Who: Pittsburgh Penguins (19-12-9, 47 factors, 4th place Metropolitan Division) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (18-16-6, 42 factors, eighth place Metropolitan Division)
When: 3:00 p.m. jap
How to Watch: Broadcast domestically Sportsnet Pittsburgh and FDSN Ohio, streaming on ESPN+
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Pens’ Path Ahead: After at present is a three-day break for video games for the Pens, who aren’t in motion once more till internet hosting New Jersey on Thursday. They higher make the quick break depend, the NJ sport begins a string of 9 video games in simply 15 days from Jan 8 -22. The excellent news is 5 of the following six video games after at present are residence video games in Pittsburgh, not less than.
Opponent Track: Columbus continues to be in final place within the division however they’ve tightened the standings up by profitable 4 out of their final 5 video games. That features a resounding 5-1 win yesterday over Buffalo to interrupt the Sabres 10-game profitable streak. The Blue Jackets have solely given up seven whole targets of their 4 video games performed since Christmas.
Season Series: This is the third PIT/CBJ sport of the season, neither of the primary two resulted in regulation. Columbus gained 5-4 by the use of a shootout again on October twenty fifth in Pittsburgh, the Penguins returned the favor with a Kris Letang time beyond regulation aim in Columbus to take a 4-3 win within the November twenty eighth matchup. The fourth and remaining sport after at present is arising fairly quickly when the Blue Jackets head to Pittsburgh another time on January seventeenth.
Hidden Stat: Don’t assume this sport is protected within the third interval, irrespective of who could be forward. Columbus is thirtieth within the NHL with a .706% profitable proportion (12-1-4) when main after two intervals. The Pens are proper behind them at thirty first with a .684% profitable proportion (13-2-4). These groups (and thirty second place Toronto) are the one NHL golf equipment to fail to win 5+ video games up to now this season when main after the second intermission.
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Getting to know the Blue Jackets
Projected strains
FORWARDS
Mason Marchment – Adam Fantilli – Kirill Marchenko
Dmitry Voronkov – Cole Sillinger – Danton Heinen
Boone Jenner – Charlie Coyle – Mathieu Olivier
Zach Aston Reese – Brendan Gaunce – Kent Johnson
DEFENSEMEN
Zach Werenski / Denton Mateychuk
Ivan Provorov / Damon Severson
Jake Christiansen / Dante Fabbro
Goalies: Elvis Merzlikins (Jet Greaves performed yesterday)
Potential scratches: Sean Monahan (damage), Dysin Mayo
Injured Reserve: Miles Wood, Isac Lundestrom, Erik Gudbrandson, Brendan Smith
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An damage to Monahan helped open the door to getting Heinen again into the NHL after final week’s commerce from Pittsburgh. Heinen initially went to AHL Cleveland for a sport and made his Columbus debut yesterday. Monahan is claimed to be day-to-day.
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The transfer so as to add Marchment through a commerce has paid some good early dividends, the massive winger has six factors (4G+2A) in six video games with CBJ.
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Werenski returned to the lineup for his first sport yesterday since 12/20, notching two assists. He’s received 2+ factors in every of the final 4 video games that he’s performed in.
Season stats
through hockeydb
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Columbus stays in final place resulting from a scarcity of firepower, rating 21st in the NHL in targets per sport. Johnson and Monahan (who produced 54 and 57 factors final season, respectively) have taken a step backwards in that column this 12 months. Fantilli hasn’t been poor this season however he did rating 31 targets final 12 months and is operating underneath that tempo this season.
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Even a budding star like Marchenko, was in that class of being a minor disappointment till not too long ago — he’s scored 4 targets within the final 5 video games to make his boxcars look extra respectable right here these days.
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Greaves has supplied a terrific choice as a beginning goalie this 12 months, Merzlikins has continued to wrestle to maintain the aim of of his web when he’s performed. The Pens have had some luck within the schedule to play 4/5 of their final 5 video games for groups on the second half of a back-to-back, and whereas Pittsburgh can also be in that state of affairs at present, it’s an enormous distinction and drop off in the event that they find yourself seeing Merzlikins within the web at present.
Changes coming in Columbus?
It’s powerful for the Blue Jackets to take a seat in 15th place within the East through factors proportion when it comes with a reasonably respectable .525%. They have been hoping to take the following step this season and that hasn’t occurred nearing the mid-way level.
Waddell has began an overhaul, getting Marchment (as talked about above) after which recouping these draft picks from Pittsburgh to ship out Chinakhov is the beginning of it. More could possibly be on the way in which however the sheer variety of groups forward of them will make for a difficult climb. Columbus did effectively to come back out and take down the streaking Sabres to raised themselves somewhat extra, they positively ought to be taking part in with desperation at present and preventing for a spot that already could possibly be slipping away in the event that they don’t get it in gear quickly.
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And now for the Pens
Projected strains
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha – Tommy Novak – Justin Brazeau
Yegor Chinakhov – Ben Kindel – Rutger McGroarty
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Brett Kulak / Kris Letang
Ryan Shea / Jack St. Ivany
Goalies: Arturs Silovs (Stuart Skinner performed yesterday)
Potential Scratches: Ville Koivunen, Kevin Hayes, Connor Clifton
IR: Evgeni Malkin, Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones
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Malkin was confirmed as not being on this quick street journey, and given the character of the spectacular win yesterday there in all probability gained’t be a lot in the way in which of lineup modifications other than swapping within the brisker goalie. If it’s Silovs vs. Merzlikins that will make for the uncommon double Latvian beginning goaltender matchup.
Pens seeking to maintain it going
The Penguins have all of the sudden gained four-straight video games and are proper again within the thick of the playoff race. They’re coming off arguably their most spectacular and full sport of the season, limiting first-place Detroit to solely 12 photographs on aim in a 4-1 street victory. Today presents a problem on the street once more and on the finish of one other hectic stretch of video games, they’ll afford to ‘empty the tank’ with their efforts realizing {that a} three-day break lies instantly forward.