Winners of five of their seven games in December, the Penguins are finally a .500 team and they have jumped into fourth place in the division, ahead of the Flyers, Rangers, Islanders, and Blue Jackets. But they are eight points behind third-place Carolina heading into tonight’s game in Nashville. The Predators are last in the Central Division, tied with the Blackhawks for the lowest point total in the NHL.
One of the biggest reasons for the surge for the Penguins has been the penalty kill, which is ranked seventh in the league, but now is missing rugged defenseman Marcus Pettersson, who is out long-term with a lower body injury.
Coach Mike Sullivan says his PK team knows what it’s doing, with or without Pettersson.
The Penguins are winning despite historically low goal-scoring numbers from Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Sullivan is confident the two all-timers will soon start putting the puck in the net.
Crosby has only 8 goals and 23 assists and is a minus-7 for the season. Malkin has 7 goals and 16 assists and is a minus-13.
Sullivan says Crosby continues to exemplify what a true NHL superstar is all about.
Sullivan appreciates that his superstars are so willing to serve as mentors for their younger teammates. He says Kris Letang works extensively with the young Pens’ defensemen, like Owen Pickering.
After losing P.O. Joseph to free agency after last season, the Penguins re-acquired the defenseman for future considerations yesterday in a trade with St. Louis. Defenseman Nate Clurman was then returned to the minors. Joseph had no goals and 2 assists and was a minus-7 with the Blues this season.
Tonight’s game in Nashville faces off at 8 o’clock. We’re on the air on U92 at 7.
