The Pittsburgh Penguins will attempt to secure a victory against the St. Louis Blues on March 6, 2024, without one of their leading goal scorers, Rickard Rakell. The winger is sidelined for up to eight weeks following surgery on his left hand, an injury sustained during a recent match against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Rakell, who netted 35 goals last season, is a significant loss for a team that is looking to regain momentum after a recent defeat.
During the Penguins’ last game, a 5-4 shootout loss to Columbus, Rakell was struck by a puck, leading to his injury. Head coach Dan Muse expressed confidence in the medical team, saying, “You hate to see it, but I think with Raks, he’s going to be in good hands here.” The Penguins have called up Ville Koivunen from the minors to fill the gap left by Rakell’s absence. Koivunen, who had a successful stint in the AHL with four goals and 11 points in six games, will be looking to make an impact upon his return.
In practice on Sunday, Filip Hallander took Rakell’s place on the top line, joining Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust. Koivunen skated on the third line, ready to contribute to the team’s efforts in their upcoming matchup. Koivunen noted, “Of course, it gives (confidence) when you score a couple of goals, score a couple of points and of course, when you win a couple of games.”
The Penguins are eager to bounce back after a disappointing performance against Columbus, where they squandered two one-goal leads and fell behind 4-2 early in the third period. Despite the setback, Crosby highlighted the need for improvement, stating, “The last couple of games we’ve been outshot, on our heels a little bit. So, we’ve got to find a way to dictate.” Evgeni Malkin continues to shine, extending his point streak to six games with a total of nine points from two goals and seven assists.
Meanwhile, the Blues arrive in Pittsburgh looking to end a three-game losing streak, which includes a stunning 6-4 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings. St. Louis initially held a commanding 4-0 lead but allowed six unanswered goals, a situation that captain Brayden Schenn attributed to poor game management. “We just didn’t manage the game the way we could have,” Schenn said.
The Blues faced challenges of their own, with an injury to Robert Thomas, who left the previous game with an upper-body issue. There has been no official update on his condition. In contrast, Jordan Kyrou continues to be a bright spot for St. Louis, extending his point streak to six games with two goals and four assists during that span.
As both teams prepare for this crucial matchup, the Penguins will need to adjust to Rakell’s absence while the Blues aim to regain their footing. The outcome could significantly impact both teams’ standings as they strive for playoff positions in the season.
