Game 24 Preview: Penguins Visit Rangers

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Dec 3, 12:00 PM | Hype this story!
Pittsburgh Penguins
Series – 1 GP
W L OTL Pts.
0 0 1 1
 
New York Rangers
Series – 1 GP
Pts. W L OTL
2 2 0 0

7:00 at Madison Square Garden
TV: FSN Pittsburgh
Radio: WXDX Radio, FM 105.9
Probable Goalies: Sabourin (Pit), Lundqvist (NYR)

 
Inside The Game

The well-rested Pittsburgh Penguins travel to New York tonight to play the Atlantic-Division leading Rangers.

With a spectacular 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games, the Penguins have found a way to get the job done, despite being without starting goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury, who is now believed to be sidelined with a torn groin.  Luckily, the Rangers possess little fire power, as they have scored three fewer goals than the Penguins, despite playing four more games.

Where the Rangers do excel, however, is in team defense.  Henrik Lundqvist has put on his typical show, stopping nearly everything that comes his way, but with a smothering defensive system, he generally isn’t forced to be spectacular.

If the Penguins are looking to get their once-hot, but now-embarrassing power play rolling, a good showing tonight would go a long way toward building confidence.

Forward Janne Pesonen was returned to the AHL Saturday night after a two-game stint with the Penguins, meaning there will be no scratches on offense, though Phillipe Boucher, battling an undisclosed injury, isn’t likely to suit up tonight.  In his place will be Mark Eaton, who has played well of late, after a slow start to the season.  The Rangers have no reported injuries and should have a full-strength roster.

Penguins’ line combinations for tonight:

Talbot-Crosby-Satan
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard

Orpik-Letang
Gill-Scuderi
Eaton-Goligoski

Sabourin
Curry (backup)

And now on to the statistics…
 
Standings
  GP W L OTL Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 23 14 6 3 31 2, Atlantic 2, Eastern 6, NHL
Rangers 27 17 8 2 36 1, Atlantic 5, Eastern 4, NHL
                 
Team Statistics
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 75 63 16.7 83.2 7-3-2 7-3-1 7-2-1 1 win
Rangers 72 65 15.3 89.5 10-5-1 7-3-1 6-3-1 1 loss
                 
Team Leaders
  Stat Penguins   Stat Rangers
Goals 13 Crosby Goals 9 Naslund
Assists 29 Malkin Assists 15 Zherdev
Points 39 Malkin Points 23 Zherdev
+/- +11 Crosby, Malkin +/- +8 Zherdev
PIMs 51 Godard PIMs 67 Orr
Wins 8 Fleury Wins 15 Lundqvist
GAA 1.85 Sabourin GAA 2.19 Lundqvist
Sv% .930 Sabourin Sv% .925 Lundqvist
 
Injuries/Suspensions
Penguins Injury Status
Boucher, DTD
Fleury, DTD
Gonchar, IR
Whitney, IR		 Undisclosed
Groin
Shoulder Surgery
Foot Surgery		 Questionable
Out indefinitely
Out until late March
Out until December
Rangers Injury Status
None    
 
Note: Info up-to-date as of 12:00 pm, Wednesday, December 3, 2008.

Comments

  1. KG

    Dec 3, 12:05 PM

    I like those lines Matt. I think those are the best combination’s at this time…

    Huge game tonight..I smell victory!

  2. Matt Bodenschatz

    Dec 3, 12:14 PM

    I’d still prefer to see Scuderi with Goligoski and Eaton with Gill. Let me explain. Letang is the puck mover on the top unit, while Orpik is more of the stay-at-home defender. That pairing is unique, though, as both players skate well, hit hard, pass well, and play well positionally. The second pairing of Gill and Scuderi is comprised of two slower defenders, while the third pairing of Eaton and Goligoski consists of two decent skaters. By putting Eaton with Gill, it provides a better skater/passer for Gill, creating a better transition game. Then, the third pairing would provide a nice balance of cautious defense in Scuderi and risk-taking offense in Goligoski.

  3. KG

    Dec 3, 12:30 PM

    I agree with you about defense…I was talking more about the forward lines…I have never liked the Gill/Scuderi pairing. They are both the same player…

  4. Brandon

    Dec 3, 01:38 PM

    I agree with the your comments Matt about the Gill/Scuderi pairing. To me watching the last two games that pairing has not looked very sound, and I like Scuds. They seem like a liability in our own zone, becasue they cannot move the puck as effectively as the other pairings causing the forwards to have two things happen; either seperation between the defense and themselves, or the opposite they have to backcheck deeper causing a minimal, at best, breakout with no speed through the neutral zone forced to dump the puck to gain the offensive blueline.

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