Game 52 Preview: Penguins Visit Canadiens

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Feb 3, 11:27 AM | Hype this story!
Pittsburgh Penguins
Series – 1 GP
W L OTL Pts.
0 1 0 0
 
Montreal Canadiens
Series – 2 GP
Pts. W L OTL
2 1 0 0

7:30 at the Bell Centre
TV: FSN Pittsburgh
Radio: WXDX Radio, FM 105.9
Probable Goalies: Fleury (Pit), Price (Mon)

 
Inside The Game

Very little distinguishes the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Montreal Canadiens.

The Penguins have scored three more goals, but have given up 14 more.  Their power plays are both at the 16 percent level.  Their penalty kills are just two percentage points apart.  Their road records are nearly identical at 12 wins and 11 losses, with overtime differing by one.  They both have won just four of their previous 10 games.  Their goalies have mirrored one another statistically.  And both teams have suffered from the injury bug of late.

What is different, however, is their point totals, as Montreal sits nine points ahead of Pittsburgh.

Tonight, the Penguins will strive to pull within seven points of the famed Habs as they visit the Bell Centre for the first time this season.

To help the cause, rookie power forward Luca Caputi has been summoned from the AHL and is expected to see time on one of the bottom two lines, as well as the second power play unit.  His spot in the lineup was created when Tyler Kennedy learned of a one-game suspension he will serve tonight.

While a win tonight is not a must, it is certainly needed, as the Penguins project to needing a 19-12-0 record in the final 31 games to squeak into the playoffs.

And what better time than now, as the Penguins play a Canadien team that has lost five of its last six?

On to the stats…
 
Standings
  GP W L OTL Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 51 24 22 5 53 4, Atlantic 10, Eastern 20, NHL
Canadiens 50 28 16 6 62 2, Northeast 4, Eastern 8, NHL
                 
Team Statistics
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 157 157 16.4 79.8 12-11-2 12-11-3 4-5-1 2 losses
Canadiens 154 143 16.7 82.1 16-5-4 12-11-2 4-6-0 1 loss
                 
Team Leaders
  Stat Penguins   Stat Canadiens
Goals 21 Malkin Goals 18 Lang IR
Assists 54 Malkin Assists 33 Markov
Points 75 Malkin Points 40 Markov
+/- +17 Malkin +/- +9 Markov
PIMs 116 Godard PIMs 68 Kostopoulos
Wins 16 Fleury Wins 17 Price
GAA 2.82 Fleury GAA 2.53 Price
Sv% .911 Fleury Sv% .913 Price
 
Injuries/Suspensions
Penguins Injury Status
Kennedy, Sus
Fedotenko, IR
Zigomanis, IR
Gonchar, IR		 Suspended
Broken hand
Shoulder surgery
Shoulder surgery		 Out 1 game
Out indefinitely
Out for regular season
Out until mid-February
Canadiens Injury Status
Laraque, IR
Tanguay, IR
Dandenault, IR
Gorges, DTD
Lang, IR
Latendresse, DTD		 Back
Shoulder
Arm
Concussion
Achilles’ tendon
Upper body		 Out indefinitely
Out until mid-February
Out indefinitely
Doubtful
Out indefinitely
Questionable
     
Note: Info up-to-date as of 10:30 am, Tuesday, February 3, 2009.

Comments

  1. Nathan

    Feb 3, 02:54 PM

    Hopefully Caputi stays loosey-goosey and gives himself a chance to show what he can do, if he can in fact do it at this level right now.

  2. Tim Kurnocik

    Feb 3, 03:11 PM

    I hope everyone stays patient with him. I doubt he’s going to come into Pittsburgh and score on his first shift. This is probably just a stint to show him the speed of the game and give him a taste of the crowds. He’ll go back to WBS more driven then ever… or not, and he’ll be the next Toby Peterson.

  3. Nathan

    Feb 3, 03:36 PM

    The majority will not stay patient with him or the coach.

    Hopefully this sinks into him like it did for Goligoski last year.

  4. DaBich

    Feb 3, 07:42 PM

    Any experience is good, so let’s see Caputi get some ice time. I’m excited to see what he can do.

    Matt, as far as I’m concerned, this game IS a must win. We need to pull out of this funk.

  5. Tim Kurnocik

    Feb 3, 08:50 PM

    I cannot believe I was wrong on that statement. What are the odds?!?! I’ve never been happier to be proven wrong.

  6. DaBich

    Feb 4, 06:27 AM

    LOL Tim, he looked better than anyone else last night :)

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