Penguins
Penguins Game 53, Rescue Effort; Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Utah HC
SALT LAKE CITY — The Pittsburgh Penguins (20-24-8) have one more chance to salvage a good feeling from this extended seven-game road trip that seemingly began a lifetime ago with a joyous victory over the Buffalo Sabres and Alex Nedeljkovic’s goalie goal. It’s been a slog since then, as the team has plummeted to the bottom of the Metro Division and next-to-last in the Eastern Conference. They make the franchise’s first visit to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Hockey Club (21-21-7) at the Delta Center on Wednesday.
The puck drops just after 9:30 EST.
Hey, at least it’s not a 10:30 game, right?
The Penguins are in dire straights following a belly-up loss to the worst team in the NHL, the San Jose Sharks Monday. The Penguins managed just one goal against the toothless demons of the deep when Sidney Crosby scored in the first minute of the third period to tie the game 1-1. However, that was the end of the Penguins scoring and probably the last realistic talk of their playoff chances.
Read More: Tough Penguins Practice: Hush Crosby Trade Talk, Pens ‘Keep Fighting’
The Penguins are 2-4-0 on the first six games of the road trip. The visions of Nedeljkovic’s goal or the resounding win over the LA Kings are long gone, replaced by sad performances against bottom-feeders such as Anaheim, Seattle, and San Jose. Now, the Penguins find themselves amongst those bottom feeders, currently in line for a top-seven draft pick.
Coach Mike Sullivan said Alex Nedeljkovic will start in net.
Utah just wrapped a three-game road trip, losing its last two games to the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators. On Sunday, Utah lost to Ottawa 3-1. The young team is six points back of the Calgary Flames for a wild-card spot, but it is hanging in there.
Clayton Keller is having a breakout season. He leads the team with 54 points and 18 goals.
Karel Vejmelka is the likely starter in goal for UHC.
The Penguins are without Evgeni Malkin, who has been placed on injured reserve. Blake Lizotte’s status is unknown. He has practiced with the team but has not played in the last three games due to an illness.
Possible Penguins Lines
Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting-Cody Glass-Anthony Beauvillier
Drew O’Connor-Kevin-Hayes-Philip Tomasino/Jesse Puljujarvi
Matt Nieto-Noel Acciari-Blake Lizotte/Boko Imama
Defense
Marcus Pettersson-Kris Letang
Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves-P.O Joseph
Goalies: Alex Nedeljkovic/Joel Blomqvist
Utah HC Lines
Clayton Keller-Logan Cooley-Nick Schmaltz
Alex Kerfoot-Barret Hayton-Josh Doan
Michael Carcone-Jack McBain-Lawson Crouse
Liam O’Brien-Kevin Stenlund-Nick Bjugstad
Defense
Olli Maatta-John Marino
Ian Cole-Michael Kesselring
Juuso Valimaki-Nick Desimone
Goalies: Karel Vejmelka/Connor Ingram
Special Teams
Penguins power play: 26.2%, 6th. Penguins penalty kill: 79.3%, 15th.
Utah Power Play: 21.9%, 15th. Utah Penalty Kill: 81.6%, 10th.
Penguins Game Notes
Per moneypuck.com, Pittsburgh’s top line of Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust have generated 20.3 expected goals this season, a figure that ranks fifth among all NHL line combinations this season.
The Penguins are 5-for-16 on the power play on this West Coast trip; however, they have not scored on their last eight attempts.
Forward CGlass’sass’ 52.4% face-off win percentage is on track to be a career-high, and KeHayes’syes’ 53.5% face-off win percentage is on pace to be the second highest of his career.
With an assist Monday, Matt Grzelcyk tied his career-high with 26 points.
The Penguins are eight points behind the Boston Bruins for the top wild-card spot and seven points behind Tampa Bay for the second wild card, but Tampa Bay has three games in hand. The Penguins lead the Buffalo Sabres by five points at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but Buffalo has two games in hand.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh, TNT
Radio: 105.9 The X
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Yeah, it’s looking dire. But they’re my team. I was there for the glory, I’ll be there for whatever’s next. And I won’t be calling seasoned players bums, clowns etc because they are no longer the same as they were 15 yrs ago.
They’re still worth watching every night just to see what new and unique thing Crosby does.
Hey I should be able to stay awake for this one…..but should I…??!!!
If you try watching, their play will put you to sleep anyway. 🤣
The Penguins are arguably the most boring team to watch in the NHL. Keep trying to do the same thing with the same cast of characters and expect a different result. They’re not only losing, but virtually unwatchable doing it. Meantime Dubas stands by doing nothing.
I’m a masochist, so I’ll be watching. I have no life…..
Time to raise Dan’s blood pressure….. They better play Puljujarvi.
But seriously, Tomasino had that initial surge but has seriously cooled off. His defensive game isn’t spectacular and Sullivan has said that. So isn’t it time to give him some press box nachos and let him know his spot on the roster isn’t guaranteed and his play needs to improve.
Actually, I would play him.
“Per moneypuck.com, Pittsburgh’s top line of Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust have generated 20.3 expected goals this season, a figure that ranks fifth among all NHL line combinations this season.”
I’m confused. What does this mean. The line has 57 goals. Were only 20.3 of them expected?
Somebody help me please.
Just for the play for top 10 draft folks, Keller, Hayton, Cooley, & Guenther-all started as 19 yr olds in the league & were top 10 picks. The issue for them was their franchise was run like, while the Pirates until they moved to Utah. The Arizona Bettmans!
So here’s a question, let’s see who can answer correctly.
What do the following players have in common?
Beauvillier
Crosby
Glass
Hayes
Karlsson
Malkin
Puljujarvi
Rackell
Tomasino
Ain’t all that hard.
They all play for the Pittsburgh Penguins!
Nope!
Technically, Peter is right.
And we can add POJ for a nice round number of 10. My bad for omitting.
The passmasters?
They all have under 5 goals at 5 vs 5 play….
Or they are at least -10 in the +/- catergory…
They are all 1st rounders. For those who want the Pens to tank so we can get a high 1st rd pick, JP was a #4 and Glass was a #6. The only surefire picks year in and year out are the 1s, 2s, and 3s in round 1.
50% of those guys have had very good careers…so what are we saying here, build through free agency ?
Then we better not delay making those selections.
Who are people who haven’t been to my house for dinner?
*Who are three people who have never been in my kitchen. Cmon!
I knew it was three people, but forgot the kitchen part. Sorry I was responding at my sons b ball practice and trying to shot baskets with my daughter on the other side of the court. She wasn’t happy I was on the phone looking at this stuff…
Did anyone else chuckle to him or herself upon seeing that three of Utah’s top 4 defensemen are former Pens?
Yeah, I saw that….
How about:
Miller (Van) in
Karlsson +retained salary
O’Connor and Bemstrom out