Penguins

Penguins Game 34, Big Name Busts; Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs. Predators

Published

1 month ago

December 19, 2024

Pittsburgh Penguins - Nashville Predators game

The Pittsburgh Penguins (14-14-5) are one of the hottest teams in the NHL and have climbed back to .500. The Nashville Predators (9-17-6) went big on the free agent market, swiping big names such as Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, but that money has thus far bought more losses than wins and a whole lot of frustration. The teams will face off in the city that has both kinds of music, Country and Western, at Bridgestone Arena.

The puck drops just after 8 p.m. EST.

The Penguins have won seven of their last ten games and scored points in eight of their last ten. This surge has erased an early-season swoon that had them mired near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Almost comically, the Penguins have won without goals from Sidney Crosby, who is goalless in those 10 games. However, he remains in good spirits, as evidenced by his conversation with our Dave Molinari.

The game is also a return to Nashville for a pair of former Predators, Cody Glass and Philip Tomasino.

The Penguins remained patient, disciplined, and firm against LA on Tuesday in their 3-2 overtime win. Matt Grzelcyk scored his first goal as a Penguin to tie the game in the third period, and Rickard Rakell deflected Erik Karlsson’s long shot for the OT winnger.

Nashville has just three wins in their last 13 games, but has won two of their last three games. Like everyone else, but the Penguins, Nashville beat the New York Rangers, shutting them out 2-0 on Tuesday.

Juuse Saros, who hosted Glass and others for dinner Wednesdady night, stopped all 25 shots he faced in the win. He and Tristan Jarry are the likely starters.

Penguins Lines

Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Michael Bunting-Evgeni Malkin-Phil Tomasino

Drew O’Connor-Cody Glass-Anthony Beauvillier

Matt Nieto-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari

Defense

Owen Pickering-Kris Letang

Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Graves-Ryan Shea

Goalies: Tristan Jarry/Alex Nedeljkovic

Predators Lines

Filip Forsberg-Steve Stamkos-Jonathan Marchessault

Zachary L’Heureux-Ryan O’Reilly-Gustav Nyquist

Mark Jankowski-Tommy Novak-Luke Evangelista

Cole Smith-Michael McCarron-Colton Sissons

Defense

Brady Skjei-Nick Blankenburg

**-Luke Schenn

Kevin Gravel-Adam Wilsby

**Nashville waived defenseman Marc Del Gaizo Wednesday

Goalie: Juuse Saaros

Special Teams

Penguins power play: 22.3%, 13th. Penguins penalty kill: 82.3%, 8th.

Predators power play: 17.6%, 24th. Predators penalty kill: 87.8%, 1st

Penguins Game Notes

The Penguins have points in 11 of their last 13 games against the Predators (9- 2-2). Going back further, Pittsburgh has points in 18 of its last 22 games (16-4-2) versus Nashville dating back to October 21, 2010.

Evgeni Malkin has 21 points (7-14-21) in 20 career games against Nashville.

Tristan Jarry has points in all five of his career games against the Predators, going 3-0-2 with a 1.97 goals-against average, a .928 save percentage and one shutout.

Kris Letang has nine points (5-4-9) in his last eight games.

The Penguins are tied for most goal scorers in the NHL. When Matt Grzelcyk scored Tuesday, he became the 21st Penguins player to score a goal this season. The Penguins are tied with four other teams.