The Pittsburgh Penguins head out on the road for a contest against the Vancouver Canucks, with a returning forward looking to continue his dominance.

PITTSBURGH- The Pittsburgh Penguins took two critical matchups during their most recent home stand, keeping the team in postseason relevancy. Their next few opponents won't be any easier as the Penguins head out West for a four-game road trip.

First up is the Vancouver Canucks, who have slipped a little, but still one of the top teams in the NHL. Here's what to watch between the Penguins and Canucks.

1. Malkin and The Kids 

Over the last few games, the Penguins’ second line has come alive. Center Evgeni Malkin looked a step slower before young forwards Valtteri Puustinen and Drew O’Connor were added to his wing. Now, he and his linemates are starting to click.

O’Connor has goals in three straight while Malkin and Puustinen have factored in just as often. With the Penguins looking for a way to jumpstart Malkin’s game, they may have stumbled upon a winning combination. The biggest test for this line is ahead of them, but if they can keep this going against the Canucks, the team may finally have a second line they are confident in.  

2. Canucks Depth Unmatched

A huge reason for the Canucks’ success this season is their offensive depth. Headlined by Elias Pettersson, JT Miller, and Quinn Hughes, the Canucks offense doesn’t end there. In fact, the team has scoring throughout the lineup, with 11 players with 10 or more goals this year. Top to bottom, the Canucks can score on you. The Penguins have one of the stingiest defensive teams in the league in terms of goals allowed, so it will be quite the matchup to see which side comes out on top. 

3. Acciari’s Presence Felt 

It’s been just two games since Noel Acciari returned from a nasty hit to the head, but his impact cannot go unnoticed. From his relentless forecheck to punishing body checks and to his reliable penalty killing, the Penguins are a more complete team with him in the lineup. They struggled mightily during his two week absence, lacking the fighting spirit Acciari provides. Pittsburgh will need more of that energy against the Canucks with him back in the lineup. Desperate to keep their winning ways going, perhaps Acciari will find his way onto the scoresheet in Vancouver. 

The Penguins and Canucks face off at Rogers Arena at 10:00 p.m.

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