Filed underneath:
Leap on into our sport preview!
In case you purchase one thing from an SB Nation hyperlink, Vox Media could earn a fee. See our ethics statement.
Who: Pittsburgh Penguins (27-21-8, 62 factors, sixth place Metropolitan Division) @ Seattle Kraken (25-22-11, 61 factors, sixth place Pacific Division)
When: 10 p.m. ET
Watch: Sportsnet Pittsburgh and Root Sports activities NW within the native markets, streaming on ESPN+
Pens’ Path Forward: The Pens head again throughout the border after tonight for a Saturday/Sunday b-2-b with Calgary and Edmonton over the weekend. Then it’s again to the ‘Burgh for a pair of mid-week division matchups with Columbus and Washington subsequent Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
Opponent Monitor: The Kraken have been up and down all 12 months and within the current previous. They’re 4-3-1 for the reason that All-Star break, a file that is likely to be stronger than it seems being as two of the wins had been in shootouts. Tonight is sport 5 of six in a row at house, Seattle bested Boston in (you guessed it) a shootout on Monday of their final sport out to bounce-back from shedding 5-2 to Minnesota.
Season Collection: Pittsburgh took the primary assembly on Jan fifteenth, a 3-0 victory, breaking the Kraken’s nine-game successful streak. Going into that day seems to be just like the excessive water mark and turning level of Seattle’s season — they’re solely 6-8-2 since (and together with) once they rolled into Pittsburgh.
Hidden Stat: Sidney Crosby (2A) and Evgeni Malkin (1A) each recorded factors on Tuesday, and Pens PR factors out the staff has an general file of 382-87-45 when each stars get on the scoresheet in the identical sport.
Hidden Stat 2.0: Pens PR additionally suggestions us off that Pittsburgh is 13-9-2 in opposition to Western Convention opponents this season (which leaves 14-12-6 in opposition to their house convention).
Leap Day: The Pens are solely 4-4-0 all-time on the uncommon February twenty eighth incidence and sport. Pittsburgh misplaced leap day video games in 1976 and 1984 earlier than successful in 1992, shedding in ‘96, successful in 2004. In current instances, they’ve received in 2012 and 2016 earlier than shedding in 2020.
Projected traces
FORWARDS
Jared McCann – Matty Beniers – Jordan Eberle
Jaden Schwartz – Alex Wennberg – Oliver Bjorkstrand
Eeli Tolvanen – Yanni Gourde- Andre Burakovsky? / Tye Kartye
Tomas Tatar – Kailer Yamamoto – Brandon Tanev
DEFENSEMEN
Vince Dunn / Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleksiak / Will Borgen
Brian Dumoulin / Justin Schultz
Goalies: Joey Daccord, Philipp Grubauer
Attainable scratches: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Ryker Evans, Tye Kartye
IR: none
—Burakovsky missed observe yesterday, Kartye was stated to be the placeholder skating on that line.
—For an growth staff in 12 months 3, this can be a bizarre spot. As maybe to be anticipated, there’s no absolute elite expertise. Loads of fairly good gamers, lots of whom have been round for the reason that staff’s inception. Seattle isn’t a nasty staff by any design, but they’re not likely that good but both. Vegas set the bar impossibly excessive and so they had been much more aggressive in trades within the early days (bringing in large items like Max Pacioretty, Alec Martinez, Robin Lehner and Mark Stone; to say nothing of later strikes so as to add Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo by way of FA). Seattle has been extra content material to go the sluggish construct route by way of youth (The Athletic ranked the Krakens’ prospect pool 12th recently).
(through hockeydb)
—McCann has led the Kraken in factors throughout every of their first two seasons and is making a run for a 3rd this 12 months. He’s scored by far essentially the most objectives in franchise historical past to this point for the NHL’s latest membership. Thanks, Hextall.
—Whereas we’re in a second of being envious in a futile method, what’s up with the Kraken getting Tolvanen on waivers final 12 months, and the Pens find yourself with guys like Harkins and Phillips on waivers this 12 months? Not a lot you are able to do, moreover bemoan the timing and do not forget that typically the wire can reward with borderline affect gamers. (And typically…not).
—Perhaps it’s as a result of he’s out west, nevertheless it positive appears like Brian Dumoulin slipped away into the void. He’s solely averaging 16:18 this season and won’t play 20+ minutes per sport for the primary time since his 2015-16 rookie season. Since he’s taking part in much less, he’s taking pictures much less (solely 46 SOG in 56 video games) however has 4 objectives this season. His career-high is 5, so he’s obtained a good probability to tie or exceed that. Go determine. Looks as if he’s settling into the tail-end of his profession effectively out of the underside pair out in Seattle after signing a two-year contract final summer time.
—Daccord has critically saved Seattle’s bacon this 12 months. They growth drafted Driedger, however he’s flamed out of the NHL. Grubauer was added because the dear free agent anchor for the staff, however he hasn’t lived as much as the massive contract in any respect. The unheralded choice has been the most effective, solely Connor Hellebuyck and Jeremy Swayman have a greater save proportion within the league amongst beginning goalies (as in, beginning 50+% of their video games).
Projected traces
FORWARDS
Reilly Smith- Sidney Crosby – Rickard Rakell
Drew O’Connor – Evgeni Malkin – Valtteri Puustinen
Emil Bemstrom – Lars Eller – Jesse Puljujarvi
Jansen Harkins – Noel Acciari – Jeff Carter
DEFENSEMEN
P.O. Joseph / Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson / Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves / Chad Ruhwedel
Goalies: Tristan Jarry, Alex Nedeljkovic
Potential Scratches: Matthew Phillips, John Ludvig, Bryan Rust (upper-body damage)
IR: Matt Nieto (out from knee surgical procedure till March), Jake Guentzel
—The Penguins obtained a reward for a observe cancelled yesterday within the aftermath of the OT win over Vancouver on Tuesday evening.
The Pens’ captain didn’t rating a purpose on Tuesday, nevertheless it wasn’t for a scarcity of making an attempt. He’s often cash on the street this 12 months, per Pens PR:
Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby has been discovering the again of the web at a constant tempo. He’s tied for ninth within the NHL in objectives (32). Crosby has been particularly harmful on the street, selecting up 32 factors (19G-13A) in 27 street video games. His 19 objectives on the street are fourth within the NHL:
Most Objectives in NHL, Highway
Participant GP G
Auston Matthews 30 24
Sam Reinhart 30 21
Artemi Panarin 32 20
Sidney Crosby 27 19
Nikita Kucherov 32 18
Please Gamble Responsibly. Name 1-800-522-4700 (NH), 888-789-7777/go to ccpg.org (CT), or go to www.1800gambler.internet (WV).
21+ (18+ KY/NH/WY). Bodily current in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/KY/LA(choose parishes)/MA/MD/ME/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY solely. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. See phrases at draftkings.com/sportsbook. On behalf of Boot Hill On line casino & Resort (KS).
