Game 40 Preview: Penguins Host Maple Leafs

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Jan 3, 10:26 AM | Hype this story!

7:30 @ Mellon Arena
FSN Pittsburgh, LTV (Toronto)
Season Score: Penguins 1, Maple Leafs 2
 
Inside The Game
The Pittsburgh Penguins are playing their best hockey of the year, winning four straight and six of their last 10.  Backstopped by the surprisingly-stellar play of third string goalie Ty Conklin, who has won all five of his starts this season, the Penguins have had trouble scoring, but haven’t had trouble keeping the puck out of the net.  For that reason, tonight’s game could be exactly what the doctor ordered to push this team to the next level.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, without starting goalie Vesa Toskala, who has 13 of the team’s 16 wins, will rely on the wildly inconsistent and underachieving Andrew Raycroft to man the pipes.  His 3.85 goals-against average and .876 save percentage are numbers that should open the eyes of struggling Penguins forwards such as Jordan Staal and Petr Sykora.

If Conklin can build on his success and hold onto his sky-high confidence, the Penguins should walk out of tonight’s game with an easy two points, but if the team lacks focus and puts together some bad stretches of hockey, the Maple Leafs’ offense could make them pay.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the first game after the Winter Classic.  It won’t be as snowy, but you shouldn’t be as hung-over, either — at least I hope.  Now onto the stats…
 
Standings
  GP W L OT Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 39 21 16 2 44 2, Atlantic 5, Eastern 12, NHL
Maple Leafs 40 16 16 8 40 5, Northeast 12, Eastern 23, NHL
                 
Team Stats
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 111 112 18.6 80.2 10-8-2 11-8-0 6-4-0 4 wins
Maple Leafs 116 120 14.0 80.3 8-7-5 8-9-3 4-4-2 1 win
                 
Team Leaders
  Stat Penguins   Stat Maple Leafs
Goals 16 Crosby Goals 18 Sundin
Assists 37 Crosby Assists 26 Sundin
Points 53 Crosby Points 44 Sundin
PIMs 63 Malone PIMs 51 Belak
Wins 9 Fleury Wins 13 Toskala
 
Injuries
Penguins Injury Maple Leafs Injury
Roberts, DTD
Eaton, IR
Fleury, IR
Talbot, IR		 Broken Fibula
Torn ACL
Ankle Sprain
Ankle Sprain		 Toskala, IR
McCabe, IR

 		 Groin Strain
Broken Left Hand

 
       
Note: Info up-to-date as of 9:20 am, Thursday, January 3, 2008.

Comments

  1. DaBich

    Jan 3, 11:31 AM

    Bring it on, I’m ready, and not hungover ;)

  2. ryan boyle

    Jan 3, 02:50 PM

    well no matter how the game turns out, i’m sure the penguins will score with under a minute left. :( goLeafsgo

  3. DaBich

    Jan 3, 03:50 PM

    Ryan, your team has us 2 games to 1. So don’t count on anything…see what happens….smile :)

  4. Eric

    Jan 3, 05:58 PM

    My prediction:

    Pens win 5-4 in shootout.

Commenting is closed for this article.