Faceoff Factor

Game 1 Preview: Penguins Host Flyers

Matt Bodenschatz | National Hockey League

May 9, 10:20 AM | Hype this story!

______________________________________________________

Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (6) Game 1
______________________________________________________

Series Score: Penguins 0 – Flyers 0
Game Time: 7:30 EST
Location: Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh
Television: Versus, CBC, TSN

______________________________________________________

Preview
______________________________________________________

Two years removed from a disastrous season in Pittsburgh and one year removed from an equally bad season in Philadelphia, the cross-state rivals will meet in a much-anticipated Eastern Conference showdown that begins tonight at Mellon Arena.

“We look at it as just another series,” Marian Hossa said to Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “but the fans will be crazy in both cities.”

For those in Pittsburgh who were unable to get a ticket, the Penguins will, once again, provide outdoor viewing around the arena.

“It’s become a phenomenon itself. People are coming down with beach chairs, picnic baskets. It’s just great Pittsburgh stuff,” Penguins President David Morehouse said to Mark Belko of the Post-Gazette.

“It’s an extension of the 17,000 inside. It’s basically indicative of what we’ve seen around Pittsburgh, which is basically this region, Western Pennsylvania, has embraced this team in a way we haven’t seen before.”

Inside, the arena, the atmosphere will be even more intense, as fans will be given white t-shirts for yet another “white out night.”

But once the puck drops and play begins, all of the focus will shift to the ice, where these two rivals will duke it out to prove who is the best in the east.

The Flyers come into this series as underdogs, and they like it that way. But with top defender Kimmo Timonen out of the lineup with a blood clot, their task just got much more difficult.

The keys to the game are simple:

1. Match lines at every opportunity. The Flyers have three lines that can do it all, but if they have one weakness, it is when Daniel Briere’s unit is on the ice at even strength. Coach Michel Therrien should look to put Malkin’s unit on the ice to capitalize on this mismatch.

2. Stay out of the penalty box and, on the same token, play in the offensive zone to lure the Flyers into taking penalties. Both teams have solid power play units that could be difference makers when it’s all said and done.

3. Stay composed. The Flyers are known for playing a physical game that often intimidates opponents (see Montreal Canadiens). The Penguins must match the Flyers’ physicality from the opening faceoff to show their opposition that they will not be pushed around.

For a complete list of team leaders and statistics, click here.

______________________________________________________

Injuries
______________________________________________________

Penguins: Talbot, DTD (Broken Foot); Eaton, IR (Knee)
Rangers: Timonen, IR (Blot Clot); Gagne, IR (Concussion)