The Penguins enter Tuesday game against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a record of 18-15-7 (43pts) and the Lightning enter tonight’s game with a record of 20-21-2 (42 pts). Standings wise tonight is a very important game for the Penguins. The Penguins have been getting little production from players other than Crosby, Malkin, Staal, or Recchi and that needs to change. Mark Recchi only has 4 goals in the last 20 games but he has complemented Crosby and Malkin very well and when those two are scoring Recchi is not there to put the puck in the net every game. Tampa Bay played a well balanced game defensively against Sid and Malkin on Sunday night and the Penguins may need some contribution from Christensen’s line for the Penguins to get the W. Another issue I had from Sunday nights game was having Rob Scuderi and Nasreddine out with Crosby’s line late in overtime. It’s common sense in hockey to have a puck moving defenseman on the ice with your top line.
Key Stats
Ryan Malone: 1 goal in last 9 games: other than his hat trick against the Islanders he hasn’t done much offensively.
Dominic Moore: 1 goal in last 19 games: The guy everyone thinks is so great. People act like Moore is the next version of John Madden and he is not half the player John Madden is
Colby Armstrong: 4 goals in 40 games. Penguins management had to predict Colby Armstrong would reach the 20 plateau club after scoring 16 goals in 40 games last season. Colby is by far the biggest disappointment on the team. Hockey is not only about offensive production and Colby has been productive at times but the past 10 games he has been non-existence.
Projected Lineup
1st Line: Recchi – Crosby – Malkin
2nd Line: Staal – Moore – Armstrong
3rd Line: Malone – Christensen – Ouellet
4th Line: Ruutu – Talbot – Petrovicky
