Penguins vs. Red Wings: Still Need Points
The Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Detroit Red Wings, looking to solidify their wild card position.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are on the road for first of two drips to Detroit to close out the regular season. The Penguins picked up a huge win in their last contest against the Washington Capitals. They can’t sit back in this matchup against the Red Wings, however, as they still need points to secure a playoff spot. Here’s what to watch for in another installment of Pens vs. Wings.
1. Jake Guentzel Continues Underrated Season
In a league full of superstars and offensive firepower, Penguins’ forward Jake Guentzel continues to be overlooked. While he may not be elite, he’s quietly one of the best goal scorers in the league. He has 32 goals in 69 games this season, his sixth straight 20+ goal season and third 30+ goal season.
The Penguins continue to be led offensively by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but Guentzel is the best true scorer on the team. The Pens need him to extend his recent hot streak as they look to pile up more wins before the playoffs.
2. Ryan Poehling Finding Game
Forward Ryan Poehling has had an inconsistent first season with the black and gold. Between injuries and roster turnover in the bottom six, it’s been difficult for the youngster to find his footing in Pittsburgh.
Thankfully for him and the Penguins, it appears that he’s trending in the right direction. He scored a beautiful goal against the Capitals and has points in back-to-back games. The Penguins need Poehling to continue his upward trajectory during this playoff push.
3. Dylan Larkin Leading Wings
The Red Wings are not having the best season, and will miss the playoffs for the seventh straight season. While the team is eager to turn the page on this season, Dylan Larkin is continuing to lead the Red Wings in more than one way.
The captain of the Red Wings, Larkin recently signed an eight-year extension with the Wings. He’s justified that new deal with standout season. He leads his team in goals, assists, and points, and he’s close to establishing career high marks in all offensive categories. The Penguins need to shut down Larkin and they’ll find likely find themselves in the win column.
The Penguins and Red Wings face-off at 7:00 p.m. at Little Caesar’s Arena.
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