Pittsburgh Penguins Vs. Washington Capitals GameDay, Odds, TV/Radio, And Preview
By Larry Snyder
The Pittsburgh Penguins (27-12-8 , 62 points) conclude their ninth set of back-to-back games tonight when they take on the Capitals at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
The Pens are coming off a 5-3 victory Tuesday over the Winnipeg Jets, and remain in second place in the Metropolitan Division. They are three points behind the New York Islanders (32-14-1, 65 points). The gap narrowed as the Isles lost at home Tuesday 4-1 to the New York Rangers. They will be back in action at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Thursday, Jan. 29 when they host the Boston Bruins.
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Barry Trotz’s crew extended their losing streak to four in a row when they lost to the Blue Jackets 4-3 Tuesday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. The Caps own a record of 24-14-9, 57 points and are in fourth place in the division. They are eight points behind the Isles. Washington is 12-5-5 at home this season, and are 5-3-2 in their last 10 contests.
Tonight is the second of four match-ups between the Metro rivals. It is also the 206th regular season meeting between the two combatants. Washington shut out the Penguins 3-0 Saturday, Dec. 27 in Pittsburgh. The Black and Gold are 10-5-5 on the road this season, and are 4-3-3 over their last 10 games.
When: Wednesday, Jan. 28
Puck Drop: 8:05 p.m., ET
Site: Verizon Center
National Television: NBC Sports Network
Announcers: Mike “Doc” Emerick and Pierre Mcguire
Radio Coverage: 105.9 FM – The X and the Penguins Radio Network
Announcers: Mike Lange and Phil Bourque
Live Video Steam: NHL GameCenter LIVE
Audio Stream: Penguins Radio 24/7
Sirius XM Satellite Radio: XM Internet 942
Odds: According to OddsShark.com, oddsmakers currently have the moneyline on the two teams listed as Pittsburgh +106 / Washington -116 with the Over/Under at 5.5.
Caps center Nicklas Backstrom had an assist Tuesday against the Blue Jackets, marking his 400th NHL/Capitals assist. The 6-foot-1, 208-pound forward is the third player in Capitals history to earn 400 assists with the franchise, joining Michal Pivonka with 418 and Alex Ovechkin with 408.
Washington defenseman John Carlson has recorded eight points in his last 10 contests, and is second among NHL defensemen in assists with 30.
One key question for Trotz this evening is who to start in goal. Braden Holtby has lost his last three starts while putting up a 3.94 goals-against-average and a .868 save percentage. His career numbers against the Penguins are 1-4-0 with a 3.40 GAA. Backup netminder Justin Peters is 2-4-2 with a 4.18 GAA in eight career starts against Pittsburgh.
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The Penguins acquired center Maxim Lapierre Tuesday night from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for center Marcel Goc. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound forward, who will turn 30 in March, has two goals and seven assists for nine points in 45 games this season.
The Saint-Leonard, Quebec native has played 579 games in a 10-year NHL career with Montreal, Anaheim, Vancouver, and St. Louis. He has put up 65 goals and 72 assists for 137 points.
Pittsburgh re-assigned center Scott Wilson and right wing Bryan Rust Tuesday to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury should get the call tonight, and has six wins in his last seven starts against the Capitals.
Up Next: The Black and Gold stay on the road Friday, Jan. 30 when they take on the New Jersey Devils (17-22-8, 42 points) at the Prudential Center. They will drop the puck at 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh.
From The Clipboard: Five of center Nick Spaling’s seven goals have been the first goal of the game…Defenseman Kris Letang claimed his 200th career assist on Spaling’s goal last night against Winnipeg…Letang’s career-high five assists against the Jets was the first five-point game by a defenseman in the NHL this season…The last Pens defenseman to put up five points in a contest was Sergei Gonchar on Dec. 13, 2006 against the Flyers.