MATCHUP PREVIEW
The Penguins continue along their five-game homestand with their third-straight game against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh has points in 10 of its last 15 games against Philadelphia (8-5-2). The Penguins have points in four of their last five home games against the Flyers (3-1-1) and are 8-3-1 over their last 12 home games versus them. The Penguins are scheduled to play 12 home games during the month of March. It is the most home games played in a calendar month in franchise history, and second-most in NHL history. After tonight’s game, the Penguins won’t face off against the Flyers until April 15 here at home.
QUICK HITS
Tonight begins the Penguins’ second set of back-to-back games this season. Pittsburgh is scheduled to have nine sets of back-to-back games in 2020-21. Thus far, the Penguins are 1-1-0 in back-to-backs (1-0-0 the first night; 0-1-0 the second night).
Evgeni Malkin has 75 career points (28G-47A) in 62 career games against the Flyers. Only teammate Sidney Crosby (108PTS in 73GP) has more points versus Philadelphia among all active players.
Per NHLPR, Mark Friedman, became the 10th player since 2009-10 to score his first career goal against the team that drafted him.
Jake Guentzel has 14 points (4G-10A) in 15 career regular season games against the Flyers. If you include postseason games, Guentzel has 27 points (10G-17A) in 21 games.
The Penguins’ .800 points percentage at home (8-2-0 record) is fifth-best in the NHL.
OFFENSE FROM THE DEFENSE
The Penguins got goals from defensemen Kris Letang and Mark Freidman on Thursday night, as Pittsburgh has seen an uptick in scoring from their defensemen lately. Six of Pittsburgh’s last nine goals have come from its blueliners, and 12 of the Penguins 65 goals (18.5%) this year have come from their defensemen. Only the Montreal Canadiens (14/71, 19.7%), Florida Panthers (14/71, 19.7%) and Dallas Stars (9/48, 18.8%) have a higher percentage of their total goals scored by their defenseman than Pittsburgh.
Their 12 goals from defensemen are tied for fourth-most in the NHL.
POINT STREAKIN’
Pittsburgh has multiple players who enter tomorrow’s game with home point streaks:
Evgeni Malkin has points in four-straight home games (5A). A point tonight can give him his first five-game home point streak since his six-game home streak from Dec. 27, 2018-Jan. 30, 2019 (8A).
Jared McCann has points in each of his last four home games (3G-1A) after going pointless in his first two contests at PPG Paints Arena.
Jake Guentzel has assists in three-straight home games and points in seven of 10 home games this season. Last year, Guentzel had points in 18 of 22 games at PPG Paints Arena.
Kris Letang is riding a three-game home point streak (3G-1A). His nine points at home (3G-6A) are tied for ninth-most among NHL defensemen.
COACH INTERVIEW
Video: Coach Sullivan speaks to the media
SCORE TRIGGER PROMOTIONS
PENGUINS WIN TRIGGER PROMOTIONS