Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
Penguins Wrap Up Home Stretch With High-Stakes Rangers Showdown
The Penguins close out their quick two-game homestand tonight with a rematch against the New York Rangers and former coach Mike Sullivan.
Penguins' fans are in for some sleepless nights. Pittsburgh travels west for a stint on the road against the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks, with all face-offs at 10 p.m. ET or later. Before hitting the road, the Penguins get an opportunity to have their say about the New York Rangers.
The Rangers were shut out 3-0 in their opener at Madison Square Garden by Pittsburgh, then New York responded with a 4-0 victory Thursday in Buffalo.
A victory tonight would have a more positive series record than last year, when Pittsburgh was 1-3 and outscored 17-8. It would also provide the Penguins with their first 3-0-0 opening since 2013-14.
The Rangers may lose Vincent Trocheck, who departed Thursday's game with an upper-body injury.
His absence resulted in Mika Zibanejad moving to the second line with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. Conor Sheary, who was signed at the start of the season, advanced to the top line.
Igor Shesterkin was sharp in his 37-save shutout of the Sabres and can once again be relied upon with New York's forward depth uncertain.
Projected Rangers lines
FORWARDS
Will Cuylle - JT Miller - Mika Zibanejad
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck (?) - Alexis Lafreniére
Conor Sheary - Noah Laba - Taylor Raddysh
Adam Edstrom - Sam Carrick - Matt Rempe
DEFENSEMEN
Vladislav Gavrikov - Adam Fox
Carson Soucy - Will Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen - Braden Schneider
GOALIES
Igor Shesterkin, Jonathan Quick
FORWARDS
Will Cuylle - JT Miller - Mika Zibanejad
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck (?) - Alexis Lafreniére
Conor Sheary - Noah Laba - Taylor Raddysh
Adam Edstrom - Sam Carrick - Matt Rempe
DEFENSEMEN
Vladislav Gavrikov - Adam Fox
Carson Soucy - Will Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen - Braden Schneider
GOALIES
Igor Shesterkin, Jonathan Quick
Penguins' Justin Brazeau Has the Most High-Danger Opportunities in the NHL so far This Season
He has saved 15 of 16 high-danger chances this season, as Penguins forward Justin Brazeau leads the league with seven high-danger chances in two games.
Bryan Rust has practiced again in a normal jersey but has not set a return date. Dan Muse and Kyle Dubas will need to decide soon if rookies Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke remain beyond the nine-game mark and sign their entry-level deals.
Their excellent early efforts could be tested when Rust, Kevin Hayes, and Rutger McGroarty return.
Projected Penguins lines
FORWARDS
Ville Koivunen - Sidney Crosby - Rickard Rakell
Anthony Mantha - Evgeni Malkin - Justin Brazeau
Tommy Novak - Ben Kindel - Filip Hallander
Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea / Kris Letang
Caleb Jones / Harrison Brunicke
GOALIES
Arturs Silovs, Tristan Jarry
FORWARDS
Ville Koivunen - Sidney Crosby - Rickard Rakell
Anthony Mantha - Evgeni Malkin - Justin Brazeau
Tommy Novak - Ben Kindel - Filip Hallander
Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea / Kris Letang
Caleb Jones / Harrison Brunicke
GOALIES
Arturs Silovs, Tristan Jarry
The Penguins also salute David Blackburn, who has worked 64 years in the Civic Arena and PPG Paints Arena, Saturday night on his 90th birthday, during the game.
As the team looks to start without flaw and work through roster decisions, this weekend brings promise and celebration.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 11 | 58 ANSWERS Penguins Wrap Up Home Stretch With High-Stakes Rangers Showdown Who will win tonight's rematch? | ||
| Penguins | 32 | 55.2 % |
| Rangers | 26 | 44.8 % |
| List of polls | ||