Golden Knights at Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had plenty of time to mull over two disappointing defensive efforts to start the season and hope to play with more urgency in their own end when they host the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. The Penguins found a way to pull out their season opener against Washington last Thursday, winning 7-6 in overtime, before being blitzed by Montreal 5-1 just two days later.
“I think we’re a team right now that just wants to score instead of playing the game the right way, and that means playing on both sides of the rink,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan told reporters after his team was outshot 29-22 on Saturday. “Until we learn to play defense and become harder to play against, we’re not going to control outcomes.” The Penguins split a pair of one-goal decisions with the Golden Knights last season - each winning at home - and likely will go into this matchup without No. 1 goaltender Matt Murray, who is day-to-day with a concussion. Vegas, which won the Western Conference in its inaugural season in 2017-18, has scored just seven goals while losing three of its first four games, including Wednesday's 5-2 setback at Washington in a rematch of the Stanley Cup Final. Speedy forward Jonathan Marchessault was blanked in that contest but leads the way with two goals, a pair of assists and 16 shots in the first four contests for the Golden Knights.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Vegas), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (1-3-0): William Karlsson notched an assist in Wednesday’s loss to give him three on the season, but he has yet to score a goal after recording a team- and career-high 43 in 2017-18. Veteran Paul Stastny is expected to miss at least two more games after sitting out the contest against Washington with a lower-body injury, but Cody Eakin (lower body) returned to the lineup Wednesday and scored a goal. Marc-Andre Fleury has started all four games to open the season, which could give Thursday’s opportunity to backup Malcolm Subban (13-4-2, .910 save percentage in 2017-18).
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (1-1-0): Casey DeSmith is expected to get his first start of the season in net while Pittsburgh likely will wait until Thursday to determine whether or not Murray is placed on injured reserve and Tristan Jarry is recalled. Defenseman Kris Letang, who is one point away from tying Martin Straka (442) for 10th place on the franchise list, is off to a strong start with two goals and a pair of assists in his first two contests - including a power-play tally and a game-winner. Evgeni Malkin has registered a goal and two assists to start the season, Jake Guentzel has scored twice and captain Sidney Crosby has set up a pair of tallies.
OVERTIME
1. The Golden Knights are 0-for-11 with the man advantage in the early going and have allowed four power-play goals in 12 short-handed situations.
2. Pittsburgh placed C Derek Grant, who did not play in the first two games, on waivers Wednesday.
3. Vegas RW Reilly Smith, who registered 22 goals last season, scored Wednesday and is one tally shy of 100 for his career.