Penguins Head to Calgary Riding Momentum, But Blue Line Faces Big Questions
The Pittsburgh Penguins are heading into the heart of their Western Canada swing with a little wind in their sails-and a few cracks on the blue line. After a resilient 6-3 win over the Seattle Kraken on Monday, Pittsburgh rolls into Calgary for Game 49 of the season sitting third in the Metropolitan Division, just two points back of the New York Islanders with a game in hand.
This three-game road trip could be a turning point, and it starts Wednesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, which is counting down its final games before the Flames move into their new arena. Puck drops at 9:30 p.m. EST, and Charley Kate will handle both national anthems.
Finding Their Stride
Monday’s win in Seattle wasn’t just two points-it was a statement. The Penguins never trailed, answering every Kraken push with poise and purpose. It was one of those games where the scoreboard told part of the story, but the way Pittsburgh controlled the tempo and dictated play stood out even more.
Connor Dewar led the charge with a pair of goals, including a shorthanded breakaway that tied his career highs in both goals (11) and points (19). He’s been a spark plug in the bottom six, and his ability to generate offense in transition has become a real asset.
Also finding the back of the net were Parker Wotherspoon, Brett Kulak, Justin Brazeau, and Rickard Rakell-who’s quietly heating up with goals in back-to-back games. Sidney Crosby, Anthony Mantha, and Blake Lizotte each chipped in two assists, while Stuart Skinner stopped 19 of 22 shots in a solid outing between the pipes.
The win gave Pittsburgh points in three straight (1-0-2) and four wins in their last five overall. They’re trending in the right direction, but Wednesday’s test in Calgary comes with some significant lineup questions.
Blue Line in Flux
The Penguins' defense could be shorthanded in a big way. Kris Letang missed Tuesday’s practice, and while Erik Karlsson was on the ice, he didn’t take part in all the drills-including power-play work, which is usually his domain. If both are unavailable, Pittsburgh’s defensive depth will be tested in a big way.
To bolster the blue line, the Penguins swung a deal with Colorado, acquiring left-shot defenseman Ilya Solovyov in exchange for former prospect Valtteri Puustinen. Solovyov joins the team on the road trip and could be thrown into action quickly if needed.
Calgary in Transition
The Flames, meanwhile, are navigating the early stages of a retool-or possibly a full rebuild. On Sunday, they traded top-pair defenseman Rasmus Andersson to Vegas, signaling that more moves could be on the horizon.
Despite the roster shakeup, Calgary has quietly put together a 2-0-1 run, including a win over the Islanders and a tight 2-1 overtime loss to the Devils on Monday. In that game, 22-year-old goalie Devin Cooley stole the show with 30 saves and a first-star nod.
His postgame quote-“Nothing matters. Nobody cares.
We’re all going to die.”-was equal parts philosophical and darkly humorous, but it captured the mindset of a young goalie trying to stay loose in the face of pressure.
Expect Dustin Wolf to get the start for Calgary, while Arturs Silovs is projected to go for Pittsburgh. That would set up Stuart Skinner for a return to his hometown of Edmonton on Thursday.
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 - Ryan Shea
Brett Kulak - Jack St. Ivany
Ryan Graves - Connor Clifton
Goalie: Arturs Silovs (expected)
Flames Forwards
Connor Zary - Nazem Kadri - Matvei Gridin
Yegor Sharangovich - Mikael Backlund - Matt Coronato
Jonathan Huberdeau - Morgan Frost - Joel Farabee
Ryan Lomberg - Justin Kirkland - Adam Klapka
Flames Defense
Yan Kuznetsov - Mackenzie Weegar
Kevin Bahl - Zach Whitecloud
Joel Hanley - Hunter Brzustewicz
Goalie: Dustin Wolf (expected)
Special Teams Snapshot
The Penguins’ power play has surged to third in the league at 28.0%, while the penalty kill is fourth at 83.1%-and trending up. Over the last six games, they’ve killed 20 of 21 penalties, a stretch that’s helped stabilize their defensive game.
Calgary’s special teams are more of a mixed bag. Their penalty kill is a respectable sixth at 83.0%, but the power play has struggled all season, currently sitting at 31st with a 14.9% conversion rate.
Notable Trends and Milestones
- The Flames have won 10 of the last 17 meetings between these two teams, but the Penguins have managed to collect points in 11 of those (7-6-4).
- Pittsburgh has four wins in their last five games (4-1-0).
- Brett Kulak’s goal on Monday made him the 26th different Penguin to score this season. No team in the NHL has more unique goal scorers.
- Rickard Rakell has points in back-to-back games, and when he gets on the scoresheet, good things tend to happen. The Penguins are 12-2-2 when he records a point this season.
- Bryan Rust is just three points shy of hitting the 40-point mark for the seventh time in his career. If he gets there, he’ll become the 11th player in franchise history with seven or more 40-point seasons.
What’s at Stake
With the Metro standings tightening and a game in hand on the Islanders, the Penguins have a real chance to climb. But with potential absences on defense and a Flames team playing with nothing to lose, this one won’t be easy.
The Penguins have been finding ways to win lately-whether it’s depth scoring, special teams, or timely goaltending. If they can keep that formula rolling in Calgary, they’ll be one step closer to solidifying their playoff position.