The Pittsburgh Penguins play their final home game before the 4 Nations Face-off break, hosting the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena.
The Pittsburgh Penguins (22-24-8) play their final home game before the 4 Nations Face-off, hosting the New Jersey Devils (29-19-6) at PPG Paints Arena.
Tonight is the second of four meetings this season. The Devils shut out the Penguins on Dec. 21 when Jacob Markström recorded a 12-save shutout, Pittsburgh's lowest season shot total.
However, Markström is now injured, and New Jersey has only been 4-4-2 in their last ten contests, losing to the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Penguins have won two in a row, including a 3-0 shutout over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. They are 4-6-0 in their last ten, which included a 3-4-0 road trip on the West Coast.
Between the Pipes
Alex Nedeljkovic is getting his fourth straight start and is coming off a 25-save shutout over the Predators on Saturday. Not only was it his first shutout of the season, but it was also the team's first.
He's 2-1-0 on this run with a .951 SV% and 1.33 GAA. Since the Penguins gave Nedeljkovic the starter role, he's 4-2-0 with a .940 SV% and a goalie goal (Jan. 17).
In four career games against the Devils, he's 3-1-0 with one shutout, 2.77 GAA and .911 SV%.
Opposing Nedeljkovic tonight will be Nico Daws, who has yet to start a game this season, making a 17-minute relief appearance on Sunday against the Sabres, turning away seven shots.
The 24-year-old from Germany will play in his 48th game tonight. He has a 19-22-1 record, a .894 SV%, and a 3.11 GAA. He's undefeated against the Penguins in one career start, making 37 saves in a 6-1 New Jersey win on Feb. 24, 2022.
Conversation Starters
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Per the Flames staff at NHL.com, here's a breakdown of tonight's lineup. (Subject to change)
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting -- Cody Glass -- Danton Heinen
Anthony Beauvillier -- Kevin Hayes -- Philip Tomasino
Bokondji Imama -- Blake Lizotte -- Noel Acciari
DEFENSE
P.O Joseph -- Kris Letang
Matt Grzelcyk -- Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves -- Vincent Desharnais
GOALIES
Alex Nedeljkovic
Joel Blomqvist
SCRATCHES
Matt Nieto, Ryan Shea, Jesse Puljujarvi
Tonight's game starts at 7:00 p.m. ET and is available on SN-PIT and MSGSN2.
