Game 51 Preview: Penguins Host Islanders

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Jan 19, 12:41 PM | Hype this story!
New York Islanders
Series – 2 GP
W L OTL Pts.
1 0 1 3
 
Pittsburgh Penguins
Series – 2 GP
Pts. W L OTL
2 1 1 0

2008-09 Record vs. Islanders: 5-0-1

7:30 at Mellon Arena
TV: FSN Pittsburgh (HD)
Radio: WXDX Radio, FM 105.9
Probable Goalies: Johnson (Pit), Roloson (NYI)
 
Projected Lineups
Penguins   Islanders
Dupuis – Crosby – Guerin
Fedotenko – Malkin – Talbot
Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
Rupp – Adams – Godard

Orpik – Gonchar
Letang – Eaton
McKee – Goligoski

Johnson (updated!)
Curry		   Bailey – Tavarez – Okposo
Moulson – Nielsen – Hunter
Comeau – Schremp – Sim
Bergenheim – Weight – Park

Streit – MacDonald
Sutton – Hillen
Meyer – Gervais

Roloson
DiPietro
 
Injuries/Suspensions
Penguins Injury Status
Fleury, DTD Broken finger No timetable
Johnson, DTD Lower body Probable
Kunitz, IR Abdominal surgery Out until at least early February
Orpik, DTD Undisclosed Probable
Islanders Injury Status
Jackman, IR Eye Out until late January
Martinek, IR Leg Out for season
Witt, IR Leg Out until late January
 
Standings
  GP W L OTL Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 50 30 19 1 61 2, Atlantic 4, Eastern 8, NHL
Islanders 49 22 19 8 52 4, Atlantic 8 Eastern 18, NHL
 
Team Statistics
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 157 139 14.6 82.6 14-8-1 16-11-0 4-6-0 Lost 1
Islanders 131 146 15.9 76.4 13-8-2 9-11-6 7-2-1 Won 4
 
Team Leaders
Penguins Stat Leader   Islanders Stat Leader
Goals 30 Crosby   Goals 19 Moulson
Assists 30 Malkin   Assists 23 Okposo
Points 57 Crosby   Points 33 Okposo
+/- 15 Staal   +/- 14 Nielsen
PIM 69 Rupp   PIM 72 Jackman
 
Active Goalies
Penguins Curry Johnson   Islanders Roloson DiPietro
Games 1 12   Games 31 3
Record 0-1-0 5-4-0   Record 18-7-6 2-1-0
GAA 12.25 2.48   GAA 2.70 1.96
Sv% .643 .919   Sv% .913 .926
SO 0 0   SO 1 1

Comments

  1. shlim

    Jan 19, 12:54 PM

    WOW Curry need’s a 50 save shutout to boost those stats, haha.

    Just a tidbit of info: the penguins website is listing Rupp on the top line, and is as follows:

    Forwards
    Rupp-Crosby-Guerin
    Talbot-Malkin-Fedotenko
    Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
    Dupuis-Adams-Godard

  2. Matt Bodenschatz

    Jan 19, 01:02 PM

    @Shlim, according to this morning’s game day skate, Rupp is back on the fourth line.

  3. DaBich

    Jan 19, 01:52 PM

    Matt, et TK in on the third line ;)

  4. DaBich

    Jan 19, 02:00 PM

    Poor Matt :P

  5. DaBich

    Jan 19, 02:05 PM

    THE PG is saying Johnson is starting tonight…check it out here:
    http://www.pittsburghpostgazette.com/pg/10019/1029372-100.stm

    “Johnson to be in goal for Penguins tonight
    Tuesday, January 19, 2010
    By Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Brent Johnson, who has missed the past five games because of an undisclosed injury, will be in goal when the Penguins face the New York Islanders tonight at 7:38 at Mellon Arena.

    Johnson underwent an MRI of his injury yesterday and said it showed nothing that would prevent him from playing.

    Johnson said after practice yesterday that he would like to get in a few more practices before playing. Today, however, he said his concerns primarily were about stamina, not sharpness, and that he does not expect that to be an issue this evening.”

  6. bag o' pucks

    Jan 19, 02:13 PM

    I wouldn’t object to letting Curry start and Johnny back-up tonight. It would be good to find out what kind of bounce-back goalie Curry is. And the team, in general, should be sharper than Sat night. However, Johnny is clearly the #2 man and if he’s ready, can’t complain about him getting into the net.

  7. DaBich

    Jan 19, 02:21 PM

    Pucks, I don’t mind if he starts either. But for goodness sake don’t wait for 5 goals before you replace him.
    The Pen’s site lists Johnson as starter also.

  8. Pens1967

    Jan 19, 02:42 PM

    I do not think this is a good sign for Curry’s continued future with the Pens.

  9. bag o' pucks

    Jan 19, 04:34 PM

    Curry hasn’t been as solid or consistent in WB/S as he was the last two seasons. I think that is more of a danger sign than him getting shelled in Vancouver. Every goalie gets lit up from time to time. It’s important to see how they bounce back. But his numbers in WB/S need to improve, there’s no doubt about that. He’s playing in front of a younger team than usual, but after two full years in the league Curry should be able to shoulder more of the load to help out the guys in front of him.

    Of course, the Pens could just re-sign Johnny, ditch Curry, play Thiessen as the starter in WB/S next year, and sign Pechursky and Killeen to entry level deals and let them battle for the 4/5 depth spots…

    Or they could find a way to pry Jeff Zatkoff out of LA, who already have Quick and Bernier, fer cryin’ out loud… LA’s young stable of goalies is sick.

  10. Pens1967

    Jan 19, 05:40 PM

    I think Shero will sign Pechurskiy to a 3 yr entry deal after the season. Pechurskiy will be 20 in June so what’s the sense in having him play a full year as an overage junior? He’s already played as a pro in the KHL and on the Russian national junior teams. Might as well get his feet wet as a pro over here for the Pens.

  11. bag o' pucks

    Jan 19, 10:15 PM

    Y’know, this Crosby guy is pretty fricken’ good.

  12. bag o' pucks

    Jan 19, 11:34 PM

    Well, that was scarier than it had to be. Talbot left in the second and didn’t return. Duper was hammered into the boards and may not have known what zip code he was in. Perhaps Nick Johnson & Dustin Jeffrey get a call?

  13. DaBich

    Jan 20, 03:34 PM

    Pucks, you’re frickin right he’s frickin good ;)

    WTH was up with not calling a penalty when ROloson tripped Max with his stick??!!??

  14. bag o' pucks

    Jan 20, 07:44 PM

    I think Errey was right, the ref gave Rolo a break for the lame call for freezing the puck in the first. It was a make-up non-call. Although it appears that slash may have landed Mad Max back on the shelf. A costly non-call for Pittsburgh.

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