Game Preview: 10.13.26 at Chicago Blackhawks

TUNE-IN

Watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Listen: 105.9 The X and the Penguins app

THE MATCHUP

-Last season, Pittsburgh went 2-0-0 against Chicago, out scoring them by a 13-5 margin.  

-The Penguins enter tonight’s game with points in eight of their last 11 games versus the Blackhawks (7-3-1).

-Pittsburgh has points in four of its last five visits to the United Center (3-1-1). 

-Last season, the Penguins picked up points in 22 of 32 games against Western Conference foes (16-10-6). 

QUICK HITS

1) Erik Karlsson has seven points in his last 10 games against Chicago (3G-4A) and has 18 points (3G-15A) in 27 career games against the Blackhawks. 

2) Bryan Rust has 14 points (9G-5A) in 14 career games against Chicago. He has points in five-consecutive games against them (4G-3A).

3) Defenseman Sam Girard has points in all three road games this season (4A). His four road points are tied for fifth in the NHL among defensemen. 

4) Last season, Ben Kindel picked up three points (1G-2A) against Chicago, notching points in both games played versus them. His three points are tied for the most that he has accumulated versus one team.    

5) Declan Carlile’s 15 blocked shots leads the Penguins and ranks tied for ninth in the NHL.

PROJECTED LINEUP

ALL THE STOPS

The Penguins have held their opponents to one or fewer goals twice this season. Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov have combined for a .909 team save percentage, which ranked eighth in the NHL:

Team Save Percentage Leaders

Team                SV%

Dallas               .936

Minnesota        .936

NY Rangers     .922

Boston             .920

Ottawa             .916

Nashville         .914

Seattle            .910

Pittsburgh       .909

PENALTY KILLIN’ IT

The Penguins’ 94.1 penalty kill percentage ranks tied for second in the NHL:

Penalty Kill Leaders

Team               PK%

Toronto            95.0

Pittsburgh        94.1

Minnesota        94.1

St. Louis          93.3

Carolina           92.9

Pittsburgh has only allowed one goal on 17 penalty kills this season, making them one of only five teams in the NHL to allow one or fewer power play goals against:

Power Play Goals Against

Team               TS      PP GA

Toronto             20      1

Pittsburgh        17       1

Minnesota        17      1

St. Louis           15      1

Winnipeg           11     1

Six Penguins skaters have averaged more than two minutes of shorthanded ice time per game:

Shorthanded Ice Time Per Game

Skater                              SH TOI

Trevor van Riemsdyk       3:10

Declan Carlile                  2:42

Connor Dewar                 2:38

Blake Lizotte                    2:29

Bryan Rust                       2:24

Kaedan Korczak              2:03

PICKING UP THE POINTS

The Penguins have been generating offense from their defensive corps, as five of their six blueliners have registered at least two points. Pittsburgh’s 21 points from defensemen ranks second in the NHL:

Most Points from Defensemen

Team                 PTS from D-Men

Colorado            23

Pittsburgh          21

Carolina            19

Edmonton         18

Seattle              17