Wild face Penguins team seeking to extend long playoff streak
Pittsburgh has been in the past 17 Stanley Cup playoffs, but currently is on the outside looking in this season.
April 5, 2023 at 11:31PM
About the Penguins: They are seeking their 17th consecutive playoff berth, but are a point out of an Eastern Conference playoff position. … Leading scorers are C Sidney Crosby (31-57-88), C Evgeni Malkin (25-55-80) and W Jake Guentzel (35 goals). … W Nick Bonino (lacerated kidney) and D Dmitry Kulikov (lower body) are out.
About the Wild: They have clinched a playoff spot and are in a three-way tie for the Central Division lead. … Wild D Jared Spurgeon is a plus-30; defensemen Jonas Brodin (plus-16) and Jake Middleton (plus-15) are the only other players on the team above plus-10. … Marc-Andre Fleury, who won three Cups in Pittsburgh, will start in goal for the Wild. … Forwards Kirill Kaprizov (lower body), Gustav Nyquist (shoulder) and Mason Shaw (torn ACL) are out.
Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record.
