Penguins Game 79, Revenge; Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Blackhawks

The Pittsburgh Penguins (31-35-12) were generous visitors Sunday, gifting the Chicago Blackahawks (22-45-10) breakaways and odd-man rushes in a flat 3-1 Penguins loss. The teams will face each other again Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena.

The puck drops just after 7 p.m.

Read More: Sweet Lame Chicago; Penguins Officially Eliminated in Lifeless Loss

After six months and 78 games, there are no playoff implications or grander ideals to chase. The teams are playing hockey for pride and to earn jobs for next season. Chicago is once again at the bottom of the league as their rebuild has stocked young players but not yet success. The team has 13 players who are 23 and under. 15 who are 25 and under.

The Penguins are undergoing a different type of rebuild, one in which general manager Kyle Dubas is hoping to avoid the sort of cratering and seasons of hopelessness that Chicago has undergone.

Chicago has the second-worst record in the NHL. The Penguins are currently the sixth-worst team in the league.

Sunday, Chicago scored a couple of breakaway goals, gifted by an increasing trend of Penguins defensemen making awful decisions. Ilya Mikheyev was one of the breakaway goal-scorers. He netted a pair of goals. Frank Nazar scored the other in Chicago’s 3-1 win at the United Center.

Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic did well to stop 28 of 30 shots. Spencer Knight wasn’t tested often until the third period. He stopped 28 of 29.

Injuries: Boko Imama, P.O Joseph remain out. Coach Mike Sullivan will update the status of Philip Tomasino later Tuesday morning.

The Penguins recalled Matt Nieto from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

UPDATE: Blake Lizotte and Tomasino were absent from the morning skate.

Expected Penguins Lines

Rutger McGroaty-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Rickard Rakell-Evgeni Malkin-Ville Koivunen

Danton Heinen-Kevin Hayes-Noel Acciari

Connor Dewar-Joona Koppanen-Matt Nieto

Defense

Matt Grzelcyk-Kris Letang

Conor Timmins-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Graves-Ryan Shea

Goalie: Tristan/Jarry Alex Nedeljkovic

Blackhawks Lines

Ilya Mikheyev-Connor Bedard-Ryan Donato

Teuvo Teravainen-Frank Nazar-Tyler Bertuzzi

Landon Slaggert-Oliver Moore-Lukas Reichel

Nick Foligno-Joe Veleno-Pat Maroon

Defense

Alex Vlasic-Sam Rinzel

Wyatt Kaiser-Artyom Levshunov

Ethan Del Mastro-Connor Murphy

Goalie: Spencer Knight, probable.

Special Teams

Penguins power play: 24.9%, 7th. Penguins penalty kill: 77.9%, 19th.

Blackhawks power play: 24.3%, 10th. Blackhawks penalty kill: 80.2%, 13th.

Penguins Game Notes

The teams have battled to a nearly even draw over their last eight games. The Penguins are 4-3-1 in their last eight against Chicago.

Tristan Jarry has won four of his last five games at home, with a 4-1-0 record, a 2.19 goals-against average, a .934 save percentage, and one shutout.

Noel Acciari recorded a blocked shot in Sunday’s game in Chicago, bringing his total to 100 blocked shots for the season. This marks his second season with 100 or more blocked shots (2019-20, 103). Acciari is the first Penguins forward to block 100 shots.

How to Watch

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Radio: 105.9 The X