Penguins vs. Wild: Rock Bottom?
The Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Minnesota Wild following their most embarrassing loss of the season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins hit rock bottom in their most recent game, a 7-0 blowout loss in Toronto. Returning home, the Penguins season seems to now hang in the balance. Here’s what to watch for as they battle the visiting Minnesota Wild.
1. It’s Geno Time
The Penguins need their best players to be just that against Minnesota. Coming off of one of the most embarrassing regular season losses of the Crosby-Malkin Era, it’s time for Evgeni Malkin to find his elite form again. The 37-year-old has three points in his last five games and his season total has dipped to 24 points in 29 games.
With he and linemate Reilly Smith struggling to put the puck in the net, the Penguins are hopeful Geno can break free from his recent slump in a big way versus the Wild.
2. Can the Penguins Contain Kaprizov?
The key to beating the Minnesota Wild is fairly straightforward: keep Kirill Kaprizov off the scoresheet. The Russian forward is one of the slickest and most slippery puck distributors in the NHL, collecting 24 points (16 of which are assists) in 29 games.
If the Penguins want to turn the page on their loss in Toronto, they’ll need to keep Kaprizov quiet during his visit to Pittsburgh.
3. New D Pairings
Amongst the many problems plaguing the Penguins, their defense lacks chemistry and cohesion. Coach Sullivan spoke on this recently as well, acknowledging the reality of the situation and offering his solution. Facing the Wild, the Pens will most likely utilize new defensive pairings.
The most notable change in practice was swapping left-side defenders Ryan Graves and Marcus Pettersson. The move is an effort to kickstart the stagnant production of Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson, and find a better fit for newcomer Ryan Graves. Facing the Wild, it will be interesting to see what pairings Coach Sullivan goes with.
The Penguins and Wild face-off at 7:00 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena.
Bonus
Nothing is certain, but this contest could very well be Marc-Andre Fleury's last game in Pittsburgh. After 20 seasons of service between the pipes in the NHL, the 39-year-old is in the final year of his contract in what is likely his last year of professional hockey.
Pittsburgh was Fleury's home for 13 years where he set the standard for Penguins goaltending. 375 wins, is good for the most in franchise history and unlikely to be broken for a long time.
Fleury meant so much to Pittsburgh and the Penguins during his time here, and it's fair to say the fans will show up for what could be one last ride.
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
- Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube
- Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins