Penguins Game 31, Olé, Olé: Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs. Canadiens

MONTREAL — The Pittsburgh Penguins (12-14-4) have lost two of their last three games in terrible fashion, or they’ve won five of their last seven. Both are true and the reality of the situation probably rests somewhere between the good and awful. They’ll face the rebuilding Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on Thursday.

The puck drops just after 7 p.m.

The Penguins clawed their way back into the game after spotting the Colorado Avalanche a 3-0 lead but couldn’t net the tying goal. The Penguins power play sputtered to an 0-for-4 night, and Colorado pulled away for a 6-2 at PPG Paints Arena.

Defensive miscues and soft goals did in the Penguins. Cody Glass scored his first goal of the season, and Michael Bunting scored his seventh goal of the season.

Penguins Locker Room: Letang Hits at Soft ‘Demeanor’; Jarry Pokes Team

Montreal has won three of the last four games, including their 3-2 SO win over the Anaheim Ducks Monday. Defenseman Lane Hutson set a Canadiens’ rookie record by record with a seven-game scoring streak, and Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault was named to Team Canada for the Four Nations Face-Off.

It appears coach Mike Sullivan will make one lineup change. Though not official, Matt Nieto came off the ice at the morning skate with the players in the lineup, and Kevin Hayes remained on the ice with the scratches.

Tristan Jarry will start for the Penguins. Montembeault is the starter for Montreal.

For the clip side of coverage and previews, check out our colleagues at Montreal Hockey Now.

Penguins Lines

Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Cody Glass-Evgeni Malkin-Philip Tomasino

Michael Bunting-Blake Lizotte-Drew O’Connor

Kevin Hayes-Noel Acciari-Anthony Beauvillier

Defense

Owen Pickering-Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Graves-Matt Grzelcyk

Goalie: Tristan Jarry

Canadiens Lines, Per MHN

Special Teams

Penguins power play: 21.6%, 14th. Penguins penalty kill: 80.5%, 13th.

Canadiens power play: 22.1%, 13th. Canadiens penalty kill: 82.5%, 8th

Penguins Game Notes

The Penguins have scored points in 10 consecutive visits to the Bell Centre (7-0-3) and in 13 of their last 14 games in Montreal overall (10-1-3), but three of the last four games at the Bell Centre have gone overtime.

Erik Karlsson has 42 points (10-32-43) in 51 career games versus the Canadiens. His 10 goals versus them are tied with teammate Kris Letang for the most among all active blueliners.

Sidney Crosby is one multi-point performance short of tying Steve Yzerman (477) for seventh place on the NHL’s all-time multi-point games list. Mario Lemieux is sixth with 496.

Evgeni Malkin enters tonight’s game with just one even-strength goal shy of surpassing Jaromir Jagr for sole possession of third place on the Penguins’ all-time even-strength goals list (320).

How to Watch

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Radio: 105.9 The X