Penguins

Rusted; Penguins Game 21 vs. Predators: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Published

5 months ago

November 28, 2023

Pittsburgh Penguins - Nashville Predators game

The Pittsburgh Penguins (10-10-0) launch into the second quarter of the season Tuesday with a game against the Predators in Nashville.

They are coming off a 3-2 win Saturday over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs but have lost four of their past six games.

Nashville (10-10-0) is coming off a 3-2 win Sunday over the Winnipeg Jets.

Game Time

The game starts a little after 8 p.m. Eastern.

Penguins Preview

The Penguins are still looking for a high level of consistency.

One thing that could help is the expected return of top-line right winger Bryan Rust. He has missed the past three games because of an unspecified injury.

Rust practiced in a full capacity Monday. Coach Mike Sullivan said Rust probably will be classified as a game-time decision.

Perhaps Rust can help the woeful power play, which is 0-for-18 over the past seven games.

Read more:

Kingerski: Power Play Adds Missing Ingredients; Letang Pushes Back on Struggles

Anderson: Evgeni Malkin Checklist: Enjoy Life, Help Penguins, Say No to Dessert

The Predators have the same record as the Penguins and have also struggled with consistency, but this sets the teams apart for this game: Nashville has won five games in a row.

The Predators on Sunday got defensemen Luke Schenn back after an 18-game injury absence.

Expected Penguins Lines

Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Reilly Smith-Evgeni Malkin-Alex Nylander

Radim Zohorna-Lars Eller-Drew O’Connor

Matt Nieto-Noel Acciari-Jeff Carter

Defense

Ryan Graves-Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Shea-John Ludvig

Goalies

Tristan Jarry

Alex Nedeljkovic

Expected Predators Lines

Filip Forsberg-Ryan O’Reilly-Gustav Nyquist

Kiefer Sherwood-Juuso Parssinen-Luke Evangelista

Cole Smith-Michael McCarron-Philip Tomasino

Yakov Trenin-Colton Sissons

Defense

Ryan McDonagh-Roman Josi

Jeremy Lauzon-Alexandre Carrier

Spencer Stastney-Tyson Barrie

Luke Schenn

Goalies

Juuse Saros

Kevin Lankinen

Penguins Special Teams

Penguins power play: 12.5%, 26th

Penguins penalty killing: 85.7%, 8th

Predators power play: 20.7%, 15th

Predators penalty killing: 72.7%, 30^th

Penguins Game Notes

The Penguins are 8-2-1 in their past 11 games against Nashville and are 3-1-0 in their past four road games against the Predators.

This is the Penguins’ first game in a stretch of five of six, and seven of nine, on the road. They are 5-4-0 on the road and have won four of their past six away from PPG Paints Arena.

Sidney Crosby’s 13 goals are two off the NHL lead.

Crosby has 1,526 career points (563 goals, 953 assists), and is one goal shy of moving into the top 25 all-time. He would be in a three-way tie with Mats Sundin and Joe Nieuwendyk. With a hat trick, he would tie Patrick Marleau for 23^rd.

Evgeni Malkin has 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists) in 18 career games against Nashville.