Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins Take on Edmonton Oilers at Home
Game Story:
The Pittsburgh Penguins, fresh off a road trip that saw them go 2-1-1, will take on the Edmonton Oilers tonight at home.
After a tough shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks Mar. 9th, the Pens will have an excellent opportunity to get back in the win column tonight as they face a lowly Oilers club that currently sits second-last in the league.
The two clubs have found nearly exact opposite levels of success this season. Pittsburgh boasts a record of 38-18-10, while the Oilers’ record sits at 18-38-11.
Despite their place in the standings, Edmonton remains a dangerous club offensively. Led by elite forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle – who lead the club in goals and points, respectively – the Oil aren’t short on skill, and with little to lose at this point in the season besides pride, they won’t be afraid to take some chances against the Pens.
That being said, the Oilers’ offense will have a tough time matching up against Pittsburgh’s, who boast three players with more points than Edmonton’s leading total (Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Kris Letang).
Pittsburgh’s back-end will have a new look since they last played at the Consol Energy Center.
Trade deadline acquisitions Ben Lovejoy and Ian Cole will play their first home games of the season for Pittsburgh since being brought in via trades with Anaheim and St. Louis.
For Lovejoy, the game will serve as a return to the city he once called home. Lovejoy suited up for the Pens between 2008 and 2012 and was all smiles at the team’s morning skate.
“I feel at home here,” Lovejoy told the Pittsburgh media. “I’m happy here. I think I fit right back in with the 10 guys that I know. Right back in with the people behind the scenes here with the Penguins, and I’ve made some new friends and I’m just happy to be here. This is such a good team, such a good organization, such a good city to play hockey in. I truly am excited to be back.”
Pittsburgh won 2–0 in the first meeting between the two clubs this season, and will look to sweep the season series with another win tonight.
Lineups:
Pittsburgh Penguins:
The Pens will send out the same lines they’ve used for the last few weeks, as they’ve found success both up front and on the blue line. Marc-Andre Fleury will get the start in goal for Pittsburgh.
Forwards:
David Perron – Sidney Crosby – Patric Hornqvist
Chris Kunitz – Evgeni Malkin – Blake Comeau
Daniel Winnik – Brandon Sutter – Beau Bennett
Nick Spaling – Maxim Lapierre – Steve Downie
Defense:
Goaltenders:
Backup: Thomas Greiss
Scratched: Craig Adams
Edmonton Oilers:
The Oilers lineup will look similar as well, though they’ll get Benoit Pouliot back, joining the first line alongside Nugent-Hopkins and Eberle. Rob Klinkhammer will play his first game in Pittsburgh since they traded him for David Perron earlier this season. Ben Scrivens will get the start in goal for the Oil.
Forwards:
Benoit Pouliot – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle
Teddy Purcell – Derek Roy – Nail Yakupov
Ryan Hamilton – Anton Lander – Matt Fraser
Matt Hendricks – Boyd Gordon – Rob Klinkhammer
Defense:
Oscar Klefbom – Justin Schultz
Goaltenders:
Backup: Richard Bachman
Scratched: Luke Gazdic, Iiro Pakarinen