Dec 19, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins heart Sidney Crosby (87) and Nashville Predators heart Ryan O’Reilly (90) face off throughout the third interval at Bridgestone Area. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photos
After a back-and-forth affair that noticed the Nashville Predators claw again a lead, then give it up in a regulation loss, they head south to tackle the Pittsburgh Penguins on their means house.
It’s been a tough yr within the Metal Metropolis, with the losses considerably outnumbering the wins. The Penguins put Evgeni Malkin on IR final week, with accidents — cease me for those who’ve heard this one earlier than — as soon as once more taking out a key piece of their offense. The workforce mortgaged their future to pay for what’s now their previous, and so they’d most likely make the identical alternative once more, however all of their most important offensive contributors are 30+, with no younger expertise making a daily affect of any actual dimension on the NHL stage.
Sidney Crosby is the workforce’s play-driver on offense, serving to to generate most of their greatest appears to be like and racking up a team-leading 39 assists within the course of. He’s additionally chipped in 16 targets, placing him third in goalscoring, whereas Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust lead with 23 and 19 respectively. Defenders Erik Karlsson and Matt Grzelcyk observe Crosby in assists, with 28 and 26 — a major dropoff.
The Penguins have mixed unhealthy capturing luck with unhealthy goaltending, with Alex Nedeljcovic and Tristan Jarry each battling the photographs they’ve seen and handing over sub-.900 performances on the season. Younger Joel Blomqvist has turned in the very best efficiency in web, however he’s struggled as effectively. A superb energy play and a profoundly common penalty kill spherical out the abstract.
The best way to Watch
The sport airs at 6 PM Central on FanDuel Sports activities Community South and 102.5 The Recreation.
