(UPDATED) Penguins Game 42, Puljujarvi IN; Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs. Blue Jackets

The Pittsburgh Penguins (17-17-7) have been trending sideways since the holiday break ended. They have just one win in five games but have lost only two of those five in regulation. The Penguins remain in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race and are one of four teams with 40 or 41 points.

Another team in the gaggle is the Columbus Blue Jackets (17-17-6), the Penguins’ opponent on Tuesday. The puck drops just after 7 p.m.

Update: Evgeni Malkin was a surprise absence from the game. He did not appear in warmups. The Penguins have not yet clarified as of this update.

The Penguins have lost their last two games in shootouts and overtime, respectively. While they felt good about their effort in last Friday’s shootout loss to the Florida Panthers, they were decidedly angry with themselves after an OT loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Read more: Penguins Grades: ‘A Bad Point,’ Players Salty, Coach Angry

Kevin Hayes, Erik Karlsson, and Michael Bunting scored for the Penguins, but the team had only 19 shots on goal. Alex Nedeljkovic made his second straight start in the shootout loss.

Like the Penguins, Columbus has traded wins and losses since the holiday break (3-2-0). The rebuilding Blue Jackets are making the most of their roster full of young players and veterans needing a second chance, including center Sean Monahan, who has 40 points (14-26-40) in 40 games. Rising young star Kirill Marchenko has 43 points (17-26-43) and is a team-best plus-22.

Columbus beat St. Loius 6-4 on Saturday.

The Penguins’ lines didn’t get an overhaul, but it seems recently waived forward Jesse Puljujarvi will get a chance Tuesday. He took a spot on the third line during the morning skate. Puljuajrvi has eight points, including three goals, in 21 games.

Tristan Jarry will start for the Penguins.

Penguins Injury Update: Philip Tomasino skated individually Tuesday morning. He’s currently out week-to-week.

Penguins Lines (Updated)

Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Michael Bunting-Cody Glass-Anthony Beauvilleilr

Drew O’Connor-Kevin Hayes-Jesse Puljujarvi

Matt Nieto-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari

Defense

Marcus Pettersson-Kris Letang

Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson

Owen Pickering-P.O Joseph

Goalies: Tristan Jarry, Alex Nedeljkovic

Blue Jackets Lines

Dmitri Voronkov-Sean Monahan-Kirill Marchenko

James van Riemsdyk-Cole Sillinger-Kent Johnson

Zach Anton-Reese-Adam Fantilli-Mathieu Olivier

Mikael Pyyhtiä-Sean Kuraly-Kevin Labanc

Defense

Zach Werenski-Dante Fabbro

Denton Mateychuk-Ivan Provorov

Jack Johnson-Damon Severson

Starter: Elvis Merzļikins

Special Teams

Penguins power play: 25.6%, 5th. Penguins penalty kill: 81.7%, 12th.

Blue Jackets Power Play: 22.4%, 14th. Blue Jackets Penalty Kill: 73.5%, 27th.

Penguins Game Notes

The Penguins have points in 13 of their last 14 games (11-1-2) against the Blue Jackets dating back to Dec. 12, 2019. The only loss was earlier this season.

The Penguins have scored three or more goals in 20 of their last 25 games against the Blue Jackets, while 15 of those 25 games have been four-plus goal efforts.

Sidney Crosby is just four face-off wins shy of becoming the NHL’s all-time faceoff wins leader since the stat started in the 1997-98 season.

Tristan Jarry has picked up points in nine of his last 12 starts, going 7-3-2 in that span.

How to Watch

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh;

Radio: 105.9 The X