Pens/Caps Preview: Capitals highly motivated in first meeting since Game 7 collapse

Capitals look for Redemption Game 52 Washington Capitals 31-12-6 7-3 Last 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 31-19-1 5-5 Last 10 Heated Rivalry Since the lockout, a new rivalry has been born between Pittsburgh and Washington, and that rivalry is due to the talents and personalities of superstars of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. Crosby v Ovechkin Lifetime, Crosby and the Penguins hold the edge over Ovechkin’s Capitals. Their head-to-head stats are impressive: Crosby holds the edge in goals (32-30), power play goals (8-7), wins (11-5) and playoff wins (4-3, 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals.) Ovechkin holds the head-to-head edge in assists (35-31), points (65-63), plus-minus (+27 to +12) and penalty minutes (60-47). Rematch For the first time this season (52 games into the

Canes earn first road win; Malkin becoming too much of a playmaker?

Post-Game Notebook Manny Legace made 30 saves and the Carolina Hurricanes (7-17-5) picked up their first road win of the season, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins (20-10-1) 3-2 Monday night at Mellon Arena. The win snapped a 13 game road winless streak for the Hurricanes as Legace improved his career record against Pittsburgh to 4-0. For one of the rare times this season, the Hurricanes played the type of game that got them to the Eastern Conference Finals last spring. At least they did in the first and third periods. Andrew Alberts and Jussi Jokinen scored in the first to put the Hurricanes up 2-0 and Ray Whitney scored 2:26 into the second period as the Canes jumped out to a

Penguins improve to 7-0 on the road; beat Anaheim 4-3

Return of Kennedy pays dividends Pascal Dupuis (3) scored the go-ahead goal with 10:47 remaining in the third period and Marc Andre Fleury (10-2) made 26 saves as the Pittsburgh Penguins continue their dominance on the road beating the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 Tuesday night at the Honda Center. Pittsburgh which had lost 14 of 15 games in the state of California, prior to Tuesday nights contest, tied an NHL record with their seventh straight road victory to open the season. For the Penguins, it was their role players that fueled their 4-3 win. Defenseman Kris Letang (1) and Alex Goligoski (6) eached scored and Michael Rupp (4) added a goal for Pittsburgh. Goligoski’s third period tally was his 6th goal

Afternoon Buzz

Malkin officially off the left point? I‚Äôve been told the Penguins will go into tomorrow‚Äôs game with a unit of Bill Guerin ‚Äì Sidney Crosby ‚Äì Evgnei Malkin down low on the power play. The same unit they worked on in Tuesday’s morning skate but didn’t use it until late in the third period. The Penguins did not work on their power play in today‚Äôs practice but will do so in tomorrows morning skate. The exact reason the team continues to play Malkin at the left point remains to be seen but Crosby likes to play the top of the right side and doesn‚Äôt want to play the left point. Look for Crosby to move down low tomorrow and Malkin

Bylsma to go with same lineup against Philadelphia

One Hour until the drop of the puck Head coach Dan Bylsma will not mess with his lineup this afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers. Bylsma will go with the same lineup he used on Thursday when the Penguins beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4. The Penguins are currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference with 62 points. The Flyers are in fourth place with 71 points Penguins Lineup Dupuis – Crosby – Fedotenko Satan – Malkin – Sykora Cooke – Staal – Kennedy Minard – Talbot – Godard Defensemen Orpik – Gonchar Scuderi – Gill Whitney – Eaton * Marc Andre Fleury will start in goal — Fleury is 14-5 with a 2.62 GAA in his career against the Flyers

Lineup News: Source: Gill, Boucher out

Penguins (24-22-5-53) at Canadiens (28-16-6-62) updated: 4:34 p.m. – A source tells me defensemen Hal Gill and Philippe Boucher will be healthy scratches in tonight’s game. Boucher will be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game. Brooks Orpik – Ryan Whitney, Rob Scuderi – Kris Letang, Mark Eaton – Alex Goligoski will be the Penguins D-Pairs. 2:08 p.m. – Luca Caputi the organization’s top prospect will appear in his first NHL game tonight. In today’s morning skate Caputi skated with Bill Thomas and Eric Godard. It appears he will begin the game on the fourth line and as planned the Penguins will use him in a structured role Max Talbot who has been a disappointment this season centered Pascal