Penguins Embark on Longest Road Trip in 27 Years

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Pittsburgh Penguins kicked off their longest road trip in 27 years Friday night, facing the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center in the first of seven consecutive away games. The game, which began at 7 p.m., was broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and ESPN+, with radio coverage on 105.9 the X and the Penguins app.

The Penguins (18-20-8) entered the matchup with a strong recent record against the Sabres (17-22-5), winning 12 of their last 18 meetings. However, Pittsburgh has struggled in its last five visits to Buffalo, posting a 1-3-1 record. Historically, the Penguins have dominated at KeyBank Center, going 14-3-3 in their last 20 games there since March 30, 2012.

This road trip, spanning 15 days, marks the team’s longest since an eight-game stretch from Oct. 14-28, 1997. Despite a challenging season, the Penguins have shown improvement since late November, going 11-8-4 and ranking among the league’s top-scoring teams during that span.

Goaltender Joel Blomqvist, called up from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Jan. 16, joined the roster for the trip. The Finnish netminder has a 6-4-2 record in 12 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, posting a 2.93 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. In eight NHL appearances with Pittsburgh, Blomqvist has a 3-5-0 record, including a standout 46-save performance at Edmonton on Oct. 25.

Captain Sidney Crosby enters the game on the cusp of multiple milestones. With 48 points this season, he is two shy of reaching 50 points for the 18th time in his career, a feat achieved by only 10 players in NHL history. Crosby also needs one goal to surpass Bobby Hull for sixth-most goals with one franchise and one assist to pass Marcel Dionne for 11th-most assists in NHL history. Against Buffalo, Crosby has been dominant, recording points in 50 of 60 career games and tallying 85 points (29 goals, 56 assists), his highest against any non-Metropolitan Division opponent.

Evgeni Malkin has also excelled against the Sabres, with points in 22 of his last 24 games (10 goals, 26 assists). Meanwhile, Rickard Rakell has been Pittsburgh’s hottest player recently, scoring 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) in his last 11 games. Rakell leads the team with 22 goals this season, ranking 10th in the NHL and second among Swedish-born players behind William Nylander (24).

Defenseman Erik Karlsson has been a key contributor, recording 13 points (2 goals, 11 assists) in his last 14 games. Over his last 23 games, Karlsson has 20 points (2 goals, 18 assists), ranking among the top-scoring defensemen in the league during that span.

The Penguins face a challenging schedule ahead, including their 10th set of back-to-back games this season. The team has struggled in the first game of back-to-backs, going 1-8-0, but has fared better in the second game with a 6-3-0 record.

Other notable milestones include Noel Acciari nearing his third consecutive 100-hit season (currently at 96 hits) and Matt Grzelcyk needing one assist to match his career high of 22, set during the 2022-23 season with Boston.

As the Penguins embark on this critical road trip, their performance could shape the trajectory of their season. With key players like Crosby, Malkin, and Rakell hitting their stride, Pittsburgh aims to climb the standings and secure a playoff spot.