The Pittsburgh Penguins are coming off a strong performance as they approach the second half of the NHL season, boasting points in five consecutive games and wins in two straight. Currently sitting in second place in the Metro Division with a record of 24-14-11, they will face the Edmonton Oilers, the two-time defending Western Conference champions, at Rogers Place Thursday evening. The puck drops just after 9 p.m. EST.
The Penguins have shown impressive resilience recently, defeating defensively tough teams like the Seattle Kraken and Calgary Flames. Their latest victory came against Calgary, where they secured a decisive 4-1 win. Pittsburgh’s defense shined, allowing only four shots in the first period and just 19 overall, illustrating their control over the game. The second line, comprised of Tommy Novak, Evgeni Malkin, and Egor Chinakhov, was particularly effective, combining for three beautiful goals in the matchup.
Malkin netted his 11th goal of the season via a deft deflection, while Chinakhov contributed with an outstanding wrist shot for his seventh goal. Novak capped off the scoring with a skilled backhand goal. Bryan Rust, feeling the pressure after a lackluster second period, fought through with a crucial goal shortly into the third period, extending the lead to 3-1 and helping the Penguins maintain their edge.
On the other hand, the Oilers, holding a record of 25-18-8, have recently struggled against teams from the Metro Division. They faced a setback on Tuesday with a narrow 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils, failing to capitalize despite a strong third-period push. Notably, Connor McDavid has continued to shine, accumulating 85 points in 50 games, despite an injury-riddled forward line that includes Leon Draisaitl, Adam Henrique, and Kasperi Kapanen. Interestingly, Draisaitl is expected to make a surprise appearance in the lineup after returning from a family obligation.
In goal, the Penguins are likely to start Arturs Silovs, while Tristan Jarry continues to be a reliable presence for the Oilers. Special teams could play a crucial role in the outcome of this matchup. The Penguins possess the third-best power play in the league at 27.8% and have successfully killed 21 of their last 22 penalties. Conversely, the Oilers lead the NHL with a power play rate of 32.6%.
As the Penguins prepare for this challenging matchup, they hold a strong road game record, having won five of their last six. However, history has not favored them against Edmonton, with only two wins in their last ten games against the Oilers. With timely scoring and robust special teams play, Pittsburgh will look to turn past performances around as they aim for victory against a formidable opponent.