Columbus Blue Jackets (22–13–2) at Pittsburgh Penguins (18–16–3)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017, 7 p.m. (PPG PAINTS ARENA)
The Blue Jackets played one game pre-Christmas after visiting Pittsburgh last week, but plenty has happened even with the holiday break. In short: they're dropping like flies. Cam Atkinson is out, Alexander Wennberg is out, and those two join the likes of Zach Werenski, Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Murray, leaving the Blue Jackets as shorthanded as they've been in quite some time.
But the Penguins won't have any sympathy; Pittsburgh is annually ravaged by injuries, it seems, but this year their issue hasn't been healthy. They've simply been inconsistent and offensively, they've not looked themselves. Coach Mike Sullivan has tried a number of different combinations (sound familiar?) to try and find a spark, but as we sit today, the Penguins have lost more games (19) than they've won (18) so far in 2017-18.
You Oughta Know: Phil Kessel
This guy loves playing the Blue Jackets, and though it's hard to believe, he's the only Penguins player scoring at a point-per-game pace or above. Sidney Crosby usually surpasses that mark and Evgeni Malkin isn't far behind, but right now it's Kessel who is pacing the Penguins offensively, scoring 15 goals and 39 points in his first 37 games.
Fast Facts
- After two-plus months of futility, the Blue Jackets power play is starting to come alive; they've scored six times in their last 27 attempts and have a power play goal in four straight games.
- Pierre-Luc Dubois is heating up, with five goals and six assists in his last 13 games.
- Atkinson, who will miss the next 4-to-6 weeks with a broken foot, finished Saturday's game and played 22 minutes in the shootout win.
Previous Matchups
THIS YEAR: Penguins lead 1-0
LAST YEAR: Teams split regular-season series
Keys to the Game
ONE: Special teams. Don't feed the beast, and at the other end, capitalize on your chances.
TWO: Support Bob and head north. He was under siege last week in Pittsburgh, and it can't be the same this time around.
THREE: Nothing for free. Manage the puck.
Penguins Projected Lineup
| # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | Jake Guentzel | 37 GP, 12-9-21 | 87 | Sidney Crosby | 37 GP, 14-20-34 | 17 | Bryan Rust | 37 GP, 4-13-17 |
| 62 | Carl Hagelin | 36 GP, 2-4-6 | 71 | Evgeni Malkin | 33 GP, 12-20-32 | 72 | Patric Hornqvist | 33 GP, 12-10-22 |
| 43 | Conor Sheary | 37 GP, 9-5-14 | 15 | Riley Sheahan | 28 GP, 3-7-10 | 81 | Phil Kessel | 37 GP, 15-24-39 |
| 34 | Tom Kuhnhackl | 32 GP, 1-3-4 | 37 | Carter Rowney | 23 GP, 2-2-4 | 75 | Ryan Reaves | 37 GP, 1-2-3 |
| # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Brian Dumoulin | 37 GP, 1-2-3 | 58 | Kris Letang | 37 GP, 2-23-25 |
| 3 | Olli Maatta | 37 GP, 3-12-15 | 2 | Chad Ruhwedel | 29 GP, 1-2-3 |
| 28 | Ian Cole | 30 GP, 2-4-6 | 6 | Jamie Oleksiak | 2 GP, 0-0-0 |
| # | Player | GS | W-L-OL | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Matt Murray | 25 | 13-10-1 | 2.91 | 906 | 1 |
| 35 | Tristan Jarry | 9 | 5-2-2 | 2.43 | .918 | 1 |
