Penguins Rolling into Vancouver with Momentum - But Is This a Classic Trap Game?
VANCOUVER - The Pittsburgh Penguins are rolling. They’ve rattled off three straight wins to kick off their Western Canada swing, and they haven’t just squeaked by - they’ve looked sharp, confident, and in control. But as they head into Sunday’s matchup against the struggling Vancouver Canucks, the question becomes: is this the kind of game that sneaks up on a hot team?
Let’s be clear - on paper, this one tilts heavily in Pittsburgh’s favor. The Penguins are sitting at 25-14-11, holding down second place in the Metropolitan Division with a four-point cushion over the Flyers. Meanwhile, Vancouver has tumbled to the bottom of the NHL standings with a 17-29-5 record and just 39 points - eight behind the next-worst teams.
But if you’ve followed this league long enough, you know how dangerous these so-called “easy” games can be. The Penguins are trying to close out a perfect Western Canada trip, and the Canucks are limping into this one with the league’s worst penalty kill and little to lose. That’s a recipe for chaos if Pittsburgh isn’t dialed in.
Penguins Put on a Clinic in Edmonton
Thursday night’s 6-2 win over the Oilers was a statement. From puck drop, the Penguins looked like a team with a purpose.
They pressed early, played with structure, and took advantage of Edmonton’s defensive lapses. And then came the avalanche - three goals in just 37 seconds during the first period, the fastest trio ever scored against the Oilers and the third-fastest in Penguins franchise history.
Anthony Mantha got things started, finishing a slick three-on-two by deflecting Justin Brazeau’s saucer pass into the net. Seventeen seconds later, Mantha struck again - this time on a breakaway.
Then Sidney Crosby, doing Sidney Crosby things, redirected a shot from the slot with a ridiculous chop-deflection that found the top corner. That goal ended up being the game-winner.
Evgeni Malkin added a breakaway goal of his own - and not just any breakaway. He picked Connor McDavid’s pocket and turned it into a solo mission the other way. Rickard Rakell and Egor Chinakhov also found the back of the net as the Penguins pulled away.
In goal, Arturs Silovs was sharp. He stopped 30 of 32 shots and gave Pittsburgh exactly what they needed. On the other side, it was a rough night for Tristan Jarry, who gave up goals on three of the first four shots he faced and finished with just 17 saves on 23 shots.
Familiar Faces in Vancouver
There’s a bit of a Penguins reunion happening on the Canucks roster. Defensemen Marcus Pettersson and P.O Joseph are now wearing Vancouver colors, as are forwards Drew O’Connor and Teddy Blueger. Max Sasson, who once attended Penguins prospect camp, is also in the mix.
That familiarity adds a little extra spice to this matchup, but it doesn’t change the fact that Vancouver is in a freefall. Their 70.6% penalty kill ranks dead last in the NHL, and they’ve struggled to find consistency in any area of their game.
Penguins Trending Up
Since the holiday break, Pittsburgh has gone 10-2-2. That’s not just a hot streak - it’s a sign that this team is rounding into form at the right time.
The penalty kill has been lights out lately, killing 23 of the last 24 penalties (95.8%). And the offense is clicking, with contributions coming from all four lines.
Rickard Rakell is riding a five-game point streak (3G, 2A), and the team is 14-2-2 when he records a point. Tommy Novak has quietly put together six points in his last five games.
And then there’s Crosby - just three goals shy of hitting the 30-goal mark for the 14th time in his career. Only six players in NHL history have more 30-goal seasons, and among active players, only Alex Ovechkin (19) has more.
In net, Stuart Skinner is expected to start. He’s been red-hot since Christmas, going 6-1-0 in his last seven starts and allowing one goal or fewer in five of those games.
But Arturs Silovs made a strong case for another look after his showing in Edmonton. Head coach Dan Muse will confirm the starter closer to puck drop.
Defenseman Kris Letang is expected to return to the lineup after being a full participant in Saturday’s practice.
Vancouver’s Goalie Situation
With Thatcher Demko sidelined again, Vancouver recalled Nikita Tolopilo, who will likely back up Kevin Lankinen. Lankinen is expected to get the start Sunday, but given the team’s goaltending carousel this season, nothing is set in stone.
Projected Lineups
Penguins Forwards
Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov - Tommy Novak - Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha - Ben Kindel - Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari
Penguins Defense
Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson
Brett Kulak - Kris Letang
Ryan Shea - Jack St.
Ivany
Goalie: Stuart Skinner (expected)
Canucks Forwards
Aatu Raty - Elias Pettersson - Jake DeBrusk
Drew O’Connor - Filip Chytil - Brock Boeser
Liam Ohgren - Teddy Blueger - Conor Garland
Nils Hoglander - Max Sasson - Linus Karlsson
Canucks Defense
Elias Pettersson - Filip Hronek
Zeev Buium - Tyler Myers
Marcus Pettersson - Tom Willander
Goalie: Kevin Lankinen (expected)
Special Teams Breakdown
- Penguins Power Play: 27.4% (4th in NHL)
- Penguins Penalty Kill: 83.4% (6th)
- Canucks Power Play: 19.0% (20th)
- Canucks Penalty Kill: 70.6% (32nd)
Final Word
The Penguins are in a groove, and a win in Vancouver would cap off a perfect Western Canada road trip - something they haven’t done since the 2019-20 season. But road trips can wear on a team, and this matchup has all the ingredients of a classic trap game: a red-hot team facing a desperate opponent at the tail end of a long trip.
If Pittsburgh brings the same energy and structure they’ve shown in Calgary and Edmonton, they should take care of business. But if they let their foot off the gas, Vancouver has just enough talent - and just enough familiarity with the Penguins - to make things interesting.
Puck drops at 6 p.m. EST (3 p.m.
PST). Let’s see if the Penguins can stay perfect out west.