Game Twenty-Seven: Pittsburgh Penguins (13-7-5) at Tampa Bay Lightning (16-8-2)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: Benchmark International Arena, located at 27°56′34″N 82°27′7″W / 27.94278°N 82.45194°W

TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, SN-PIT, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -185

Know the Opponents: Pensburgh

There have always been two teams that Tampa Bay Lightning fans could look to if they wanted a glimpse of their team’s future – the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins. Both teams won multiple Stanley Cups and had to deal with hall-of-fame talent in a salary cap world. The two teams took different approaches to their post-Cup success as Chicago broke it down quicker and went for a full rebuild. Pittsburgh, for the most part, tried to add talent to their core in an attempt to capture their former glory.

Has either path worked? Not really. The Blackhawks haven’t won a playoff series since beating the Lightning in the 2015 Stanley Cup, and haven’t made it to the postseason at all over the last five seasons. As for the Penguins, they’ve won one series since their 2018 Cup, and after a few years of clawing their way to first-round defeats, they’ve missed the last three playoffs.

It does appear they are finally embracing the need for a rebuild, or at the very least, embracing the fact that it’s time to give some younger players a chance to play. Ben Kindel (18-years-old), Rutger McGroarty (21), and Ville Koivunen (22) all could be in the line-up tonight against the Lightning. Fans in the ‘Burgh might finally be seeing what lies beyond the Sidney Crosby Era.

That being said, Crosby isn’t quite ready to hand up the skates. Nor is he getting token ice time or skating around with a cane just yet. The 38-year-old forward has 29 points (18 goals, 11 assists) in 25 games. His long-time running mate, Evgeni Malkin, is right there with him at 26 points (6 goals, 20 assists) in 25 games.

Solid goaltending from Tristan Jarry (8-2-0, .911 SV%, 2.57 GAA) has helped keep them in a playoff spot for the first two months of the season. That’s hard to say. Superb special teams (first in power play percentage at 33.33% and fourth in penalty-killing at 84.93%) hide an average 5v5 team that can generate chances, but has had some issues finishing them off at even-strength.

They could be a bit of a handful for a Lightning team that is still running a patched together defense. It appears that Max Crozier should be healthy enough to play tonight, which could mean Coach Jon Cooper goes 11/7.

While Max is back, it looks like Andrei Vasilevskiy is out. The team recalled Brandon Halverson prior to their morning skate and Coach Cooper has indicated that Jonas Johansson will get the start tonight as he told reporters that it’s “nothing serious” and expects Vasilevskiy will be good to go on Saturday.

The team is coming off a 2-1 road that ended with a loss to New Jersey. It wasn’t a horrible game, and the Lightning dominated long stretches of play, but weren’t able to finish.

A key line for them tonight will be the Zemgus Girgensons – Yanni Gourde – Pontus Holmberg trio. With Pittsburgh leaning heavily on their veteran top-six, the Bolts should have a match-up advantage with Gourde’s line. Overall, they’ve been driving play when they’re on the ice with a 5-4 edge in goals scored and a 61.50% edge in expected goals. Over the last three games, they’ve really been pushing the advantage with an edge of 3.17 to 0.99 in expected goals with a 2-1 advantage in actual goals.

Expe

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:

Brandon HagelAnthony CirelliNikita KucherovJake GuentzelNick PaulGage GoncalvesZemgus GirgensonsYanni GourdePontus HolmbergOliver BjorkstrandDominic James

Defense:

J.J. MoserDarren RaddyshCharle-Edouard D’AstousEmil LillebergDeclan CarlileSteven SantiniMax Crozier

Goaltenders:

Jonas JohanssonBrandon Halverson

Pittsburgh Penguins

Forwards:

Kevin HayesSidney CrosbyBryan RustTommy NovakEvgeni MalkinAnthony ManthaRutger McGroartyBen KindelVille KoivunenConnor DewarBlake LizotteBoko Imama

Defense:

Parker WotherspoonErik KarlssonRyan SheaKris LetangRyan GravesConnor Clifton

Goaltenders:

Tristan JarryArturs Silovs