Penguins/NHL
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (2-2-0, 4 PTS) @ OTTAWA SENATORS (3-1-0, 6 PTS)
PRE-GAME BUZZ
*The Penguins wrap up a two game road trip in Ottawa today with a 5:08 p.m. faceoff. On a two-game losing streak, there are some frustrations building around this team as concerns from late last season are popping up again through the first four games.
Should we expect a high scoring game today? The Senators come in averaging 3.75 goals per game, while Pittsburgh is averaging 3.25 goals per game. Last year in four games, the two teams combined for 37 goals (OTTAWA 22 Goals – PITTSBURGH 15 Goals). A key for Pittsburgh tonight is going to be getting the third or fourth line to pop in a goal or two.
*The Penguins will look to Marc Andre Fleury (1-1-0, 3.01 GAA, ..882%) in goal who has not posted strong numbers in his career vs Ottawa. Fleury is 7-8-1 with a 3.56 GAA in his career vs Ottawa. Playing on the road in Ottawa, Fleury is 3-4-0 with a 4.28 GAA.
*Tanner Glass is a game time decision and might not play tonight. If he’s unable to go, Dustin Jeffrey will play for the first time since the season opener.
*Senators starter Craig Anderson (3-0-0, 0.67 GAA, .967%) is off to a great start, posting an 0.67 GAA and .967 save percentage. He has helped fuel the Senators 3-1 start. Anderson is 3-2-1 with a 2.67 GAA in seven career starts vs Pittsburgh
*Jason Spezza (4G-4A), Daniel Alfredsson (3G-5A-8Pts), and Nick Foligno (0G-8A) combined for 24 points last season in four games vs Pittsburgh.
*Both teams come into tonight’s game playing well in the special teams department. Pittsburgh is clicking at 35.7% rate on the power play and 84.2% on the penalty kill. The Senators are 30.8% on the power play and 83.3% on the PK.
*Daniel Alfredsson has 22 goals and 40 assists for 62 points in 62 career games vs Penguins.
*Evgeni Malkin has 10 goals in his last 10 games vs Ottawa and overall has 15 goals in 23 career games vs Ottawa…….Sidney Crosby who has 3 goals in his last two games, has just 5 career goals in 22 games vs Ottawa.
