Game 2 Pre-Game Buzz
Puck Drop: 8:25 p.m.
Friday afternoon there was some skepticism that Chris Kunitz would be able to play in Game 2. Kunitz, though, is fine after taking a puck to the head in Game 1 and will be in the lineup tonight.
If Kunitz was not going to be able to play, the Penguins intended to put Justin Schultz in the lineup and go with seven ‘D’.
Many might be wondering what’s going on with Beau Bennett?
He continues to practice but all indications on Bennett are same as just prior to Game 1 of the Rangers series. As one source put it before the start of the New York series, Bennett won’t be playing another game this season.
For the Capitals they will make one lineup change.
Former Penguin Taylor Chorney will draw into the lineup in place of the struggling Dmitri Orlov. Chorney over Mike Weber is a smart move for Washington as the Penguins have field days against slow footed defensemen like Weber.
If the Capitals keep Alzner-Niskanen vs Crosby, Orpik-Carlson vs Malkin, the Bonino line figures to see their share of time against the Caps third pairing of Nate Schmidt – Taylor Chorney.
One matchup Mike Sullivan made clear today he won’t be going away from is Sidney Crosby against the Ovechkin line.
“I’m not going to avoid it,” Sullivan said during his pre-game media session. “We don’t mind that matchup. I think Sid’s line can play against anybody and he’s done that all year long and they’ve produced. Even though they didn’t score the other night, doesn’t mean that they didn’t have quality chances or have a fair amount of offensive zone time. We liked a lot of what Sid’s line did.”
— On Marc Andre Fleury, a team source [hide] says Fleury has had a “much better week”, further indicating Fleury’s “heading in right direction.”
This one, though, is starting to feel like Sidney Crosby’s situation from 2011 playoffs where he was practicing with the team, even looking close at times, but in reality wasn’t close to returning.
Penguins Lineup
Forwards
Conor Sheary – Sidney Crosby – Patric Hornqvist
Carl Hagelin – Nick Bonino – Phil Kessel
Chris Kunitz – Evgeni Malkin – Eric Fehr
Tom Kuhnhackl – Matt Cullen – Bryan Rust
Defensemen
Olli Maatta – Kris Letang
Brian Dumoulin – Trevor Daley
Ian Cole – Ben Lovejoy
Goaltenders
Matt Murray
Jeff Zatkoff
Capitals Lineup
Forwards
Alex Ovechkin – Nicklas Backstrom – T.J. Oshie
Marcus Johansson – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Justin Williams
Jason Chimera – Mike Richards – Andre Burakovsky
Daniel Winnik – Jay Beagle – Tom Wilson
Defensemen
Karl Alzner – Matt Niskanen
Brooks Orpik – John Carlson
Nate Schmidt – Taylor Chorney
Goaltenders
Braden Holtby
Philipp Grubauer[/hide]
Pens HAVE TO beat the Caps 2-1.
Nice win. Just wait for Sid and Malkin to decide to show up.
I think Backstrom just beat Sid on another draw….
Orpiggggg suspended yet?
You want him to have to sit out so you can ravage his b-hole again?
I wont know how to look at this game until I see an article on possession numbers by mid afternoon tomorrow.
Awesome series so far.
Once again 2 games in a row best player on the ice from both teams combined is letang. What you think stan?
I’m gonna go with Dumoulin.
I’m going with Holtby. Only reason this series is the way it is.
Most pens shots were no effective in both games with no secondary chances Don’t be impressed by the total shots pens put up half of them were garbage shots
Right.
on the bright side, the pens PP was a joke, crosby played like an a-hole, and they still beat the caps. pens should win this series.
easily the worst game of crosby’s career. what’s up with him trying to force passes to pointmen who are covered with a tie score and 5 mins left in a playoff game.
Big win! Big boy hockey tonight. Proud of my team. Murray was great in the 3rd.
nice road win. murray was great.
Where’s your boy Sid you twatnugget
Crosby has been fing aweful!!’
Backstrom s just dominated Sid in the faceoff circle tonight.
It was bad. 18/20
What a play by Murray,.
Hey Stan and npl you still think the frog letang suckss as same said this year you can have every superstar in offense but if you take letang out pens series would be pretty much over just like last year
Was that a sentence? A question? A group of random words? I’ll go with C.
Can you repeat that so the rest of us can understand?
Malkin traded yet?
Sam, you there buddy?
Where Did Sam go?
Glad Kunitz played tonight.
“It all dtarted with Malkin” atta boy Geno. Way to step up and lead your team
Don’t worry guys, when the going gets tough Geno will put the team on his back.
Stupid Russian!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHH
Letang needs to cool down. I’ve been a big critic of his but he has kept this defense together. We have to have him and have him at the caliber he’s been playing at. I feel like he is playing a bit sloppy since that penalty.
He is playing a lot of minutes you have noticed that no?
Sure not doing much with them.
