Guerin, Goligoski Out For Tonight's Game
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jan 25, 01:59 PM | Hype this story!
I’m not sure if I’ll have time to get to a game preview this afternoon, so I figured I’d report this own its own.
Sam Kasan of the Penguins’ web site is reporting that veteran forward Bill Guerin and defenseman Alex Goligoski will sit out tonight’s matchup against the New York Rangers due to injuries.
In Guerin’s place will be Chris Conner, who was promoted from the AHL this morning. He has played six NHL games this season, registering one goal and seven shots.
It seems unlikely he will replace Guerin on the top line, but coach Dan Bylsma chose to skate Sidney Crosby and Pascal Dupuis as a two-man unit during this morning’s game day skate rather than filling in the right winger.
On defense, veteran Martin Skoula filled in for Goligoski on a pairing that also features veteran Jay McKee.
Skoula has played his way out of icetime of late after a series of poor performances early in January, but will have an opportunity to redeem himself with a strong performance tonight.
As for injuries, the team did not disclose what is ailing either player, but it would seem neither is significant, as both players appeared to finish out yesterday’s game against Philadelphia without any visible issues.
Comments
Natty Lite
Jan 25, 02:50 PM
No Gogo, wooooooooooooo!
With Connor playing we can assume Talbot is still out.
Zach 0boslett
Jan 25, 02:59 PM
Frankly, Conner has not earned this promotion. He has been good the past 2-3 games but before that he was beyond invisible.
Caputi or Tangradi would have been the better choice. NYR are not a physical team so 5’6” Conner can get by but a bigger guy that can hit could be really effective tonight.
Oh well.
Pens1967
Jan 25, 03:19 PM
Maybe we’ll see Godard skate with Sid tonight! Don’t laugh, Godard has some skill and he would fit in with the blue collar mentality Sid brings to his shifts. It’s a great way to reward Godard for being a team player, too.
Chris A
Jan 25, 04:32 PM
Connor????!!?! WTF? I agree with Zach that Caputi and Tangradi have both done more to deserve the callup.
Natty Lite
Jan 25, 04:39 PM
@Pens,
The problem I see with the Hand of God, is his speed, or more precisely, the lack there of.
I say give Johnson a tryout with Sid. He’s looked good with Geno, see what he can do with the Wizard.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jan 25, 04:49 PM
As weird as this may sound, this could full well be a cost-saving measure, as Conner has a $500k cap hit whereas Caputi has a $.833k cap hit and Tangradi has a $.846k cap hit. A few days on the roster making at these salaries won’t break the bank, but at this point in the season, every dollar is valuable as it can be parlayed into trade acquisitions who might not otherwise fit in under the cap.
Pens1967
Jan 25, 05:15 PM
Natty, how fast is Billy G? Godard can’t be that much slower. Plus, for all his talent, Sid is a blue collar digger and he seems to work well with wingers of the same ilk.
I think Connor is up because he’ll fit on the 4th line as a fast, energy guy. Caputi and Tangradi really need to be top 4/6 guys, not bottom line wingers.
I don’t know how much trade value Gogo has right now, but I’d sure dangle him and a 1st round choice this year to NYR for Mark Staal.
Natty Lite
Jan 25, 05:50 PM
@Pens,
Billy G. makes up for his shortcomings of speed with his hands. Goddard doesn’t have that luxury.
The way Gogo is playing now, I don’t think there is any way they could land Staal.
Besides two Staals on one team would be like crossing proton beams. It would be the end of days!
(That’s the real reason Stevie Y. left Jordan off team Canada, he knows the legend)
But I think Matt is right, Tangradi isn’t ready and Caputi just had a four game cup o’ joe.
bag o' pucks
Jan 25, 05:57 PM
Is that the REAL Pens1967? Hmmmmmmm????
@Matt, it may well be a cost saving move. I think the Pens knew Talbot was unlikely to be ready to play, but the still sent Johnson down after the Caps game. Hey, that’s two days off the books, and every cent may count come deadline day.
As for Johnson, I think he’ll be Sid’s full-time RW next season.
