BOSTON — The Pittsburgh Penguins (21-13-9) surrendered their six-game winning streak Saturday with a lackluster performance against the Calgary Flames, but they have little time to ponder it as they are back in action just 26 hours later as they face the Boston Bruins (24-19-2) at TD Garden.
The puck drops just after 5 p.m., and Todd Angilly belts out one of the best renditions of the National Anthem in the NHL.
According to FanDuel NHL odds, the Penguins are heavy betting favorites to keep the game within a goal, though slight underdogs (-114). The FanDuel research team also has a few in-game bets to watch.
The Penguins never led and next really took control of the game against Calgary Saturday. The Penguins played well for longer spurts in the second and third period, but so did Calgary as the Penguins lost 2-1.
Egor Chinakhov had the lone Penguins goal as they were too often confined to the perimeter and too often succumbed to Calgary’s man-to-man pressure at the top of the offensive zone.
Arturs Silovs stopped 24 of 26 shots. He was momentarily hurt toward the end of the regulation, but finished the game. He replied to PHN that it was simply a momentary back spasm and he was fine.
Like the Penguins, Boston has exceeded expectations this season. They have won two in a row, including absolutely embarrassing the New York Rangers on Saturday, 10-2.
The Bruins enjoyed a pair of hat tricks and some standout offensive performances. Marat Khusnutdinov (9) scored four goals, Pavel Zacha (13) netted three, Fraser Minten (10) had two, and “only” one from Charlie McAvoy (2).
With the back-to-back situation, the Penguins’ goalie will be Stuart Skinner. However, Boston may return with Jeremy Swayman, who made 27 saves Saturday. Or they could go with backup Joonas Korpisalo, who has disappointed this season with a 7-8-0 record and .888 save percentage.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
Possible Penguins Lines
Tommy Novak-Sidney Crosby-Rickard Rakell
Evgeni Malkin-Ben Kindel-Egor Chinakhov
Anthony Mantha-Kevin Hayes-Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson
Brett Kulak-Kris Letang
Ryan Shea-Jack St. Ivany
Goalie: Stuart Skinner, Expected
Expected Bruins Lines
Marat Khusnutdinov-Elias Lindholm-David Pastrnak
Casey Mittelstadt-Pavel Zacha-Viktor Arvidsson
Alex Steeves-Fraser Minten-Morgan Geekie
Tanner Jeannot-Sean Kuraly-Mark Kastelic
Defensemen
Jonathan Aspirot-Charlie McAvoy
Henri Jokiharju-Nikita Zadorov
Mason Lohrei-Andrew Peeke
Goalie: TBD
Special Teams
Penguins’ power play: 29.1%, 3rd. Penguins penalty kill: 81.5%, 10th.
Bruins power play: 25.8, 4th. Bruins penalty kill: 78.9%, 19th.
Penguins Game Notes
The Penguins and Boston have traded wins in each of their last four games played at TD Garden. A win would give the Penguins their first two-game win streak in Boston since winning six-straight at TD Garden from Mar. 18, 2010-Apr. 20, 2013.
Rickard Rakell has 19 points (10-9-19) in 22 games played against the Bruins.
Egor Chinakhov has three points (2-1-3) in five games with the Penguins.
The Penguins have points in 26 of the 34 games that Blake Lizotte has dressed in (20-8-6).
Stuart Skinner made 25 saves on 26 shots (.962 SV%) on Thursday to record his third-straight win since the Christmas Break (3-0-0).
Kevin Hayes, from Dorchester, Massachusetts, is one game shy of 800 career games played. He has 443 career points (184-259-443), playing with the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, and the Penguins.
Sidney Crosby has 75 points (19-56-75) in 62 career games against the
Bruins, no active player has more. Alex Ovechkin is second with 61 points.
Tags: Boston Bruins bruins lines Penguins lines penguins notes Penguins starting goalie Pittsburgh Penguins
Categorized: Penguins Pregame Pittsburgh Penguins