Penguins vs. Blues: Still Making Progress
The Pittsburgh Penguins welcome the St. Louis Blues for a cross-conference showdown.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are riding high after putting up a touchdown on the New York Islanders. The team is 5-1-1 over their past seven games, and they are now just four points out of a playoff spot and six points back from sitting the top three of the Metropolitan Division.
Their next challenge is the St. Louis Blues, who come to town for some Saturday night hockey. Here’s what to watch for as the Pens and Blues meet for the second time this season.
1. Russia’s Second Best Scorer
Evgeni Malkin made some history during the Penguins’ last game, as he surpassed Sergei Fedorov to become the second highest goal scoring Russian in NHL history. Trailing only fellow 2004 draftee and future Hall of Fame forward, Alex Ovechkin, Geno is cementing his legacy with every passing game. With 29 points in 33 games, he‘s seen a resurgence in power over the last few games.
In 22 career games against St. Louis, Malkin has eight goals and 21 points. The Penguins are rolling along, in large part due to their Russian superstar. Look for him to continue his scoring against a stout Blues team.
2. Can the Pens Get To Binnington Again?
The Blues’ goaltender Jordan Binnington is a polarizing figure in the NHL, with a fiery temperament and a nasty streak in him. The Penguins tend to bring out the worst in the Stanley Cup winning netminder, who had defeated him in four straight contests before this season. Binnington turned the tables on Pittsburgh this year, however, as he stonewalled the Pens with 33 saves to earn a victory.
Will the same Binnington show up for this matchup? Or, will the Penguins get the better of the talented But inconsistent goaltender?
3. Rak ‘N Roll
Since his return from injury, Penguins’ forward Rickard Rakell has looked like the player they signed long-term last summer. With four points in as many games and goals in back-to-back contests, he looks fully recovered from injury and ready to make an impact. In his fifth game back in the lineup, Rakell is looking to maintain his chemistry on the first line and keep producing like he has been.
The Penguins and Blues face-off at 7:00 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena.
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