Fri Dec 20 00:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Penguins Soar South for Stanley Cup Rematch, Bolstered by Recent Success

**Nashville, TN** – The Pittsburgh Penguins, riding a wave of recent success, head to Nashville tonight for a highly anticipated rematch of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final against the struggling Predators. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 PM and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.

The Penguins enter the game with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games, having earned 15 out of a possible 20 points since Thanksgiving. This surge has propelled them back into playoff contention as Christmas approaches.

Adding to their momentum, the Penguins have acquired defenseman P.O. Joseph from the St. Louis Blues, potentially addressing injury concerns within the team. The details surrounding the trade were not revealed, and the move might be related to the extent of Marcus Pettersson’s injury.

While the team missed the playoffs in 2024, there were positive moments, including the highly anticipated raising of Sidney Crosby’s number 68 to the rafters. Meanwhile, forward Rickard Rakell, surprisingly omitted from Team Sweden’s roster for the upcoming 4 Nations Faceoff, has been on a scoring tear, leaving Swedish hockey officials questioning their decision.

Other recent Penguins news includes defenseman Matt Grzelcyk finally scoring his first goal of the season, and three Penguins prospects – Tanner Howe (Canada), Emil Pieniniemi, and Kalle Kangas (Finland) – set to compete in the 2025 World Junior Championships. Furthermore, former Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz announced his retirement from professional hockey.

Finally, with the future in mind, the NHL and NHLPA have begun preliminary talks for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), aiming to avoid a potential lockout in the future. Formal CBA meetings are scheduled for February.

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