Game Day #9: Decimated Penguins vs. Revamped Flyers; Lines, Notes & What to Watch

It was a bittersweet cocktail with far more bitters for the Pittsburgh Penguins (3-3-2). On Wednesday, top-defenseman Kris Letang returned to practice, but Sidney Crosby, Brian Dumoulin, Marcus Pettersson, and Chad Ruhwedel entered the COVID protocol. All are confirmed positives. The beleaguered Penguins have lost three in a row and now get revamped rival, the Philadelphia Flyers (5-2-1).

Despite the Penguins division crown, the Flyers won the season series (5-3-0), and the Penguins were 3-4-1.

The Penguins lines and attitude will be a question mark. At some point, this must be discouraging, eh? At some point, the stream of injuries to the top of the lineup and the constant rolling of bad news like waves crashing onto the rocks must wear on a team.

“I’m sure (Crosby) is discouraged. He’s worked extremely hard to get to this point, and we were all so excited about getting him back in the lineup and just getting back in the fold, and this just kind of just puts another roadblock in front of him” head coach Mike Sullivan said.

We’ll find out at 5 p.m. if the Penguins have additional COVID positives and the Penguins starting goaltender. However, Tristan Jarry is assumed to start against his British Columbia buddy, Carter Hart.

What to Watch

Jeff Carter will assume to the top of the Penguins lineup with Jake Guentzel and Danton Heinen. Kasperi Kapanen, hanging around Sullivan’s doghouse, will resume skating with Evan Rodrigues at center and Jason Zucker on the left.

Kapanen often responds to Sullivan’s challenges and will be the Penguins player to watch on Thursday night. If Kapanen explodes, as he is capable, the Penguins will have a much-needed offensive spark.

If his struggles continue, the Penguins will need offense from further down the lineup. Teddy Blueger, Zach Aston-Reese, and Brock McGinn as the third line also need to chip in more than shutdown defense. Blueger scored a couple of goals in the first two games but hasn’t scored since. Aston-Reese appears to be getting his footing after a 20-day bout with COVID.

However, Philadelphia loaded up in the offseason, and they’re giving Derick Brassard what he wanted–a top-six role.

Pittsburgh Penguins fans may cringe, but Brassard is the Flyers’ second-line center. He has six points (1-5-6) in eight games. Top-line center Sean Couturier has been lighting up the scoreboard with 11 points (3-8-11) in the same eight games with Claude Giroux on the left-wing.

The Flyers are a revamped team with a new attitude and plenty of optimism.

Carter Hart has posted stout numbers (2.33 GAA and .928 save percentage), but the Penguins can beat him. His goals-saved-above average is well into the negatives, which means he’s getting good protection from the Flyers defense but still allowing some softies.

The Penguins have not made a goalie uncomfortable in a while and have scored just three goals in their last three games (all losses). They did not bump, obstruct or dishevel Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom in a 4-0 loss, nor did they disrupt Jonathan Bernier last Saturday in a 4-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

The Penguins need to find a way to the front of the net.

Also, something to watch–what did Mark Friedman do to his former team? They have hammered him with illegal and extra-legal hits since the Penguins claimed him on waivers last February. Nolan Patrick boarded Friedman (who was later injured trying to retaliate), and Ivan Provorov was suspended for a late hit on Friedman late last season.

Both sides will get their chance to say hello.

Expected Pittsburgh Penguins Lines

Expected Philadelphia Flyers Lines, per PuckPedia.com:

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny

Farabee-Brassard-Atkinson

Lindblom-Laughton-van Riemsdyk

Aube-Kubel–Thompson–MacEwen

Defense:

Provorov-Braun

Sanheim-Ristolainen

Yandle-Seeler

Goalie:

Carter Hart

Special Teams:

Pittsburgh Penguins Game Notes

Injuries: