Penguins Make Lineup Change After Injury

The Pittsburgh Penguins have adjusted their depth in a must-win game against the New Jersey Devils.

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins have a long shot of reaching the postseason but haven’t given up hope. Their odds hover at about 10%, but the Penguins’ next contest against the New Jersey Devils will surely be a huge matchup for both teams.

With 15 games remaining, the Penguins will need all the help they can get, and pretty much every game will be a must-win situation.

An upper-body injury to Jeff Carter will keep him on the shelf on a day-to-day basis, bringing in a slight lineup change against the Devils.

Drew O’Connor – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust

Sidney Crosby’s struggles seem to have subsided as the Penguins’ captain has points in three straight games, including his first goal in 11 contests. In the win over the Detroit Red Wings, Crosby scored for the first time in a long time and kicked one of the longest droughts of his career.

Michael Bunting – Evgeni Malkin – Rickard Rakell

Head coach Mike Sullivan compared Michael Bunting to Patric Hornqvist after the win over the Red Wings, and that’s a perfect comparison. Bunting should become a quick fan favorite thanks to his style as a net-front presence and uncanny ability to make things tough on goalies. He has two goals with the Penguins, and both came within a few feet of the goal crease.

Reilly Smith – Lars Eller – Valtteri Puustinen

The Penguins have finally found a combination that works for their third line. Reilly Smith, Lars Eller, and Valtteri Puustninen all scored a goal and notched an assist against the Red Wings. They have been a true spark of offense for the Penguins’ much-needed depth.

Jonathan Gruden – Noel Acciari – Emil Bemstrom

With Carter out, the Penguins recalled Jonathan Gruden on an emergency basis. Gruden will slot in over Jesse Puljujarvi, who has been a healthy scratch for most of his time in Pittsburgh.

Marcus Pettersson – Kris Letang
Ryan Graves – Erik Karlsson
John Ludvig – P.O. Joseph

After a pair of games as a healthy scratch, Jack St. Ivany was returned to the AHL without an NHL debut under his belt. The Penguins have liked what they’ve seen from John Ludvig and P.O. Joseph, however making it an easy decision to keep them rolling.

Tristan Jarry

The Penguins’ netminders split duties over the weekend, and Tristan Jarry will be given the opportunity to redeem himself after a tough outing against the New York Rangers. Jarry has a 6-6-2 record against the Devils and will look to add to his win column.

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