Penguins

Guentzel Back; Penguins Game 71 vs. Hurricanes: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Published

1 month ago

March 26, 2024

Pittsburgh Penguins game, Carolina Hurricanes

There is one certainty for Tuesday night when the Carolina Hurricanes visit the Pittsburgh Penguins – there will be a tribute video for Jake Guentzel.

Guentzel returns to Pittsburgh as a visiting player less than three weeks after he was traded to the Hurricanes for Michael Bunting, prospects and draft picks.

Beyond that, the game is a matchup of teams moving in very different directions.

The Penguins (30-30-10) seem to be on the verge of locking up a spot in the draft lottery; Carolina (45-20-7) is in contention for everything from the Metropolitan Division crown to the Presidents’ Trophy.

Game Time

The game starts a little after 7 p.m.

Penguins Preview

The Penguins are 3-9-2 in their past 14 games and are coming off yet another gut-wrenching loss. They built a four-goal lead Sunday at Colorado, with Sidney Crosby logging a goal and three assists, before the Avalanche scored five unanswered goals, including the winner in overtime, for a 5-4 win.

It was the Penguins’ sixth loss this season when leading after two periods.

Now the Penguins face a team in the same echelon, standings-wise, as Colorado. And they do it with the emotion of seeing Guentzel playing for the opposition.

With the Penguins, Guentzel won a Stanley Cup, had two 40-goal seasons and established himself as a nearly perfect left winger for Crosby.

Bunting has three goals, six points in nine games with the Penguins. He has fit in nicely but is not Guentzel.

The Penguins on Tuesday recalled forward Sam Poulin, who could play after center Noel Acciari went on IR. Forward Jeff Carter (three games, injury) and Ryan Graves (two games, family matter) took part in the morning skate and could return. Poulin also skated, wearing No. 22.

Defenseman Ryan Graves has missed the past two games because of a family matter. It’s not clear whether he will be available, or whether he will play if it his available.

Molinari: Three Things Penguins Can Still Accomplish This Season

Carolina is 9-1-1 in its past 11 games.

In eight games with the Hurricanes, Guentzel has two goals, 12 points. In Sunday’s 2-1 win over Toronto, he had an assist.

He has been skating with Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho, who had a goal Sunday, giving him a six-game point streak and 80 points, including 31 goals.

Penguins Expected Lines

Drew O’Connor-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Michael Bunting-Evgeni Malkin-Rickard Rakell

Reilly Smith-Lars Eller-Valtteri Pusstinen

Sam Poulin-Jeff Carter-Jesse Puljujarvi

Defense

P.O Joseph-Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson

John Ludvig-Jack St. Ivany

Goalies

Alex Nedeljkovic

Tristan Jarry

Expected Hurricanes Lines

Jake Guentzel-Sebastian Aho-Seth Jarvis

Teuvo Teravainen-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Martin Necas

Jordan Martinook-Jordan Staal- Andrei Svechnikov

Jack Drury-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Stefan Noesen

Defense

Jaccob Slavin-Brent Burns

Brady Skjei-Brett Pesce

Dmitry Orlov-Jalen Chatfield

Goalies

Spencer Martin

Frederik Andersen

Penguins Special Teams

Penguins power play: 14.5%, 30th

Penguins penalty kill: 80.8%, 12th

Hurricanes power play: 26.5%, 3rd

Hurricanes penalty kill: 85.3%, 2nd

Penguins Game Notes

The three games between the teams this season have been close – a 4-2 Penguins loss Nov. 18 on the road, a 2-1 Penguins shootout win Dec. 21 at home, and a 3-2 Penguins overtime loss Jan. 13 on the road.

Eight of the past 10 games between the teams have been decided by one goal.

Sidney Crosby is one assist shy of becoming the first active player, 14^th in NHL history to reach 40 in at least 15 seasons.

Crosby has 64 points (23 goals, 41 assists) in 58 career games against the Hurricanes.

Evgeni Malkin has 42 points (14 goals, 28 assists) in 49 career games against Carolina.

Lars Eller is three points from 400 for his career.