Game 66 Preview: Penguins at Panthers

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Mar 5, 12:42 PM | Hype this story!
Pittsburgh Penguins
Series – 1 GP
W L OTL Pts.
0 1 0 0
 
Florida Panthers
Series – 1 GP
Pts. W L OTL
2 1 0 0

7:30 at BankAtlantic Center
TV: FSN Pittsburgh
Radio: WXDX Radio, FM 105.9
Probable Goalies: Fleury (Pit), Vokoun (Fla)

 
Inside The Game

I’m working on changing the format of the game previews, as it ca be time-consuming and tedious to come up with a unique and interesting storyline for each game.  And, quite frankly, I think my time would be much better served working on other, more meaningful stories.

So, beginning today, I’ll outline the projected lines from the Penguins web site if available.  If the web site does not have projected lines (like today), I’ll do my best to project them on my own.  Then I’ll fill in the charts below.

Projected Lines…

  • Kunitz – Crosby – Guerin
  • Fedotenko – Malkin – Sykora
  • Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
  • Dupuis – Talbot – Adams
     
  • Orpik – Gonchar
  • Letang – Eaton
  • Gill – Scuderi
     
  • Fleury
  • Garon

Games Of Importance…

  • Penguins (72 pts, 7th place) at Panthers (74 pts, 6th place)
  • Rangers (72 pts, 8th place) at Islanders
  • Flames at Flyers (78 pts, 4th place)
 
Standings
  GP W L OTL Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 65 33 26 6 72 3, Atlantic 7, Eastern 13, NHL
Panthers 64 33 23 8 74 2, Southeast 6, Eastern 11, NHL
                 
Team Statistics
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 198 197 16.4 80.0 17-12-2 16-14-4 7-2-1 4 wins
Panthers 181 178 15.4 82.5 17-8-5 16-15-3 6-4-0 2 wins
                 
Team Leaders
  Stat Penguins   Stat Panthers
Goals 29 Malkin Goals 21 Booth
Assists 64 Malkin Assists 37 Weiss
Points 93 Malkin Points 48 Weiss
+/- +20 Malkin +/- +18 Weiss
PIMs 154 Godard PIMs 83 Boynton
Wins 25 Fleury Wins 21 Vokoun
GAA 2.82 Fleury GAA 2.42 Vokoun
Sv% .910 Fleury Sv% .927 Vokoun
 
Injuries/Suspensions
Penguins Injury Status
Crosby, DTD
Boucher, IR
Zigomanis, IR		 Groin
Foot surgery
Shoulder surgery		 Questionable
Out indefinitely
Out for regular season
Panthers Injury Status
Allen, IR
Booth, DTD
Boynton, DTD
Olesz, IR		 Knee
Ribs
Personal
Groin		 Out indefinitely
Questionable
Questionable
Out indefinitely
     
Note: Info up-to-date as of 11:30 am, Thursday, March 5, 2009.

Comments

  1. RelentlessForecheck

    Mar 5, 12:54 PM

    I think we can summarize any preview of this match-up with three words: must win game.

    Keeping my fingers crossed that Crosby is a go…

  2. scruff

    Mar 5, 01:05 PM

    big game, 4 good lines…that’s what i’m talkin’ about

  3. penlover

    Mar 5, 01:36 PM

    Go-Go called up to play tonite..Gonchar had to go home for family issue…Pens 5-3..Hopefully Goligoski stays up the rest of the year..

  4. Matt Bodenschatz

    Mar 5, 01:54 PM

    I have seen no official word of a Caputi call-up or a Gonchar family issue, so please take “Penlover’s” information as speculative at the moment — at least until we have confirmation from a credible source.

    The Pens website has confirmed Crosby WILL be in the lineup tonight!

  5. penlover

    Mar 5, 02:27 PM

    In the trib update..Sarge’s wife having a baby..Go-Go to Go tonite…...

  6. Matt Bodenschatz

    Mar 5, 02:28 PM

    @Penslover, my apologies. Never should have doubted you!

    Gonchar is out and Goligoski is up!

  7. penlover

    Mar 5, 02:31 PM

    Thanks Matt..love your site!!

  8. TheOneAndOnlySurge

    Mar 5, 02:51 PM

    Congrats is definetly in order for Gonch and his wife. Gogo should stay up for at least a few days to let Gonch enjoy his new baby. There is nothing better than having a new child in the home.

  9. bag o' pucks

    Mar 5, 03:23 PM

    I hope that baby doesn’t look anything at all like Geno.

    I’m just sayin’...so much for locker room chemistry.

  10. Bill

    Mar 5, 03:32 PM

    We’ll miss Gonchar on the ice but he’s got more important things to do now with the new baby. Gogo should fill in nicely for the time being. Sid’s back tonight wooo.

  11. Jesse Marshall

    Mar 5, 03:55 PM

    Wait a second. 9 month impregnation period…

    Someone was having fun after the cup finals in June.

    Just sayin’.

  12. ScottyG

    Mar 5, 04:33 PM

    @Bag O’Pucks: Awesome.

  13. PensFanInDC

    Mar 5, 04:44 PM

    Congrats to Sarge! Pens continue the heat up, 6-2.

    Love the site Matt!

  14. Ashley Gallant

    Mar 5, 04:56 PM

    Can’t wait to see how Crosby does with Kunitz :)

  15. Matt Bodenschatz

    Mar 5, 05:18 PM

    Thanks for the compliments of FF! Keep the comments coming, as it’s much more fun to get involved in discussions than just read/write stories!

  16. DaBich

    Mar 5, 06:53 PM

    Pucks, you’re killin me! LOL!

    Glad to see Crosby back. Nice to have GoGo up again too.

    Ash, I’m with you on that one, girl. Let’s hope they connect.

    Matt, did you upgrade the server yet? :)

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