WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Pittsburgh Penguins (8-2-2) are the juggernaut that cannot be beaten in regulation. From sloppy games to high-energy efforts, they have points in eight straight games and wins in six of those. The Penguins have the most points in the NHL but get a stiff test Saturday on the third leg of their four-game road trip when they face the team with the second most points, the Winnipeg Jets (8-3-0) at the Canada Life Centre.
The puck drops just after 3 p.m. ET.
The Penguins are a strong underdog on Saturday. They’re a +142 on the moneyline at the FanDuel Sportsbook. Winnipeg is a strong favorite at -172. FanDuel also has a few player bets for Saturday.
On Thursday, the Penguins once again used a messy first period to hone the rest of their game. The Penguins returned for the second period invigorated and outplayed the Minnesota Wild for the remaining 40 minutes en route to a 4-1 win at the Grand Casino Arena.
“I don’t think we’re trying to get too far ahead of ourselves. I think we’re having a lot of fun,” said Bryan Rust. “For the good and the bad, trying to learn from the bad, and learn from the good too. I think we’re just trying to have as much fun as possible.”
Goalie Tristan Jarry was sharp early when Minnesota tested him. The Penguins’ power play added the icing when rookie Ben Kindel poked home a rebound earlier in the third period.
Ryan Shea and Rust each had a goal and an assist.
And the locker room practical jokes started on Thursday morning, too.
The Penguins are 6-0-2 in their last eight games.
Winnipeg is also on a roll. They have won two in a row and three of their last four games. They bounced the Chicago Blackhawks at home on Thursday, 6-3.
Gabe Vilardi had a pair of goals and three points. Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor also had three points each (1-2-3) in the victory. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 21 of only 24 shots.
Penguins winger Justin Brazeau missed practice Friday, but the team said it was only a maintenance day. However, coach Dan Muse did make one tweak to the lineup in practice as Harrison Brunicke returned to the third pairing with Owen Pickering.
Saturday would be Brunicke’s eighth NHL game. He can play nine before the team must decide to keep him, thus activating the first year of his entry-level contract, or return him to junior hockey.
Pay attention to the special teams. The Penguins’ power play has hovered near the top of the league while Winnipeg owns the best penalty kill.
Based on Penguins coach Dan Muse’s goalie rotation, Saturday the Penguins will return to Arturs Silovs in net. Winnipeg will likely go with Hellebuyck.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
Expected Penguins Lines
Filip Hallander-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha-Evgeni Malkin-Justin Brazeau
Tommy Novak-Ben Kindel-Ville Koivunen
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea-Kris Letang
Owen Pickering-Harrison Brunicke
Starting Goalie: TBD. Likely Arturs Silovs.
Jets Lines
Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Gabe Vilardi
Vladislav Namestnikov-Jonathan Toews-Alex Iafallo
Nino Niederreiter-Morgan Barron-Tanner Pearson
Cole Koepke-Parker Ford-Brad Lambert
Defense
Josh Morrissey-Dylan DeMelo
Logan Stanley-Neal Pionk
Haydn Fleury-Luke Schenn
Starting Goalie: Likely, Connor Hellebuyck
Special Teams
Penguins’ power play: 31%, 2nd. Penguins penalty kill: 81.6%, 14th.
Jets power play: 27.8%, 8th. Jets penalty kill: 91.1%, 1st.
Penguins Game Notes
The Penguins are 17-7-0 in their last 24 meetings with the Jets.
Kris Letang (6-24-30) is tied with Alex Pietrangelo for the second-most points against the Jets among active defensemen behind Roman Josi (8-28-36). Erik Karlsson has 28 points (3-25-28) in 34 career games against the Jets.
The game will be Owen Pickering’s homecoming. He grew up 30 minutes outside of Winnipeg, and this will be his first NHL game at the Canada Life Centre.
The Penguins’ penalty kill has allowed just one power-play goal against over its last four games (12-for-13, 92.3%).
The Penguins have four players averaging a point per game or better this season (Evgeni Malkin, 1.42; Sidney Crosby, 1.25; Justin Brazeau, 1.00; Bryan Rust, 1.00). Only the Anaheim Ducks (5) have more.
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