PITTSBURGH PENGUINS NOTES:
LAST 2 GAMES
Dec. 30: New Jersey 4, Pittsburgh 2 – PPG Paints Arena
PIT Goals: Malkin, Carter
Multiple Points: None
Goalie: Jarry (24 saves/27 shots)
Key Stats: Ty Smith logged 22:14 of time-on-ice in his season debut with Pittsburgh, marking the 17th time in his career he’s skated 22:00 or more in a game.
PP: 0-9
PK: 5-6
Dec. 28: Detroit 5, Pittsburgh 4 (OT) – PPG Paints Arena
PIT Goals: Zucker (2), O’Connor, Carter (PP)
Multiple Points: Zucker (2G), Carter (1G-1A), Kapanen (2A),
Rust (2A)
Goalie: DeSmith (41 saves/46 shots)
Key Stats: Jason Zucker notched his first multi-goal effort of the season as Pittsburgh fell in overtime.
PP: 2-2
PK: 2-4
INJURIES
Position Player Status Consecutive Games Missed Total Games Missed
D Jeff Petry Upper-Body 8 8
F Josh Archibald Lower-Body 5 6
D Chad Ruhwedel Upper-Body 2 2
D Kris Letang Lower-Body 1 7
2022-23 Total Regular-Season Man-Games Lost: 58
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Date Transaction
Dec. 30 F Ryan Poehling activated off of injured reserve.
Dec. 30 F Drake Caggiula re-assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL).
Dec. 28 D Ty Smith and F Drake Caggiula recalled from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL).
Dec. 28 F Josh Archibald and F Ryan Poehling placed on injured reserve.
Pittsburgh’s All-Time Record vs. Bruins: 78-115-29
In Pittsburgh: 50-43-19
In Boston: 28-72-10
OT Record vs. Boston: 12-6-3
Shootout Record vs. Boston: 2-2
2022-23 Results: Pittsburgh is 0-1-0.
Penguins All-Time Point Leaders vs. BRUINS:
Mario Lemieux: 43 GP, 73 PTS (31G-42A)
Sidney Crosby: 54 GP, 67 PTS (18G-49A)
Jaromir Jagr: 44 GP, 63 PTS (26G-37A)
TONIGHT’S GAME
- The Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Boston Bruins in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park (TV: TNT, Sportsnet, TVA; Radio: 105.9 The X).
- Last game against the Bruins on Nov. 1, the Penguins lost 6-5 in overtime. This will be the second matchup of the season between the Penguins and Bruins and first ever outdoor game between the two teams.
- Evgeni Malkin and Brock McGinn each recorded two points in the first matchup against the Bruins this year. Last season, Jake Guentzel led the team in points (5) against Boston, recording (3G-2A) and a plus-4 in three games played.
- Pittsburgh has points in three of its last four games versus Boston (2-1-1). The teams have traded wins in each of the last 11 matchups, with Pittsburgh gaining points in six of them (5-5-1).
WE’RE TAKING IT OUTSIDE
Today, the Penguins (2-2-1) are playing in their sixth outdoor game, tying the Chicago Blackhawks for the most among NHL teams. Below is a look at the five previous outdoor games the Penguins have played in:
• 2008 Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium: Pittsburgh took down the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1 in the shootout, in the first-ever Winter Classic 15 years ago. Sidney Crosby scored the iconic shootout winner.
• 2011 Winter Classic at Heinz Field: Evgeni Malkin scored the lone goal for Pittsburgh as they fell, 3-1, to the Washington Capitals.
• 2014 Stadium Series at Soldier Field: James Neal tallied the only goal for the Penguins as they dropped their second-straight outdoor game, 5-1, against the Chicago Blackhawks.
• 2017 Stadium Series at Heinz Field: Rookie Jake Guentzel notched two assists as the Penguins took down their cross-state rival Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2, in the second NHL game at Heinz Field.
• 2019 Stadium Series at Lincoln Financial Field: Sidney Crosby scored in his second-straight outdoor game (1G-1A), but Claude Giroux’s overtime goal handed Pittsburgh the 4-3 overtime loss.
WINTER CLASSIC FAST FACTS
- Fifteen current Pittsburgh players have participated in at least one outdoor NHL game (minimum: 1 GP in 2022-23).
- No player in NHL history has scored at least one goal in three consecutive outdoor NHL games. Sidney Crosby and David Pastrnak enter the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic with tallies in each of their last two.
- Road teams are 19-12-4 in the NHL’s 35 outdoor games to date.
- Teams that score first are 19-11-5 in the NHL’s 35 outdoor games, including a 14-5-3 record in the last 22 such contests.
