Still Desperate; Penguins Game 75 vs. Devils: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

The Pittsburgh Penguins are right back at it Tuesday when they move from Manhattan to Newark to take on the New Jersey Devils.

The Penguins (33-30-11) incredibly still have a slim shot at making the playoffs after they knocked off the top team in the NHL, the New York Rangers, 5-2 Monday.

That win allowed the Penguins to leapfrog the Devils (36-34-4) in the Eastern Conference standings. They are five points out of a wildcard spot.

Game Time

The game starts a little after 7 p.m.

Penguins Preview

The Penguins are 3-0-2 in their past five games to cling to postseason hopes.

Their win Monday was all the more impressive considering there is some sort of illness working its way through the team.

After Michael Bunting missed the previous game because of illness, goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic was pushed into a starting role Tuesday when Tristan Jarry, who that morning was named to start, became too sick to even back up.

If Jarry is still out Tuesday, Nedeljkovic will need to play on back-to-back nights in what would be his sixth straight start.

Also out Tuesday was defenseman John Ludvig. Winger Drew O’Connor was also ill but muscled through, although he moved from the first to the third line.

Center and team captain Sidney Crosby hit the latest in a string of milestones Monday, and it was a big one. With two goals and an assist, he reach 82 points, ensuring that he will finish with an average of at least a point a game. That ties him with Wayne Gretzky for the NHL record of 19 straight such seasons.

Next up for Crosby: He is three assists shy of 1,000 for his career.

Read more:

Molinari: Crosby’s ‘Remarkable’ Feats; Nedeljkovic Dazzles

Kingerski: Where Has That Been?! Gritty Pens Beat Rangers

The Devils, like the Penguins, have been inconsistent. They are coming off a 5-2 loss Friday against Buffalo and are 6-9-0 in their past 15 games.

New Jersey is looking to sweep the season series from the Penguins for the second straight season. A regulation win would allow the Devils to move back in front of the Penguins in the standings.

Expected Penguins Lines

Drew O’Connor-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Michael Bunting-Evgeni Malkin-Rickard Rakell

Reilly Smith-Lars Eller-Valtteri Puustinen

Jesse Puljujarvi-Jeff Carter-Emil Bemstrom

Defense

P.O Joseph-Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Shea-Jack St. Ivany

Goalies

Tristan Jarry

Alex Nedeljkovic

Expected Devils Lines

Timo Meier-Nico Hischier-Jesper Bratt

Jack Hughes-Erik Haula-Alexander Holtz

Ondrej Palat-Tomas Nosek-Dawson Mercer

Max Willman-Chris Tierney-Curtis Lazar

Defense

Kevin Bahl-John Marino

Luke Hughes-Nick DeSimone

Brendan Smith-Simon Nemec

Goalies

Jake Allen

Kaapo Kahkonen

Penguins Special Teams

Penguins power play: 14.6%, 30th

Penguins penalty kill: 81.7%, 10th

Devils power play: 22.3%, 12th

Devils penalty kill: 81.4%, 12th

Penguins Game Notes

The Penguins lost to the Devils 5-2 in both previous meetings, Nov. 16 at home and March 18 at New Jersey.

The Penguins are 0-6-1 against the Devils dating to Feb. 24, 2022.

Sidney Crosby has a five-game point streak (4 goals, 9 assists).

Against New Jersey, Crosby has 90 points (39 goals, 51 assists) in 84 career games.

Evgeni Malkin has 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists) in 67 career games against the Devils.

Bryan Rust has 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists) and is plus-14 in 35 career games against the Devils.

Overall, Rust has 10 goals, five assists over his past 13 games, 15 goals over his past 21 games. He is one goal shy of tying his career high of 27 set in 2019-20.

The Penguins are averaging 3.9 goals a game over the past 10 contests.

Evgeni Malkin has 76 takeaways, tied for fourth most in the NHL.

Lars Eller is two points shy of 400 for his career.

Rickard Rakell is two goals shy of 200 for his career.

How to Watch

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Radio: 105.9 FM the X

Also visit sister site New Jersey Hockey Now