The Pittsburgh Penguins are heating up at just the right time. Winners of four straight and riding a seven-game point streak, they’ve carved out some breathing room in the tightly packed Eastern Conference playoff race. At 26-14-11, they’re now holding a 79% chance to make the postseason-numbers that reflect not just momentum, but a team rounding into form with purpose.
Their latest test comes Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena, where they’ll look to keep the streak alive against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks. The puck drops just after 7 p.m., with Jeff Jimerson delivering the National Anthem as always.
West Coast Sweep Shows Penguins’ Mettle
The Penguins are coming off a perfect 4-0 road trip through Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest, a stretch that saw them take down the Kraken, Flames, Oilers, and Canucks. Sunday’s finale in Vancouver wasn’t without drama, but it was another example of this team’s ability to close out tight games.
Pittsburgh jumped out to a 3-0 lead behind a pair of goals from rookie Ben Kindel-who had a sizable cheering section in his hometown-and a slick finish from Evgeni Malkin on a two-on-one with Tommy Novak. Vancouver pushed late, but Stuart Skinner stood tall, stopping 30 of 32 shots and quieting the crowd with a few “Stu!” chants echoing through Rogers Arena.
Skinner’s performance was another reminder of just how steady he’s been, especially in big moments. The Penguins have leaned on him during this stretch, and if he gets the nod again Thursday, it wouldn’t be a surprise-he’s 5-0-0 in his career against Chicago with a 1.98 GAA and a .925 save percentage.
Rust Suspended, Malkin Okay, St. Ivany Out
Sunday’s win didn’t come without a price. Bryan Rust was handed a three-game suspension for elbowing Vancouver’s Brock Boeser in a net-front scramble with just seconds left in regulation. That’s a blow, especially given Rust’s two-way impact, but the Penguins have depth to weather it.
There was also a brief scare with Malkin, who appeared to tweak something during a bench celebration. But head coach Dan Muse later clarified that Geno is fine, and he was back on the ice for Tuesday’s practice.
The bigger loss is on the blue line, where Jack St. Ivany will miss approximately eight weeks after undergoing surgery on a broken left hand suffered in the first period against Vancouver. The team expects him back in late March.
Solovyov Set for Debut
With St. Ivany sidelined, newly acquired defenseman Ilya Solovyov is expected to make his Penguins debut Thursday.
The 6-foot-3 blueliner brings size and a physical edge, and he’ll slot into the third pairing alongside Ryan Shea. It’s a big opportunity for Solovyov to make an impression in a lineup that’s been getting strong production from its defense corps all year-Penguins defensemen have accounted for over a quarter of the team’s total points this season, and they rank fourth league-wide in assists from the back end.
Blackhawks Struggling, Bedard Searching
The Blackhawks, meanwhile, come into this one winless in their last three (0-1-2), though they’ve managed to scrape together a couple of points in that stretch. Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout loss to Minnesota was a tough one, and it continued a rough patch for rookie phenom Connor Bedard. Since returning from injury, Bedard has just one goal in nine games and came up empty in his shootout attempt against the Wild.
Chicago’s offense is trying to find its rhythm, but there are flashes. Ilya Mikheyev, Ryan Donato, and Teuvo Teravainen all scored in regulation Tuesday, and Spencer Knight turned aside 20 of 23 shots before falling in the shootout. Knight is expected to get the start again Thursday, facing off against Arturs Silovs, who’s in line to start for Pittsburgh as part of their regular goalie rotation.
Special Teams Battle Worth Watching
This game could come down to special teams, where both clubs bring interesting dynamics. The Penguins own the NHL’s fourth-best power play at 27.4% and a penalty kill clicking at 83.6%, good for sixth. Chicago, despite their overall struggles, boasts the league’s top penalty kill at 85.5%, but their power play sits middle of the pack at 19.9%.
The Penguins’ kill has been especially sharp lately, snuffing out 24 of their last 25 shorthanded situations. That’s a 96% clip over the last eight games-a stretch where they’ve tightened up defensively and allowed just 2.07 goals per game, the best mark in the league since the holiday break.
Penguins by the Numbers Since the Break
Pittsburgh’s post-Christmas surge isn’t just eye test-it’s backed up by the numbers. Since December 25, they’re:
- Tied for 3rd in wins (11)
- Tied for 3rd in points (24)
- 2nd in points percentage (.800)
- 4th in goals for (59)
- 1st in goals against (31)
- 2nd in goals for per game (3.93)
- 1st in goals against per game (2.07)
- 3rd in penalty kill (90.0%)
That’s elite-level hockey across the board.
Who’s Hot
Tommy Novak has found his groove, riding a three-game point streak (1G, 3A) and tallying seven points over his last six games. His chemistry with Malkin has been a bright spot, and he’s giving the Penguins a reliable offensive punch on the second line.
And of course, rookie Ben Kindel continues to impress. His two-goal night in Vancouver wasn’t just a feel-good hometown story-it was a sign that he’s growing into a legit contributor.
Projected Lineups
Penguins Forwards:
- Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Justin Brazeau
- Egor Chinakhov - Tommy Novak - Evgeni Malkin
- Rutger McGroarty - Ben Kindel - Anthony Mantha
- Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari
Defense:
- Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson
- Brett Kulak - Kris Letang
- Ilya Solovyov - Ryan Shea
Goalie: Arturs Silovs (expected)
Blackhawks Forwards:
- Frank Nazar - Connor Bedard - Teuvo Teravainen
- Tyler Bertuzzi - Jason Dickinson - Ilya Mikheyev
- Ryan Greene - Oliver Moore - Andre Burakovsky
- Ryan Donato - Nick Foligno - Landon Slaggert
Defense:
- Alex Vlasic - Louis Crevier
- Wyatt Kaiser - Artyom Levshunov
- Matt Grzelcyk - Connor Murphy
Goalie: Spencer Knight (expected)
The Penguins are rolling, and with a favorable home matchup against a struggling Chicago team, they’ve got a prime opportunity to extend their win streak to five. But as always in the NHL, no game is a gimme. The Blackhawks may be in transition, but they’ve got young talent and a top-ranked penalty kill that can frustrate even the best teams.
Expect an energized crowd at PPG Paints Arena, and if Pittsburgh keeps playing the way they have since the break-structured, opportunistic, and defensively sound-they’ll be tough to beat.