Game Thread: Rivalry Night: 12/18/13 • Rangers v. Pittsburgh Penguins • 8PM • NBCSN

[Johnnydollaz89]

Team Statistics:

GP: 34 | W: 16 | L: 17 | OTL: 1 | PTS: 33
Conference: 10th | Home Record: 6-9-1 | Away Record: 10-8-0 | S/O: 1-0
Last Ten: 4-5-1 | Streak: Won 1

Goals Per Game: 2.20 (27th)
Goals Against Per Game: 2.70 (15th)
Goal Differential: -15 (24th)
PP Efficiency: 17.9% (15th)
PK Efficiency: 85.8% (5th)
Face-Off Efficiency: 49.3% (17th)


Team Leaders:

Goals: Brad Richards (9)
Assists: Derek Stepan, Brad Richards (16)
Points: Brad Richards (25)
+/-: Chris Kreider (+9)
PIM: Derek Dorsett (101)
TOI/G (Defenseman): Ryan McDonagh (24:05)
TOI/G (Forward): Brad Richards (19:16)


Starting Lineup:^

Chris Kreider / Derek Stepan / Rick Nash "A"
Brad Richards "A" / Derick Brassard / Mats Zuccarello
Carl Hagelin / Brian Boyle / Derek Dorsett
Benoit Pouliot / Dominic Moore

Ryan McDonagh / Anton Strålman
Michael Del Zotto / Dan Girardi "A"
John Moore / Dylan McIlrath
Justin Falk

^ Subject to change


Starting Goaltender:

Henrik Lundqvist

GP: 24 | W: 10 | L: 14 | OT: 1
GA: 64 | SV%: .909 | GAA: 2.71 | SO: 2


Healthy Scratches:

Taylor Pyatt
Arron Asham


Injuries, Suspensions, Misc:

[RW] “C” Ryan Callahan [DTD] — Sprained MCL; Out 4-6 weeks
[D] Marc Staal [DTD] — Concussion; out indefinitely

Team Statistics:

GP: 35 | W: 24 | L: 10 | OTL: 1 | PTS: 49
Conference: 1st | Home Record: 15-3-0 | Away Record: 9-7-1 | S/O: 1-0
Last Ten: 9-1-0 | Streak: Won 4

Goals Per Game: 3.0 (6th)
Goals Against Per Game: 2.1 (4th)
Goal Differential: +33 (3rd)
PP Efficiency: 26.5% (1st)
PK Efficiency: 87.4% (2nd)
Face-Off Efficiency: 54.7% (4th)


Team Leaders:

Goals: Sidney Crosby (19)
Assists: Evgeni Malkin (32)
Points: Sidney Crosby (47)
+/-: Matt Niskanen (+14)
PIM: Tanner Glass (38)
TOI/G (Defenseman): Paul Martin (25:17)
TOI/G (Forward): Sidney Crosby (22:44)


Starting Lineup:^


Chris Kunitz / Sidney Crosby “C” / Pascal Dupuis
Harry Zolnierczyk / Jayson Megna / Jussi Jokinen
Chris Conner / Brandon Sutter/ Joe Vitale
Craig Adams / Zach Sill / Chuck Kobasew

Matt Niskanen / Olli Maatta
Brian Dumoulin / Robert Bortuzzo
Simon Despres / Philip Samuelsson




Starting Goaltender:

Marc-Andre Fleury

GP: 29 | W: 19 | L: 8 | OT: 1
GA: 56 | SV%: .925 | GAA: 1.98 | SO: 3

^ Subject to change


Healthy Scratches:

N/A



Injuries, Suspensions, Misc:

James Kneel [SUSP] — Suspended 5 Games for being an asshole
Evgeni Malkin [DTD] — Lower Body Injury; Day-to-Day
Beau Bennet [IR] — Wrist Surgery; Out Indefinitely
Tomas Vokoun [IR] — Blood Clot in Pelvis; Out Indefinitely
Tanner Glass [IR] — Broken Hand; Out Indefinitely
Kris Letang [IR] — Upper Body Injury; Out Indefinitely
Paul Martin [IR] — Fractured Tibia; Out Indefinitely
Brooks Orpik [IR] — Concussion; Out Indefinitely
Rob Scuderi [IR] — Broken Ankle; Out Indefinitely


Always good games when we match up. This should be fun.

