The Pittsburgh Penguins face four road trips of at least four games this season. Tuesday’s visit to the Chicago Blackhawks marks the beginning of the first.
Coach Dan Muse hopes the Penguins built momentum for the trip by defeating Dallas 2-1 in a shootout on Saturday to stop a three-game skid.
“This was way better,” Muse said. “We were on the same page. We weren’t as spread out. I thought we were coming back and put ourselves in good spots. … For me, it’s an exciting step for us to take.”
Ben Kindel, Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell netted shootout goals for Pittsburgh while Connor Dewar scored in regulation. Disciplined defense steadied the Penguins, as well, as they didn’t allow a shot for almost seven minutes to begin the game.
Newly acquired blueliner Spencer Stastney worked with Kris Letang in Pittsburgh’s third defensive pairing as Trevor van Riemsdyk (lower body) remains day-to-day. The Penguins also dealt two minor leaguers to Buffalo on Monday to acquire defenseman Ryan Johnson.
Strong goaltending has kept the Penguins afloat despite an up-and-down start through six games.
Arturs Silovs stopped 24 of 25 shots in regulation and overtime versus Dallas — “We managed to stick with a plan. Didn’t bend,” he said — while rookie Sergei Murashov made 77 saves on 82 shots in one-goal losses on Oct. 5 and Friday.
The Blackhawks have lost five of their six games out of the gate while posting a minus-14 goal differential, but they may finally be in line for some good news.
Former No. 1 overall pick and newly minted captain Connor Bedard is “trending toward” making his season debut Tuesday, coach Jeff Blashill told reporters Monday.
Bedard, who underwent surgery on his left shoulder in July and began skating with the team on Oct. 5, was cleared for full contact at practice over the weekend. During Monday’s practice, Bedard worked alongside Patrick Kane on the team’s top power-play unit.
“I keep saying day by day,” a coy Bedard said after practice. “I want to play as soon as possible. Whenever that is, we’ll see, but just keep grinding each day and getting ready.”
Chicago has been idle since Saturday’s 5-2 loss to defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina in the opener of a seven-game homestand.
“Do I think frustration builds when you haven’t won and when you’re not having enough success? Of course, it does. Do I think that you have to really combat the feeling of when you get scored on, that it’s the end of the world? Of course you do,” Blashill said.
“Those are the challenges that we’re going to have to face. But I’m going to tell you right now, I have absolute 100% belief in this group. One hundred percent. And this group is going to win. I can’t tell you if we’re going to start winning Tuesday, next week, a year from now, I have no idea when it’s going to be, but this group’s going to win, 100%.”
Forward Roman Kantserov, a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, provided a bright spot with his first career goal on a breakaway midway through the second period.
Forward Frank Nazar will serve the second of a two-game suspension for his hit against Bo Horvat of the New York Islanders during Thursday’s road loss.
