Game Preview: 03.01.26 vs. Vegas Golden Knights

The Penguins return home to host the Vegas Golden Knights for the second half of a weekend back-to-back. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 PM. Doors open at 11:30 AM.

Today is Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Day, presented by U. S. Steel.

This afternoon's game will celebrate the series’ legacy of kindness, compassion, and modeling what it means to be a caring neighbor – values that continue to resonate across generations in Pittsburgh and beyond.

Fans are invited to stop by the Hall of Fame Hallway behind Section 112 for a variety of activations, including the PA Trolley Museum and a cheer card-making station. Fifth Ave Food Hall will feature Mister Rogers' favorite corn pudding. Stop by PensGear to shop an exclusive Mister Rogers T-shirt.

This game will be available to watch on TNT and HBO Max. Fans can listen to the game on 105.9 The X and on the Penguins app.

Team Records: PIT (30-15-13), VGK (28-17-14)

Pittsburgh has wins in six of its last nine games against Vegas (6-3-0) dating back to Jan. 7, 2020. Pittsburgh has never lost a season series to Vegas since the Golden Knights entered the league in the 2017-18 season. The Penguins are 6-1-0 all-time against Vegas here at PPG Paints Arena, which includes wins in four-straight games against them. Pittsburgh has points in 10 of its last 12 home games (8-2-2).

Related Links

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• Girard Getting New Opportunity in Pittsburgh
• Penguins Acquire Defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 Second-Round Draft Pick from the Colorado Avalanche in Exchange for Brett Kulak
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Game Notes

Quick Hits

1) The Penguins have points in 18 of their 24 games (12-6-6) against Western Conference opponents this season.  

2) Kris Letang has six assists in his last seven games versus the Golden Knights.

3) Egor Chinakhov has points in eight of his last 10 games overall (6G-3A).

4) Evgeni Malkin has 12 points (3G-9A) in 13 career games against the Golden Knights.  

5) No forward line (min. 250 minutes played together) has allowed fewer goals against at 5-on-5 player than Pittsburgh’s fourth line of Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte (7GA).

PENS ACQUIRE GIRARD

On Tuesday, the Penguins acquired defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round draft pick from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Brett Kulak. Girard, 27, is signed through the 2026-27 season and carries an average annual value of $5 million.

The 2022 Stanley Cup Champion is currently in his ninth NHL season, splitting his career between Colorado, Nashville and Pittsburgh. Girard has tallied three goals, nine assists, 12 points and a plus-12 in 42 games this season. He logged 17:53 minutes and four blocked shots in his Penguins debut on Thursday.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound defenseman has recorded 37 goals, 198 assists and 235 points in 589 career NHL games. He has also added three goals, 25 assists and 28 points in 67 career playoff games. His best season came in 2022-23 when he set career highs across the board in goals (6), assists (31) and points (37) in 76 games with the Avalanche.

DEPTH IN NUMBERS

The Penguins success this season has come throughout their lineup with five players already setting new career highs in points (Justin Brazeau – 15G-12A-27PTS, Connor Dewar – 13G-11A-24PTS, Ryan Shea – 4G-20A-24PTS, Parker Wotherspoon – 3G-16A-19PTS, Jack St. Ivany – 7A-7PTS).

Pittsburgh has 12 20-point scorers this season, which ranks tied for fourth in the League. Coming into tonight, Wotherspoon (3G-16A), Blake Lizotte (7G-12A) and Egor Chinakhov (12G-7A) all sit on 19 points.

HOME STREAKIN’

Evgeni Malkin has been hot at home as of late with 11 points (2G-9A) in his last nine games. He currently has the longest active home point streak in the NHL

With a point tonight, Malkin would have his first home point streak of at least 10 games since February 23 – March 30, 2023 (10 GP; 3G-13A). He would also surpass Erik Karlsson for the longest home point streak this season by a Penguin.

SUPER ROOKIE

Ben Kindel scored two goals against the Buffalo Sabres on February 5 for his third multi-goal game of the year. He has goals in four of his last eight games and ranks tied for second in the NHL in goals since January 25.

THE MAN-THA

Anthony Mantha has been on a heater during the Penguins' last 11 games. On Saturday, he scored a power-play goal and has four multi-point games in the last 11 games. In that time, no one on Pittsburgh has more goals or points than Mantha.

SCORING SENSATION

Egor Chinakhov has made his presence felt early on in his time in Pittsburgh. He has 13 points (9G-4A) in 20 games, helping the Penguins go 13-3-4 with him in the lineup. Since he made his Penguins debut on January 1, no one has more goals than him.

RAKELL 300

Rickard Rakell comes into tonight three assists shy of 300 assists in his career. He would become the 13th active player from the 2011 NHL Draft to reach the mark. The Swedish forward played parts of 10 seasons in Anaheim before being traded to Pittsburgh in 2021-22. Since then, he ranks sixth on Pittsburgh in points (204). 

GIRARD 200

Newly acquired defenseman Sam Girard comes into tonight’s game two assists shy of 200 career assists. He would be the 12th player and the fifth defenseman from the 2016 NHL Draft to reach the mark.

LETANG 800

Kris Letang enters tonight’s game two points shy of 800 career points. He would be the 21st defenseman to reach the mark in NHL history and fourth active.  

Letang holds every major statistical record among defensemen in Penguins’ history which includes games played (1,213), goals (178), assists (620) and points (798). He would become the ninth defenseman in NHL history to reach the mark with one team.

Meet the Penguins

As part of the Penguins Pledge, and in partnership with the National Aviary, Aviary experts and some of their live penguin ambassadors will visit PPG Paints Arena for tonight's game. A permanent display on the FedEx Level of PPG Paints Arena will be home to the visiting penguins and also feature footage of the National Aviary’s Penguin Point habitat for the games when the birds aren't at the arena. The National Aviary is a global leader in the conservation efforts to save endangered African Penguins from extinction. More info can be found here.

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