The Pittsburgh Penguins are lined up for their final match of the 2023-24 season.

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the final game of the 2023-24 season with nothing to play for. While idle, the Penguins saw their playoff hopes get completely dashed by the Washington Capitals.

Nothing is on the line for the Penguins, but they hope to end their season on a high note.

Forward Lines

Drew O’Connor – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust

The Penguins wasted another outstanding season from Sidney Crosby who is just a point shy of tying his total from last year. For the second consecutive year, Crosby will appear in all 82 games of the season.

It was also announced that Bryan Rust is the Penguins’ nominee for the King Clancy Trophy.

Michael Bunting – Evgeni Malkin – Rickard Rakell

Much like Crosby, Evgeni Malkin is set to play in all 82 games of the season. This is the second time in Malkin’s Hall of Fame career that he will play each game in back-to-back seasons.

Malkin is also three goals shy of hitting 500 in his career. The Penguins may be playing a meaningless game, but getting Malkin to that impressive milestone would be a great way to end a disappointing season.

Reilly Smith – Lars Eller – Valtteri Puustinen

The Penguins are likely going to see serious changes over the offseason and this could very well be Reilly Smith’s last game with the team. The expectations were high for Smith coming to Pittsburgh, but he hasn’t come anywhere near what he is known for.

Jansen Harkins – Jeff Carter – Jesse Puljujarvi

Head coach Mike Sullivan stated after the morning skate that Emil Bemstrom is out of the lineup likely with an injury. Bemstrom’s final shift against the Nashville Predators lasted only seven seconds. Jesse Puljujarvi will return to the lineup in Bemstrom's spot.

Defensive Pairs

P.O. Joseph – Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson – Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea – Jack St. Ivany

The Penguins have a great deal of faith in their young third pairing. Ryan Shea is having a much improved stint in the NHL compared to his first and Jack St. Ivany has seemingly locked down his role and should be a front-runner for that spot next season.

Kris Letang is also appearing in his 82nd game of the season for just the second in his career. It'll be the first time all three of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang have appeared in every game of a single season together.

Starting Goalie

Alex Nedeljkovic

Even in a meaningless contest, the Penguins are still rolling with Alex Nedeljkovic as their starting goalie. Could Tristan Jarry be one of the players who are playing/have played their final game in a Penguins uniform?

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