When a hockey team loses a game like the Penguins lost on Monday against Dallas – a 7-1 routing that included six first-period goals by the Stars – it can be hard to recover from such a loss, especially when there are consequences.
And those consequences came to light on Tuesday, when veteran center Lars Eller was traded to the Washington Capitals for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick.
“Obviously, whenever someone gets traded, it’s difficult because you become close with your teammates over time,” forward Drew O’Connor said. “So, you never want to see guys leave. But, I think we just have to kind of move on, focus on the next game.”
Including the game against Dallas, the Penguins play four games in six days this week. Sometimes – and, especially, after a game like Monday’s – having a condensed schedule is one of the best things for a team.
Several members of the Penguins echoed that sentiment.
“Obviously, [Monday] was not ideal and not how we want to be as a team,” forward Michael Bunting said. “But, that being said, we’ve gotta look forward to Wednesday as another challenge against a good Detroit team and respond. That’s what good teams do, so we’re looking forward to that.”
The #LetsGoPens play four games in six days this week. I asked Sidney Crosby if a busy schedule helps after a game like tonight’s:
“Yeah. I mean, you just want to get out there again and play better, feel better. It’s not ever fun losing, but especially that way. It’s one…
— Kelsey Surmacz (@kelsey_surmacz4) November 12, 2024
“It gives us an opportunity to get right back at it,” head coach Mike Sullivan added. “Obviously, we were not at our best, and all of us don’t feel good about that experience. So, from that standpoint, getting back at it as quickly as we can gives an opportunity to try to respond the right way and put our best game on the ice, and go from there. So, maybe that’s not such a bad thing that we play so many games this week.”
On a more positive note, the Penguins are celebrating Evgeni Malkin’s 500th goal ahead of Wednesday’s game. Malkin scored the goal in a win against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 14, becoming just the 48th player in NHL history and the fourth active player to do so.
Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic will get the nod against the Red Wings with Tristan Jarry as his backup. In addition, forward Sam Poulin will make his season debut.
In 11 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), Poulin registered three goals and nine points.
“Sam has really evolved as a pro, and he’s been a real impact player in Wilkes-Barre,” Sullivan said. “He’s showing an ability to score goals at that level and produce offensively while still bringing a conscientious game away from the puck. And our expectation is that [it] translates to the NHL level. He’s a guy that’s a young player that we’re excited about, and we’re looking forward to getting him in the lineup and seeing what kind of an impact he can have with our group and helping this team move forward.”
Here is how the Penguins will line up against Detroit:
Detroit is 6-7-1 this season and is coming into Pittsburgh riding a two-game losing streak. Like the Penguins, who own 14 points, in the Metropolitan Division, they are currently ranked seventh in the Atlantic Division with 13 points. Pittsburgh bested Detroit 6-3 in their first meeting of the season on October 10. Forward Anthony Beauvillier registered two goals in that contest.
And, on Malkin’s 500th goal celebration, keep an eye out for another milestone, as captain Sidney Crosby sits at 598 goals, just two shy of 600.
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