PITTSBURGH AT
NASHVILLE
WHEN: 8:00
PM ET, Thursday, March 21, 2019
WHERE: Bridgestone Arena,
Nashville, Tennessee
Matt Murray has been in net during the Pittsburgh Penguins' last three losses
(0-1-2), although he turned aside 73 of 77 shots in the last two. Murray has
been even stingier in his last three meetings with the Nashville Predators, to
the tune of registering three straight shutouts heading into Thursday's tilt in
Music City.
Murray's shutout streak totals 206 minutes, 26 seconds and dates back to Game 6
of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. Pittsburgh still has some work to do if it
wishes to punch its ticket for a 13th consecutive postseason appearance, as its
3-2 shootout loss to Carolina on Tuesday put the third-place Penguins just two
points ahead of the Hurricanes. Nashville has won three in a row and five of
seven to remain on the heels of first-place Winnipeg in the Central Division.
"You can sense that in the locker room the confidence is getting higher and
it's a funny thing how it goes. But it's the best thing in the world winning
some games in a row," reigning Vezina Trophy recipient Pekka Rinne said
after turning aside all 22 shots he faced in Tuesday's 3-0 triumph over
Toronto.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FS Tennessee
(Nashville)
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (39-24-11): Defenseman Kris Letang made an
immediate contribution after missing 11 games due to an upper-body injury,
scoring in the third period to record his career high-tying 16th goal. Jake Guentzel
collected a goal and an assist to reach the 70-point plateau, joining superstar
captain Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and James Neal as the lone
Penguins to accomplish the feat in the last 10 years. Crosby recorded his
club-best 60th assist on Guentzel's team-leading 37th goal, marking the sixth
time that he has set up at least 60 tallies in a season.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (42-27-5): Ryan Johansen set up a pair of goals
versus the Maple Leafs to run his assist streak to five games and push his
assist total to a career-high 49 on the season. Rugged Wayne Simmonds scored
his first goal with his new team since being traded from Philadelphia on Feb.
25. "I thought I was never going to score again," the 30-year-old
Simmonds said. "No, it went in the net. I think most importantly we got
the two points and we played really well as a team. A strong, 60-minute
effort."
OVERTIME
1. Nashville RW Viktor Arvidsson set up a goal on Tuesday to give him eight
points (five goals, three assists) in eight games this month after being
limited to just one in his previous six contests.
2. Former Predators F Patric Hornqvist has just two points (one goal, one
assist) in his last seven contests.
3. Nashville F Filip Forsberg has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his
last seven games.
PREDICTION: Predators 3, Penguins 2
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