The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to embark on a brief two-game road trip, beginning with a matchup against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The game, scheduled for 7:00 PM, is part of the Highmark Dads Trip and precedes the 4 Nations Face-Off. Fans can watch the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh and NHL Network or listen via 105.9 the X and the Penguins app.
Currently, the Penguins hold a record of 22-24-9, while the Rangers stand at 26-23-4. In recent team news, Rickard Rakell has been selected to join Team Sweden for the upcoming international competition. Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby continues to be evaluated for an upper-body injury sustained earlier this week against New Jersey. Head Coach Mike Sullivan commented, “Obviously, he skated on his own today. That was pre-planned,” adding that more information on Crosby’s status will likely be available soon.
Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic has shown impressive form lately, ranking fourth in save percentage since mid-January among goaltenders with at least five games played. Rakell has also had a standout season with 46 points so far and leads Swedish players in goals.
Kevin Hayes recently contributed by tying a game against New Jersey in regulation time, bringing his total to six points since early January when he returned as a regular in the lineup.
Sidney Crosby has an established history of strong performances against the Rangers, boasting 108 points across 87 career games against them. He remains a pivotal player for Pittsburgh this season with 58 points overall and is nearing several personal milestones.
In other quick notes: Philip Tomasino has consistently scored against the Rangers; Ville Koivunen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earned AHL Rookie of the Month honors for January; over recent games, Pittsburgh’s defense has allowed few goals; their power-play efficiency ranks sixth in the league; and Anthony Beauvillier has historically performed well against New York.
