Penguins

Penguins v Senators, Game 44: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Published

1 year ago

January 18, 2023

Pittsburgh Penguins game, Ottawa Senators

OTTAWA, Ontario — The Pittsburgh Penguins (22-15-6) averted one disaster on Monday night but are far from safe with just four wins in their last 12 games. The Penguins lead the rebuilding Ottawa Senators (19-21-3) by nine points for a wild-card spot. The teams will square up at the Canadian Tire Centre Wednesday night.

The puck drops just after 7 p.m.

The Penguins lost a 2-0 third period lead and had to rally in the final minute from a 3-2 deficit to the lowly Anaheim Ducks. Bryan Rust scored with 25 seconds remaining, and Jake Guentzel scored early in OT for a 4-3 Penguins win.

Casey DeSmith stopped 26 shots for the win. He will start Wednesday night. Cam Talbot is the likely starter for Ottawa.

Ottawa has lost four of its last five games. They dropped games to talented Western Conference teams, the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, and Seattle Kraken.

The Senators are led by Brady Tkachuk, who has 42 points (15-27-42) in 43 games, and Tim Stützle, who has 39 points, including 19 goals, in 39 games.

One storyline was crossed off Wednesday. P.O Joseph’s brother Mathieu will be a healthy scratch.

It does not appear any of the injured Penguins will rejoin the lineup. Kris Letang, Jeff Petry, Jan Rutta, Josh Archibald, and Ryan Poehling did not participate in line rushes during the morning skate or were absent.

Expected Pittsburgh Penguins Lines:

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust

Zucker-Malkin-Rakell

O’Connor-Blueger-Carter

McGinn-Gruden-Kapanen

Defense:

Pettersson-Friedman

Dumoulin-Smith

Joseph-Ruhwedel

Goalie:

DeSmith

Expected Ottawa Senators lines, per PuckPedia.com:

Tkachuk-Stutzle-Batherson

DeBrincat-Norris-Giroux

Brassard-Pinto-Gambrell

Kelly-Kastellic-Watson

Defence:

Chabot–Bernard-Docker

Sanderson-Hamonic

Brannstrom-Holden

Goalie:

Talbot

Special Teams:

Penguins Power Play: 20.3%, 22nd

Penguins Special Teams: 83.2%, 4th

Senators Power Play: 26.4%, 6th

Senators Penalty Killing: 82.2%, 8th

Pittsburgh Penguins Game Notes:

The Penguins have points in 10 of its last 12 games versus Ottawa (8-2-2) dating back to March 23, 2017, and points in 22 of 26 dating back to Jan. 27, 2013.

Sidney Crosby has 50 points (18-32-50) in 43 games against the Senators.

Casey DeSmith has two shutouts in six career games against Ottawa (five starts). He is 3-2-1 with a 2.33 goals-against average, and .923 save percentage in those games.

Bryan Rust is three points shy of 300. He would be the 20th member of the 2010 draft class to reach that level.

Jason Zucker is averaging 0.72 points-per-game average. That is on pace to be the second-highest average of his career