Penguins vs Blue Jackets: Roster Changes Bring New Lineup
With players hurt and leaving via waivers, the Pittsburgh Penguins will see alterations to their lineup.
PITTSBURGH—After an ugly road trip that ended with a 6-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the Pittsburgh Penguins return home with less likely than ever playoff positioning. They hit the home ice to take on Metropolitan Division rival Columbus Blue Jackets and will see a slightly modified lineup.
Ahead of puck drop, the Penguins’ head coach Mike Sullivan announced that Noel Acciari will be out with an upper-body injury. Jansen Harkins was also slated as a game-time decision, meaning he will likely stick in the lineup after departing early against the Oilers.
The Washington Capitals also scooped Matthew Phillips off waivers, eliminating him as an option in the Penguins lineup.
Projected Forward Lines
Drew O’Connor – Sidney Crosby – Rickard Rakell
The Penguins have few options for finding useful players to complement Sidney Crosby. Drew O’Connor and Rickard Rakell will likely remain the go-to faces until Bryan Rust returns.
Reilly Smith – Evgeni Malkin – Valtteri Puustinen
Evgeni Malkin was the lone Penguins player to find the score sheet in Edmonton. Hopefully, that was just the start of a new trend for him, as it ended a 13-game goalless drought.
Jonathan Gruden – Lars Eller – Emil Bemstrom
Emil Bemstrom will face his former team for the first time since arriving in Pittsburgh. In his five games with the Penguins, he has only scored one goal, but it’s possible that playing against his former team can give him some extra momentum.
Jansen Harkins – Jeff Carter – Jesse Puljujarvi
With Acciari ruled out and Harkins likely in, Jeff Carter will move to the center position on the Penguins fourth forward line. Losing Acciari to injury and Phillips to waivers opens a lineup spot for Jesse Puljujarvi. He will look to slot back in as he hunts his first point in a Penguins uniform.
Projected Defensive Pairs
P.O. Joseph – Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson – Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves – Chad Ruhwedel
The Penguins have rolled with these three pairings, and things will remain steady for now.
Starting Goalie
Tristan Jarry
Sullivan announced that Jarry will be given the nod against the Blue Jackets after Alex Nedeljkovic allowed six to the Oilers.
Update: Forward Joona Koppanen was recalled from the American Hockey League roster. It is not yet clear if he will work his way into the starting lineup.
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