this season, and the loss dropped them to 10th.

Matthew Knies scored the game-winner midway through the third period.

Penguins goalie Joel Blomqvist is expected to start for the Penguins. Joseph Woll will likely start for Toronto.

Penguins Lines

Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Anthony Beauvillier-Evgeni Malkin-Cody Glass

Danton Heinen-Kevin Hayes-Phillip Tomasino

Emil Bemstrom-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari

Defense

Ryan Shea-Kris Letang

Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Graves-Vincent Desharnais

Goalie: Joel Blomqvist

Maple Leafs Lines

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner

Pontus Holmberg-John Tavares-William Nylander

Bobby McCann-Calle Jarnkrok-Nicholas Robertson

Max Pacioretty-David Kampf-Ryan Reaves

Defense

Morgan Rielly-Philippe Myers

Simon Benoit-Jake McCabe

Marshall Rifai -Conor Timmins

Goalie: Joseph Woll

Special Teams

Penguins power play: 23.9%, 8th. Penguins penalty kill: 78.7%, 18th.

Maple Leafs power play: 23.2%, 11th. Maple Leafs penalty kill: 75.9%, 14th.

Penguins Game Notes

The Penguins are 5-2-0 in their last seven home games against Toronto, dating back to Nov. 16, 2019.

Kris Letang has 13 points (3G-10A) in his last 19 games against Toronto.

The Penguins’ overall record is 400-92-49 when both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin score a point in a game.

Coach Mike Sullivan is one win shy of becoming the 14th head coach in NHL history and the first American-born head coach to win 400 games with one franchise.

How to Watch

TV: TNT, Sportsnet.

Radio: 105.9 The X