Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to face off against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on New Year’s Eve. The game, scheduled for 8:00 PM, marks the beginning of a three-game road trip for the Penguins. Fans can watch the match on SportsNet Pittsburgh and ESPN+, or listen on 105.9 the X and through the Penguins app.

Currently, the Penguins hold a record of 17-16-5, while the Red Wings stand at 14-18-4. The Penguins have maintained a strong performance against Detroit recently, earning points in 13 of their last 15 meetings (10-2-3). They have scored four or more goals in 11 of these games and achieved a 5-2-0 record in their last seven visits to Detroit.

Pittsburgh has shown remarkable form over the past month with a 10-4-1 record in its last 15 games. The top line consisting of Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell has been particularly effective, combining for 22 goals and 57 points during this stretch.

Bryan Rust is nearing a personal milestone as he is just one point away from becoming the 15th player in franchise history to reach 400 points. He has been a standout player recently with a team-high (tied) of 19 points (10G-9A) over the last 15 games.

Assistant Coach David Quinn's influence on Pittsburgh's power play has been evident with an impressive fifth-place ranking in power-play percentage at 25.9%. Over recent games, they have converted six power-play goals out of nine opportunities.

Additionally, Assistant Coach Mike Vellucci has overseen an efficient penalty-killing unit that ranks sixth in penalty-killing percentage (83.0%). They have successfully killed off penalties with high effectiveness over recent games.

Winger Michael Bunting continues his productive streak with points in three consecutive games (3G-1A), contributing significantly to Pittsburgh's offense. His performance on power plays has been noteworthy as well.

In terms of individual matchups against Detroit, Evgeni Malkin has excelled historically with an average of 1.41 points per game against them, while Erik Karlsson leads all active defensemen against Detroit with a points-per-game average of 1.06.

Michael Bunting also boasts successful stats against Detroit with his teams holding a strong record when he plays against them. Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby continues his streak with multiple-point performances in several recent matches versus Detroit.

Newcomer Nathan Clurman made his NHL debut recently, adding to Pittsburgh’s depth this season as they continue to utilize numerous players throughout their campaign.

Overall, when both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin score during games together, Pittsburgh holds an impressive record showcasing their combined impact on the team’s success.