Penguins @ Blackhawks
United Center – Chicago, IL
8:00PM Eastern – NBCSN
The Penguins head out to Chicago looking to continue their point streak against a struggling new-look Blackhawks squad in the throes of salary cap woes and the fallout that has them bottoming out in a very real way. The Penguins haven’t won in Chicago since February of 2009.
The Penguins have earned at least a point in their last 4 games, most recently coming back and gutting out a 2-1 Shootout win against the Islanders on Monday night on Long Island.
The story of the day is that two-time Stanley Cup winning goaltender Matt Murray has been activated from injured reserve. The corresponding move ships Tristan Jarry back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Coach Sullivan on Murray: “We would like to get him involved as soon as we can. We are playing a lot of games. We are encouraged that he is as close as he is. We’ll take each day as it comes.”
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 11, 2018
It’s the Dad’s trip for the Penguins, so it’s sure to be an emotional night for Murray, whose father passed away last January. While Murray is available this evening, it will be in a backup capacity, as Casey “The Smith” DeSmith will get the start.
Patric Hornqvist remains out and is day-to-day.
Coach Sullivan on Hornqvist’s injury: “We were hoping he would progress faster, but that hasn’t happened. Right now he’s status quo – day-to-day with an upper body injury.”
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 11, 2018
Coach Sullivan notes that Matt Cullen will be a game-time decision.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 12, 2018
The Pens will go with a new look lineup, with Brassard moving up to Crosby’s wing in the continued absence of Dominik Simon.
Brassard – Crosby – Guentzel
Pearson – Malkin – Kessel
Aston-Reese – Sheahan – Rust
Wilson – Grant – Day
Dumoulin – Letang
Maatta – Oleksiak
Pettersson – Johnson
DeSmith
The Blackhawks have struggled mightily this year, and they’re in the back end of a back-to-back after getting smoked by the Jets last night. They went into the first intermission down 3-0 and hadn’t registered a shot until 16 minutes into the game.
It’s almost like committing so much money to Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane has crippled the franchise. Recently, they moved Nick Schmaltz to the Coyotes in exchange for Dylan Strome and Brandon Perlini. The Hawks’ first-round pick track record in the past few years has been… not so good.
2010 – Kevin Hayes – burnt out contract, signed as NCAA FA with Rangers
2011 – Mark McNeill – bust + Phillip Danault – traded for Dale Weise and Thomas Fleischmann
2012 – Teuvo Teravainen – traded with Bryan Bickell for 2nd and 3rd Round picks
2013 – Ryan Hartman – traded for a 2018 1st Round pick (Adam Boqvist)
2014 – Nick Schmaltz – traded for Dylan Strome and Brandon Perlini
2015 – No first round pick – traded for Antoine Vermette (currently on IR)
2016 – No first round pick – traded with Marko Dano for Andrew Ladd (left for NYI), Jay Harrison, and Matt Fraser
2017 – Henri Jokiharju (0G + 11A in 29GP)
2018 – Adam Boqvist + Nicolas Beaudin
Jeremy Colliton: "When bad stuff happens to us, we tend to stop playing for a little bit, and then the hole gets a little deeper." https://t.co/XGDHYAS2yy
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) December 12, 2018
It’s certainly an opportunity for the Penguins to roll through a team going through some tough times.
Former Penguin hero Chris Kunitz will be in the lineup tonight for the Hawks.
Saad – Toews – Perlini
DeBrincat – Strome – Kane
Kahun – Kampf – Sikura
Kunitz – Kruger – Hayden
Keith – Murphy
Seabrook – Manning
Rutta – Jokiharju
Crawford
Blackhawks Down.
Go Pens.
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