The Pittsburgh Penguins return home for a face-off against the New Jersey Devils.
The Pittsburgh Penguins return home to PPG Paints Arena after a cross-country road trip. Their welcome home gift is a matchup with the second place New Jersey Devils. The Devils are 2-0 in the season series against the Penguins, and the Pens are anxious to change that. Here's what to watch for in this late-afternoon Metropolitan Division matchup.
1. Penguins Must Respond. Will They?
The Penguins controlled huge chunks of play during their loss against the New York Islanders. It was a humbling loss for the Penguins, as they let a very important game slip away. The result is instead of giving themselves some more cushion in their wild card standings, they find themselves further entrenched in a five team battle for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
The Penguins must respond with a win against the Devils. If they drop this game, it may be a sign of something truly troubling: this team could actually miss the playoffs. The Pens must find that next level of desperation to avoid falling deeper out of the hunt.
2. Devils Getting Boost to Lineup
The Devils have been without their leading scorer and all-star, Jack Hughes, since Feb 8th. Hughes has produced at a superstar pace this season, with 35 goals and 67 points in just 50 games. The Devils are more than happy to get this elite playmaker back in the lineup, but the Penguins need to find a way to spoil his return and keep him off the scoresheet.
3. Battle of Elite Defensemen
This contest features some of the most talented offensive players in the league, but the premier matchup of this game has to be between each team's number one defenseman.
The Devils defense is led by Dougie Hamilton. The 29-year-old is one of the most gifted defenseman in the league, and is lighting the scoresheet up this season. He has 52 points in 54 games, which is already a new career-high with two months left in the regular season. He put up two points in the last meeting between these teams, and will be a player to keep an eye out for in this game.
The Penguins continue to be led defensively by Kris Letang. The 35-year-old has had a turbulent season between injuries and personal matters, and has been limited to just 21 points in 35 games. He's still looking to hit his stride and find more consistency this season, and a dominant game against a divisional rival would be just the way to get back on track.
The Penguins and Devils face-off at 5:30 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena.
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