Penguins

Penguins Game 10 vs. Sharks: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Published

6 months ago

November 4, 2023

Pittsburgh Penguins Game, San Jose Sharks

The Pittsburgh Penguins (3-6-0) open a three-game California swing Saturday with a game in San Jose against the Sharks (0-9-1). The Penguins have lost five of their past six. The woeful Sharks are coming off a 10-1 home loss against Vancouver.

Penguins Game Time

The game starts a little after 10 p.m. Eastern.

Penguins preview

After a disappointing start, the Penguins are in the precarious position of needing to beat the woeful Sharks to avoid an expected storm of backlash if they are the first team to lost to San Jose.

“They’re an NHL club that’s going to be very hungry,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.

Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and forward Matt Nieto return to face their former club, while Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will be playing in his 1,200^th career game. Karlsson had 101 points and won the Norris Trophy last season with San Jose.

The Penguins are expected to make one change in their lines, one that might make their fan base happy. Fourth-line right winger Jeff Carter apparently will be scratched in favor of Vinnie Hinostroza, who will make his Penguins debut.

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San Jose has been outscored 45-10 in its 10 games and could come out like an injured and enraged bear.

“It’s embarrassing to have the record we have,” Sharks coach David Quinn said.

Adding injury to insult, No. 1 goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen looks to be out because of an undisclosed injury. The Sharks have recalled Magnus Chrona, and Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to start.

San Jose defenseman Jan Rutta will be facing his former club, the Penguins.

Expected Penguins lines

Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Reilly Smith-Evgeni Malkin-Rickard Rakell

Drew O’Connor-Lars Eller-Radim Zohorna

Matt Nieto-Noel Acciari-Vinnie Hinostroza

Defense

Ryan Graves-Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Shea-Chad Ruhwedel

Goalies

Tristan Jarry

Magnus Hellberg

Expected San Jose Sharks Lines

Fabian Zetterlund-Tomas Hertl-Anthony Duclair

William Eklund-Mikael Granlund-Luke Kunin

Filip Zadina-Nico Sturm-Mike Hoffman

Giovani Smith-Ryan Carpenter-Jacob MacDonald

Defense

Mario Ferraro-Ty Emberson

Marc-Edouard Vlasic-Kyle Burroughs

Nikita Okhotiuk-Jan Rutta

Goalies

Mackenzie Blackwood

Magnus Chrona

(Kaapo Kahkonen injured)

Penguins special teams

Penguins power play: 14.8%, tied for 21st

Penguins penalty kill: 82.1%, 12th

Sharks power play: 14.8%, tied for 21st

Sharks penalty kill: 69.2%, 31st

Penguins Game Notes

Evgeni Malkin (5 goals, 6 assists) leads the Penguins with 11 points, followed by Sidney Crosby (5 goals, 5 assists) with 10 points and Jake Guentzel (2 goals, 7 assists) with nine points. Bryan Rust is tied for the goals lead with five.

The Penguins are 10-12-4 in San Jose but have won two in a row at SAP Center.

The Penguins are winning faceoffs at a 56.9% clip, best in the NHL. The Sharks (54.6%) rank second.

Rust has five goals, 10 points in 10 career games against San Jose.

Guentzel is one goal shy of 200 for his career.