Penguins
Penguins Game 35, Sullivan Tweaks Lines; Notes & How to Watch
NEWARK — The Pittsburgh Penguins (15-14-5) are above .500 and have won eight of their last 11 games, getting points in nine of those games. They rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Nashville Predators in overtime Thursday but now need to flash their best game against division rivals, the New Jersey Devils (21-11-3) Saturday at the Prudential Center.
The puck drops just after 7 p.m.
Coach Mike Sullivan made a few lineup tweaks Saturday at the morning skate. Newly (re)acquired P.O Joseph will be in the lineup in place of left-side defenseman Ryan Graves.
Sullivan will also keep Drew O’Connor at center, where he ended the game Thursday. O’Connor has played center in a few games this season, seemingly with good results everywhere but the faceoff circle. However, O’Connor hasn’t scored a goal since Oct. 18.
The Penguins stole a win Thursday and felt pretty good about their 5-4 OT win in Nashville. After a season of flatlining, when they didn’t have their best, they kept grinding until Sidney Crosby took over the game. Crosby had four points, including his first goal in 11 games.
The Penguins are one point out of the second wild-card spot.
New Jersey has been a tale of two teams. They’ve won three of their last four games but have been chronically slow starters until a late-game explosion propels them.
New Jersey is in second place in the Metro Division but has played a league-leading 35 games.
Penguins Lines
Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting-Evgeni Malkin-Cody Glass
Anthony Beauvillier-Drew O’Connor-Philip Tomasino
Matt Nieto-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Defense
Owen Pickering-Kris Letang
Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson
P.O Joseph-Ryan Shea
Goalies: Tristan Jarry
Devils Lines
The Devils lines from New Jersey Hockey Now.
Ondrej Palat–Jack Hughes–Jesper Bratt
Timo Meier–Nico Hischier–Stefan Noesen
Paul Cotter–Erik Haula–Dawson Mercer
Tomas Tatar–Justin Dowling–Nathan Bastian
Defensemen
Brenden Dillon–Dougie Hamilton
Jonas Siegenthaler–Johnathan Kovacevic
Luke Hughes–Brett Pesce
Goaltenders
Jacob Markstrom
Special Teams
Penguins power play: 22.7%, 11th. Penguins penalty kill: 82.8%, 8th.
Devils power play: 29.8%, 2nd. Devils penalty kill: 81.4%, 11th.
Penguins Game Notes
The Penguins are 6-2-1 in their last nine trips to the Prudential Center. The Penguins have points in four of their last five road games overall (3-1-1).
The Penguins have won each of the last 11 games that Erik Karlsson has scored in dating back to last season.
Bryan Rust has two overtime winners in the last eight games. Rust has been red-hot with a team-high 17 points (9-8-17) in 11 games.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
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I thought Graves had played pretty well the past few games. And I would sit DOC for a few and #FreeJesse. I was expecting at least what DOC had done last year and except for a few spurts he isn’t even noticeable offensively.
DOC homecoming 50-60 family and friends coming..he’ll be real good tonight
Graves is marginally better than last year when he was unplayable. He’s only playing pretty well grading on a curve. Against Nashville he made numerous mistakes and giveaways. Bench him and either waive him or buy him out after the season.
Not sure why we’re sitting Graves for PO, he’s actually been steady the past few fames…Shea has been a mess…I like dropping Tomasino down a line, he’s not really a second line player…
Tonight’s game is a special teams matchup…two of the league’s better units
Pens are undefeated since PO came back to the team!…..just saying…
Big game. Let’s Go Pens!
Long term this 3rd line is not going to push this team into the playoffs, Even with Hayes and Jesse rotated in their just doesn’t seem to be the stuff that 3rd lines need to succeed. I hope I’m wrong……..
I hate, hate, hate playing po for graves. Did they seriously forget how bad po is? And I hate even more putting po on top pairing. Pens have been playing best defense they have all season. Why mess with it. I don’t get it.
The game provided your answer.
Graves played well, especially against Nashville. Did he maybe get dinged up? Because this inserting po freaking Joseph makes no sense otherwise