Penguins/NHL
Game 70
Edmonton Oilers (23-37-9, 55 pts) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (39-22-8, 86 pts)
Time: 3:00 p.m. | Where: Consol Energy Center
PIT Home Record: 21-12-2 | EDM Road Record: 11-18-5
PIT Last 10: 3-3-4 | EDM Last 10: 4-5-1
Game Buzz
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins will be shorthanded on the blueline today. Defenseman Matt Niskanen is sidelined with an illness and will not play.
The Penguins did not learn of Niskanen’s illness until just hours before the game and do not have enough time to recall a defenseman from Wilkes Barre/Scranton.
The Penguins will go with 5 defenseman today and are expected to use 13 forwards up front, which will get Chris Conner back into the lineup.
— Goaltender Marc Andre Fleury (30-17-5, 2.37 GAA) who was pulled in yesterday’s loss, will get the start in goal for Pittsburgh.
Nikolai Khabibulin (10-27-2, 3.37 GAA) was expected to start in goal for Edmonton but head coach Dan Bylsma said today during his media session that he is expecting Devan Dubynk to start in goal.
“I’ve had the chance to watch the Oilers play their last two games leading up to this weekend, ” head coach Dan Bylsma said. “Probably one of the better efforts they had against Detroit, played very well as a five-man unit. Dubnyk played extremely well….. maybe the best game I’ve seen him play. I think we’re going to get to see him tonight again. We’re planning for that big goalie and that big body, ” Bylsma said.
Dubynk is 10-10-7 on the season with a 2.75 GAA.
— The Penguins are 0-for-17 on the power play in their last 5 games and 1-for-31 in their last 10 games.
— Today’s game will be missing a lot of star power with Sidney Crosby out indefinetely and Evgeni Malkin out for the year, while in Edmonton, Ales Hemsky, Taylor Hall and Sam Gagner are all out of the lineup.
— The Oilers last win in Pittsburgh was on Jan. 10, 2006.
