Penguins Preseason Game 5, Crosby Home; Notes & How to Watch

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Ottawa Senators Monday at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. Despite the location, it’s a Penguins home game to honor Sidney Crosby, whose hometown, Cole Harbour, is just a few miles away.

The puck drops at 6 p.m. ET (7 p.m. ADT).

The last few days have been a non-stop homecoming for Crosby, as the Penguins practiced at Cole Harbour Place, which was Crosby’s childhood rink, on Sunday. A banner hangs at center ice proclaiming the home of Sidney Crosby.

The team also went on a scavenger hunt through Crosby’s favorite places, ate local delicacies, and even shot pucks at his famous childhood dryer.

But it’s also a preseason game with jobs on the line. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is giving Radim Zohorna a chance to earn an NHL spot. He’ll skate on right wing beside Evgeni Malkin and Reilly Smith. Thursday, Sullivan auditioned Alex Nylander for that spot.

Austin Wagner and Vinnie Hinostroza are competing for a spot on the Penguins’ fourth line. They rotated on the fourth line at practice Sunday, and it appears Hinostroza will get the sweater on Monday.

How to Watch the Penguins Game:

The game will be the first on Pittsburgh Sportsnet, the former AT&T Sportsnet. It does not appear the game will be streamed on the Penguins website, as the previous games have have. Steve Mears and Phil Bourque have the radio call. You can also listen to the game on the Penguins flagship radio station, 105.9 the X.

Pittsburgh Penguins Lineup:

10 DREW O’CONNOR

11 ALEX NYLANDER

13 VINNIE HINOSTROZA

17 BRYAN RUST

19 REILLY SMITH

20 LARS ELLER

55 NOEL ACCIARI

63 RADIM ZOHORNA

67 RICKARD RAKELL

71 EVGENI MALKIN

77 JEFF CARTER

83 MATT NIETO

87 SIDNEY CROSBY

Defensemen

2 CHAD RUHWEDEL

5 RYAN SHEA

27 RYAN GRAVES

28 MARCUS PETTERSSON

55 KRIS LETANG

65 ERIK KARLSSON

73 P.O JOSEPH

Goalies: 

35 TRISTAN JARRY

39 ALEX NEDELJKOVIC

Penguins Game Notes:

Defenseman Ryan Graves grew up in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, a coastal town roughly three hours from Halifax. Graves played in multiple youth tournaments over the years in Halifax.

Guest coach Korie Cheverie is a native of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, roughly an hour and a half drive from Halifax.

The Penguins made their second round of cuts Thursday. Forwards Corey Andonovski, Avery Hayes, Marc Johnstone, and Austin Rueschhoff. Defensemen Isaac Belliveau, Justin Lee, Dmitri Samorukov, and Jack St. Ivany. Goaltender Joel Blomqvist was also assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s training camp in the American Hockey League. Friday, Jonathan Gruden and defensemen Taylor Fedun and Xavier Ouellet also were assigned to the AHL.

Of the four professional tryout candidates who began the Penguins’ training camp, only Austin Wagner remains in contention for an NHL spot.

The game will be a homecoming for Sidney Crosby. Note the

Expected Penguins Lines:

Rakell-Crosby-Rust

Smith-Malkin-Zohorna

Hinostroza-Eller-O’Connor

Nieto-Acciari-Carter

Defense:

Pettersson-Karlsson

Graves-Letang

Joseph-Shea

Goalies:

Tristan Jarry

Alex Nedeljkovic

Power Play No. 1:

Letang-Karlsson-Rakell-Crosby-Malkin.

Letang often comes to the point, and Rakell seemed to be the bumper in the middle.