Penguins

Rematch; Penguins Game 24 vs. Flyers: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Published

12 months ago

December 4, 2023

Pittsburgh Penguins game, Philadelphia Flyers

The Pittsburgh Penguins (11-10-2) play Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second half of a home-and-home series.

The Flyers (12-10-2) won the first game of the set 4-3 in overtime Saturday at PPG Paints Arena.

Game Time

The game starts a little after 7 p.m.

Penguins Preview

The Penguins have lost four of six (2-2-2). They sit sixth in the Metropolitan Division and can pull even with the Flyers in points with a regulation win Monday – and the Penguins have a game in hand.

As has been the case in recent weeks, the Penguins’ power play will be under heavy scrutiny. They have gone 10 games without a power-play goal, a drought of 0 for 26. That includes going 0 for 5 Saturday against Philadelphia, plus giving up a shorthanded goal.

In the latest tweak, the Penguins have elevated Kris Letang back to the top power-play unit to work the center point, with Erik Karlsson sliding to the left half-wall and Bryan Rust moving to the second unit.

Forwards Noel Acciari and Matt Nieto missed Saturday’s game because of unspecified injuries, with Joonas Koppanen making his Penguins debut. Nieto has since gone on IR, with Alex Nylander being recalled. Acciari is not expected to play Monday.

After Tristan Jarry started in net Saturday, Alex Nedeljkovic is getting a turn Monday.

Read more:

Anderson: Penguins Make More Power Play Changes; Letang Promoted

Molinari: Penguins-Flyers: A Classic Rivalry Subdued, Not Renewed

The Flyers are 2-1-1 in their past four games.

Their penalty kill has been highly effective, snuffing of 23 of 24 opponent power plays over the past seven games.

Expected Penguins Lines

Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Reilly Smith-Evgeni Malkin-Drew O’Connor

Radim Zohorna-Lars Eller-Vinnie Hinostroza

Jansen Harkins-Joonas Koppanen-Jeff Carter

Defense

Ryan Graves-Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Shea-John Ludvig

Goalies

Alex Nedeljkovic

Tristan Jarry

Expected Flyers Lines

Tyson Foerster-Sean Couturier-Travis Konecny

Joel Farabee-Scott Laughton-Cam Atkinson

Owen Tippett-Morgan Frost-Bobby Brink

Nic Deslauriers-Ryan Poehling-Garnet Hathaway

Defense

Cam York-Travis Sanheim

Nick Seeler-Sean Walker

Egor Zamula-Rasmus Ristolainen

Goalies

Carter Hart

Samuel Errson

Penguins Special Teams

Penguins power play: 10.9%, 30th

Penguins penalty kill: 84.7%, 8th

Flyers power play: 12.4%, 28th

Flyers penalty kill: 84.8%, 7th

Penguins Game Notes

The Pittsburgh Penguins have more road points (6-4-1, 13 points) then home points (5-6-1, 11 points). This game kicks off a three-game road trip.

The Penguins are 3-0-1 in their past four games against Philadelphia.

Jake Guentzel has 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists) in his past 18 games.

The Guentzel-Crosby-Rust line leads the NHL with 342 shots, more than any other line combination.

Crosby was held off the scoresheet Saturday, a rarity for him in this rivalry. He has points in 14 of his past 15 games (11 goals, 11 assists) and 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) over his past 25 games against the Flyers.

Overall, Crosby has 124 points (53 goals, 71 assists) in 83 games, tied with former teammate Mario Lemieux for the most points against the Flyers in NHL history.