 

[Darkstone42]

Team Statistics:

GP: 34 | W: 16 | L: 17 | OTL: 1 | PTS: 33
Conference: 10th | Home Record: 6-9-1 | Away Record: 10-8-0 | S/O: 1-0
Last Ten: 4-5-1 | Streak: Won 1

Goals Per Game: 2.20 (27th)
Goals Against Per Game: 2.70 (15th)
Goal Differential: -15 (24th)
PP Efficiency: 17.9% (15th)
PK Efficiency: 85.8% (5th)
Face-Off Efficiency: 49.3% (17th)


Team Leaders:

Goals: Brad Richards (9)
Assists: Derek Stepan, Brad Richards (16)
Points: Brad Richards (25)
+/-: Chris Kreider (+9)
PIM: Derek Dorsett (101)
TOI/G (Defenseman): Ryan McDonagh (24:05)
TOI/G (Forward): Brad Richards (19:16)


Starting Lineup:^

Chris Kreider / Derek Stepan / Rick Nash "A"
Brad Richards "A" / Derick Brassard / Mats Zuccarello
Carl Hagelin / Brian Boyle / Derek Dorsett
Benoit Pouliot / Dominic Moore

Ryan McDonagh / Anton Strålman
Michael Del Zotto / Dan Girardi "A"
John Moore / Dylan McIlrath
Justin Falk

^ Subject to change


Starting Goaltender:

Henrik Lundqvist

GP: 24 | W: 10 | L: 14 | OT: 1
GA: 64 | SV%: .909 | GAA: 2.71 | SO: 2


Healthy Scratches:

Taylor Pyatt
Arron Asham


Injuries, Suspensions, Misc:

[RW] “C” Ryan Callahan [DTD] — Sprained MCL; Out 4-6 weeks
[D] Marc Staal [DTD] — Concussion; out indefinitely

Team Statistics:

GP: 35 | W: 24 | L: 10 | OTL: 1 | PTS: 49
Conference: 1st | Home Record: 15-3-0 | Away Record: 9-7-1 | S/O: 1-0
Last Ten: 9-1-0 | Streak: Won 4

Goals Per Game: 3.0 (6th)
Goals Against Per Game: 2.1 (4th)
Goal Differential: +33 (3rd)
PP Efficiency: 26.5% (1st)
PK Efficiency: 87.4% (2nd)
Face-Off Efficiency: 54.7% (4th)


Team Leaders:

Goals: Sidney Crosby (19)
Assists: Evgeni Malkin (32)
Points: Sidney Crosby (47)
+/-: Matt Niskanen (+14)
PIM: Tanner Glass (38)
TOI/G (Defenseman): Paul Martin (25:17)
TOI/G (Forward): Sidney Crosby (22:44)


Starting Lineup:^


Chris Kunitz / Sidney Crosby “C” / Pascal Dupuis
Harry Zolnierczyk / Jayson Megna / Jussi Jokinen
Chris Conner / Brandon Sutter/ Joe Vitale
Craig Adams / Zach Sill / Chuck Kobasew

Matt Niskanen / Olli Maatta
Brian Dumoulin / Robert Bortuzzo
Simon Despres / Philip Samuelsson




Starting Goaltender:

Marc-Andre Fleury

GP: 29 | W: 19 | L: 8 | OT: 1
GA: 56 | SV%: .925 | GAA: 1.98 | SO: 3

^ Subject to change


Healthy Scratches:

N/A



Injuries, Suspensions, Misc:

James Kneel [SUSP] — Suspended 5 Games for being an asshole
Evgeni Malkin [DTD] — Lower Body Injury; Day-to-Day
Beau Bennet [IR] — Wrist Surgery; Out Indefinitely
Tomas Vokoun [IR] — Blood Clot in Pelvis; Out Indefinitely
Tanner Glass [IR] — Broken Hand; Out Indefinitely
Kris Letang [IR] — Upper Body Injury; Out Indefinitely
Paul Martin [IR] — Fractured Tibia; Out Indefinitely
Brooks Orpik [IR] — Concussion; Out Indefinitely
Rob Scuderi [IR] — Broken Ankle; Out Indefinitely


Always good games when we match up. This should be fun.

Does that mean Megna's alright? He got banged up on Monday, and I saw they called up Gibbons.

But just look at that injury list. And Engelland will likely be added to the suspended block today some time.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Does that mean Megna's alright? He got banged up on Monday, and I saw they called up Gibbons.

