Penguins vs Canucks: Vancouver Aims to Extend Win Streak Against Struggling Pittsburgh

The Vancouver Canucks are set to host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, October 26, at Rogers Arena, looking to extend their current three-game win streak. The Canucks have been performing well, scoring 12 goals in their last three wins and receiving strong goaltending from Kevin Lankinen, who has a 1.70 goals against average and a .941 save percentage in his 3-0-1 start to the season.

The Penguins, on the other hand, are struggling, having lost four straight games and surrendering at least four goals in each of those matches. Their latest loss was a 4-0 defeat to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, where goalie Joel Blomqvist faced 46 shots. This performance highlights the Penguins’ defensive issues and their current position as the 31st team in goals against, allowing 4.22 goals per game.

The Canucks have a historical edge at home against the Penguins, with a 28-27-4-4 record at Rogers Arena. J.T. Miller leads all active Canucks skaters in scoring against Pittsburgh with 22 points in 27 games, while Brock Boeser has 15 points in 11 career games against the Penguins.

Key players for the Canucks include J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, and Quinn Hughes, each with six points in six games. Elias Pettersson, despite being goal-less, has been creating opportunities and could be a crucial factor in the game. For the Penguins, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will be pivotal, with Malkin already scoring 11 points in nine games this season.

The game is expected to be a high-scoring affair, given the Canucks’ strong offense and the Penguins’ defensive struggles. The Canucks are favored to win, with odds of -190 on the moneyline.

The matchup will be broadcast on Sportsnet and ESPN+, with puck drop at 7:00 PM PDT (10:00 PM EDT).