Penguins (7-5-1) @ Capitals (6-4-3)
PPG Paints Arena | Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, February 16 | 7:00PM Eastern
NBCSN | NBCS-WA | AT&T-PGH
The Penguins look to build on their most complete effort of the season against the same familiar opponent, the Washington Capitals.
The Penguins had most facets of their game working as they bested Laviolette’s squad, 6-3. Aside from two short lapses, it was a balanced, borderline dominant performance against a relatively capable opponent.
Mike Matheson and Cody Ceci were not only visible, but impressive. Ceci had a pair of assists and Matheson jumped in on a beautiful passing play for a helper on a Bryan Rust goal.
Rust and Guentzel recorded 3 points a piece, with the prior breaking a drought by recording a PPG for the first time since the Great Depression. Rust’s 5-point week earned him the NHL’s Third Star of the Week honors.
The Penguins will employ a similar workflow on Tuesday as they look to move their record to 4-0 against their rivals from DC. Outside chance Marcus Pettersson makes his return to normalize the Penguins’ blue line.
This third line of Aston-Reese, Blueger, and Tanev has been an absolute joy to watch, and a terror to play against, so don’t be shocked when they continue to create more chaos in all the best ways.
Updated Penguins 5v5 expected goals share leaderboard.
Blueger saw a nice boost from ZAR's return to the lineup.
If Jankowski keeps this up, he might finish with the worst full-season xGF% of all-time. pic.twitter.com/oEhE2ijGgf
— Danny Shirey (@DannyShireyPGH) February 16, 2021
Blueger good.
Forwards
Guentzel – Crosby – Rust
Zucker – Malkin – Kapanen
Aston-Reese – Blueger – Tanev
Sceviour – Jankowski – Lafferty
Defense
Joseph – Letang
Matheson – Marino
Pettersson – Ceci
In Net
Jarry
The Capitals’ first game in over a week was the Sunday afternoon tilt against the Penguins, and in many respects, it showed. Pens should find a way to absolutely vulture on the Chara-Schultz pairing, too.
https://twitter.com/geoffwithano/status/1361721863622307840
Forwards
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Wilson
Vrana – Kuznetsov – Oshie
Panik – Eller – Sheary
Hagelin – Dowd – Hathaway
Defense
Dillon – Carlson
Chara – Schultz
Orlov – Jensen
In Net
Vanecek
I call it ‘Sucka Duckin’ Miss me with the BS.
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) February 12, 2021
Go Pens.
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