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Penguins Game 29, Late Trouble: Lines, Goalies, & How to Watch vs. Canadiens
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- Penguins Game 29, Late Trouble: Lines, Goalies, & How to Watch vs. Canadiens
Pittsburgh Penguins game vs. Montreal Canadiens
The Pittsburgh Penguins (14-7-7) have controlled regulation play for most of their recent games, but wins have slipped from their grasp by allowing late goals and their inability to win in overtime or a shootout. The Penguins have lost two straight games via the shootout after leading in the final minutes, and there was nearly a third. They will try to scrub the frustration Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens (15-11-3) at PPG Paints Arena.
The puck drops shortly after 7 p.m.
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If games ended after 58 minutes, the Penguins would be on top of the league. However, in each of the last three games, the Penguins have yielded a tying goal in the final 120 seconds. Three games ago, the NHL Situation Room disallowed the Tampa Bay Lightning 's tying goal, but the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks not only tied the game, but they also won in a shootout.
The Penguins' shooters are 0-for-6 in those two shootouts.
Anaheim tied the game with 0.1 seconds remaining as the Penguins' defensive zone coverage collapsed, and Ducks winger Beckett Senecke slipped past defensemen Kris Letang on his way to the net. Defenseman Erik Karlsson then accidentally knocked the loose puck into his own goal for the tying marker.
The Penguins were a generally disgusted group after the game.
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Montreal was smoked by Tampa Bay Tuesday, 6-1. It started badly, got worse, and by the end of the evening, one of the Montreal goalies was facing an uncertain NHL future.
Jakub Dobes started and allowed three goals on six shots before coach Martin St. Louis gave him the hook. However, Sam Montembeault has suffered a terrible Olympic year and gave up three more goals.
Despite being in contention for Team Canada, Montembeault's save percentage this year is a jaw-dropping .857. He ranks 55th of 56 goalies who have made at least 10 appearances.
So, the Canadiens called up their top goaltending prospect, 21-year-old Jacob Fowler.
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The immediate things fans will notice as the Penguins face the Canadiens three times in the next 10 days are the team's speed, but also their talent. Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki have been on a tear. Suzuki leads the team with 33 points, and Caufield leads in goals with 16.
Penguins forwards Evgeni Malkin , Blake Lizotte , and Rickard Rakell remain on injured reserve.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh , NHL Network
Radio: 105.9 The X
Expected Penguins Lines
Tommy Novak -Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha-Kevin Hayes-Justin Brazeau
Rutger McGroarty-Ben Kindel-Ville Koivunen
Connor Dewar-Danton Heinen-Noel Acciari
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Defense
Parker Wotherspoon- Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea-Kris Letang
Ryan Graves-Connor Clifton
Goalie: Tristan Jarry , confirmed.
Expected Canadiens Lines
Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup
Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Zachary Bolduc
Juraj Slafkovsky-Oliver Kapanen-Ivan Demidov
Alexandre Texier-Jake Evans-Josh Anderson
Jared Davidson-Joe Veleno-Brendan Gallagher
Defense
Mike Matheson-Noah Dobson
Jayden Struble- Lane Hutson
Arber Xhekaj-Alexandre Carrier
Goalie: Jacob Fowler, unconfirmed.
Special Teams
Penguins' power play: 32.4%, 1st. Penguins penalty kill: 84.2%, 4th.
Canadiens power play: 25.6%, 4th. Canadiens penalty kill: 77.2%, 26th.
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Penguins Game Notes
The Penguins will wear their third jerseys Thursday.
The Penguins have six-straight wins against the Canadiens (6-0-0) dating back to Dec. 13, 2023. It's their longest active winning streak versus any one team.
The Penguins also have points in 19 of their last 23 games against Montreal (16-4-3).
Despite the consternation, the Penguins have points in seven of their last eight games (4-1-3).
Erik Karlsson has 10 goals vs. the Canadiens is tied for among all active
defensemen. The only blueliner to have more is teammate Kris Letang
(11).
Tommy Novak's goal Tuesday extended his point streak to four games (3-2-5).
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The post Penguins Game 29, Late Trouble: Lines, Goalies, & How to Watch vs. Canadiens appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
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