Who: Winnipeg Jets (28-29-11, 67 points, 6th place Central Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (34-18-16, 84 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)
When: 1 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and TSN3, national feed on NHL Network
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Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins have two brutal rematches coming up during this three-game homestand, starting with meeting the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday for the second half of a back-to-back. The Pens then get a day off before reuniting with the visiting Carolina Hurricanes next Tuesday.
Opponent Track: The Jets are heading into Saturday’s matinee on a two-game losing streak after dropping a 4-3 shootout decision to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday before getting blown out 6-1 by the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
Season Series: The Jets opened the Nov. 1 matchup between these teams with four straight goals, capped off by Kyle Connor’s short-handed penalty shot, on their way to claiming a 5-2 win over the visiting Pens.
Getting to know the Jets
Projected lines
FORWARDS
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Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Alex Iafallo
Cole Perfetti – Adam Lowry – Gabriel Vilardi
Gustav Nyquist – Jonathan Toews – Isak Rosen
Cole Koepke – Morgan Barron – Brad Lambert
DEFENSEMEN
Josh Morrissey / Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg / Elias Salomonsson
Haydn Fleury / Jacob Bryson
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck / Eric Comrie
Potential scratches: Vladislav Namestnikov, Ville Heinola
Injured Reserve: Neal Pionk, Colin Miller, Nino Niederreiter
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The Jets have just three players this season with more than 15 goals, and they’re all in their top six (Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi).
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Connor Hellebuyck is coming off one of the worst starts of his recent regular-season career after allowing six goals in Thursday’s blowout loss to the Boston Bruin.
Season stats
via hockeydb
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The Jets are in a tough spot. They’re technically still in the playoff race (five points back, 14 games remaining). They’re also currently projected to select sixth in the NHL draft lottery by Tankathon. Angling for better lottery odds could be a good move for a franchise theoretically hoping to take advantage of the remaining competitive window around their core of Mark Scheifele (33 years old), Kyle Connor (29) and Connor Hellebuyck (32) by bouncing back next season.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau
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Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard / Kris Letang
Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner
Potential Scratches: Ilya Solovyov, Ryan Graves, Kevin Hayes, Jack St. Ivany, Ville Koivunen
IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander, Blake Lizotte
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Looks like Sam Girard, who has missed five games with a lower-body injury, could draw back into the lineup after taking regular line rushes during Friday’s practice. That’s set to place him back on the second pairing alongside Kris Letang while bumping Ilya Solovyov from the lineup.
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Ryan Graves and Jack St. Ivany were both participating in Friday’s practice as well, although they were doing so on the extra pairing.
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Erik Karlsson was named the NHLPA’s Player of the Week on Friday for his efforts to keep the Pens afloat on their recent road trip.
Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls just won’t stop winning. The race is so tight that a regulation loss for the Penguins could mean not only falling out of the top three in the Metro but all the way out of a postseason spot altogether. Here’s a look at the out-of-town schedule to keep an eye on tonight.
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Seattle Kraken at Columbus Blue Jackets: 5 p.m. ET
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New York Islanders at Montréal Canadiens: 7 p.m. ET
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Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators: 7 p.m. ET
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Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings: 8 p.m. ET
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