After three days off, the Pittsburgh Penguins are back in action this evening to kick off a six game stretch over the next two weeks that will see them play five of those six games on home ice before heading on their annual Western Canada road trip.
To kick things off, the Penguins welcome the New Jersey Devils to PPG Paints Arena for the first time this season. The Penguins will be looking to extend their five game winning streak and keep climbing up the standings while the Devils will be licking
their wounds and looking for a bounce back after a 9-0 drubbing against the Islanders on Tuesday night.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.
Pens Points…
Evgeni Malkin returning to the lineup is welcome news for the Penguins, but it will require some line shuffling from head coach Dan Muse. When Malkin went down, he was playing with Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha and whether that line reunites remains to be seen. [Pensburgh]
The first half of the season was full of surprises for the Penguins, mostly good but some perhaps not so much. What the second half has in store is anyone’s guess, but that’s the fun of it all, trying to figure out what is going to happen before it ever does. [Pensburgh]
Coming off a bronze medal representing Canada at the recent World Junior Championships, defenseman Harrison Brunicke will head back to the junior level to finish the season with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL, the team announced on Wednesday. [Penguins]
Injuries have not been kind to Rutger McGroarty this season as the young forward finds himself sidelined once again. After being diagnosed with a concussion, McGroarty is headed to injured reserve and will be out for an unknown amount of time. [Trib Live]
Even with the offseason coaching change in Pittsburgh the outlook for 2025-26 remained bleak as the team was expected to continue to rebuild. That outlook is now much brighter and head coach Dan Muse is a major reason why the Penguins are surprising this season. [The Athletic $$]
NHL News and Notes…
Two more Olympic hockey rosters dropped on Wednesday, with Switzerland and Germany announcing their respective squads for the upcoming Games. The Swiss will be lead by Roman Josi and Nico Hischier while the Germans have Leon Draisaitl and Moritz Seider. [Switzerland/Germany]
