Game 58 Preview: Penguins Visit Islanders

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Feb 16, 12:19 PM | Hype this story!
Pittsburgh Penguins
Series – 1 GP
W L OTL Pts.
3 0 0 6
 
New York Islanders
Series – 1 GP
Pts. W L OTL
1 0 2 1

2:00 at the Mellon Arena
TV: FSN Pittsburgh
Radio: WXDX Radio, FM 105.9
Probable Goalies: Fleury (Pit), Danis (NYI)

 
Inside The Game

Work is extremely hectic today, so this is going to be short…

This afternoon mark’s the changing of the guard.  Out with Michel Therrien, in with Dan Bylsma.

What can Bylsma do to turn this team around?  Or better yet, can he turn this team around?

Reality suggests this afternoon’s game will reflect nothing of Bylsma.  Afterall, the former skipper in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton first met with his new team last night at 10 and did not have a morning skate today.

What we may see, however, is a change in attitude among players.

Bylsma is a no nonsense kind of coach, one who is liked by his players, but also respected.  Will he push the right buttons in sparking the Penguins?

We’ll see firsthand this afternoon…
 
Standings
  GP W L OTL Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 57 27 25 5 59 4, Atlantic 10, Eastern 20, NHL
Islanders 55 16 33 6 38 5, Atlantic 15, Eastern 30, NHL
                 
Team Statistics
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 171 175 16.1 80.5 15-12-2 12-13-3 4-5-1 1 loss
Islanders 134 187 17.6 81.8 10-12-4 6-21-2 4-4-2 5 losses
                 
Team Leaders
  Stat Penguins   Stat Islanders
Goals 24 Malkin Goals 15 Guerin
Assists 57 Malkin Assists 29 Streit
Points 81 Malkin Points 38 Streit
+/- +16 Malkin +/- +3 Sutton IR
PIMs 135 Godard PIMs 98 Jackman
Wins 19 Fleury Wins 11 MacDonald
GAA 2.84 Fleury GAA 2.87 Danis
Sv% .911 Fleury Sv% .913 Danis
 
Injuries/Suspensions
Penguins Injury Status
Boucher, IR
Zigomanis, IR		 Foot surgery
Shoulder surgery		 Out indefinitely
Out for regular season
Islanders Injury Status
Weight, IR
Meyer, IR
Pock, IR
Streit, DTD
Thompson, IR
DiPietro, IR
Sillinger, IR
Sutton, IR		 Knee
Groin
Hand
Shoulder
Shoulder
Knee
Hip
Foot		 Out until March
Out indefinitely
Out until March
Questionable
Out until March
Out for season
Out for season
Out until March
     
Note: Info up-to-date as of 11:20 am, Monday, February 16, 2009.

Comments

  1. Moq

    Feb 16, 12:43 PM

    Whatever one might think of the coaching change, it puts the pressure solely on the players. Now we’ll see if they have untapped resources that Therrien was unable to bring forth. Somehow I have my doubts, but I would like them to prove me wrong. And as confidence inducing foes go, Islanders are among the best in the league.

    To the playoffs!

  2. RELENTLESSFORECHECK

    Feb 16, 01:25 PM

    Obviously, since Bylsma hasn’t spent any time with the big club and just got the promotion last night, we shouldn’t expect drastic changes out of the gate. Still, Bylsma realizes what this team is up against (getting into the playoffs) and he realizes that if he can somehow right the ship it would look very impressive on his coaching resume. The Islanders, in the midst of a 5 game skid and light years from the playoffs, are an easy target but can also be an awful spoiler.

    Keep an eye on the starting lineup: who gets dressed, who lines up with whom, and who is on the ice when the puck drops. Bylsma will want the team to come out strong, set the tempo, and control the game from the opening faceoff, so who he taps on the shoulder will speak volumes. I don’t know too much from Bylsma’s system, so it will be interesting to see whether he favors an aggressive forecheck or a passive trap. Another thing to keep an eye on will be the transition game from the defense: will he green light guys like Gonchar, Whitney, and Letang or will he choose to play it safe? Watch how he makes adjustments during the course of the game, whether he keeps his lines static or dynamic, and how he communicates behind the bench. For Bylsma, this game will most likely be more about subtle differences rather than drastic changes.

    This game is well within the team, and the coach’s, ability to pull out a win.

  3. Matt Bodenschatz

    Feb 16, 02:03 PM

    Moq, I really think that was the idea. Take out the coach and basically say “it’s up to you.”

    Relentless, the Penguins play a system-wide…well, system. So, the game he taught in WBS was the same as the one Therrien taught in Pittsburgh — likely a strong reason why Bylsma was hired rather than bringing in a new coach with a new system on such short notice.

    The difference, based on some quotes from Bylsma, is that he seems to covet a speedy, up-tempo, aggressive offensive game, whereas Therrien was content sitting back and waiting for the opposition to make mistakes.

    The X’s and O’s apparently are the same, the concept and mentality is a bit different.

    Just a sample of what he had to say:

    “Teams should be forced to deal with our speed and skill and we need to be an aggressive group,” Bylsma said. “With the strengths we have, we should be able to go into buildings and make teams deal with the quality of players we have at every position. We’re going to try to get the guys on their toes and going, bringing passion and work ethic to game. If we focus on playing back to our strength and get away from the situation it’s been for a while here, you’ll see a team that can compete and be a contending team.”

  4. Jesse Marshall

    Feb 16, 02:49 PM

    I think Bylsma encourages offense from defense. Therrien was pushing for turnovers in the neutral zone and having guys get beat. Bylsma has guys break out from a little deeper in the zone and come with speed. Don’t expect to see any dumping it in, either. Maybe today, but not when he gets his system in place.

  5. Matt Bodenschatz

    Feb 16, 03:09 PM

    For those in need of an online feed of the game, click here.

    The game is in a high quality, YouTube-style feed.

  6. Matt Bodenschatz

    Feb 16, 03:18 PM

    Lines:

    Fedotenko – Crosby – Dupuis
    Satan – Malkin – Sykora
    Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
    Talbot – Thomas – Godard

    Orpik – Gonchar
    Letang – Whitney
    Scuderi – Gill

    Fleury

  7. Jesse Marshall

    Feb 16, 03:51 PM

    Nice goal by Malkin. Seems like we’re still a little tentative though.

  8. Pens1967

    Feb 17, 07:17 AM

    New coach, same result. Another lackluster effort, except for Malkin, from the team.

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