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Penguins Game 35, Try Again: Lines, Starting Goalies, & How to Watch vs. Canadiens
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- Penguins Game 35, Try Again: Lines, Starting Goalies, & How to Watch vs. Canadiens
The Pittsburgh Penguins (14-11-9) are in the midst of their worst winless streak in 20 years and their worst scoreless string in 16 years. The bottom is perilously close to falling out as the Penguins host the Montreal Canadiens (19-12-4) at PPG Paints Arena as the back end of a rare home-and-home series.
The puck drops just after 7 p.m.
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The Penguins are struggling against their opponents and against themselves as confidence and optimism become tougher to find or feel like denial. The Penguins have not scored a goal in 120 minutes and 13 seconds, being shut out 4-0 in consecutive road games by the Ottawa Senators and Montreal.
The only Penguins highlights have been good saves and close scoring chances that lit regret not goal lamps.
Saturday, the energetic Penguins committed 11 turnovers in the first period and trailed 2-0 on their way to another defeat. Stuart Skinner stopped 17 of 20, but the numbers betrayed his solid performance.
Montreal rookie goalie Jacob Fowler improved to 2-1-1, both wins coming against the Penguins.
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Arturs Silovs for the Penguins and Jakub Dobes for Montreal are the expected starters in net.
Penguins coach Dan Muse juggled his lines and defense pairings Saturday and may do so again Sunday.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
Expected Penguins Lines
Tommy Novak- Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha-Rickard Rakell-Justin Brazeau
Rutger McGroarty- Ben Kindel -Ville Koivunen
Connor Dewar-Kevin Hayes-Noel Acciari
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson
Brett Kulak-Kris Letang
Ryan Shea-Connor Clifton
Goalie: Arturs Silovs, expected
Expected Canadiens Lines
Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki -Zachary Bolduc
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Juraj Slafkovsky-Oliver Kapanen-Ivan Demidov
Alex Texier-Jake Evans-Brendan Gallagher
Joe Veleno-Owen Beck-Josh Anderson
Defense
Jayden Struble-Noah Dobson
Lane Hutson-Alex Carrier
Arber Xhekaj-Adam Engstrom
Goaltender: Jakub Dobes, expected
Special Teams
Penguins' power play: 29.5%, 3rd. Penguins penalty kill: 80.4%, 18th.
Canadiens power play: 26.4%, 64th. Canadiens penalty kill: 77.9%, 24th.
Penguins Game Notes
The Penguins have wins in three of their last four home games versus the Canadiens (3-1-0).
Bryan Rust (465) is one point shy of tying Jake Guentzel (466) for the 11th most points in franchise history.
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Sidney Crosby's next even-strength goal will surpass Phil Esposito (448) for sole possession of the ninth-most even-strength goals in NHL history.
Crosby's next point will tie him with Mario Lemieux for 8th all-time in NHL scoring and tie the Penguins franchise record. However, Crosby has just one point (0-1-1) in his last four games.
Crosby is also one assist shy of tying Adam Oates for the eighth-most assists in NHL history.
Penguins centers Evgeni Malkin and Blake Lizotte remain on injured reserve.
The post Penguins Game 35, Try Again: Lines, Starting Goalies, & How to Watch vs. Canadiens appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
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