- Eighteen of the League’s 35 outdoor games have featured a comeback win (51.4%), including seven of the last 10.
- Seven of the NHL’s 35 outdoor games have required overtime, with five decided in the 5-minute extra session and two determined in a shootout.
MAKING HISTORY AT FENWAY
The 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic is expected to be the first outdoor game to feature three 1,000-point scorers, in Penguins teammates Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron. The only previous outdoor game to feature multiple players with 1,000 or more career points entering play was the 2018 Stadium Series at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Patrick Marleau, TOR; Alex Ovechkin, WSH). Crosby is set to become the fourth different player in NHL history to contest an outdoor game with 1,400 or more career points entering play. He is looking to join Jaromir Jagr (2012 Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park and 2014 Stadium Series at Yankee Stadium), Mark Recchi (2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park) and Teemu Selanne (2014 Stadium Series at Dodger Stadium). Crosby (2G-2A in 5 GP) and Malkin (2G-1A in 5 GP) have appeared in all five outdoor games contested by Pittsburgh. They can become the sixth and seventh players in NHL history to skate in six or more outdoor games along with James van Riemsdyk (7 GP), Jonathan Toews (6 GP), Patrick Kane (6 GP), Duncan Keith (1-2—3 in 6 GP) and Brent Seabrook (6 GP). Crosby and Malkin rank sixth and seventh, respectively in ice-time logged in outdoor games.
BOSTON BRUINS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME
- The Bruins host the Penguins today in the 2nd of 3 games between these teams this season and the Bruins’ lone home game of this series with the Winter Classic game at Fenway Park.
- They are 28-4-4 overall this season and are 18-0-3 on home ice … They are 16-3-2 vs. Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Bruins are playing today the 5th of 16 matinees this season (local start time 4:00 pm or earlier) … They have a 3-0-1 record in afternoon games so far.
- The Bruins open 2023 hosting Pittsburgh in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park … They will then face a 3-game road trip to Los Angeles on 1/5, in San Jose on 1/7 and in Anaheim on 1/8.
RECENT GAMES:
- The Bruins are 7-0-3 in their last 10 games with wins vs Vegas (3-1 on 12/11), vs NY Islanders (4-3/SO on 12/13), vs Columbus (4-2 on 12/17), 7 vs Florida (7-3 on 12/19), vs Winnipeg (3-2 on 12/22), and in New Jersey both 4-3 on 12/23 and 3-1 on 12/28; and 3-2 shootout setbacks each to Los Angeles on 12/15 and Ottawa on 12/27 and a 4-3 OT loss vs Buffalo on 12/31.
- They are 11-1-4 in their last 16 games and are 18-2-4 in their last 24 contests.
- They are 18-0-3 in their 21 home games, including a 14-game home win streak, the longest from the start of a season in league history … That is the 2nd longest point streak from a season’s start in Boston annals to 1973-74’s 21-game stretch at 19- 0-2 … This is their fourth longest home point streak overall in team history (2x) with their club mark a 26-0-1 stretch in 1970-71.
- Boston 2 at Ottawa 3/SO … Jake DeBrusk and Pavel Zacha scored but Ottawa prevailed in the shootout … Jeremy Swayman earned a point in net … SOG: Bos 51, Ott 33 … PP: 0/3 … PK: ½
- Boston 3 at New Jersey 1 … Trent Frederic, Patrice Bergeron (GW) and Pavel Zacha (EN) scored goals and Hampus Lindholm added 2A … Linus Ullmark earned his 2nd career 20-win mark with the victory … SOG: Bos 27, NJ 31 … PP: 0/3 … PK: 0/2
- Boston 3 vs Buffalo 4/OT … David Pastrnak (1-1=2 totals) opened the scoring and Patrice Bergeron (PP) and Brad Marchand (1-1=2) took a 3-2 lead before dropping the extra point … Jeremy Swayman earned the decision in goal … SOG: Bos 40, Buf 25 … PP: 1/5 … PK: 0/3
INJURIES (Total man-games lost in 2022-23: 38)
- None
BOSTON vs PITTSBURGH, LIFETIME SERIES
- The Bruins and Penguins are meeting for the 223rd time in their histories with the Bruins having a 124-70-28 record and 839-685 scoring advantage in those games.
- The Bruins are 76-24-6-4 lifetime vs. Pittsburgh on home ice.
- The Bruins won the first game of this season’s series with a 6-5 OT win in Pittsburgh on 11/1.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Dec. 20: Craig Smith assigned to Providence/AHL (cleared waivers 12/19).
Dec. 21: Craig Smith recalled from Providence/AHL
