Oilers Face Penguins: Can Pittsburgh End Their Losing Streak?

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in desperate need of a win as they host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. The Penguins are stuck in a four-game losing streak and face an Oilers team that’s riding the momentum of four straight wins. Let’s dive into how these two teams are shaping up ahead of this key matchup.

Pittsburgh: Fighting Through Tough Times

The Penguins are coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. It was their third straight game to go into extra time, but they’ve failed to come out on top in any of them. Despite the slump, Pittsburgh is still tied with Columbus for the last wild-card spot in the East, though Columbus holds the tiebreaker.

To make matters worse, Evgeni Malkin missed Tuesday’s game with an upper-body injury. That snapped his streak of 209 straight games, leaving Pittsburgh without one of its top scorers and leaders. Malkin skated at practice on Wednesday, but his availability for Thursday is still up in the air.

One big issue for the Penguins has been their penalty kill. While they rank a respectable 14th in the league at 80.3%, they’ve allowed five power-play goals in just 11 opportunities over the last four games. Head coach Mike Sullivan wasn’t thrilled:
“We’ve let the details slip on our kill. We’re giving opponents too much room and not clearing the puck like we should.”

Edmonton: Red-Hot and Confident

The Oilers are coming in hot after a dominant 4-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. It was their second shutout of the season—the first also came against Pittsburgh back in October. Edmonton has been clicking lately, but they know there’s still work to do to catch up in the Pacific Division standings.

Adam Henrique led the charge against Boston with two goals, his first multi-goal game in almost a year. Head coach Kris Knoblauch isn’t letting the team get too comfortable, though. He knows there’s no room for complacency:
“There are teams ahead of us playing better, and teams behind us trying to catch us. We need to keep improving every day.”

Key Matchups to Watch

This game is loaded with star power, and both teams will lean on their top players to make an impact.

Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby continues to lead by example, tallying two assists in Tuesday’s loss. He’s tied for 11th in the league with 33 assists, and Rickard Rakell isn’t far behind in scoring, tied for 11th in goals with 20. If Malkin doesn’t suit up, Crosby and Rakell will need to carry the load.

For Edmonton, it’s all about Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Draisaitl leads the NHL with 29 goals and ranks second in points with 59. McDavid remains a constant threat, tied for fourth in assists (39) and sixth in points (55).

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What’s at Stake?

For the Penguins, this game is a must-win. They’re teetering on the edge of the playoff picture and can’t afford to let the losing streak go on any longer. A win would not only boost their standings but also give them much-needed momentum.

For the Oilers, this is a chance to extend their winning streak to five games and keep pace with the Pacific Division leaders. With Vegas and Los Angeles also on winning runs, Edmonton needs every point to stay competitive.

Final Thoughts

The Penguins are desperate for a turnaround, but their penalty-killing struggles and Malkin’s uncertain status are big hurdles to overcome. Meanwhile, the Oilers are riding high and have the firepower to take control of this game.

Can Crosby and the Penguins snap their losing streak, or will Draisaitl and McDavid lead Edmonton to another win? Thursday night’s game is shaping up to be a showdown you won’t want to miss.