After their five-game homestand, the Penguins take to the road tonight to skate against the Boston Bruins. The Pens broke their three-game losing streak with a 5-4 win over Vancouver on Wednesday, and coach Mike Sullivan is hoping they can build some momentum to get back in the Metro Division race. They are last in the division with twenty points, one less than the Blue Jackets and Islanders.
Even in victory, there were flaws on Wednesday. The Penguins had a 5-1 lead before the Canucks scored three straight to make for a tense closing minutes. Sullivan says for the Penguins to win, they have to play an all-around game.
The Penguins have scored power play goals in their last four games. Sullivan says the power play is heating up but there is work to do to get it really humming.
A key to the power play – and to the overall defensive performance of the Penguins – is defenseman Erik Karlsson, who’s had a miserable season so far. He put together one of his more complete games on Wednesday, the kind of game Sullivan says Karlsson needs to play.
Defenseman Owen Pickering missed Wednesday’s game and yesterday’s practice due to illness. Sullivan said he was unsure if Pickering would be able to make the flight to Boston.
Faceoff tonight is scheduled for 6:30. The airtime on 92.5 FM U92 is 5:30. After tonight’s game, the Penguins return to Pittsburgh to play Calgary tomorrow night.
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