CALGARY, Alberta — The Pittsburgh Penguins (23-14-11) are in third place in the Metropolitan Division and have a chance to take second in the 49th game of the season. The preseason predictions were wrong, but a trio of important games in Western Canada awaits, beginning Wednesday when the Penguins visit the Calgary Flames at the soon-to-be-closed Scotiabank Saddledome.
The puck drops just after 9:30 p.m. EST (7:30 p.m. MST), and Charley Kate performs both National Anthems.
The Penguins found ways to beat the rigidly defensive Seattle Kraken Monday, 6-3. In fact, the Penguins never trailed and displayed a strong backbone as they took control of the game after each Seattle push, eventually pulling away for the win at Climate Pledge Arena.
Connor Dewar had a pair of goals, including a shorthanded breakaway to tie his career high in goals (11) and points (19). Parker Wotherspoon, Brett Kulak, Justin Brazeau, and Rickard Rakell also lit the lamp.
Sidney Crosby, Anthony Mantha, and Blake Lizotte each had a pair of assists. And Stuart Skinner was solid, making 19 of 22 saves.
The win briefly put the Penguins in second in the Metro, but they remained two points behind with a game in hand on the New York Islanders. The Penguins have points in three straight, but Monday was their only win (1-0-2).
The Penguins’ defense might be beleagured Wedensday, without both Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson. Letang was absent from practice on Tuesday, while Karlsson was there but did not fully participate in all of the drills (as he noted, he didn’t get to run the power play).
The team also acquired left-handed defenseman Ilya Solovyov from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for former prospect Valtteri Puustinen. Solovyov will join the Penguins on the road trip.
Conversely, Calgary has been fighting through the beginning of their retool, or rebuild. Sunday, the team traded top defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights, and other trades may soon follow.
Calgary has fallen six points out of a playoff spot but are 2-0-1 in their last three games, including a win over the Islanders on Saturday.
On Monday, Calgary lost in overtime to the New Jersey Devils, 2-1. Simon Nemec scored the game winner, but Calgary’s philosopher goalie Devin Cooley earned the first star by stopping 30 of 32 shots.
Cooley made headlines by revealing his tongue-in-cheek nihilist mantra to get through rough patches of the game: “Nothing matters. Nobody cares. We’re all going to die.”
In keeping with the Penguins’ goalie rotation, Arturs Silovs is expected to start in goal for the Penguins. Dustin Wolf for Calgary.
If the Penguins start Silovs Wednesday, that sets up Skinner starting in his Edmonton homecoming Thursday.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
Expected Penguins Lines
Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov-Tommy Novak-Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha-Ben Kindel-Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon-Ryan Shea
Brett Kulak-Jack St. Ivany
Ryan Graves-Connor Clifton
Goalie: Arturs Silovs, expected
Expected Flames Lines
Connor Zary-Nazem Kadri-Matvei Gridin
Yegor Sharangovich-Mikael Backlund-Matt Coronato
Jonathan Huberdeau-Morgan Frost-Joel Farabee
Ryan Lomberg-Justin Kirkland-Adam Klapka
Defense
Yan Kuznetsov-Mackenzie Weegar
Kevin Bahl -Zach Whitecloud
Joel Hanley-Hunter Brzustewicz
Goalie: Dustin Wolf, expected
Special Teams
Penguins’ power play: 28.0%, 3rd. Penguins penalty kill: 83.1%, 4th.
Flames power play: 14.9%, 31st. Flames penalty kill: 83.0%, 6th
Penguins Game Notes
The series has not been great for the Penguins. Calgary has won 10 of the last 17 games, but the Penguins have salvaged points in 11 of those games (7-6-4).
Including Seattle on Monday, the Penguins have won four of their last five games (4-1-0).
The Penguins have killed off 20 of their last 21 penalties over the past six games. Their PK has risen to fourth overall.
The Penguins are 12-2-2 when Rickard Rakell records a point this season. Rakell currently has goals in back-to-back games.
Brett Kulak scored his first goal Monday to become the 26th Penguins goal scorer this season. No team has more unique goal scorers than the Penguins.
Most Unique Goal Scorers
Pittsburgh 26
Vancouver 25
Dallas 24
Edmonton 24
Seattle 24
Anaheim 24
St. Louis 24
Bryan Rust comes into tonight’s game three-points shy of 40 points this season. It would be the seventh time in his career and would be the 11th player in Penguins history with seven or more 40-point seasons.
Sidney Crosby tallied two assists on Monday to extend his multi-point streak to three games.
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Categorized: Penguins Pregame