October 25, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell (67) tries to dribble Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner (53) during the third period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagen Images The Pittsburgh Penguins face the host Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night in a clash between two teams that are without their starting goaltender from last season.
The skidding Penguins will conclude a four-game trip through Western Canada against Vancouver, who will be bidding for their fourth consecutive win.
Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko was a Vezina Trophy finalist last season, but the team’s best player is dealing with a knee injury. There is no clear date as to when he will return.
Two-time All-Star goaltender Tristan Jarry, who signed a five-year contract extension with the Penguins last summer, has struggled early in the season. He was sent back to Pittsburgh on Thursday to improve the details of his game.
Kevin Lankinen, who signed a one-year contract with Vancouver in September, has taken over most of the workload in the young season.
The Penguins are auditioning rookie Joel Blomqvist, who made 46 saves in a 4-0 loss to the host Edmonton Oilers on Friday. It was a valiant effort from the 22-year-old Blomqvist for Pittsburgh, who have lost four straight games overall.
“Every challenge we’ve given him up to this point has really pushed him,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s played really well in the games he’s played. He’s a very athletic goalkeeper. Moves east-west very well. He’s able to net.”
Blomqvist tried his best to give his team a chance to get back into Friday’s game, but the Penguins couldn’t solve Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner.
The Canucks continued their recent good fortune with a 6-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
Danton Heinen scored twice for Vancouver in the first period. JT Miller tallied a goal and two assists and Connor Garland had one assist in the win.
Lankinen troubled his former club throughout the match but was particularly sharp in the scoreless second period.
It will be the start of a three-game homestand for Vancouver, whose team chemistry was challenged during Wednesday’s practice when its two star offensive players went head-to-head.
Miller and Elias Pettersson trade low chops after a heated puck-battle drill. Before parting ways, Miller added an additional crosscheck for good measure.
Vancouver’s three-game winning streak was followed by a three-game slump (0–1–2) early in the season.
“We’re improving our game,” Canucks coach Rick Tocquet said. “There are some things we’re getting better at and some things we need to work on. It’s still early in the season.
“We’ve been scoring more goals and scoring from deeper the last few games.”
The Penguins are still paying the price for their recent win-now mentality, which also served to mortgage their future. Fortunately, they are still getting production from key veterans like Evgeni Malkin, captain Sidney Crosby and defenseman Erik Karlsson.
Malkin is enjoying an early season resurgence with 11 points in his first nine games. If he keeps that pace up, he’ll have no trouble surpassing last season’s total of 67 points.
Crosby is second in team scoring behind Malkin with seven points in nine games.
–Field Level Media