Penguins vs. Panthers, Game 62: Lines, Notes, How to Watch
SUNRISE, Fla — The Pittsburgh Penguins (31-21-9) have won four in a row and have a chance to take an almost insurmountable lead over the Florida Panther (30-27-6) in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. The Penguins have a five-point lead on Florida with two games in hand.
The puck drops just after 6 p.m. at FLA Live Arena.
A win in regulation means the Penguins could be seven up, with fewer games played, and shove the Panthers further behind pursuers Buffalo and Ottawa, who are each five points back but have played one less game (Buffalo) or the same number (Ottawa) as the Penguins.
The Penguins played a strong game in their 5-4 OT win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday at Amalie Arena. The teams were never separated by more than one goal. The game also marked the debut of newly acquired Mikael Granlund, who skated on the third-line RW.
The Penguins’ third line, centered by Jeff Carter with Danton Heinen on the LW, achieved a rarity this season. They had positive possession and scoring chance statistics. And when Carter set up Marcus Pettersson’s goal, they hit the scoreboard, too.
The Penguins will welcome back two-time Stanley Cup winner Nick Bonino on Saturday night. The team acquired the middle of the famed HBK line Friday for a fifth and seventh-round pick. Technically, the Penguins acquired him from the Montreal Canadiens, not the San Jose Sharks, but that was a paper move for Montreal to hold part of Bonino’s $2.05 million salary.
The Penguins will not hold a morning skate, but Bonino is expected to fill the Penguins’ need for a fourth-line center and penalty killer.
Florida’s lineup will get a couple of significant boosts.Â
Sam Bennett and Sasha Barkov will return for the Panthers. The pair are the Panthers’ top two centers, so their lineup will be the best version of itself. Florida has alternated wins and losses over the last 10 games and is 5-5-0.
Tristan Jarry is expected to start in net for the Penguins. Sergei Bobrovsky will start for Florida.
UPDATE: Coach Mike Sullivan said Jarry is not feeling well. DeSmith will start.
The Penguins recalled Drew O’Connor. He was demoted on paper before the NHL trade deadline, but it was only a paper move. He will likely be in the lineup Saturday and has three points in his last four games.
The Penguins are in the top wild-card position, one point ahead of the second wild-card New York Islanders. The Penguins also have three games in hand.
Expected Pittsburgh Penguins Lines:
Guetnzel-Crosby-Rakell
Zucker-Malkin-Rust
Heinen-Carter-Granlund
O’Connor-Bonino-Archibald
Defense:
Dumoulin-Letang
Pettersson-Petry
Joseph-Ruhwedel
Goalie:
DeSmith
Expected Panthers Lines, Per FloridaHockeyNow.com
Luostarinen-Barkov-Duclair
Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk
Lomberg-Lundell-Reinhart
Cousins-Staal-White
Defense:
Forsline-Ekblad
Staal-Montour
Mahura-Gudas
Goalie:
Bobrovsky
Special Teams
Penguins power play: 20.9%, 17th
Penguins penalty kill: 79.6%, 15th
Panthers power play: 21.4%, 13th
Panthers penalty kill: 74%, 27th
Pittsburgh Penguins Game Notes:
Bonino, Bonino, Booooniiiiinnnnooooo! Nick Bonino will make his Penguins debut (again). The center scored 18 points, including 10 goals in his last 39 games.
The Penguins acquired Bonino and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov on Friday. The team gave up Brock McGinn and a third-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for Kulikov.
The Penguins have points in 19 of their last 23 meetings versus the Panthers (15-4-4 record) dating back to December 20, 2014.
The Penguins have picked up points in 10 of their last 12 visits to FLA Live Arena (6-2-4).
Following tonight’s game, the Penguins will play five straight and six of its next eight games at home. My suitcase thanks them.
In 13 career games v. Florida, Jake Guentzel has six goals, eight assists and 14 points.
Evgeni Malkin (1,046) is currently two penalty minutes shy of tying Kevin Stevens (1,048) for the most penalty minutes in franchise history.
How to Watch:
TV: AT&T Sportsnet
Radio: 105.9 The X
Penguins Bets:
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The Penguins are slight underdogs at +105. We like that bet. They’re also +160 to win in regulation–that’s always a tough bet with the Penguins, who have trouble holding third-period leads, but Florida is limping along.
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Categorized:Penguins Penguins Pregame
Honest question: can anyone explain why Carter is the 3C and not Bonino?
Honest question: Why would it be switched around?
Other than the fact that Bonino is a better all-around player than Carter in all areas except the dot, I can’t think of any.
Can you give any substance to that opinion?
Does he have more points? No. Does he have more shots? No. Does he have more hits? Not even close Bonino has 17 hits this season. Does he have a better faceoff percentage? No, Carter’s is actually incredibly high he ranks near the top of the league.
Bonino has an edge in blocked shots, and his takeaway/giveaway ratio is better.
Sounds like a 4th liner to me…certainly no strong case for him to jump over Carter yet.
Bonino has played with less talent around him and seldom on the power play. So it stands to reason that some of the raw numbers don’t favor him. Oh, and he also has MORE BLOCKED SHOTS THAN ANY FORWARD EXCEPT MATTHEWS IN THE LEAGUE. #DoYourHomework
Carter is better on faceoffs? He has been playing slightly better lately. Honestly, the two of them could be interchangeable, but as long as Carter keeps progressing, he will be the 3c.
Well, with all the relatively recent talk of how poorly Carter has been playing, and an article by Dave considering giving Carter time off for rest, I figured we would have traded for someone better. Shrug.
Thanks for all the info.
The third line is the fourth line and the fourth line is the third line. Except the GM would be hacked off if his buddy was demoted even if the guy is an overpaid stiff. #Hexed
You really need a new shtick. Trying to be some second rate comment section version of Mark Madden isn’t coming off great.
You’re in denial, brah. #Hexed
Dan what about Kulikov ? Is he not able or ready to play where does he slot in on defense I am guessing 3rd pairing?
I wonder if Joseph ups his game and keeps his spot in the lineup. This is a test for the kid.
Kid? The guy is about to turn 24 years old. #StillWaiting
That is a child on this team. Lol
Also, his first full NHL season.
How about calling up Valtteri Puustinen for an audition on the 3rd line with Granlund?? Maybe a little Finnish Magic…
Great to watch two of the best offenses in the NHL go at it! Real rarity these days! Go Pens!
Did I miss something? Did Rutta get hurt? Why is Ruhwedel expected to play?
There seems to be a lack of general awareness of reality around here all of the sudden. Facts have left the chat.
I see no news or reports on Rutta, he will be in the lineup not Chad.
Dan has Ruhwedel in the starting lineup. Probably a misprint
Not a horrible trade deadline certainly not the best, but my main problem is now we are expecting Danton Heinen to be productive again. After being “forced” back from the press box. Let’s hope…
Heinen needs to shoot to be effective. He doesn’t bring much else.
Like all the upgrades! All three played for lesser teams than the Penquins! They know their roles and will fulfill the weakness that they were chosen for. Maybe ten in a row?