Two teams battling to qualify for the postseason face off on the ice Saturday when the Pittsburgh Penguins (27-21-9, 63 points, 10th Eastern Conference) visit the St Louis Blues (26-28-5, 56 points, 11th Western Conference ). Pittsburgh has lost each of its last four following its 7-2 setback at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. St Louis has also lost four straight after falling to the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. Pittsburgh is 10th in the Eastern Conference and St Louis is 11th in the Western Conference. Pittsburgh will play without Mark Friedman, Ryan Poehling and Jan Rutta. Jake Neighbours is out for St louis, while Torey Krug is questionable.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing an average of 3.23 goals per game. Top goalie Tristan Jarry is 16-7-5 with a 2.82 goals against average, .916 save percentage and one shutout but has missed several games because of injury. Backup Casey DeSmith has seen plenty of action and is 10-24-4 with a 3.28 goals against average and .904 save percentage. Pittsburgh's blue line is allowing an average of 34.1 shots per game which is 29th and the Pittsburgh penalty kill unit is 14th, holding opponents scoreless 80.6% of the time the Penguins are short-handed.
Pittsburgh is scoring an average of 3.18 goals per game which is 15th in the NHL. Sydney Crosby has scored a team best 25 goals while Jake Guentzel has scored 24. Crosby has a team best 44 assists and a team high 69 points. Second in assists is Evgeny Malkin with 37 and Ma lkin is second in points with 58. Pittsburgh is averaging the fifth most shots in the NHL at 33.6 per game and the Penguins power play is scoring 21.5% of the time the Pittsburgh has the man advantage which is only 15th.
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