Penguins Game 30, Jarry is Rolling; Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Avalanche

The Pittsburgh Penguins (12-13-4) have won five of their last six games, and starting goalie Tristan Jarry is taking strides toward reclaiming his role as the team’s No. 1 goalie, having posted four straight wins. They’ll face Stanley Cup contender, the Colorado Avalanche (16-13-0) Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena.

The puck drops just after 7 p.m.

The Penguins enjoyed a resounding 5-2 win over the talented Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday at home. The Penguins scored a pair of power-play goals, including the first goal of the game by Rickard Rakell and the game-winner by Michael Bunting. Bryan Rust scored the Penguin’s only even-strength goal as the team closed out the game with a pair of shorthanded empty netters, first by Blake Lizotte, then one by Kris Letang.

Read More: Penguins Report Card: THAT Was Their Very Best; Full Analysis

The last time the Penguins faced Colorado, it looked like an easy Penguins win on March 24. They led 4-0 into the second period before Colorado skated them out of the building. Despite the enormous deficit, Colorado won 5-4 in overtime. The game was also the start of the Penguins’ furious late-season rally that nearly erased a nine-point deficit to earn a wild-card spot.

Sidney Crosby had four points (1-3-4) in that meeting.

The game is always a curiosity attraction as Crosby faces fellow Nova Scotia native Nathan MacKinnon, who grew up just a few miles from Crosby, albeit a few years behind.

The pair have become good friends but relish competing against each other and do so fiercely. Very fiercely.

Jarry will start for the Penguins. The Avalanche trade Monday was a goalie swap. The prime components of the deal were struggling Colorado netminder Alexandar Georgiev to the San Jose Sharks for journeyman MacKenzie Blackwood.

Avalanche lines from Colorado Hockey Now.

Possible Penguins Lines

Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Drew O’Connor-Evgeni Malkin-Cody Glass

Michael Bunting-Blake Lizotte-Anthony Beauvillier

Kevin Hayes-Noel Acciari-Philip Tomasino

Defense

Owen Pickering-Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Graves-Matt Grzelcyk

Goalie: Tristan Jarry

Avalanche Lines

Artturi Lehkonen-Nathan MacKinnon-Mikko Rantanen
Ross Colton-Casey Mittelstadt-Valeri Nichushkin
Joel Kiviranta-Ivan Ivan-Logan O’Connor
Nikolai Kovalenko-Parker Kelly-Chris Wagner

Devon Toews-Cale Makar
Samuel Girard-Sam Malinski
Calvin de Haan-John Ludvig

Goalie: Scott Wedgewood

Special Teams

Penguins power play: 22.6%, 13th. Penguins penalty kill: 79.8%, 16th.

Avalanche power play: 26.1%, 7th. Avalanche penalty kill: 73.7%, 26th.

Penguins Playoff Position

The wild-card race:

Penguins Game Notes

On Saturday, Blake Lizotte extended his point streak to four games (3-3-6).

The Penguins have points in 13 of their last 19 games against the Avalanche (11- 6-2) dating back to Apr. 6, 2014, and have points in four straight, including last March. The Penguins are 3-0-1 in the last four games vs. Colorado.

The Penguins have won four straight home games going back to Nov. 27.

In nine career games played against Colorado, Michael Bunting has recorded 11 points (6-5-11).

How to Watch

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Radio: 105.9 The X