Not impressed with Conner myself, but, last time I checked Shero didn’t care what I thought. He’s fast and cheap, so what the hey. Frankly, I’d have given Letestu the call. He could play a game on the RW and do just fine.
bag o' pucks
Jan 25, 08:46 PM
Did I say I wasn’t impressed with Conner? Silly rabbit!! Well, he did have eight points in his last three games in the A. I hadn’t realized that. They called up that hot hand and it paid off!
Nate
Jan 25, 10:32 PM
Open mouth, insert foot.
Another example of why Le Magnifique hired Ray Shero to run this team and not Natty Lite.
Pens1967
Jan 25, 10:47 PM
Oops, Chris Connor made us all look dumb. :)
Two goals and looked not a bit out of place with Sid. Contrast that with mini-Borque’s performance.
Pens1967
Jan 25, 10:58 PM
Any word on Godard? It sure looked like his knee just buckled on him as he made a routine soft turn to go behind NY’s net. No one even touched him. I won’t be surprised if it’s not an ACL/MCL injury and he’s done for the season.
bag o' pucks
Jan 26, 12:52 AM
If Godsy’s out for any extended period of time…well, sure would be nice to have a guy like Paul Bissonnette to turn to. I’m just sayin’...
DaBich
Jan 26, 08:24 AM
I didn’t know little Conner was so lightning fast. That kid can skate.
Nice call by Shero.
Pucks, yeah, and Malone would be great in front of the friggin net! lol
Matt Bodenschatz
Jan 26, 10:13 AM
@Pucks, I was under the impression all along that it was a money-saving promotion — but after his performance last night, I think “hot hand” describes Shero’s reasoning a bit better. Who could have predicted a two-goal effort on the top line? Heck, who could have predicted a spot on Crosby’s wing?
@Pens, no word yet, but it looked bad. The only aspect that made me think it might not have been as serious was that he skated himself to the bench, albeit gingerly and hunched over. I’ll report on it as soon as I get word.
@Pucks, Bissonnette would have been nice all season — instead of Bourque and now, if Godard is out, in place of Godard. I will say this, though. If Godard had to get hurt, now is the time, as there is just one game left against the Flyers and the stretch drive/playoffs usually result in fewer fights and a more rigid game. The plus-side is that, if he is out for the season and placed on long-term IR, some cap space will be freed up for a playoff rental — and we’re working on a few trade deadline stories as we speak, one which hopefully will feature former FF writer and transaction guru Michael Farkas! (But don’t quote me on that)
@Dabich, Malone would be great on this team…or any team for that matter. He’s the type of player every team wants/needs, which is why he no longer is in Pittsburgh. His cap hit isn’t what’s so outrageous, as it would have been manageable by the Pens had they traded Whitney for affordable talent/prospects/picks instead of Kunitz. But it’s the seven-year contract length that would scare roughly 29 of the NHL’s general managers. Bissonnette, on the other hand, was affordable and on a short-term deal. I couldn’t and still can’t figure out why Shero chose him over the pint-sized Bourque.
DaBich
Jan 26, 10:46 AM
Matt, I’m agree with you on the Bourque/Biss deal. Total mystery.
I still miss Bugsy tho, and I can’t help but think how he’d fill in on the top two lines…oh well. You’re right, the 7 year contract length is scary.
Pens1967
Jan 26, 11:34 AM
Matt, it was just the way Godard’s knee crumpled underneath him that make me think it’s pretty bad. The camera did show him going to the bench, but basically he was pushing with only one leg and gliding on the injured one. I don’t know, it just made me think of those football injuries when a player is just running, and, boom, blows out a knee.
Albert
Jan 27, 04:34 AM
On Malone…he would have signed a shorter deal to stay in Pittsburgh (say 4 years) no problem.
It is the ONE move/mishap by GMRS that sticks in my craw.
And it remains that he is EXACTLY what the Penguins need the most: net front presence, excellent on the PK, will drop the gloves, and give you 30 goals.
DaBich
Jan 27, 12:48 PM
:)
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