The Pittsburgh Penguins are going to head into an elimination game without learning from the biggest mistake they’ve made in the series (and really the year). We have a first look at what will likely be the Penguins defense pairings for tonight’s Game 4.

Dumoulin-Letang
Johnson-Schultz
Pettersson-Gudbranson



Moving forward with only one pairing that can effectively move the puck is a bold move. It’s failed miserably the last two games. Maybe the third time is a charm. This is a classic case of not learning from mistakes and doing what is best for the entire team. I’m willing to bet Jim Rutherford would rather deal with the fallout from being swept than admit his Jack Johnson signing was a mistake.

The defense pairings are a shame because the top three forward lines look decent and should maximize matchup potential

McCann-Crosby-Guentzel
Rust-Malkin-Kessel
Simon-Bjugstad-Hornqvist

You have a third line who you can matchup with Barzal and Eberle and it should leave the Crosby and Malkin lines to more favorable matchups to push the play. The variable, as always, is which line gets the Johnson treatment. Do you put that pairing with the third line who was dominating possession before being broken up? Do you sabotage Evgeni Malkin for the 100th time? Do you make Sidney Cros… haha that will never happen he has Letang. All others have to fend for themselves in this hell scape. With that being the case Crosby’s line is going to have to have a huge game. One of the other two properly assembled lines is going to have an anchor.

The power play is also an area where I think the Penguins are loading up properly with Jake Guentzel joining the normal four of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, and Kris Letang. This leaves Patric Hornqvist on the third line and off the top power play


Pittsburgh made their bed with their decisions. Are they going to sleep or are they going to stay up to watch another Office rerun? Tune in tonight.

Thanks for reading!

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