Game preview: 12/21/24 at the New Jersey Devils

Pittsburgh has been one of the hottest teams in the NHL over the last three weeks, posting a record of 8-2-1 in their last 11 games. Since November 27, no team has had more wins or points than the Penguins, and the team ranks in the top five in several categories.

During that 11-game stretch, the Penguins’ top team of Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell dominated, combining for 18 goals and 45 points.

Bryan Rust was the overtime hero again on Thursday night in Nashville, scoring his second overtime goal in his last eight games. Rust finished the night with his second four-point night (2G-2A) in his last four games, moving into ninth place on the Penguins’ all-time goals list and sixth on the team’s all-time overtime goals list.

Rust was one of the hottest players in the NHL during Pittsburgh’s 8-2-1 stretch, scoring a team-high 17 points (9G-8A) in 11 games. His 17 points rank fourth in the league since November 27, and no player has more goals than his nine.

Sidney Crosby scored his season-high four points (1G-3A) on Thursday night against Nashville, giving him eight points (1G-7A) in his last four games. In that span dating back to Dec. 12, Crosby’s seven assists rank third in the NHL, and he enters tonight’s game just three shy of Mario Lemieux for the most assists in Penguins history.

Lemieux’s 1,033 assists are 12th all-time, and only three players in NHL history have recorded more assists with a single team than Lemieux and Crosby.

Over the last nine games, defenseman Kris Letang is fourth on the team with 10 points (5G-5A). Since November 30, his five goals rank first among all NHL defensemen and his 10 points are tied for second among NHL blueliners.

Matt Grzelcyk was on the scoresheet again Thursday night, recording an assist to extend his points streak to four games in his career (1G-4A). His four-game point streak is the longest active point streak among NHL defensemen. Grzelcyk has nine points (1G-8A) in his last nine games dating back to Nov. 30, ranking fourth in the NHL among defensemen.

Rookie defenseman Owen Pickering has averaged over 20 minutes per game on the ice in each of his last four contests. During that span, dating back to Dec. 12, only two other NHL rookies have averaged more ice time than the Pittsburgh blueliner.

Pickering leads all Pittsburgh rookies in goals (1), assists (1) and points (2). He has been positive or positive in eight of his 13 career games and Pittsburgh has points in nine of the 13 games he has played (7-4-2).

QUICK CONCLUSIONS

Sidney Crosby is expected to be 1,307. Play a career game, surpassing Daniel Sedin (1,306 GP with VAN), who has the 15th most games with a franchise in NHL history.

Five of Anthony Beauvillier’s eight goals came in 16 away games. He has seven points away from home (5G-2A) compared to four points (3G-1A) in 18 home games. Only Rickard Rakell has scored more away goals against Pittsburgh this season.

The Penguins have won each of the last 11 games in which Erik Karlsson scored a goal since last season.

Five of Anthony Beauvillier’s eight goals came in 16 away games. He has seven points away from home (5G-2A) compared to four points (3G-1A) in 18 home games. Only Rickard Rakell has scored more away goals against Pittsburgh this season.

PENGUINS VS. DEVIL

Bryan Rust has 31 points (17G-14A) and is plus-14 in 36 career games against the Devils. That’s the most points he’s scored against one team and eight more than his nearest opponent (Philadelphia, 23 PTS in 32 GP). He has points in four straight games against the Devils (4G-2A) and 20 points (11G-9A) in 19 games in New Jersey.

Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang have had success against the New Jersey Devils in their careers. Among active defensemen, Karlsson with 29 points (7G-22A) and Letang with 28 points (3G-25A) are second and third against the Devils.

Karlsson also ranks fourth among active defensemen with 0.88 points per game against New Jersey (min. 10 GP).

Sidney Crosby has made a habit of putting in solid performances against the Devils. In 85 career games against New Jersey, Crosby scored 92 points (41G-51A), ranking first among all active players, while teammate Evgeni Malkin ranked third among active players. Only four players in NHL history have scored more goals against the Devils than Crosby’s 41.