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Penguins Game 39, Streaking; Lines, Goalies, & How to Watch vs. Red Wings
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- Penguins Game 39, Streaking; Lines, Goalies, & How to Watch vs. Red Wings
The Pittsburgh Penguins (17-12-9) have tossed off the yoke of anger and disappointment that took the form of losing nine of 10 games, some in regulation and some in byeond 60 minutes, to win their last two games convincingly. The streaking Penguins face the Atlantic Division-leading Detroit Red Wings (24-14-3) at PPG Paints Arena Thursday.
The puck drops just after 7 p.m. when Mr. Jeff Jimmersom and parts of the crowd belt out the national anthem.
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The Penguins carved up the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday, 5-1 at PPG Paints Arena. Sidney Crosby scored the first goal of the game at 3:46 of the first period, and the Penguins never trailed. Justin Brazeau rekindled his torrid offensive pace with another goal, his fourth in two games. Anthony Mantha scored a pair of goals, and Tommy Novak also lit the lamp.
The Penguins largely controlled the game from start to finish with good puck management and structured play. It didn't hurt that Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen didn't have his best game, either. Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner was solid, stopping 27 of 28 shots for his first Penguins win and the game helmet.
Detroit has been the Atlantic Division's best team. While others have struggled with injuries and inconsistency, Detroit has kept rolling.
Detroit has won five of their last six games and used a stellar performance by goalie John Gibson to beat the Winnipeg Jets , 2-1 Wednesday. Gibson stopped 23 of 24 shots for the home ice win.
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Dylan Larkin , who will suit up for Team Canada in the Winter Olympics, and Mason Appleton scored Detroit's goals.
Detroit is also led by defenseman Moritz Seider , who has 25 points (6-19-25) and a plus-12 rating in 25 games since Nov. 13
The Penguins will start Arturs Silovs in net. With a two-game winning streak, Silovs has improved his record to 6-5-6 with an .888 save percentage. Detroit will most likely turn to Cam Talbot , with a similar .889 save percentage in 20 appearances.
The game will also be the debut of newly acquired Penguins winger Yegor Chinakhov . The Penugins paid up, sending a 2026 second-rounder and 2027 third-rounder to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Chinakhov, who hopes to revive his young career.
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Chinakhov will play beside Ben Kindel , and Rutger McGroarty is in his debut.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
Expected Penguins Lines
Rickard Rakell- Sidney Crosby -Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha-Tommy Novak-Justin Brazeau
Rutger McGroarty- Ben Kindel – Yegor Chinakhov
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson
Brett Kulak-Kris Letang
Ryan Shea-Jack St. Ivany
Goalie: Arturs Silovs
Expected Red Wings Lines
Emmitt Finnie-Dylan Larkin-Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat-Andrew Copp-John Leonard
Marco Kasper-Nate Danielson-James van Riemsdyk
Michael Rasmussen-JT Compher-Mason Appleton
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Defense
Simon Edvinsson-Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot-Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Albert Johansson-Jacob Bernard-Docker
Goalie: Cam Talbot, expected
Special Teams
Penguins' power play: 30.1%, 2nd. Penguins penalty kill: 81.7%, 12th.
Red Wings power play: 25.2%, 4th. Red Wings penalty kill: 80.6%, 15th.
Penguins Game Notes
The Penguins are 10-3-3 in their last 16 games against Detroit, and have scored four or more goals 11 times. The Penguins also have points in 10 consecutive home games against Detroit (7-0-3).
Kris Letang has 11 points (1-10-11) over his last 16 games and is onepoint shy of hitting the 20-point plateau for the 18th time in his career. Only 14 other defensemen in NHL history have 18 or more 20-point seasons.
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Thursday will also be Letang's 1200th game. Only 39 defensemen in history have reached that mark and he'll become the third active defenseman to reach that mark.
Anthony Mantha has a three-game goal streak, and five points (4-1-5) in that span.
The post Penguins Game 39, Streaking; Lines, Goalies, & How to Watch vs. Red Wings appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
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