Dec 19, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins middle Sidney Crosby (87) and Nashville Predators middle Ryan O’Reilly (90) face off in the course of the third interval at Bridgestone Area. Necessary Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs
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 residence.
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 when you’ve heard this one earlier than — as soon as once more taking out a key piece of their offense. The group mortgaged their future to pay for what’s now their previous, they usually’d most likely make the identical selection once more, however all of their most vital offensive contributors are 30+, with no younger expertise making an everyday affect of any actual dimension on the NHL stage.
Sidney Crosby is the group’s play-driver on offense, serving to to generate most of their greatest seems 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 dangerous taking pictures luck with dangerous goaltending, with Alex Nedeljcovic and Tristan Jarry each fighting the photographs they’ve seen and delivering sub-.900 performances on the season. Younger Joel Blomqvist has turned in the very best efficiency in web, however he’s struggled as properly. A very good energy play and a profoundly common penalty kill spherical out the abstract.
Tips on how to Watch
The sport airs at 6 PM Central on FanDuel Sports activities Community South and 102.5 The Recreation.
