Penguins
Penguins Game 25, Rebuilding; Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs. Bruins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (8-12-4) finally hung onto a lead and ended their three-game skid Wednesday by beating the Vancouver Canucks. This season has been a rocky road full of missed opportunities, lost leads, subpar performances, and losses. A couple of days of practice was enough to temper a few of the problems as coach Mike Sullivan also made a few tweaks, though the Penguins still almost squandered a four-goal lead, hanging on for a 5-4 win.
The Penguins will put those tweaks and changes to the test Friday against the Boston Bruins (11-10-3) at TD Garden. The puck drops just after 6:30 p.m.
Read More: Penguins Grades: ‘Scarred’ Pens Get Stronger; Sullivan Makes ‘Tweaks’
Boston has also struggled mightily this season, and it cost coach Jim Montgomery his job. Joe Sacco is Boston’s interim coach and is 3-1-0 since taking over the bench.
The Penguins are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games but have coughed up multi-goal leads in all three wins. They lost a two-goal lead in a win over the Washington Capitals on Nov. 8, a three-goal lead in a shootout win over the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 16, and they barely hung onto a four-goal lead in the 5-4 win over Vancouver.
Bryan Rust had a pair of goals and one assist. Erik Karlsson had a trio of assists in one of his best games as a Penguins defenseman. Goalie Tristan Jarry stopped 25 of 29 shots for his first NHL win since Oct. 16.
Sullivan also made sweeping lineup changes. Ryan Graves and Matt Grzelcyk were to be healthy scratches, but rookie Owen Pickering’s illness thrust Grzelcyk into the lineup. Also, Philip Tomasino was inserted into the top six, playing with Evgeni Malkin and displacing Jesse Puljujarvi from the lineup.
The Penguins practiced Thursday and will not hold a morning skate on Friday. Sullivan will address the media with the starting goalie and an update on Pickering Friday afternoon.
The Bruins’ power play is by far the worst in the NHL, converting at just 12.4%. Jeremy Swayman is the likely starter for Boston but has just an .888 save percentage this season.
Penguins Lines
Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Anthony Beauvillier-Evgeni Malkin-Philip Tomasino
Michael Bunting-Blake Lizotte-Drew O’Connor
Matt Nieto-Noel Acciari-Kevin Hayes
Defense
Own Pickering-Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea-Jack St. Ivany
Goalies: Tristan Jarry
Bruins Lines
Morgan Geekie–Pavel Zacha–David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand–Elias Lindholm–Justin Brazeau
Trent Frederic–Charlie Coyle–Marc McLaughlin
John Beecher–Mark Kastelic–Cole Koepke
Defense
Mason Lohrei–Charlie McAvoy
Parker Wotherspoon–Brandon Carlo
Nikita Zadorov-Andrew Peeke
Special Teams
Penguins power play: 20.9%, 13th. Penguins penalty kill: 78.9%, 15th.
Bruins power play: 12.4%, 32nd. Bruins penalty kill: 77.5%, 21st.
Penguins Game Notes
Evgeni Malkin has 14 points (4-10-14) in 11 road games compared to seven points (1-6-7) in 13 home games.
The Penguins have points in six of eight games when Blake Lizotte is in the lineup (4-2-2).
Erik Karlsson notched his first three-point night of the season (3A) on Wednesday. No active defenseman has more three-plus point games than Karlsson, and his 51 three-plus point games are tied for 11th place in NHL history among defensemen.
Rickard Rakell has 16 points (7-9-16) in 19 games played against the Bruins, which includes four multi-point efforts.
How to Watch
TV: TNT
Radio: 105.9 The X
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I know Sully does not care for playing O’Connor at center, it’s a break glass in case of emergency situation. But when Glass is off IR, I’d like to see the bottom-6 as O’Connor-Glass-Puljujarvi ; Hayes-Lizzo-Acciari
If i am not mistaken, a roster move will need to be made when Glass is back. My guess, Nieto goes on waivers and is sent to WB/S. I really liked the Beauvillier-Lizotte-O’Connor line last game. I would keep them together if they continue to play well and have Glass center the 4th line with Hayes and Acciari.
Can any reporter find out why Jesse Puljujarvi is in Sullivan’s dog house yet again?
At the beginning of the year the Pens best line was Doc, Lars, and JP
After Lars was traded the best line again was still Doc, JP & whoever.
JP has one of the best +- on the team, isn’t a turnover machine and is sound defensively.
So what’s the problem outside of Sullivan ruining yet another young player.
Good question. I think a lot of people would like the answer. I think, perhaps they are giving him rests for his hip. Maybe he is in Sullivan’s doghouse, but I personally haven’t seen him do anything egregious in the games to warrant a benching. So maybe his hip is bothering him?
Dan, thoughts?
Maybe he’s just consistently inconsistent. Looks great and then looks average. Also he’s not Sullivan’s shiny new penny. Tomasino played over 18 minutes the other night. Not so with Jesse, Poulin or Puustinen to name a few.
I wouldn’t call it a dog house. With Tomasino getting a good look, everyone drops down one role and Puljujarvi doesn’t kill penalties and isn’t an especially good defensive player, so in the choice between Acciari or Hayes, who kill penalties, Puljujarvi will get a seat.
He was sitting before Tom’s came here. I get what you are saying with PK, but Rust, DOC, Liz can be on the PL unit besides Cookie, Acciari, and Hayes. Hayes is actually better than I thought he would be, but way way over priced.
Its simple. Sully is NOT a good coach!
Jesse should be in the lineup every game.
Our B’s are still playing the same disjointed, slap-the-puck-around routine.
St. Louis Blues, under Coach Montgomery, are playing like a team with new energy and life!
Imagine that.
I figured Montgomery just needed a vote of confidence in Boston. Even after last year he just wasn’t a good coach, apparently. (eyeroll)