Pre-Game Buzz: Fleury starting in goal; Malkin – Crosby to play together?

FLYERS (34-25-7, 75 pts) @ PENGUINS (44-18-4, 92 pts)

The Penguins and Flyers meet again this afternoon to wrapup the home and home series. It’s a certainty that we’ll see a better effort from the Penguins as their compete level can’t get much worse than yesterday.

“There’s the X’s and O’s parts of it….. special teams see those areas of game and know we got beat there,” head coach Dan Bylsma said moments ago about Saturday’s loss. “We have to respond with how we play. Look at that game we got out competed in a lot of areas, so we’re looking for a response for our team.”

Bylsma, as expected, will turn to Marc Andre Fleury once again this afternoon as the Penguins look to bounce back from a lackluster performance.

“I want Marc Andre Fleury in the net,” Bylsma said of his reasoning.

It’s anticipated that the Flyers will start Steve Mason after a 25 save shutout. The Penguins failed to get much traffic in front of Mason yesterday and he was rarely tested.

MALKIN, CROSBY TO PLAY TOGETHER TONIGHT?

Chris Kunitz will miss his second straight game due to a leg injury that is not deemed serious “He’s doing well but not well enough to be in today’s lineup,” Bylsma said.

The Penguins have talked for weeks of playing Malkin and Crosby together more and today could be an ideal situation.

“Matchup situation, may look to use them more, to get a little offensive punch on one line,” Bylsma said of playing Crosby, Malkin together. “Without James there, possibly moving up with Crosby is an option. Probably see it tonight if we can get a good matchup.”

“Something we’ve talked about last 20 games,” Bylsma added.

MORE BUZZ

— Bylsma confirmed again that Beau Bennett will see doctors today for what is seen as an important checkup on his injured wrist. The hope is that Bennett gets cleared to play.

— When asked about Deryk Engelland, Bylsma called it “unlikely” that we’ll see Engelland much at forward the rest of the season with the added depth the Penguins now have at forward with the addition of Marcel Goc and Lee Stempniak. Bylsma said Engelland will play defense today.

— Robert Bortuzzo was indeed a healthy scratch on Saturday.