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Penguins vs. Vegas, Game 24: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

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Pittsburgh Penguins Game, Vegas Golden Knights

Do it for Kris Letang. The Pittsburgh Penguins (11-8-4) will be without their top defenseman for the foreseeable future after he suffered a stroke earlier this week. The team is rallying around the 17-year veteran as the resurgent Vegas Golden Knights (17-6-1) visit the Pittsburgh Penguins (11-8-4) Thursday at PPG Paints Arena.

Shelly Anderson spoke with the Penguins Thursday morning. They were scared by the news, too.

If this were a college football game, perhaps it would be the Marc-Andre Fleury Memorial. Both teams are wistful Fleury exes. Former Penguins winger and two-time Stanley Cup champion Phil Kessel will return as the reigning NHL ironman with 1006 consecutive games played.

In addition to the Letang news, the Penguins are fresh from their controversial loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night. The Penguins rallied to force OT when Jake Guentzel deflected Jeff Petry’s shot in the final minute. However, Carolina won the game in extra time after Seth Jarvis’s hit on Bryan Rust that Penguins coach Mike Sullivan termed “dangerous.” After the hit, Brett Pesce finished the play for the win.

Sullivan was vocal, and the Penguins lingered on the bench in disbelief that officials did not assess a penalty on the hit.

The Penguins have followed their five-game winning streak with a two-game winless streak (0-1-1).

The Vegas Golden Knights cut through opponents like a buzzsaw. Top center Jack Eichel is on pace for a career year. He leads the team in scoring with 26 points (11-15-26) in 24 games.

Vegas is also without their top defenseman, Alex Pietrangelo.

The Golden Knights lead the Pacific Division by four points over Seattle and seven points ahead of the LA Kings.

Logan Thompson has claimed the Vegas net. He’s 12-4-0 with a .921 save percentage.

Tristan Jarry has allowed just four regulation goals in his last four games. He’ll start for the Penguins.

Expected Pittsburgh Penguins Lines:

Guentzel-Crosby-Rakell

Zucker-Malkin-Rust

McGinn-Carter-Kapanen

Poehling-Blueger-Archibald

Defense:

Dumoulin-Petry

Petterson-Rutta

Joseph-Ruhwedel

Goalie:

Tristan Jarry

Expected Golden Knights Lines:

Stephenson-Eichel-Stone

Marchessault-Karlsson-Smith

Cotter-Roy-Kessel

Carrier-Leshyshyn-Kolesar

Defense:

McNabb-Theodore

Hague-Martinez

Hutton-Whitecloud

Goalie:

Logan Thompson

Special Teams:

Penguins Power Play: 12-74, 16.2%, 28th

Penguins Penalty Kill: 13-72, 81.9%, 8th

Golden Knights Power Play: 14-70, 20%, 21st

Golden Knights Penalty Kill: 15-59, 74.6%, 23rd

Pittsburgh Penguins Game Notes

Last season the Penguins were 2-0-0 against the Vegas Golden Knights, outscoring them 10-5 and converting at 33.3% (2/6) on the power play.

Jeff Carter led the Penguins with four points (1-3-4) against the Golden Knights.

The Penguins have points in nine of their last 11 games (7-2-2).

When Marcus Pettersson scores a point this season, the Penguins are 8-0-2.

The Penguins have killed 19 consecutive penalties and 23 of their last 24.

Sidney Crosby leads the team and is seventh in the NHL with 31 points. He leads the league in even-strength points (26) in 23 games.

How to Watch:

TV: AT&T SportsNet

Radio: 105.9 The X

Penguins Bets

It’s the return of Bet Against Dan and Make Money!

Las Vegas oddsmakers LOVE the Golden Knights to blast the Penguins. The VGK is -255 to win by 1.5. In other words, oddsmakers are predicting a multi-goal Vegas win.

So, if you want to make money on your money, take the Draftkings Promo that offers a 30-1 odds boost on the Moneyline. A $5 bet on the Penguins, or Vegas, pays $150 instantly. Click here.

All signs point to a Vegas win, so we say use the promo, take the Penguins. They live on adversity. Terrible power play. Without their top defenseman. Facing one of the best teams in the NHL. The Penguins should lose, and that’s why we’re taking the bet. And we’re taking the OVER 6.5 (+100).

DraftKings Sportsbook

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