Penguins Riding a Five-Game Heater, Honoring 2016 Champs as Rangers Skid into Town
There’s a buzz in Pittsburgh this weekend, and it’s not just the freezing February air. The Penguins are rolling - winners of five straight, unbeaten in regulation over their last eight - and they’re doing it with the kind of swagger that reminds fans of championship runs past. Fittingly, on Saturday afternoon, they’ll welcome back some familiar faces from their 2016 Stanley Cup-winning squad, including the man now behind the opposing bench: former head coach Mike Sullivan.
Sullivan, who led the Penguins to back-to-back Cups in 2016 and 2017, returns to PPG Paints Arena as the head coach of the New York Rangers. But this isn’t the same Rangers team that began the season with high hopes.
They've stumbled hard in recent weeks, and Saturday’s nationally televised matchup (3:30 p.m. ET on ABC) has all the makings of a statement game - for both sides, but especially for a Penguins team that’s found its rhythm at the right time.
Penguins Turning the Corner
Since the holiday break, Pittsburgh has been one of the NHL’s hottest teams, going 12-2-2 and climbing into second place in the Metro Division. That run has them firmly in the playoff picture, with Moneypuck.com giving them an 84.2% chance to make the postseason as of Jan. 31.
Their most recent outing was a 6-2 dismantling of the Chicago Blackhawks, a game where the Penguins looked every bit like a contender. Connor Dewar netted a pair, while Egor Chinakhov, Ben Kindel, Anthony Mantha, and Ryan Shea each chipped in goals of their own. Mantha, Blake Lizotte, and Noel Acciari all added two assists, and the team’s depth scoring - something that had been a question mark earlier in the year - is suddenly a strength.
Goaltender Arturs Silovs wasn’t tested often but did what was needed, stopping 18 of 20 shots. With the Penguins rotating netminders, Stuart Skinner is expected to get the nod Saturday.
And that’s good news for Pittsburgh: Skinner is 7-1 since the break with a sparkling .934 save percentage and a 1.63 goals-against average. He’s also had success against the Rangers in his career, going 4-1-1 with a .930 save percentage in six starts.
Rangers Reeling
While the Penguins are surging, the Rangers are spiraling. They’ve dropped 10 of their last 12 (2-9-1) and are looking more like a team on the verge of a rebuild than one chasing a playoff berth. That’s been made official in a way - general manager Chris Drury recently sent a letter to fans asking for patience as the team begins a retooling process.
The low point? A 10-2 drubbing at the hands of the Bruins, followed by back-to-back losses to the rival Islanders - a gut punch for Rangers fans and a clear sign that things are unraveling.
Injuries and roster moves haven’t helped. Star winger Artemi Panarin has been scratched indefinitely as the team explores trade options, and starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin remains out. Veteran netminder Jonathan Quick is expected to start in goal.
Penguins Lineup and Injury Updates
Pittsburgh will be without two of its cornerstone veterans on Saturday. Kris Letang has been ruled out for approximately four weeks with a fractured foot, and Evgeni Malkin’s status is still pending after missing Friday’s practice due to an undisclosed injury. Bryan Rust, meanwhile, will serve the second game of his three-game suspension.
Here’s how the Penguins are expected to line up:
Forwards:
- Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Justin Brazeau
- Tommy Novak - Kevin Hayes - Egor Chinakhov
- Rutger McGroarty - Ben Kindel - Anthony Mantha
- Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari
Defense:
- Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson
- Brett Kulak - Connor Clifton
- Ilya Solovyov - Ryan Shea
Goalie: Stuart Skinner (expected)
Chinakhov enters with a four-game point streak (3G, 1A), his third-longest in the NHL, while Mantha has been on fire with three multi-point games in his last five, including a three-point night against Chicago.
The Penguins’ special teams are also clicking. Their power play is ranked third in the league at 27.2%, and their penalty kill has been elite - killing off 26 of their last 27 shorthanded situations (96.3%).
Rangers Lineup
Here’s how New York is expected to counter:
Forwards:
- Gabe Perreault - J.T.
Miller - Mika Zibanejad
- Will Cuylle - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafrenière
- Brennan Othmann - Noah Laba - Taylor Raddysh
- Brett Berard - Sam Carrick - Matt Rempe
Defense:
- Vladislav Gavrikov - Braden Schneider
- Matthew Robertson - Will Borgen
- Urho Vaakanainen - Scott Morrow
Goalie: Jonathan Quick (expected)
Game Notes and Trends
- The Penguins haven’t beaten the Rangers at PPG Paints Arena in their last five tries. That’s a streak they’d love to snap with Sullivan in the building.
- Pittsburgh has been a fast-starting team all season, scoring first in 31 of 52 games - that 59.6% clip ranks among the league’s best.
- Only two teams in the NHL have more goals in the first period than the Penguins, a testament to their ability to set the tone early.
Final Thoughts
This game is more than just two points in the standings. For the Penguins, it’s a chance to honor their past while continuing to shape their present - and possibly their future. They’re playing with confidence, getting contributions up and down the lineup, and have the kind of goaltending that can carry them deep into spring.
For the Rangers, it’s a gut check. The season hasn’t gone as planned, and Saturday’s matchup is another tough test for a team in transition.
But make no mistake - with the 2016 champs in the building and the stakes rising by the day, this one has all the makings of a memorable afternoon in Pittsburgh.
How to Watch:
- TV: ABC
- Radio: 105.9 The X