Absolutely sloppy!!! Penguins will lose this game…. Absolutely being dominated all 3rd period, horrible puck possession, constant turnovers…… Just being run over right now
They had their chance for an easy win. They couldn’t score PP goals, so you knew the refs would give Wash their PP chances in the 3rd. We now have to pray for a sloppy 2nd goal.
Ok. We answered it. Rangers Sid is back. Like he’s on the fucking take.
Yawn…..
I think we’re all tired of this act brother. Year in and year out with this guy.
Sid going to show up, or is Rangers Sid back….
Frog letang is on tilt again
Hahaha the fat slob is awake
Cbc laughing on this fat fuckk bandwagon fan sleeping during the game 1-0 game 2nd game 3rd period. I guess not a lot of goals for him to be entertained
Matthews already looks chubby you think he will go see the same hotdog guy that his fellow American once used to go?
Malkin disinterested from this game
ZeroFool you are right pens did miss him on the power play. More like did they even miss him at all
Remember when Crosby missed that wide open net, after Chubby fed him a beautiful pass?
I was actually happy the announcers pointed it out. He needs to score. There’s a million excuses for him.
What’s the excuse for malkin oh wait I know he is injured during the playoffs and only heals once the plane hits overseas
No one is making excuses for him because he’s scoring. You’re to fuck1ng stupid to even talk to.
We need better PP specialists. This is sad.
Pens have the most expensive power play first unit and can’t even score. 87-81-72 58 -71. One big salary throwing out the window for Mario. Sell this museum already
Trade Malkin for Ladd Hudler
Few destinations I would like to see malkin go Oilers, avalanche, sharks
Fuckkk you Orpiggggg
Youre touching yourself arent you, ya big perv?
Where is robbie ftorek when you need to throw the bench on the ice
Thank god. That’s a huge call and it’s the right one. First one this series that’s gone our way.
First shot of the caps this period an fans didn’t even noticed maybe too busy eating hotdogs .if this happened in Canada team would’ve known by their fans
Canadian fans would erupt if they saw a shot in the playoffs, considering they can’t field a team good enough to make them.
Murray continues to be beat high glove. Not a good sign for a goalie.
Lookin pretty dominant so far. Wish they had a few more goals to show for it though. Keep it up!
Pens goal differential this season
1st period -8. 2nd period +46. 3rd period + 13. They play best in 2nd periods
They just scored now so +47
Thanks sam. We were all wondering what it was after that goal.
Let him have that one. Big development for him.
Orpik should be suspended for the rest of the series. You want hits like that out of the game? Make the player and his team pay for it.
Did you see how happy those Canadians in Toronto were when they found out the American was on his way to save them?
Orpig trying to free up his schedule so Sam can blow him
Thumbs down? Was that supposed to be a secret Sam?
Malkin looks disinterested in this series
Please give me evidence by country how the rest are helping cunt?
That slash saved an easy goal.
Is it WC yet?
Hope Orpiggggg gets injured this game along with a suspension
Yeah no sh*t! Don’t worry he’s getting suspended for that hit.
Seriously this game is going to be ruined if they don’t get these neandarthal Canadians who are in charge out. If that isn’t a 5 minute major then they should just take it out of the rule book,
They are letting the Americans play the American way
Orpigggg
Letang was open and sheery decides to shoot. Selfish. #Typical
Sheary should have shot it sooner. I like him, but he’s not a first liner.
Agree he can’t pass for shitt and receive pass. Kinda reminds me of TK with better skills and faster
I have no problem with his play as long as he keeps them thinking
I like both Laine and Puljularvi alot, this is going to be a pretty deep draft in the top 5-10.
I haven’t really looked at anyone outside of those guys, especially with the Pens not picking until the 2nd round. I like the film on Nylander though and I think this and last years draft classes are really solid.
Austin Matthews seems like the most boring individual on the planet.
After Sidney Crosby.
What an embarrassing night for Canada. Like shining a big light on how inept they are at hockey. They alllll had a chance at a prized American!
That fraud will be nothing but a Kessel 2.0
Well. That’s better than Toews 2.0. So good for him.
Habs had 11 forwards in a row they picked Americans no wonder team has been shitt for many years when you try to build around frauds
Leafs 1st overall jets 2ND and jacket 3rd
God I hope Columbus wins this, I’d hate to see a great American talent have to waste his career in Tor or Wpg.
Damn. Matthews is screwed
I feel bad talking smack on Canada because probably everyone I know from Canada, I like, other than same. Toronto has a heck of a prospect pool and and it will be fun seeing how it plays out with Babcock coaching them. Still need defense and goaltending, but they have a ton of talent up front.
Babcock lost some of my respek with his lottery whining earlier this year. Wonder if he feel different suddenly
Jay, what do you think of Laine and Puljujarvi? Tkachuk is also supposed to go really high.
For some reason, I’m on the edge of my seat for this draft lottery. I think it’s the music.
Bennett won’t play another game #samknew
Who cares #samsacunt