STOCKHOLM — The Pittsburgh Penguins (9-5-3) have had a few days to acclimate to a GMT+1 time zone, and Penguins fans will adjust to an early weekday puck drop that begins before most happy hours. The Penguins are the visiting team in the first of two games as part of the NHL Global Series, as they face the Nashville Predators (5-9-4) at Avicii Arena Friday.
The puck drops just after 2 p.m. EST, but at 8 p.m. in Stockholm.
The Penguins are kicking themselves after dominating large swaths of their two games last weekend, but earning just one point via a shootout loss. The Penguins lost to the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Saturday, then 3-2 to the LA Kings Sunday, despite controlling the play in both games.
“I liked a lot of what we were doing,” said coach Dan Muse. “I think it was it’s stuff that’s sustainable. A lot of the things that I liked were things that should be there from game to game.”
The Penguins had an unremarkable third period Sunday, giving up a pair of ugly goals to LA in the regulation loss. Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov made his NHL debut Sunday, stopping 24 of 27 shots.
Tommy Novak and Anthony Mantha scored the Penguins’ goals before Corey Perry and Kevin Fiala finished odd-man rushes to bury the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.
Nashville has been struggling mightily this season, and trade rumors have popped up surrounding last year’s free agent catch, Steve Stamkos. Nashville is just 2-6-2 in its last 10 games and is winless in its last four (0-3-1).
They lost to the New York Rangers Tuesday, 6-3. It was the first home win for the Rangers this season and the first home win for Rangers coach Mike Sullivan.
Nashville forward Matthew Wood, 20, who was taken 15th in the 2023 NHL Draft, had a hat trick in the loss. Wood has 10 points, including six goals in his first 11 NHL games.
Nashville goalie Juuse Saros allowed five goals on 12 shots before being pulled for Justus Annunen.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
Expected Penguins Lines
Bryan Rust-Sidney Crosby-Ben Kindel
Tommy Novak-Evgeni Malkin-Anthony Mantha
Ville Koivunen-Kevin Hayes-Joona Koppanen
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Philip Tomasino
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea-Kris Letang
Ryan Graves-Matt Dumba
Goalie: Arturs Silovs, Expected
Expected Nashville Lines
Filip Forsberg-Ryan O’Reilly-Luke Evangelista
Steven Stamkos-Erik Haula-Jonathan Marchessault
Michael Bunting-Fedor Svechkov-Matthew Wood
Tyson Jost-Michael McCarron-Ozzy Wiesblatt
Defense
Brady Skjei-Nick Perbix
Nic Hague-Brandon Blankenburg
Spencer Stastney-Adam Wilsby
Goalie: Juuse Saros, Expected
Special Teams
Penguins’ power play: 35.7%, 1st. Penguins penalty kill: 84.3%, 7th.
Predators power play: 17.5%, 22nd. Predators penalty kill: 80.7%, 13th.
Penguins Game Notes
Domination: The Penguins have points in 13 of their last 15 games against the Predators (11-2-2).
The Penguins have the top-ranked power-play in the NHL at 35.7%. Only Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston (7) has more power-play goals than Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby (6).
The Penguins made two trades with Nashville last season, first acquiring Philip Tomasino in November, then Tommy Novak in March.
Anthony Mantha has 10 points in his last 12 games (3-7-10).
Evgeni Malkin’s 18 assists this season are tied for first in the NHL with Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche.
With one more goal, Malkin will tie Dale Hawerchuk for 40th on the all-time goals list with 518.
In 20 career games against Nashville, Kevin Hayes has 23 points, including seven goals.
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Categorized: Penguins Pregame