Penguins Game 57, Keep Rollin’; Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Flyers

PHILADELPHIA — The Pittsburgh Penguins (23-24-9) are just a game under hockey .500 with a chance to enter the two-week Four Nations break on a five-game points streak. The up-and-down Penguins have recently revived their interest in defensive play and get a chance against one of the few teams behind them in the Metro Division standings, the Philadelphia Flyers (23-24-9) at the Wells Fargo Center.

The puck drops at 7 p.m., just after Lauren Hart, the league’s “No. 1 anthem singer,” delivers the national anthem.

The Penguins not only survived but thrived under adverse circumstances Friday, beating the New York Rangers 3-2 at Madison Square Garden. The Penguins did so without top centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Read More: Penguins Report Card: Team Shows Heart, ‘Beers Taste Better’

The Penguins are 3-0-1 in their last four games. Their gritty effort featured even-strength goals by Blake Lizotte and Rickard Rakell. Each goal was the culmination of wall battles and slick passes. Philip Tomasino scored his seventh goal of the season and his fifth game-winner when he powered a one-timer past New York goalie Igor Shesterkin.

Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 25 of 27 shots for the win.

With a little added benefit, the Penguins own the New York Ranger’s first-round pick, so every denial of New York points potentially improves the Penguins’ 2025 draft stock (the pick was acquired in the Marcus Pettersson/Drew O’Connor trade, and the 2025 pick is top-13 protected but would default to unprotected in 2026).

The Flyers are on a five-game losing streak, and coach John Tortorella has recently defended his usage of star rookie Matvei Michkov. Tortorella benched Michkov on Jan. 31 after the pair had a heated first-period discussion on the bench. Though it should be noted, Tortorella has said nothing remotely negative about the player.

The Flyers are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and Flyers GM Daniel Briere also traded young forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee to the Calgary Flames for Joel Pelletier and Andrei Kuzmenko.

The Penguins are six points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild card. Detroit also has two games in hand.

After Nedeljkovic played Friday, rookie Joel Blomqvist is expected to start in goal for the Penguins. It would be just Blomqvist’s third start since being recalled on Jan. 16 in the wake of waiving goalie Tristan Jarry.

Coach Mike Sullivan said forward Boko Imama was being evaluated for an upper-body injury Friday night. Sullivan will officially announce the starting goalie and injury updates at 5 p.m.

UPDATE: Bryan Rust was placed on IR. Sidney Crosby skated and felt much better Saturday, but will not play. Also, Boko Imama will not play. Joel Blomqvist will start in net.

For full Flyers coverage, make sure to follow Will James and Philly Hockey Now.

Penguins Lines

Anthony Beauvillier-Rickard Rakell-Bryan Rust

Michael Bunting-Cody Glass-Danton Heinen

Emil Bemstrom-Kevin Hayes-Phil Tomasino

Matt Nieto-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari

Defense

Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson

P.O Joseph-Kris Letang

Ryan Graves-Vincent Desharnais

Goalie: Joel Blomqvist

Flyers Lines

Tyson Foerster–Noah Cates–Bobby Brink

Andrei Kuzmenko–Scott Laughton–Travis Konecny

Rodrigo Abols–Sean Couturier–Matvei Michkov

Nicolas Deslauriers–Jacob Gaucher–Garnet Hathaway

Defensemen

Cam York–Travis Sanheim

Emil Andrae–Rasmus Ristolainen

Nick Seeler–Jamie Drysdale

Goaltender: Sam Ersson

Special Teams

Penguins power play: 25.2%, 6th. Penguins penalty kill: 79.5%, 17th.

Flyers power play: 15.9%, 28th. Flyers penalty kill: 78.2%, 19th.

Penguins Game Notes

The rivalry has been one-sided. The Penguins have an active eight-game point streak against Philadelphia (6-0-2) and are 12-3-3 in their last 18 games played against the Flyers.

Over the last five games dating back to Jan. 27, the Penguins have allowed a league-low eight goals against.

Bryan Rust has an active six-game point streak against Philadelphia (4-6-10).

How to Watch

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Radio: 105.9 The X