8:09 pm
November 27

Penguins @ Jets

Who will WIN this matchup?

Pittsburgh Penguins (9-8-5)

@ Winnipeg Jets (13-7-2)

 

Starting Goalies:

Casey DeSmith (PIT): Confirmed

Connor Hellebuyck (WPG): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Pittsburgh Penguins: (+125)

Winnipeg Jets: (-145)

 

• There are plenty of words to describe a hot streak for a player, but what Patrik Laine did last week for the Winnipeg Jets almost defies any label. The Jets host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday and their 20-year-old forward certainly will be in the spotlight, after the NHL’s first star of the week scored 11 goals in four games – culminating with a franchise-record five-goal performance in Winnipeg’s 8-4 victory Saturday at St. Louis.

• The Penguins have won two of three since an ugly 1-7-2 stretch and also have a hot hand offensively, as forward Jake Guentzel netted six goals in his past seven games. Guentzel’s first career regular-season hat trick lifted Pittsburgh past Columbus 4-2 on Saturday. “He just has a high intellect and reads plays well,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan told the media afterward. “But when he scores, he helps us win.”

• Center Sidney Crosby has five points (four assists) in three games since returning from an upper-body injury, setting up Guentzel’s first two goals Saturday. Forward Phil Kessel brings an eight-game point streak into Tuesday (three goals, eight assists) while center Evgeni Malkin rides a seven-game streak (two goals, eight assists). Goaltender Casey DeSmith made 37 saves Saturday to improve to 5-3-3 on the season.

• Laine began his week with a hat trick Nov. 19 at Vancouver and currently is on a five-game point streak (11 goals, one assist). His linemates – center Bryan Little and forward Kyle Connor – each finished with four assists against the Blues and combined for 13 assists on Winnipeg’s four-game road trip. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who was knocked out of a 6-3 defeat Wednesday at Calgary and allowed three third-period goals Friday at Minnesota, is expected to start.

• Pittsburgh began the week seventh in the NHL on the power play (25 percent) and ninth in penalty killing (81.8 percent).

• The Jets allowed 14 goals in the final three games of their road trip.

• Winnipeg C Andrew Copp did not skate Monday and remains sidelined with a concussion.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Winnipeg Jets
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