Just as Utah Hockey Club fans were getting used to seeing their team win at home, a three-game road trip commenced. Now that they’re back at home, they’re ready to pick up where they left off.
The next opponent is the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s the final contest of a seven-game road trip that has not been kind to the Penguins. They’re on a three-game losing streak, despite the fact that none of those opponents are playoff teams.
Utah hopes to extend that skid to four games.
Utah Hockey Club vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, Nov. 23, 2024
The last time these two teams played, Utah walked away with a 6-1 win. Utah had goals from five different players, including a few who could use a confidence boost right now.
Jack McBain fits into that category. Barring any last-minute changes, he will get the chance to play center on Wednesday. He has played center most of his life, but has only been deployed on the wing this season until now. McBain started the season hot, but he’s currently in a 12-game pointless drought.
Utah also found success on the power play the last time it played Pittsburgh. Its power play is worlds ahead of where it had been previous to that game, so if everything goes its way Utah will have even more success this time around.
The Hockey Hall of Fame comes to you
The Penguins have as much star power as any team, but they’re all much closer to the end of their respective careers than the beginning. The Hall of Fame will soon be four Penguins heavier, thanks to Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson and (probably) Kris Letang.
Those four guys account for dozens of the NHL’s individual awards, plus a number of team championships. Here’s what they have, combined:
- 9 Stanley Cup rings
- 3 Hart Trophies (MVP)
- 2 Rocket Richard Trophies (most goals)
- 4 Art Ross Trophies (most points)
- 3 Norris Trophies (best defenseman)
- 3 Conn Smythe Trophies (playoff MVP)
- 4 Ted Lindsay Awards (MVP, as voted by the players)
- 1 Calder Trophy (rookie of the year)
- 2 Olympic gold medals
- 1 Olympic silver medal
- 1 World Cup of Hockey gold medal
- 3 World Championship gold medals
- 2 World Championship silver medals
- 5 World Championship bronze medals
Malkin left Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury after playing just three minutes. He’s considered week-to-week and will not play in Utah on Wednesday. As for the other three, Utah fans are in for a treat.
New lines
Utah HC sported new line combinations in practice on Tuesday.
Head coach André Tourigny said he plans to use those lines against the Penguins on Wednesday. That likely means that Mikhail Sergachev will return to the lineup, though Tourigny said he’s a game-time decision.
Where to watch
The game will be broadcast nationally on TNT and MAX. It starts at 7:30 p.m. MST. Tickets are available for as low as $10 for partial-view seats.