Game 2 Preview: Penguins Visit Islanders

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Oct 3, 12:15 PM | Hype this story!
Pittsburgh Penguins
Series – 0 GP
W L OTL Pts.
0 0 0 0
 
New York Islanders
Series – 0 GP
Pts. W L OTL
0 0 0 0

7:00 at Nassau Coliseum
TV: FSN Pittsburgh
Radio: WXDX Radio, FM 105.9
Probable Goalies: Fleury (Pit), Roloson (NYI)
 
Inside The Game
With a new Stanley Cup banner raised to the rafters and a rabid crowd on their side, the Pittsburgh Penguins walked away with a victory in their first game of the 2009-10 season.

Tonight, they’ll look to make it two in a row as they travel to Long Island to play what projects to be yet another putrid edition of the Islanders.

The biggest storyline surrounding this Atlantic Division matchup is the debut of highly-touted Islanders rookie John Tavares, who has drawn comparisons to Sidney Crosby.

All eyes in New York will be on the young player who represents a glimmer of hope for Islander fans.

"We don’t want him to feel that it all falls on his shoulders. It would be unfair to do that," coach Scott Gordon said, according to the Associated Press. "He is going to have his ups and downs. The biggest thing is progress from Game 1 to Game 40, and then where are we at Game 40. Then, hopefully, big strides can be made in the second half."

Crosby added that Tavares needs to play tonight’s game as if it’s any other.

"Anybody’s first game is always a little nerve-racking and, at the same time, very exciting," Crosby said, according to the Post-Gazette. "You’re living out a dream. The main thing is to enjoy it … You’re not going to be judged on your career because of your first game."

Projected Lines…
  • Kunitz – Crosby – Guerin
  • Fedotenko – Malkin – Dupuis
  • Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
  • Rupp – Adams – Godard
     
  • Orpik – Gonchar
  • Letang – Eaton
  • McKee – Goligoski
     
  • Fleury
  • Johnson
 
Standings
  GP W L OTL Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 1 1 0 0 2 1, Atlantic 3, East 5, NHL
Islanders 0 0 0 0 0 4, Atlantic 11, East 22, NHL
                 
 
Team Statistics
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 3 2 50 100 1-0-0 0-0-0 1-0-0 1 win
Islanders 0 0 0 100 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0
 
Team Leaders
  Stat Penguins   Stat Islanders
Goals 1 Crosby, Kennedy, Malkin Goals - N/A
Assists 2 Goligoski Assists - N/A
Points 2 Goligoski Points - N/A
+/- +1 7 players tied +/- - N/A
PIMs 5 Godard PIMs - N/A
Wins 1 Fleury Wins - N/A
GAA 2.00 Fleury GAA - N/A
Sv% .926 Fleury Sv% - N/A
 
Injuries/Suspensions
Penguins Injury Status
Talbot, IR Shoulder surgery Out until November
Islanders Injury Status
DiPietro, IR
Morency, Sus
Nielsen, IR
Okposo, DTD
Weight, DTD		 Knee
Suspension
Knee
Concussion
Groin		 Out until late October
Suspended 5 games (Oct 17)
Out until late October
Questionable
Doubtful
     
Note: Info up-to-date as of 11:14 am, Saturday, October 3, 2009.

Comments

  1. Nate

    Oct 3, 12:35 PM

    I would have liked to see one of the new guys in play of the Hand of God tonight. Not really a big heavyweight to worry about on the Island. Too bad Biz Nasty is gone, would have been a great time to play him on that line.

  2. Nate

    Oct 3, 12:36 PM

    “in PLACE of the Hand of God tonight.” Sorry.

  3. bag o' pucks

    Oct 3, 01:45 PM

    75, 82, 93. Has it really been that long? There was a time, seems not that long ago, that I despised the Islanders with the same volcanic vitriol as that with which I’ve always despised the Flyers. The two oranIzations shared the top of the heap of my hatred. Alas, a decade+ of colossal incompetence (read: Mike Milbury) on the Island has reduced this once proud, and Penguin-killing, franchise to an afterthought.

    I miss hating the Islanders with such fury. I want to hate the Islanders. I can tell you this, it won’t take much to catapult them back into the upper echelon of disdain. John Tavares and Rob Schremp probably won’t get the job done, just yet, though. I’ll have to wait a little longer. That’s okay, I certainly have enough hatred to spread around to other clubs, for now. And, I still have Philly.

  4. Chris

    Oct 3, 02:10 PM

    @ Bag – Now that Schremp is in the Atlantic you’ll get plenty of opportunity to see why he was waived by the Oil.

    Don’t expect him to get the job done…ever.

  5. Dabich

    Oct 5, 09:14 AM

    LOL @ Pucks. There you go again, cracking me up!
    I HATE Brendan Witt He’s a poor excuse for a hockey player.

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