PITTSBURGH — This article originally appeared on PGHHockeyNOW.com.
The Pittsburgh Penguins (17-17-8) have taken a left turn and are headed sideways following the NHL holiday break. The team has earned points in three straight games but won none and they have just one win in seven games (1-3-3). The loser points are keeping the Penguins in the playoff race, but a few wins are needed.
On Thursday, the Penguins and Sidney Crosby will face the league’s other all-time great, Connor McDavid, and the Edmonton Oilers (25-12-3) at PPG Paints Arena. The puck drops just after 7 p.m.
The Penguins squandered a late two-goal lead against the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday. The game was a lethargic slog but the Penguins broke the game open in the third, but then mistakes submarined their momentum and Columbus won in a shootout.
Rickard Rakell had a pair of goals to reach the 20-goal mark at the halfway point. The Penguins winger’s resurgent season has him on pace for his first 40-goal season. Sidney Crosby also became the NHL’s all-time winningest faceoff man. Goalie Tristan Jarry absorbed the loss.
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