Penguins Heating Up, But McDavid and the Oilers Await in Edmonton
With points in five straight games and back-to-back wins in their pocket, the Pittsburgh Penguins are finding their stride as the second half of the NHL season kicks into gear. Sitting second in the Metropolitan Division, Pittsburgh is showing signs of a team that’s not just surviving but starting to thrive. But Thursday night brings a serious test: a road tilt against the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.
Puck drops at 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local), and this one has the makings of a measuring-stick matchup.
Penguins Finding Their Groove
Pittsburgh’s recent surge hasn’t been flashy-it’s been fundamentally sound. Their latest win, a 4-1 effort over the Calgary Flames, was a clinic in disciplined, structured hockey. The Penguins gave up just four shots in the first period and only 19 total, keeping things tight and clean in front of expected starter Arturs Silovs.
The star of that game? The second line, and they were buzzing.
Tommy Novak, centering Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov, led the charge with a trio of goals-each one showcasing a different flavor of offensive skill. Malkin opened the scoring with a deft deflection in the slot, Chinakhov followed with a laser from between the circles, and Novak capped it off in the third with a silky backhand finish.
But perhaps the most pivotal moment came just 50 seconds into the third period, when Bryan Rust buried a critical goal to make it 3-1. The Penguins had stumbled a bit in the second, but Rust’s early strike in the final frame reset the tone and effectively iced Calgary’s comeback hopes.
That kind of timely scoring-and the ability to respond after a shaky stretch-is exactly what the Penguins will need against a high-octane Oilers team.
Edmonton’s Firepower-and Its Flaws
The Oilers may be in second place in the Pacific Division, but they’ve hit some turbulence lately, particularly against Metro Division opponents. Losses to the Devils, Islanders, and Flyers in the last 10 games have exposed some cracks-especially when it comes to converting chances in tight games.
In Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to New Jersey, Edmonton poured it on in the third period but couldn’t find the equalizer. Matthew Savoie had the lone goal, while former Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry turned aside 15 of 17 shots in the loss.
The biggest concern for Edmonton? Injuries up front.
Leon Draisaitl, Adam Henrique, and Kasperi Kapanen are all sidelined, forcing some creative lineup shuffling-like defenseman Alec Regula skating at forward during Wednesday’s practice. That’s not ideal when you’re trying to keep pace in a deep Western Conference.
Still, as long as Connor McDavid is in the lineup, the Oilers are dangerous. The superstar center is on an absolute tear, racking up 85 points (30 goals, 55 assists) in just 50 games. He remains one of the few players in the league who can tilt the ice every time he hops over the boards.
Special Teams Could Swing It
Both teams bring elite special teams into this matchup, and that could be the X-factor.
Edmonton boasts the NHL’s best power play, clicking at a jaw-dropping 32.6%. But the Penguins’ penalty kill has been lights-out lately, snuffing out 21 of their last 22 shorthanded situations (95.5%). That’s a heavyweight battle within the game, and whoever wins that war might walk away with the two points.
Pittsburgh’s own power play isn’t far behind, ranking third in the league at 27.8%. With both squads capable of doing damage with the man advantage, discipline will be key-especially in a game that could get emotional or chippy.
Penguins’ Projected Lines
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
Defense:
- Parker Wotherspoon - Ryan Shea
- Brett Kulak - Jack St. Ivany
- Ryan Graves - Connor Clifton
Goalie: Arturs Silovs (expected)
Oilers’ Projected Lines
Forwards:
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Connor McDavid - Zach Hyman
- Isaac Howard - Jack Roslovic - Matthew Savoie
- Mattias Janmark - Curtis Lazar - Andrew Mangiapane
- Vasily Podkolzin - Trent Frederic - Alec Regula
Defense:
- Mattias Ekholm - Evan Bouchard
- Darnell Nurse - Ty Emberson
- Jake Walman - Spencer Stastney
Goalie: Connor Ingram (expected)
Numbers to Know
- The Penguins have taken the first goal in nearly 60% of their games (29 of 49), and only Colorado and Tampa Bay have more first-period goals.
- Pittsburgh has won five of its last six road games (5-1-0), showing they can handle tough environments.
- But history hasn’t been kind against the Oilers-just two wins in their last 10 meetings (2-8-0).
- Tommy Novak is heating up with five points in his last four games and six career points in eight games against Edmonton.
Bottom Line: The Penguins are rolling, but Thursday night in Edmonton is a different kind of challenge. Between McDavid’s brilliance, Edmonton’s power play, and a hostile crowd at Rogers Place, Pittsburgh will need to bring the same structure and scoring depth that’s fueled their recent surge. If they can do that-and win the special teams battle-they’ve got a real shot to keep this hot streak alive.