Game 38 Preview: Penguins Host Sabres

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Dec 29, 12:23 PM | Hype this story!

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7:30 @ Mellon Arena
FSN Pittsburgh, MSG (Buffalo)
Season Score: First matchup
 
Inside The Game
First off, I’d like to apologize for bailing on the post-game recap Thursday night.  I came down with the flu and just didn’t have it in me to type it up.  I’m better now, though, and actually am heading to Pittsburgh to catch the game in person tonight, so there once again will be no post-game recap.  Now on to the game..

In the first of a home and home series, the Pittsburgh Penguins, riding a two-game winning streak, will play host to the Buffalo Sabres, carrying a two-game losing streak.

Overall, these two teams match up quite nicely.  Both are having unimpressive years, but both remain in the hunt in their division and in conference.  The Sabres have a slight edge in goals scored and goals allowed, while the teams share a 19.3 percent powerplay conversion rate.  The Sabres also have a significantly better penalty kill rate.

Ryan Malone is expected to make his return to action for the Penguins after missing several games with a leg infection.  He likely will return to his home, flanking the left side of Sidney Crosby on the top line.  There is no word yet on who will be a healthy scratch, but the likely bet is Adam Hall, who has played an uninspired brand of hockey in recent games.

Ty Conklin is expected to start tonight’s game in net for the Penguins, while Ryan Miller likely will man the pipes for the Sabres.
 
Standings
  GP W L OT Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 37 19 16 2 40 2, Atlantic 6, Eastern 15, NHL
Sabres 36 19 15 2 40 3, Northeast 5, Eastern 13, NHL
                 
Team Stats
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 107 111 19.3 79.5 9-8-2 10-8-0 6-4-0 2 wins
Sabres 114 103 19.3 83.2 11-7-0 8-8-2 7-2-1 2 losses
                 
Team Leaders
Stat # Penguins Stat # Sabres
Goals 16 Crosby Goals 13 Roy
Assists 34 Crosby Assists 22 Pominville
Points 50 Crosby Points 31 Pominville
PIMs 61 Laraque PIMs 53 Gaustad
Wins 9 Fleury Wins 17 Miller
 
Injuries
Penguins Injury Sabres Injury
Eaton, DTD
Fleury, IR
Talbot, IR		 Torn ACL
High Ankle Sprain
High Ankle Sprain		 Stafford, DTD
Numinen, IR
 		 Concussion
Heart Surgery
 
       
Note: Info up-to-date as of 11:20 am, Saturday, December 29, 2007.

Comments

  1. DaBich

    Dec 29, 06:57 PM

    You suck Matt! lol

    Go Pens!

  2. Ashley Gallant

    Dec 30, 01:10 AM

    A win, but at what cost? A broken leg at Roberts’ age isn’t good, to say the least.

  3. DaBich

    Dec 30, 09:51 AM

    It very well may be career-ending…
    And after getting the honor for 900 points…
    Sad…

  4. Matt Bodenschatz

    Dec 31, 12:28 PM

    The game was great — very entertaining, despite the lack of scoring. It was rough watching Roberts go down like that, but we haven’t seen the last of him.

    And, Ashley, don’t count out this team yet. They’ve won something like 12 of their last 16 without the likes of Fleury, Talbot, Malone, etc. Roberts has been playing great lately, but his big bonus is his leadership — and he’ll still be around to provide that.

  5. Ashley Gallant

    Dec 31, 01:10 PM

    I’m not counting them out just yet – you cannot count out a team like the Pens, especially in this conference. It’s just harder psychologically when you see so many of your teammates go down with injuries. Hopefully they’ll keep rebounding and find a way to win instead of sinking in a pool of misery.

    Wow, that last bit sounded a bit depressing eh?

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