Jan 7, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) makes a save against Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) in the shootout at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/5062d74d-b963-4fc6-9447-1e6abf43329b.jpeg] Jan 7, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) makes a save against Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) in the shootout at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) The Pittsburgh Penguins are well-aware of how every game matters from here on out. And they will have a crucial matchup against a division rival - and a team they are chasing in the standings. The Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] will take on the Columbus Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets] in Pittsburgh on Friday. They have won six of their last 10 games against Columbus, and the Blue Jackets bested the Penguins in a shootout, 4-3, on Jan. 7 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/blue-jackets-break-nine-year-road-losing-in-pittsburgh-lose-sean-monahan-to-injury] - which was their first win in Pittsburgh since Dec. 21, 2015. Columbus currently sits three points back of the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, while Pittsburgh is eight points back. Needless to say, this is a must-win game for both teams - and a clean two points is nearly essential. Alex Nedeljkovic will get his first start in goal since Mar. 7, when the Penguins lost to the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-0 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/3-takeaways-from-penguins-shutout-loss-to-golden-knights]. Sullivan stressed the importance of making sure both of their goaltenders get reps down the stretch, but he also realizes he needs to ice the guy who gives them the best chance to win. "The reality is with the amount of games that we've just played and that we have moving forward, it requires us to get both guys involved," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "So, when we make these types of decisions, we're thinking in terms of helping the team win the game right in front of us... but, also, there's a little bit of 'big picture' decision-making. "How do we set both of these guys up for success, so when they do go in the net, they have the ability to give us a chance to win? Ultimately, if we can set them up for success, it's going to help the Penguins have success." Mar 4, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) in net in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/954e5ae6-f608-4175-af94-7242889d94a5.jpeg] Mar 4, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) in net in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images) Nedeljkovic should certainly be tested, too, as Columbus has five players with 20 or more goals on their roster. They are also getting a lot of offense from their blue line - including from Zach Werenski [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/sean-monahan-and-zach-werenski-featured-i-season-2-of-primes-faceoff-inside-the-nhl], who is having a career year with 20 goals and 69 points in 67 games. "They generate a lot of offense from their defense," Sullivan said. "If I'm not mistaken, they might be second in the league in terms of goals scored by their defensemen. And Zach's a big part of that... he's a difference-maker as far as a defenseman with the way he drives offense." Here is the rest of the lineup for the Penguins on Friday, which includes Kris Letang in a new home on the left side of the top defensive pairing [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/penguins-top-defenseman-works-in-new-role-at-practice] alongside Conor Timmins: The Penguins have points in 16 consecutive home games against Columbus, and captain Sidney Crosby enters this game just six points shy of his 20th consecutive point-per-game season, which would break Wayne Gretzky's previous record of 19. You can track Crosby's progress here [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/sidney-crosbys-chase-of-wayne-gretzkys-nhl-point-per-game-record]. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwquDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
