Penguins Game 37, Hit Reset: Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Blackhawks

CHICAGO — It has not been Sweet Home Chicago for the Pittsburgh Penguins (15-12-9), who have stumbled against the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks (14-17-6) over the last several years, including last April’s ugly 3-1 loss. Sunday, the Penguins will try to hit the reset button from a disastrous previous 10 games and the NHL’s holiday break when they face Chicago at the United Center.

The puck drops just after 7 p.m. (6 p.m. in Chicago).

Also, follow our Chicago colleague Jack Bushman on X and Chicago Hockey Now.

The Penguins’ dichotomous effort against the Toronto Maple Leafs could not have been more encouraging or destructive on Tuesday in their final game before the four-day holiday break. They squashed the vaunted Toronto stars, but also lost 6-3 because of genuinely terrible mistakes that yielded breakaways and odd-man rushes, subjecting goalie Stuart Skinner to more glorious chances than he should see in a week.

The Penguins have just one win in their last 10 games (1-5-4) and are oddly third-worst in the Eastern Conference, but also just three points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand on most of the teams they are chasing.

Of course, they’re also just three points out of the basement, too.

There is some good news. The Penguins are likely to get Blake Lizotte back in the lineup Sunday. He was a full participant in practice Saturday at the UPMC Lemieux Complex. As a result, coach Dan Muse dropped Kevin Hayes from the lineup.

Chicago has been stuck in their rebuild for a few seasons and is without the injured Connor Bedard, who is out until at least January. Chicago lost their last six games before the break, but beat the Dallas Stars in a shootout Saturday at the United Center, 4-3.

Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice, and Jason Dickinson also scored before Nick Lardis scored the shootout winner in the fourth round.

The Penguins will hold a morning skate, and Muse will announce his starting goalie then. Spencer Knight will likely start for Chicago.

How to Watch

TV: Pittsburgh Sportsnet

Radio: 105.9 The X

Expected Penguins Lines

Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Anthony Mantha-Tommy Novak-Justin Brazeau

Ville Koivunen-Ben Kindel-Rutger McGroarty

Connor Dewar-Kevin Hayes-Noel Acciari

Defense

Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson

Brett Kulak-Kris Letang

Ryan Shea-Jack St. Ivany

Goalie: TBD

Blackhawks Lines

Tyler Bertuzzi–Jason Dickinson–Ilya Mikheyev

Teuvo Teravainen–Ryan Donato–Andre Burakovsky

Oliver Moore–Ryan Greene–Nick Lardis

Colton Dach–Dominic Toninato–Sam Lafferty

Defensive Pairings

Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier

Matt Grzelcyk-Artyom Levshunov

Wyatt Kaiser-Connor Murphy

Goalies: Spencer Knight, Expected

Special Teams

Penguins’ power play: 29.3%, 3rd. Penguins penalty kill: 81.1%, 14th.

Blackhawks power play: 20%, 15th. Blackhawks penalty kill: 84.5%, 4th.

Penguins Game Notes

The Penguins have points in three of their last four visits to the United Center (2-1-1). However, Chicago is 9-2-0 against the Penguins in their last 11 visits.

Kris Letang has 10 points (1-9-10) over his last 14 games played.

Sidney Crosby has 40 points (22-18-40) in 38 road games in 2025. Only two players have scored more: Jason Robertson (29) and Leon Draisaitl (25).

Crosby is also tied for the eighth-most goals in the NHL (20).

Ilya Mikheyev has logged six points (2-4-6) over his last six contests against the Penguins, including two multi-point efforts.

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Penguins Game 37, Hit Reset: Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Blackhawks

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