Penguins
Penguins Lines, Goalie & Preview vs. Colorado Avalanche
The Pittsburgh Penguins (10-8-5) have earned points in five straight games and won three of their last four games to close within two points of a playoff position in the Eastern Conference. The team will complete the second of their back-to-back road games tonight against the Colorado Avalanche (14-6-4) and the Penguins lines are expected to remain intact from the end of their victory over Winnipeg.
The Penguins scored two third period goals to beat the Winnipeg Jets 4-3, Tuesday. The Penguins fourth line provided a pair of goals as Derek Grant had two points (1g, 1a). Riley Sheahan scored his first goal in 20 games and third line winger Zach Aston-Reese scored the game-winning goal with over five minutes remaining.
Casey DeSmith was good enough to earn the win (6-3-3). Tristan Jarry is the likely starter tonight against Colorado, as Matt Murray remains on IR. Jarry (0-0-1. .946 SV%. 1.94 GAA) in on an emergency recall from the WBS Penguins. He was stellar in Boston, last Friday. Jarry, 23, allowed only one goal in regulation.
Colorado won in Nashville, 3-2, Tuesday. Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and Tyson Jost scored the game-winner with just over five minutes left in regulation. NHL leading scorer Mikko Rantanen assisted on both MacKinnon goals to become the first player in the NHL this season to score 40 points (10g, 30a). MacKinnon has 37 points this season (17g, 20a). Semyon Varlamov made 36 saves for the win.
Former Washington Capitals goalie Philipp Grubauer (5-1-2. .907 SV%. 3.07 GAA) is the likely starter for Colorado.
Colorado is the highest scoring team in the NHL, averaging 3.71 goals per game.
Injuries:
Penguins:
Patric Hornqvist (Concussion)
Matt Murray (lower body. IR)
Matt Cullen (lower body. IR)
Colorado:
Tyson Barrie (lower body)
Special Teams:
Penguins Power Play: 24.6% (8th NHL)
Penguins Penalty Killing: 82.4% (T-6th NHL)
Colorado Power Play: 32.1% (1st NHL)
Colorado Penalty Killing: 81.1% (11th NHL)
Penguins Lines
LW | C | RW |
---|---|---|
Jake Guentzel | Sidney Crosby | Bryan Rust |
Jason Zucker | Evgeni Malkin | Rickard Rakell |
Danton Heinen | Ryan Poehling | Kasperi Kapanen |
Brock McGinn | Sam Poulin | Drew O'Connor |
LD | RD |
---|---|
Brian Dumoulin | Kris Letang |
Marcus Pettersson | Jeff Petry |
P.O Joseph | Jan Rutta |
Goalie |
---|
Tristan Jarry |
Casey DeSmith |