Penguins Game Day #4: Mike Lange Night, Lines, Notes & What to Watch vs. Dallas Stars

It’s a hockey night in Pittsburgh. On Tuesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins (2-0-1) will honor their long-time broadcaster, Hall of Famer, and iconic play-by-play voice Mike Lange as the Penguins host the Dallas Stars (2-0-0) at PPG Paints Arena.

Verified tickets are available from $30. It is also a BOGO night for the Student Rush tickets.

On Saturday night, the Penguins burned the Chicago Blackhawks undisciplined defense and hung four goals on old friend Marc-Andre Fleury. The Penguins scored four goals in the first 11 minutes and won 5-2.

Danton Heinen (3) scored his third goal in three games, Drew O’Connor scored his first NHL goal, and Teddy Blueger scored one of the fastest home opener goals in NHL history when he converted a two-on-one just 15 seconds into the game.

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan also became the winningest coach in Penguins history with his 253rd win. And he had to wear the game helmet. 

Tristan Jarry has won 15 of his last 17 regular-season games and has lost just once. Jarry is expected to start on Tuesday night.

Kris Letang and Jeff Carter lead the Penguins with four points, five Penguins follow with three points (John Marino, Evan Rodrigues, Drew O’Connor, Brock McGinn, Danton Heinen, and Dominik Simon).

The Penguins have not faced Dallas since 2020, before the pandemic. The Penguins have won the last five meetings against Dallas (5-0-0) and the last four at PPG Paints Arena. The Dallas Stars missed the playoffs in 2020-21 after advancing to the Stanley Cup Final in the 2020 bubble playoffs.

What to Watch:

Penguins PK:

After getting roughed up last season, the Pittsburgh Penguins penalty kill has allowed only one power-play goal against and has been stout. From Jeff Carter to Brian Boyle, all four Penguins centers have been on the PK.

“(The PK) has done a pretty good job at this point. I think they’re still getting on the same page with some of the concepts that we’re trying to introduce, so that they can be predictable for one another and we can work collectively as a group,” Sullivan said. “…The guys have done a really good job. I think there’s there’s a lot of room for growth and we’re going to continue to try to get better at it each and every day.”

The Penguins have killed nine of 10 penalties this season.

Simple, Simple Simple

Sullivan called it “sufficient structure.” The Penguins don’t like to take the stick out of their players’ hands but also need to have the foundation of a system to be predictable to each other.

If you’re so inclined, re-watch the first period against Chicago. Watch the high number of touch passes and little up passes with speed in which the puck moved less than 10 feet. The Penguins kept it simple, and they blew past the pressing Chicago defensemen.

The Penguins forecheck is also swarming. It has created heavy puck pressure and successful backchecking, too. And, of course, all of it has created a solid transition game.

The Penguins speed is also a step ahead of their early competition. The Penguins are playing their classic battered lineup game: Fast, simple, structured, and effective.

Tristan Jarry:

Tristan Jarry has been pretty, pretty good. He’s allowed just four goals in his two starts. Unlike last season when he was in a deep hole from the opening puck drop, his stats are immediately better and befitting a starting goalie. When he hits a hot streak later in the season, those numbers will go even higher.

Injuries:

Sidney Crosby will not play. Bryan Rust is out week-to-week. Evgeni Malkin remains on LTIR. Defenseman Mike Matheson will play.

Expected Pittsburgh Penguins Lines:

Dallas Stars Lines, per Puckpedia.com:

Peterson-Hintz-Pavelski

Benn-Seguin-Radulov

Raffl-Faksa-Gurianov

Kero-Glendenning-Kiviranta

Defensemen

Suter-Heiskenan

Lindell-Sekera

Hanley-Hakanpaa

Goalies:

Holtby

Khudobin

Special Teams:

Pittsburgh Penguins Game Notes:

–The Penguins are facing the Stars for the first time since Oct. 26, 2019 – a 3-0 shutout win for Pittsburgh. Dominik Kahun, Bryan Rust, and Brandon Tanev scored for the Penguins in the win.

–The Penguins enter tonight’s game with an active sellout streak of 633 consecutive home games (regular season + playoffs) dating back to Feb. 14, 2007

–Per NHL PR, The Penguins’ four goals in the opening 11:25 minutes of the first period on Saturday night against Chicago are tied for the sixth-fastest four goals from the start of a home opener in NHL history.

–Danton Heinen is one of six Pittsburgh Penguins to score goals in his first three games. Malkin scored in his first six games.

Evgeni Malkin 6 GP in 2006-07

Danton Heinen 3 GP in 2021-22

Kevin Miller 3 GP in 1995-96

Joe Mullen 3 GP in 1990-91

Terry Ruskowski 3 GP in 1985-86

Ron Snell 3 GP in 1968-69

Heinen’s three-game goal streak is the longest of his career.

How to Watch:

TV: AT&T SportsNet; Radio: 105.9 The X