Penguins Game Day Buzz on pivotal game for Flyers, Reactions on rivalry, Vokoun, & buzz on who sits on the blueline
GAME DAY BUZZ FLYERS (9-7-1, 15 PTS) @ PENGUINS (11-5-0, 22 PTS) TEAM STATS PIT Goals Per Game (3.19) | PHI Goals Per Game (2.65) PIT Goals Against Per Game (2.38) | PHI Goals Against Per Game (2.82) PIT Power Play (27.4%) | PHI Power Play (19.1%) PIT Penalty Kill (82.5%) | PHI Penalty Kill (83.1%) PIT 5 on 5 Goals (31) | PHI 5 on 5 Goals (28) PIT 5 on 5 Goals Against (24) | PHI 5 on 5 Goals Against (29) LEADERS PIT Points: Sidney Crosby (24), Chris Kunitz (19), Evgeni Malkin (18) | PHI Points: Jacub Voracek (15), Matt Read (13), Claude Giroux (13), Brayden Schenn (13) PIT Goals: James Neal (11), Pascal Dupuis (7), Sidney
Asham not among Penguins early priorities
Keep in mind that it’s very early in the process but the Penguins priorities on the free agent front are coming to the forefront this week. While the Penguins have reached out to the agents of 4 pending free agents, one a restricted free agent in Tyler Kennedy, and are engaged in contract talks with role players Craig Adams and Mike Rupp this week, the team has yet to reach out to Arron Asham’s camp. Sources in Asham’s camp say the two sides {Penguins} have not had any discussions and it’s the Penguins move to initiate talks.
Wednesday Practice Report: Kunitz back with Crosby and Guerin
The Pittsburgh Penguins returned to the ice this morning after having an off-day on Tuesday. There have been strong indications that Chris Kunitz will return to the lineup Saturday night against Montreal and today in practice he was back on the top line alongside Sidney Crosby and Bill Guerin. Will Jordan Staal and Evgeni Malkin stay together for this weekends games? Based on practice
Saturday Practice Report: Eaton questionable for Sunday’s game
SouthPointe_ The Pittsburgh Penguins returned to the ice tonight after a two day break. Unlike other professional sports, the NHL shuts down on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Some players stayed in Pittsburgh while others went back home like Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh got back to work just after 6:00 p.m., going through a hard 65 minute skate. All players were accounted for, including defenseman Mark Eaton (right knee). Eaton participated fully after missing the past two games with a right knee injury. Eaton suffered a right knee injury against Buffalo (12/19/09) and the Penguins decided to shut him down until after Christmas. He will be evaluated by team doctors prior to Sunday’s morning skate. He is regarded as questionable for
Game 36: Talbot to return to the lineup
Pittsburgh Penguins (24-10-1) @ Buffalo Sabres (21-10-2) Just got word from a source that Max Talbot will return to the lineup tonight. Talbot has been a healthy scratch in the lineup for the past two games. Talbot will replace Eric Godard in the lineup and skate on the 4th line with Michael Rupp and Craig Adams. Penguins @ Sabres Preview
Guerin to play; Talbot a healthy scratch
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bill Guerin will play tonight as the 39 year old forward did participate in the Penguins morning skate. Guerin did not practice on Wednesday after being hit in the ankle with a Chris Pronger slap shot in Tuesday’s 6-1 win. Max Talbot is expected to be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game I’m told. Talbot was the extra forward in line rushes. Pittsburgh had a little scare in the morning skate as Craig Adams collided with Eric Godard just minutes ago. Adams was down for a bit but appears to be okay I’m told. Morning Buzz
Letang to play; Penguins make changes on the power play
Philadelphia (15-15-1) @ Pittsburgh (22-10-1) Morning Skate Update: Defenseman Kris Letang practiced this morning after missing yesterday’s skate. Letang has been battling an illness and continues to be bothered by a nagging upper body injury. However, Letang took his usual reps with Mark Eaton and will play tonight against Philadelphia. With 13 healthy forwards, Pittsburgh’s healthy scratch tonight is expected to be Max Talbot or Eric Godard. Dan Bylsma is keeping things close to the vest. Godard and Talbot alternated at right wing on line rushes this morning as both players skated on the fourth line with Michael Rupp and Craig Adams. Based on performance, Craig Adams should be a candidate to sit but Max Talbot has not been used
Role players fueling Penguins 22-10-1 start
There are many reasons the Penguins have jumped out to a 22-10-1 start through 33 games. Marc Andre Fleury, Sidney Crosby to name a few but what has really fueled the Penguins hot start is the play of their role players. A stunning stat is projected 3rd and 4th liners Michael Rupp and Pascal Dupuis are tied for second on the team with 9 goals each. In fact, Rupp and Dupuis have combined for more goals than top-6 forwards Ruslan Fedotenko (5), Bill Guerin (7) and Chris Kunitz (3) have combined for. In evaluating this team through 30+ games, Pittsburgh has a much stronger core of secondary wingers (Cooke, Dupuis, Kennedy, Rupp, Talbot) than actual top line wingers. Pittsburgh has
Talbot a healthy scratch?; Kunitz to return
I’m being told that the coaching staff is leaning towards making Max Talbot a healthy scratch tonight and that Chris Kunitz will return to the lineup tonight against the Florida Panthers. To no surprise, Kunitz has reclaimed his spot on the top line with Sidney Crosby and Bill Guerin. Kunitz went through a hard skate on Friday and barring a setback this evening when Kunitz will be evaluated prior to gametime, it’s a good bet he returns to the lineup for the first time since November 12th. Kunitz is officially listed by the team as a game time decision. Michael Rupp will be back on the 4th line as Pascal Dupuis will skate with Evgeni Malkin and Ruslan Fedotenko on
Wednesday Practice Report: Rupp gets a look on top line
Goligoski to return to lineup Thursday night SouthPointe _ Forward Max Talbot has been demoted to the 4th line and the Penguins are exploring the possibility of playing forward Michael Rupp with Sidney Crosby and Bill Guerin tomorrow night against Montreal. Rupp got an extensive look with Crosby, Guerin today in a number of drills as the Penguins prepare for the Montreal Canadiens. Rupp alternated with Chris Kunitz on the left side but the coaching staff is expected to keep Kunitz out of the lineup for at least one more game. The Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal units will remain the same tomorrow night while Max Talbot is expected to skate on the 4th line with Craig Adams and Eric