Can the Penguins soar to second place in their division, or will the Calgary Flames extinguish their hopes? The Pittsburgh Penguins, currently holding a respectable third place in the Metropolitan Division, are gearing up for their 49th game of the season. This matchup against the Calgary Flames presents a golden opportunity to climb into second place, a position many might not have predicted at the start of the year. Their journey west continues with a crucial game on Wednesday against the Flames at the soon-to-be-retired Scotiabank Saddledome. The puck is set to drop just after 9:30 p.m. EST (7:30 p.m. MST), with both national anthems to be performed by Charley Kate.
Just days ago, the Penguins showcased their resilience by overcoming the defensively stout Seattle Kraken with a 6-3 victory. They impressively never trailed, demonstrating a strong mental fortitude by responding to every Seattle surge and ultimately pulling away for a decisive win. Connor Dewar was a standout, netting two goals, including a shorthanded breakaway that tied his career highs for goals (11) and points (19). Other Penguins who found the back of the net were Parker Wotherspoon, Brett Kulak, Justin Brazeau, and Rickard Rakell. On the assist front, Sidney Crosby, Anthony Mantha, and Blake Lizotte each contributed a pair, while Stuart Skinner was a solid presence in net, making 19 saves on 22 shots.
This win temporarily propelled the Penguins into second place in the Metro, though they remain two points behind the New York Islanders with a game in hand. While they've earned points in three consecutive games, Monday's victory was their sole win in that stretch (1-0-2).
However, the Penguins' defense might face a significant challenge on Wednesday. Both Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson are in question. Letang was absent from Tuesday's practice, and Karlsson, while present, did not fully participate in all drills, noting he didn't get to run the power play. Adding to their defensive depth, the team recently acquired left-handed defenseman Ilya Solovyov from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for prospect Valtteri Puustinen. Solovyov is expected to join the team on their road trip.
But here's where it gets controversial... The Calgary Flames are in the midst of a significant retool, or perhaps even a rebuild. Just this past Sunday, they traded their top defenseman, Rasmus Andersson, to the Vegas Golden Knights, and further trades are anticipated. This strategic shift has seen them fall six points out of a playoff spot, though they've managed to secure points in their last three outings (2-0-1), including a victory over the Islanders. Their most recent game saw them fall 2-1 in overtime to the New Jersey Devils, with Simon Nemec scoring the winner. Despite the loss, Calgary's goaltender, Devin Cooley, earned first star honors for his stellar performance, stopping 30 of 32 shots. Cooley recently made headlines with his unique, tongue-in-cheek nihilist mantra for dealing with tough game moments: “Nothing matters. Nobody cares. We’re all going to die.”
In line with the Penguins' goaltending rotation, Arturs Silovs is anticipated to start in goal for Pittsburgh. For Calgary, Dustin Wolf is expected to be in net. If Silovs starts on Wednesday, it sets up Stuart Skinner for a homecoming start in Edmonton on Thursday.
How to Watch:
* TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
* Radio: 105.9 The X
Expected Penguins Lines:
* Forwards: Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust | Egor Chinakhov - Tommy Novak - Evgeni Malkin | Anthony Mantha - Ben Kindel - Justin Brazeau | Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari
* Defense: Parker Wotherspoon - Ryan Shea | Brett Kulak - Jack St. Ivany | Ryan Graves - Connor Clifton
* Goalie: Arturs Silovs, expected
Expected Flames Lines:
* Forwards: Connor Zary - Nazem Kadri - Matvei Gridin | Yegor Sharangovich - Mikael Backlund - Matt Coronato | Jonathan Huberdeau - Morgan Frost - Joel Farabee | Ryan Lomberg - Justin Kirkland - Adam Klapka
* Defense: Yan Kuznetsov - Mackenzie Weegar | Kevin Bahl - Zach Whitecloud | Joel Hanley - Hunter Brzustewicz
* Goalie: Dustin Wolf, expected
Special Teams:
* Penguins Power Play: 28.0% (3rd)
* Penguins Penalty Kill: 83.1% (4th)
* Flames Power Play: 14.9% (31st)
* Flames Penalty Kill: 83.0% (6th)
Penguins Game Notes:
Historically, the Penguins haven't had the easiest time against the Flames, with Calgary winning 10 of their last 17 matchups. However, Pittsburgh has managed to secure points in 11 of those games (7-6-4).
And this is the part most people miss... The Penguins have been on a strong run lately, winning four of their last five games (4-1-0), including their recent victory over Seattle.
Their penalty kill has been exceptional, successfully killing off 20 of their last 21 penalties over the past six games, boosting them to fourth overall.
Rickard Rakell has been a key contributor, with the Penguins holding a 12-2-2 record when he records a point. He's also currently on a two-game goal streak.
Brett Kulak scored his first goal as a Penguin on Monday, making him the 26th different goal scorer for the team this season. This impressive depth in scoring puts them ahead of many other teams:
- Most Unique Goal Scorers: Pittsburgh (26), Vancouver (25), Dallas (24), Edmonton (24), Seattle (24), Anaheim (24), St. Louis (24).
Bryan Rust is on the cusp of another milestone, needing just three points to reach 40 points for the season. This would mark the seventh time in his career he's achieved this, placing him among the top 11 Penguins players with seven or more 40-point seasons.
Sidney Crosby extended his streak of multi-point games to three with his two assists on Monday.
What do you think? Is the Penguins' recent surge enough to overcome their historical struggles against Calgary, especially with potential defensive absences? And how much of an impact will Calgary's rebuilding phase have on this game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
