Penguins

Penguins-Rangers Rematch, Game 32: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Published

1 year ago

December 20, 2022

Pittsburgh Penguins Game, vs New York Rangers

The last time the Pittsburgh Penguins (18-9-4) saw the New York Rangers (18-10-5) was the handshake line at Madison Square Garden after the Penguins lost a 3-1 series lead and a two-goal lead in Game 7 of Round One in the 2022 NHL playoffs. Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry valiantly played on a badly injured ankle that took months to heal. But a controversial non-call as Marcus Pettersson’s helmet was knocked off leading to the Rangers’ late third-period game-tying goal added spice, or salt, to the rivalry.

The puck drops at PPG Paints Arena just after 7 p.m. You’ll want to be there for the beginning tonight.

That Round One series featured the Jacob Trouba head-hunting allegations as the Rangers captain chicken-winged Sidney Crosby in Game 5 while the Penguins were leading the potential elimination game. Rickard Rakell was also knocked out of the series in Game 1 after a hit to the head from Ryan Lindgren.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan reacted sternly after Game 5 when asked about Trouba’s hit on Crosby, “Did you see the hit,” he shot back to PHN. “Then you probably have the same opinion I do.”

Jarry walked out of the postgame press conference with a large bag of ice wrapped around his ankle, and he admitted in training camp that it took months to heal.

Trouba also caught a couple of other players as the Rangers advanced through the playoffs to the Eastern Conference Final.

It was a contentious series, and it should resume on Tuesday night as the teams are again on a collision course battling for two of the top three seeds in the Metro Division.

The Penguins’ seven-game winning streak ended Sunday night with a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. Old friend Jordan Staal scored the game-winner, completing Carolina’s two-goal rally. The loss dropped them to the first wild card position.

The Rangers are on a seven-game winning streak and are now one point ahead of the Penguins for third. However, the Penguins have two games in hand.

Jarry will likely start for the Penguins. He has been nearly unbeatable, with a 10-0-1 record in his last 11 games. He is 6-0 in December with a .939 save percentage.

The Penguins will be without Jason Zucker, Josh Archibald, and Jeff Petry, who is on LTIR. Zucker skated with the team on Monday. Archibald is being evaluated for an upper-body injury.

Update: Zucker and Archibald have been upgraded to game-time decisions.

And the Penguins’ penalty kill is now fourth in the NHL at 83.5%.

Expected Pittsburgh Penguins Lines:

Guentzel-Crosby-Rakell

Heinen-Malkin-Rust

McGinn-Carter-Kapenen

Poehling-Blueger-O’Connor

Defense:

Pettersson-Letang

Dumoulin-Rutta

Joseph-Ruhwedel

Goalie:

Tristan Jarry

Expected Rangers Lines, per PuckPedia.com:

Panarin-Zibanejad-Goodrow

Lafreniere-Chytil-Kakko

Kreider-Trocheck-Vesey

Blais-Brodzinkski-Kravstov

Defense:

Lindgren-Fox

Miller-Trouba

Harpur-Schneider

Goalie:

Igor Shesterkin

Special Teams:

Penguins Power Play: 21.7%, 19th

Penguins Penalty Kill: 83.5%, 4th

Rangers Power Play: 24%, 12th

Rangers Penalty Kill: 81.6%, 6th

Pittsburgh Penguins Game Notes:

The Penguins have points in 14 of its last 19 games vs. New York (11-5-3) and are 15-7-3 in its last 25 games versus the Rangers.

Excluding a stretch where the Penguins were winless for seven games (0-6-1) from Oct. 24-Nov. 5, the Penguins have gone 18-3-3.

Kasperi Kapanen has eight points (4-4-8) over his last eight games.

Sidney Crosby remains the NHL leader with 32 even-strength points. He’s third in even-strength goals (15) and ninth in NHL scoring with 40 points.

Evgeni Malkin has an eight-game scoring streak and has 12 points in that span (2-10-12).

How to Watch:

TV: AT&T SportsNet, TVA; Radio 105.9 The X

Penguins Bets

Bet against Dan and Make Money. We are 8-2 in our last five games but the Penguins have made it easy.

So, here’s how to play the free money game. Take the DraftKings promo — Bet $5 on the Moneyline and win $150.

Once you win tonight, you flip those winnings to Saturday night’s Steelers game. Your $5 could be $300 or more pretty quickly.

So, here’s what I like tonight. Oddsmakers dropped the O/U to only 5.5. They’re not expecting much offense. However, ALL of the Round One games between these teams would have hit the Over. So, we’re going with the Over, especially as the Pittsburgh Penguins are hitting empty nets like crazy.

Every part of my gut is pushing one way, so I’m going the other.

Which team you put your Moneyline bet on is up to you. This is as 50/50 as they get. The Penguins on home ice, after getting beaten by Carolina is usually a good bet. Even without Jeff Petry and possibly Jason Zucker, the Penguins are a solid play. Take the Penguins and the Over.

For our Ohio Penguins fans, sports betting is coming. FanDuel is offering a free $100 bet for pre-registration. Grab it — click here