Penguins Lines, Starting Goalie & Preview vs. Ottawa Senators

The Pittsburgh Penguins (7-7-3) have lost two straight and seven of eight to plummet to the bottom of the Metro Division standings. They are on the road tonight against the Ottawa Senators (8-8-3), who are in the midst of a rebuild.

Matt Murray (4-5-1) will start in goal for the Penguins, his second straight start after sitting out the three previous games for Casey DeSmith. Murray was pedestrian against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Thursday. He stopped just 22 of 26 shots. However, Murray was blitzed for a pair of five-on-three power play goals within 43 seconds and a man-advantage power-play goal just 47 seconds later. Tampa Bay center Brayden Point scored all three goals for the fastest hat trick in Tampa Bay history.

Murray has an underwater save percentage at .883 and a 3.90 goals against average.

While the Penguins have struggled, winger Patric Hornqvist essentially guaranteed the Penguins season would turn around in Ottawa. Read the full story and watch the video here. 

Penguins center Derick Brassard, who was acquired from Ottawa at the 2017-18 trade deadline will return to the lineup for the first time since late October. The Penguins sorely need Brassard’s presence as Sidney Crosby will miss tonight and likely a couple of more games. Brassard has five points in eight games, including three assists in his last game played.

Sophomore defenseman Thomas Chabot leads Ottawa in scoring. Chabot, just 21-years-old, has 22 points (5g, 17a) in just 19 games. Mark Stone is the leading forward with 21 points (7g, 14a).

Evgeni Malkin leads the Penguins with 23 points (7g, 16a). Phil Kessel leads the Penguins with nine goals.

Ottawa has the worst penalty kill in the NHL (68.3 percent) and the Penguins power play is up to eighth overall (25.5 percent).

Update: The Penguins have re-assigned Garrett Wilson to the WBS Penguins.