Checks and Chances Collide: Stars visit Penguins
Crosby’s group meets Rantanen and a tightened Dallas back end in an early wild-card tussle at PPG Paints Arena.
Written before the game
This one pits Pittsburgh’s shot creation against Dallas’ recent defensive reset. The Penguins have generated plenty; their chances are worth about 3.36 expected goals a night — expected goals means how many goals those chances are typically worth — but they’ve also given nearly as much back. The Stars, fresh off a shutout, have trimmed the danger against to about 2.66 expected goals, pointing to cleaner team defense and steadier goaltending.
If rookie Sergei Murashov draws the net, his recent bright spot matters against a Dallas group featuring Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Roope Hintz, and Jason Robertson. On the other side, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Bryan Rust face a Stars team that’s been tilting the attempt ledger its way.
Standings angle: Pittsburgh sits eighth in the East (wild-card #2), while Dallas is 11th in the West (wild-card #5). Early, yes — but banked points here swing two conferences’ wild-card races in subtle ways.
