Penguins Preseason Game 7, Final Tuneup: Notes & How to Watch vs. Sabres

The Pittsburgh Penguins will dress most of their NHL regulars and star players Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. It will be the final tuneup and chance to get into something resembling game-readiness, including the currently disorganized power play learning new faces and schemes.

The puck drops just after 7 p.m. at KeyBank Center.

You can watch the Penguins game on Pittsburgh Sportsnet and listen to it on the Penguins flagship radio station, 105.9. The X. Josh Getzoff and Colby Armstrong will have the TV side, while Steve Mears and Phil Bourque will have the radio call. Fans have reported recent games on ESPN+, but PHN cannot confirm the schedule or blackout restrictions that may be in place.

Wednesday, the Penguins game featured many future WBS Penguins players and roster hopefuls. They took the Detroit Red Wings to the mat in a 2-1 Red Wings win. Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was very good, and grinding forward Austin Wagner had a standout night.

The Penguins are not holding a morning skate on Friday, so we will find out the lines closer to game time, but based on Thursday’s Penguins practice, we can glean a few insights. Jansen Harkins is under consideration for the final roster spot. Colin White may have vaulted himself into the conversation with Radim Zohorna, too.

All three were with the expected Penguins lineup on Thursday.

According to coach Mike Sullivan, there is one primary objective Friday, “to get ready for Game 1.”

Undoubtedly, part of that readiness will be earning a few power plays. The Penguins’ top power play unit has not only struggled to generate pressure but shots, too. The experiment with Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang on PP1 has not yet been a rousing success or even good.

Since Game 1 readiness is paramount, we can expect Tristan Jarry to start in the Penguins’ goal and play the whole game. Sullivan did a little bit of experimenting with the lines Thursday, including Drew O’Connor on the top line. He admitted it was merely an experiment should the need arise in the future. Jake Guentzel has been a full-go at practice but is not on the roster for the game.

Possible Pittsburgh Penguins lines:

Drew O’Connor-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Reilly Smith-Evgeni Malkin-Rickard Rakell

Colin White-Lars Eller-Jansen Harkins

Matt Nieto-Noel Acciari-Jeff Carter

Defense: 

Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Graves-Kris Letang

P.O Joseph-Chad Ruhwedel

Goalies: 

Tristan Jarry

Alex Nedeljkovic

Pittsburgh Penguins Game Notes:

The Penguins are 2-3-1 in the preseason.

The team has just one power-play goal in the first six preseason games.

The Penguins were 2-1-0 against the Buffalo Sabres last season. Each team scored 10 goals over the three games.

Last season, Evgeni Malkin had five points (0-5-5) in three games against the Sabres. Jake Guentzel had four points (2-2-4).

Penguins Roster:

10 DREW O’CONNOR

17 BRYAN RUST

19 REILLY SMITH

20 LARS ELLER

36 COLIN WHITE

43 JANSEN HARKINS

55 NOEL ACCIARI

63 RADIM ZOHORNA

67 RICKARD RAKELL

71 EVGENI MALKIN

77 JEFF CARTER

83 MATT NIETO

87 SIDNEY CROSBY

Defense:

2 CHAD RUHWEDEL

5 RYAN SHEA

27 RYAN GRAVES

28 MARCUS PETTERSSON

58 KRIS LETANG

65 ERIK KARLSSON

73 P.O JOSEPH

Goalies:

35 TRISTAN JARRY

39 ALEX NEDELJKOVIC