The Penguins might not be with the services of Sidney Crosby, but they will add Mike Matheson back into the lineup for the first time this season. Previously, Matheson had been partnering up with Marcus Pettersson throughout training camp and the preseason. Hopefully, that is not the case.

John Marino and Marcus Pettersson are a better fit. When those two have played together (843 minutes the last three years) they have a CF% of 51.67 and an xGF% of 51.71. Very respectable for a pairing that isn’t what you would call dynamic. They play a basic straight forward game and have found success. In the 245 minutes Marino has played with Matheson his CF% is 48.62 which isn’t terrible, but the xGF% is a very bad 44.38. There is no need to overthink this. You have an 800+ minute sample of success, use it.

Tristan Jarry will be in net for the Penguins.

Here is the lineup for the Dallas Stars

Stars lines at morning skate:

Benn-Seguin-Radulov
Peterson-Hintz-Kiviranta
Raffl-Faksa-Pavelski
Kero-Glendening-Gurianov

Lindell-Heiskanen
Suter-Sekera
Hanley-Hakanpää

Holtby
Khudobin

— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) October 19, 2021

This team has a 2010 feel to it with Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Alex Radulov, Joe Pavelski, Ryan Suter, and Braden Holtby. The aging curves are coming for all these players except perhaps Joe Pavelski who just continues to put up points. He had 25 goals and 51 points in 56 games last year at the age of 36. Of all the deals the Sharks made with their aging players they probably picked the one guy who was able to hold up his end of the bargain to let go.


Here is a look at some projections for them



Thanks for reading!

Join the Discussion: » 89 Comments » Post New Comment

» It's their fault

» Still alive, for now

» Going to need some help now

» Penguins giveth Penguins taketh away

» Now or never