The Penguins are expected to start goaltender Casey DeSmith for Saturday’s home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at PPG Paints Arena.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan announced DeSmith’s status approximately two hours before the opening faceoff.
This season, DeSmith has appeared in eight games and has a 3-4-1 record, a 2.88 goals against average and .909 save percentage.
DeSmith faced the Maple Leafs just over a week ago. In a 5-2 home loss on Nov. 15, DeSmith made 28 saves on 32 shots.
Notes:
• The Penguins enter the game with a season-best winning streak of five games. This is the Penguins’ longest winning streak since a six-game stretch last season from Jan. 15-25.
• The Penguins’ penalty killers have not allowed an opposing power-play goal for a season-best six consecutive games. They are 14 for 14 on the penalty kill during this stretch.
• Penguins forward Rickard Rakell enters the contest with 199 career assists.
• The Maple Leafs are slated to start goaltender Erik Kellgren. In nine games this season, Kallgren has a 2-2-4 record, a 2.87 goals against average and an .891 save percentage.
Kallgren was in net for the Maple Leafs during a 4-2 home loss to the Penguins at Scotiabank Arena on Nov. 11 In that contest, Kallgren made 19 saves on 22 shots.
