Watch Penguins vs. Capitals: Game 15 Live Stream, Lineup, and Key Notes
The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to face off against the Washington Capitals, bringing excitement to PPG Paints Arena. The match, scheduled for Thursday, marks significant moments for both teams amid injury challenges.
Game Overview
The Penguins (8-4-2) return home after a challenging four-game road trip. Their last outing ended in disappointment, losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs with a score of 4-3. Despite controlling the game well until the third period, they succumbed, leaving defenseman Erik Karlsson to express that the team was “out of gas.”
Injuries Impacting Lineup
The Penguins have been struggling with injuries, affecting their roster depth. Key players sidelined include:
- Rickard Rakell – Out at least one month
- Justin Brazeau – Out at least three weeks
- Noel Acciari – Out at least three weeks
- Tristan Jarry – Out at least four weeks
- Filip Hallander – Day-to-day
In light of these injuries, the Penguins called up goalie prospect Sergei Murashov as well as forwards Danton Heinen and Joona Koppanen to fill the gaps.
Capitals’ Performance and Challenges
The Washington Capitals (7-5-1) recently secured a dominant 6-1 victory against the St. Louis Blues, where Alex Ovechkin achieved his 900th career goal. This notable achievement included a moment of drama, as Blues goalie Jordan Binnington initially concealed the puck. However, the Capitals have faced challenges themselves, including the long-term absence of center Pierre-Luc Dubois, expected to miss most of the season.
Expected Lineups
Both teams have made adjustments in their lineups due to injuries. Here are the expected line combinations:
| Penguins Lines | Capitals Lines |
|---|---|
| Ben Kindel – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust | Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Anthony Beauvillier |
| Anthony Mantha – Evgeni Malkin – Tommy Novak | Aliaksei Protas – Connor McMichael – Tom Wilson |
| Ville Koivunen – Danton Heinen – Philip Tomasino | Sonny Milano – Hendrix Lapierre – Ryan Leonard |
| Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Joona Koppanen | Brandon Duhaime – Nic Dowd – Justin Sourdif |
| Erik Karlsson – Parker Wotherspoon | Martin Fehervary – John Carlson |
| Kris Letang – Ryan Shea | Jakob Chychrun – Matt Roy |
| Ryan Graves – Connor Clifton | Rasmus Sandin – Trevor van Riemsdyk |
| Goalie: Arturs Silovs | Goalie: Charlie Lindgren (probable) |
Watch the Game
The Penguins versus Capitals matchup will be available for streaming on ESPN+, with radio coverage through 105.9 The X. This highly anticipated game promises to showcase fierce competition and key moments for both teams.
Special Teams Performance
Both teams have varied performances on special teams:
- Penguins Power Play: 32.4% (2nd in the league)
- Penguins Penalty Kill: 83.3% (9th in the league)
- Capitals Power Play: 16.3% (23rd in the league)
- Capitals Penalty Kill: 76.9% (20th in the league)
The matchup will be crucial as both teams aim to improve their standings while navigating the challenges of injuries and performances. Fans can expect an action-packed evening on the ice.
