Game 45 Preview: Penguins Host Rangers

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Jan 14, 09:47 AM | Hype this story!

7:00 @ Mellon Arena
Versus Network
Season Score: Rangers 2, Penguins 1
 
Inside The Game
If the Pittsburgh Penguins plan to make the playoffs, tonight would be a good time to turn things around.  Okay, maybe that should be elaborated upon slightly.  The Penguins are in the midst of a nine-game point streak, a stretch of games that surely will be viewed as the turning point of the season if the team can finish out strong.  But all of this will mean little, if anything, if the Penguins can’t find a way to win games within the division.

Tonight, the New York Rangers will bring an underachieving, yet formidable team to Mellon Arena.  A win for the Penguins could be the first step toward gaining serious ground in the Atlantic Division.

The Rangers may not score much, but they also don’t give up many goals.  With that being said, they aren’t as dominant defensively as they were earlier in the year.  In order for the Penguins to win, they must pepper Henrik Lundqvist with shot after shot.  He stops nearly everything that comes his way, but  he cant’ stop everything.  The more shots on goal, the better the chances are of scoring.

If the Penguins can keep Gomez at bay, there shouldn’t be much difficulty in keeping the Rangers off the scoreboard, especially with the way Ty Conklin has been playing of late.

The eight-game winning streak may be over, but the Penguins now are in the midst of a nine-game point streak.  A regulation win tonight not only will extend the impressive streak, but also will put even more space between the Penguins and Rangers in the Atlantic Division.
 
Standings
  GP W L OT Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 44 25 16 3 53 2, Atlantic 4, Eastern 9, NHL
Rangers 45 21 19 5 47 5, Atlantic 9, Eastern 20, NHL
                 
Team Stats
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 129 119 18.6 80.1 12-8-2 13-8-1 8-1-1 1 loss
Rangers 111 116 17.2 83.5 14-10-0 7-9-5 4-5-1 1 win
                 
Team Leaders
  Stat Penguins   Stat Rangers
Goals 20 Crosby/Malkin Goals 15 Shanahan
Assists 41 Crosby Assists 31 Gomez
Points 61 Crosby Points 41 Gomez
PIMs 68 Malone PIMs 92 Orr
Wins 9 Conklin/Fleury Wins 19 Lundqvist
 
Injuries
Penguins Injury Rangers Injury
Christensen, DTD
Kennedy, DTD
Roberts, IR
Eaton, IR
Fleury, IR		 Flu
Flu
Broken Fibula
Torn ACL
Ankle Sprain		 Avery, IR




 		 Hand Contusion




 
       
Note: Info up-to-date as of 9:45 am, Monday, January 14, 2008.

Comments

  1. DaBich

    Jan 14, 10:33 AM

    Is Talbot out again then? Dang, I want him playing if at all possible.

  2. Matt Bodenschatz

    Jan 14, 10:39 AM

    My bad, he’s playing!

  3. DaBich

    Jan 14, 10:46 AM

    Dayum, you skeered me Matt! Yes, you bad! Thanks for “fixing” it!

  4. Ashley Gallant

    Jan 14, 01:51 PM

    Speaking of Talbot, his new column just came up on RDS. Seems as though his ankle sprain hasn’t completely healed and that he’s playing even though he’s in a bit of pain. Hopefully he doesn’t injure it a third time.

    And here’s a little something from the Winter Classic (hopefully I didn’t get the translation wrong because it’s about the best thing I heard all day): Talbot and Fleury spent the breaks throwing snowballs at the Sabres mascot. I don’t know about you guys, but sometimes I would just love to throw things at mascots..haha

  5. DaBich

    Jan 14, 03:23 PM

    Ouch! I hope Talbot doesn’t over do it and make his ankle worse!

    As for the Mascots, LOL! Poor guys have it rough as it is, now Ashley is gonna make it worse! haha, just kidding.
    Sounds like something both those guys would do LOL!

  6. Ashley Gallant

    Jan 14, 03:47 PM

    Ash can be a big meanie :D

  7. DaBich

    Jan 15, 06:48 AM

    But ya gotta love her…now don’t tell her I said that ;)

  8. Ashley Gallant

    Jan 15, 10:44 AM

    hahaha

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