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Penguins Return Home Looking to Cool Off Red-Hot Canucks Tonight
Photo credit: Edit from PensBurgh
The Penguins return home tonight from their West Coast road trip and take on the red-hot Canucks, who have won their last three games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are home tonight, taking on the Vancouver Canucks, who are on a sizzling tear at PPG Paints Arena.
The Penguins then are off on a road trip that features a Thursday night encounter with last season's defending champion Florida Panthers, who won't have injured stalwarts Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, then back home to play Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Monday against the St. Louis Blues.
Vancouver comes in tonight's contest unbeaten so far on its current four-game trip on the road.
The Canucks began with a 5-3 triumph in Dallas, as well as a 3-2 shootout win in Chicago, then a 4-3 victory in Washington, that one decided with a game-winning marker from former Penguin Teddy Blueger.
The Penguins and Canucks are set to meet again on January 25, as both clubs split last season's season series.
The Canucks lost both Filip Chytil and Jonathan Lekkerimaki to injuries in their previous game
The Canucks' depth could be tested as second-line center Filip Chytil and right winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki both landed on injured reserve Monday after sustaining various injuries against Washington.
Brock Boeser was held back Sunday as a late scratch due to personal issues and is expected to be back in action, according to GM Patrik Allvin. Blueger is "doubtful" to play against his former team.
Projected Canucks lines
FORWARDS
Jake DeBrusk - Elias Pettersson - Conor Garland
Evander Kane - Max Sasson - Brock Boeser
Drew O'Connor - Aatu Raty - Kiefer Sherwood
Arshdeep Bains - Nils Aman - Linus Karlsson
DEFENSEMEN
Quinn Hughes - Filip Hronek
Marcus Pettersson - Tyler Myers
Pierre-Olivier Joseph - Elias Nils Pettersson
GOALIES
Thatcher Demko, Kevin Lankinen
FORWARDS
Jake DeBrusk - Elias Pettersson - Conor Garland
Evander Kane - Max Sasson - Brock Boeser
Drew O'Connor - Aatu Raty - Kiefer Sherwood
Arshdeep Bains - Nils Aman - Linus Karlsson
DEFENSEMEN
Quinn Hughes - Filip Hronek
Marcus Pettersson - Tyler Myers
Pierre-Olivier Joseph - Elias Nils Pettersson
GOALIES
Thatcher Demko, Kevin Lankinen
In Pittsburgh's lineup, hurt forward Rutger McGroarty is on track but is still being withheld since his injury report is "status quo," according to head coach Dan Muse.
Goaltender Arturs Silovs might play against his former club for the first time since he was dealt to Pittsburgh last July.
Projected Penguins lines
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha - Evgeni Malkin - Justin Brazeau
Tommy Novak - Ben Kindel - Filip Hallander
Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari / Philip Tomasino
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea / Kris Letang
Caleb Jones / Harrison Brunicke
GOALIES
Arturs Silovs, Tristan Jarry
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha - Evgeni Malkin - Justin Brazeau
Tommy Novak - Ben Kindel - Filip Hallander
Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari / Philip Tomasino
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea / Kris Letang
Caleb Jones / Harrison Brunicke
GOALIES
Arturs Silovs, Tristan Jarry
Tonight's encounter will determine whether Pittsburgh can cool down one of the hottest teams in the league en route to resuming a busy week.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 21 | 95 ANSWERS Penguins Return Home Looking to Cool Off Red-Hot Canucks Tonight Who will win tonight's game? | ||
| Penguins | 89 | 93.7 % |
| Canucks | 6 | 6.3 % |
| List of polls | ||