Game Preview: Calgary Flames @ Pittsburgh Penguins 11/30/2024

The Pens could mark their first three-win streak of the season with a victory tonight.

Who: Calgary Flames (12-8-4, 28 points, 3rd place Pacific Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (9-12-4, 22 points, 8th place Metropolitan Division)

When: 7 p.m. ET

How to Watch: CITY, SNW, SN-PIT, national streaming on NHL Network

Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins face a tough stretch coming up with games against playoff contenders in the Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche next on the schedule. Next up is a Tuesday home tilt against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers.

Opponent Track: The Flames are similarly entering this contest in the second half of a back-to-back. On Friday night Calgary lost a third straight contest by dropping a 5-2 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Season Series: The Penguins and Flames last met on Oct. 22 in Calgary. The Pens led with one minute left in regulation but ended up losing in a shootout.

Hidden Stat: Last night’s victory over the Bruins marked the first time Tristan Jarry has won in consecutive starts since Feb. 27, per the TNT broadcast.

Getting to know the Flames

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Jonathan Huberdeau - Connor Zary - Blake Coleman

Yegor Sharangovich - Mikael Backlund - Matt Coronato

Martin Pospisil - Nazem Kadri - Andrei Kuzmenko

Ryan Lomberg - Kevin Rooney - Justin Kirkland

DEFENSEMEN

Kevin Bahl / Rasmus Andersson

MacKenzie Weegar / Daniil Miromanov

Joel Hanley / Brayden Pachal

Goalies: Dustin Wolf (Dan Vladar started Friday)

IR: Anthony Mantha (season-ending ACL surgery)

Potential Scratches: Justin Kirkland (day-to-day)

• The Jackets and Flames played on Friday for the first time since the tragic death of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. Goaltender Dan Vladar wore a custom helmet honoring the brothers for the game.

• Flames head coach Ryan Huska was highly critical of his team’s effort in Friday’s 5-2 loss to the Jackets. The Flames only scored one goal at even strength, and by then the visitors were already trailing Columbus by three goals.

“We have a way we have to play the game, and if it’s not there consistently or if we’re looking for an easier brand of hockey, it doesn’t work for us. So today, I thought we were looking for the easier game,” Huska told reporters after Friday’s loss.

• The Flames marked a four-game winning streak at home from Nov. 15 to Nov. 23. Then they hit the road and have so far dropped three straight, picking up just one point in OT on the way. Overall Calgary has won just three of 12 road games this season.

Player stats

(via hockeydb)

• The Flames haven’t gotten the production they were hoping for from Huberdeau when the forward inked an eight-year, $84 million deal with the team in 2022. But he is at least on pace to eclipse last year’s 12-goal total with seven tallies through the first 23 games of the season.
• There were multiple fights during the Jackets’ Friday loss to the Blue Jackets. Mackenzie Weegar sparked the ire of the Jackets— and particularly goaltender Elvis Merzlikins— after he speared Merzlikins in the third period of Friday’s loss.

• The Flames have struggled with penalties during their current slump. After the fight-filled loss in Columbus it seems likely Huska will be hoping his team can stay out of the box in Pittsburgh.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust

Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Philip Tomasino

Anthony Beauvillier - Blaze Lizotte - Drew O’Connor

Matt Nieto - Noel Acciari - Kevin Hayes

DEFENSEMEN

Matt Grzelcyk / Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson / Erik Karlsson

Ryan Shea / Jack St. Ivany

Goalies: Alex Nedeljkovic (Tristan Jarry started Friday)

Potential Scratches: Ryan Graves, Jesse Puljujarvi, Owen Pickering (sick)

IR: Cody Glass (concussion)

• Owen Pickering missed his second straight game when he was sidelined for Friday night’s contest with the Bruins with an illness.
• Philip Tomasino has done his best to campaign to keep a roster spot in Pittsburgh. He scored a goal, was a plus-1 and tied a career-high with six shots in just under 14 minutes on the ice on Friday night.
• Nedeljkovic is seeking his first win since Nov. 16 against the Sharks. He heads into the contest having recorded three regulation losses and two overtime losses in his last six starts.