Penguins Look to Extend Dominance as Canadiens Come to Town
Tonight’s matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens arrives with a little extra excitement — and even a bit of unexpected drama off the ice. The game, originally scheduled for an earlier start, has been pushed to 7:30 PM ET after a tractor-trailer carrying around 46,000 pounds of steel coils overturned on I-279. With traffic backed up for miles and road closures in place, the delay was announced to give fans extra time to safely make it to PPG Paints Arena.
But once everyone is inside, the atmosphere is expected to be buzzing. It’s Star Wars Night at the arena, meaning fans will be greeted by more than 60 characters roaming the concourses. Costumes are encouraged — though lightsabers are staying outside, and masks must be removed at the doors for safety.
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On the ice, this game marks another stop in Pittsburgh’s five-game homestand, and the Penguins enter with plenty of momentum. They’ve collected points in seven of their last eight games and currently sit at 14-7-7. Montreal isn’t far behind at 15-11-3, but history has leaned heavily in Pittsburgh’s favor. The Penguins have won six straight against the Canadiens, their longest active streak against any team, and have earned points in 19 of their last 23 meetings. Zoom out even further, and Pittsburgh holds a 22-8-4 record over the last 32 matchups.
A big part of the Penguins’ success this season has been special teams. Their power play is operating at a league-best 32.4%, and even with the fewest opportunities in the NHL, they’ve still buried 23 power-play goals. The penalty kill has been just as sharp, ranking fourth overall. Recent production from players like Connor Dewar, who’s riding a small two-game streak, and Tommy Novak, who has points in four straight, has added more layers to Pittsburgh’s offense.
Star defensemen also tend to shine when these teams meet. Erik Karlsson has stacked up 42 career points against Montreal, and Kris Letang — a Montreal native — remains just two points away from tying Hall-of-Famer Börje Salming for 21st all-time in points by an NHL defenseman. Letang’s production against his hometown team has been especially impressive, with 39 points in 47 games.
And then, of course, there’s Sidney Crosby. He comes into this game with five goals in his last six outings and is tied for fifth in the league in scoring. His track record against Montreal continues to be remarkable, with 69 points in 52 career games and points collected in 15 of his last 19 matchups.
As the lights come up, the costumes settle in, and the puck finally drops at 7:30, the Penguins will look to keep their streak alive and make the most of their homestand — even if the road to the arena was a little more complicated tonight.
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