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Penguins Game 55, Metro Gauntlet: Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs Devils

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Pittsburgh Penguins game, New Jersey Devils

The Pittsburgh Penguins (22-24-8) are still under .500 and have more hope than a realistic chance at a playoff berth, but the next seven games, including their next three before the two-week Four Nations Face-Off break, are against Metro Division teams ahead of them in the standings. They begin the gauntlet Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena.



The puck drops just after 7 p.m.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is riding the hot hand and his de facto No. 1 goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, Tuesday. “Ned” has a .940 save percentage over his last six starts since Jan. 17 and has won his last two.

The Penguins beat the Nashville Predators 3-0 at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday. Nedeljkovic earned his first shutout of the season. Sidney Crosby scored a goal and has a four-game goal streak. He also has 57 points in 54 games as he tries to become the first player in NHL history to average at least a point per game in 20 straight seasons, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 19.

Penguins center Evgeni Malkin has resumed skating but has not rejoined the team activities. He remains on injured reserve and out week to week.

The Penguins are currently seven points and a game out of a wild-card berth. They trail the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings by seven, and each has a game in hand. Complicating the math, the Tampa Bay Lightning lead by six points with three games in hand.

New Jersey has been struggling to score goals, but the weak sauce of the lower half of the Metro Division has not been able to keep pace, and New Jersey remains solidly in third place. The team has largely traded wins and losses since the beginning of January, going 5-6-3.

Center Nico Hischier is on IR, so the offense has been left solely to Jack Hughes and Timo Meier.

Goalie Jacob Markstrom is injured, too, so Jake Allen is the likely starter.

Follow New Jersey Hockey Now for all of the New Jersey Devils updates, and beat writer James Nichols on Twitter.

Penguins Lines

Rickard Rakell–Sidney Crosby–Bryan Rust

Michael Bunting–Cody Glass–Danton Heinen

Anthony Beauviller–Kevin Hayes–Philip Tomasino

Bokondji Imama–Blake Lizotte–Noel Acciari

Defensemen

P.O. Joseph–Kris Letang

Matt Grzelcyk–Erik Karlsson

Ryan Graves–Vincent Desharnais

Goalie: Alex Nedeljkovic

Devils Lines

Ondrej Palat–Jack Hughes–Jesper Bratt

Timo Meier–Dawson Mercer–Stefan Noesen

Paul Cotter–Justin Dowling–Brian Halonen

Tomas Tatar–Curtis Lazar–Nathan Bastian

Defensemen

Brenden Dillon–Dougie Hamilton

Jonas Siegenthaler–Johnathan Kovacevic

Luke Hughes–Brett Pesce

Goalie: Jake Allen

Special Teams

Penguins power play: 25.5%, 6th. Penguins penalty kill: 78.8%, 18th.

Devils power play: 27.9%, 3rd. Devils penalty kill: 83.1%, 4th.

Penguins Game Notes

The Penguins are looking to snap a five-game home losing streak against New Jersey.

The Penguins have allowed a league-low four goals in their last three games.

Matt Grzelcyk will play in his 500th career game.

How to Watch

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Radio: 105.9 The X

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Randy
Randy
12 days ago

….all I know is the last game between these two, the Devils skated circles around the Pens and we couldn’t even score a goal. I hope that’s different, real different tonight, but I am not optimistic. I’ll watch it anyway to see if Imama smashes someones face in the glass and that will make it a worthwhile evening…..

Roderick
Roderick
12 days ago

Dang, was hoping the Devils were dressing MacDermid so that we could get a Boko tilt tonight, but of course they’re not. That’s a letdown.

Sam
Sam
12 days ago
Reply to  Roderick

They have Dillon who is an able pugilist Noesen will also drop the gloves.

BrianX
BrianX
12 days ago

Joel needs some starts for his development. Quit chasing a pipe dream.

GaryK77
GaryK77
12 days ago
Reply to  BrianX

Correct. What a stupid head coach.

Sam
Sam
12 days ago

Desh is a nasty dude. 2 teammates happy to see him in black & gold at the moment are Beau and Sid. Videos are on youtube. Beau got crosschecked in the face. Sid had a dust up with Desh and had a wary look. For old-timers, Desh has a littlke Durbano in him, lmao.