The Penguins have returned to the scene of their only failure so far this season, Canada. Pittsburgh will take on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, kicking off a four-game stretch of Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, and Seattle.
There was not a full morning skate today so we are going to have to wait to find out what the lines are going to be later this evening. The good news is that injured star winger Jake Guentzel did skate at the end of their last practice and once again took the ice this morning in Edmonton.
The Penguins didn’t have a full morning skate this morning but a couple of guys are skating. Jake Guentzel, Teddy Blueger, Chad Ruhwedel, P.O Joseph, Drake Caggiula, Sam Poulin, Casey DeSmith
— Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH) October 24, 2022
Unfortunately, Guentzel was in a non-contact jersey so he will not be playing tonight. Since the next game is tomorrow I would imagine he needs to get a practice in before rejoining the team. It looks like tomorrow’s game is a no go as well.
We had some call-ups since the last game. Drake Caggiula and Sam Poulin were promoted from the Baby Penguins. With Guentzel and Blueger still on the shelf and a long road trip on the docket it makes sense to be prepared. It looks like Drake Caggiula will get the nod to start and not Sam Poulin.
Since it is Oilers and Penguins there will be a huge spotlight on the sport’s former best player in the world and the current best player in the world. It is Sid vs. Connor. Both players are off to great starts this season. For McDavid it is business as usual. He is 25 years old and smack dab in the center of his athletic prime. He puts on a show every night. Through five games this year he has five goals and five assists. He is dominating as usual. What wasn’t as certain of a guarantee is 35-year-old Sidney Crosby keeping pace. In Crosby’s five games he has three goals and ten points. A wonderful start for a player showing very few signs of slowing down.
The Penguins have scored six goals in all of their victories to this point. On some nights you might need six to keep pace with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. So far this year Edmonton has 16 goals in five games, so about three per game. They’ve given up 17. Edmonton remains a top heavy team susceptible when both of their star players are off the ice, not unlike the Penguins current structure. The Penguins depth players did indeed step up last game and provide some goal support. The thing I worry about is the Penguins current 5v5 shooting percentage of 12.42, which leads the league. Last year’s top team was St. Louis at 10.42. Things usually have a way of leveling off. Even so, they aren’t going to take the standings points away that they earned during this heater.
Tonight, is a big night for a former Penguins and fan favorite, Phil Kessel. He will tie the ironman mark set by Keith Yandle this evening. Given Phil’s entire history I can’t think of a better person to be on the cusp of setting a record like this. It is too perfect.
Phil Kessel (988 GP) is set to tie Keith Yandle (989 GP) for the longest “Ironman… streak in NHL history, when the @GoldenKnights host the @MapleLeafs on a six-game Monday. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/ohGIToYS9A
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 24, 2022
Thanks for reading!