But just look at that injury list. And Engelland will likely be added to the suspended block today some time.

Sucks about Megna, but I really like Gibbons. Really hope to see him play again.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

McIlrath will be a healthy scratch and Asham is back in the lineup -____-

Rather Falk be scratched.

 

[pixburgher66]

Does that mean Megna's alright? He got banged up on Monday, and I saw they called up Gibbons.

But just look at that injury list. And Engelland will likely be added to the suspended block today some time.

Pretty sure Megna isn't playing.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Gibbons is expected to play instead of Megna. I actually think that makes us better. Gibbons has been our best player on WBS and one of the top 10 players in the AHL so far this season.

 

[thedddd]

Yeah no Megna tonight.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

If somebody can edit that I would appreciate it.

Also, looking at your D, crazy how thin it is, can't believe you're without all 4 top 4 Dmen.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

I actually think our AHL dmen play better D than our regular dmen, exceptions being Scuderi & Orpik.

 

[thedddd]

If somebody can edit that I would appreciate it.

Also, looking at your D, crazy how thin it is, can't believe you're without all 4 top 4 Dmen.

Some would argue that some of the younger D-men are better than the true top 4 of the Penguins.
Anyway it will be a great game to watch tonight, I guess we will all hate each other right before the game when they show the past rivarly stuff on NBCSN?

On that note I wonder if it will be the same episode as last time?

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Sad to say but our weakest link on the top 2 defensive parings is Tang. Great offensive player but can't play defense to save his life, especially in front of the net. Dmen that earn more than $7 million per year should be 2 way players IMO. Tang is just offense.

 

[SLY]

Is the East really that bad? I mean the two top teams are one that is ridiculously depleted (Pens) and one that is missing some key players but just very inconsistent play (Bruins).

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Yes the East is that bad. Jets would be a playoff team in the East while being last place in the Central.

 

[pixburgher66]

I actually think our AHL dmen play better D than our regular dmen, exceptions being Scuderi & Orpik.

Gonna add Martin to that...Letang's having a rough year, no doubt, but I don't think I'd put too many of the AHL guys above him. Despres has played well enough to stay up all year, and Dumolin has looked great. Honestly, the positives in this situation are that the future is getting some great experience. Our defense will be fantastic for the foreseeable future. Niskanen and Orpik are UFAs after this season, which will be interesting considering the guys that have stepped up so far this year. I've mentioned it on here before, but man the Pens D is deep. Of course it took 4 of the top 6 getting hurt, and another top 7 to be suspended...but the list is lengthy of guys playing really good hockey:

Top 6:
Orpik-Martin
Letang-Scuderi
Maatta-Niskanen
NHL Roster Depth:
Bortuzzo-Engelland-Despres
AHL Depth:
Dumolin-Sammuelsson-Harrington-Mikkelsson (NHL experience, but not part of the future I'd guess)-D'Agostino

In talking to some WBS people, they actually thought Mikkelsson and D'Agostino would be up before Sammuelsson once Engelland got suspended. Add to that Derrick Pouliot and Harrison Ruopp, and the Pens are in a ridiculous place with D. This is pretty much why I wanted Letang to be traded...could score a huge return, and essentially be replaced. Letang has great abilities, but putting the amount of money into him that they did is crazy considering what's on the horizon, but I assume Shero did that because Letang is "proven" in the NHL, unlike these young kids.

 

[pixburgher66]

Is the East really that bad? I mean the two top teams are one that is ridiculously depleted (Pens) and one that is missing some key players but just very inconsistent play (Bruins).

I mean yes the East really is bad...but, when healthy, I put the Pens and B's up with elite of the West. I was thinking the other day when watching 24/7, I think the move to the East saved the Wings playoff streak.

 

[thedddd]

Pix..Don't forget McNeill who has the size and plays a style DB likes (if he ever makes it).

 

[thedddd]

I mean yes the East really is bad...but, when healthy, I put the Pens and B's up with elite of the West. I was thinking the other day when watching 24/7, I think the move to the East saved the Wings playoff streak.

Yeah the "Metro" division makes the East look even worse. Just think if the season plays out as it is now the 3rd place team might make it, not by pts but out of default only.

 

[thedddd]

Just think Phoenix, Dallas, Nashville and Winnipeg are playoff teams in the East, what is worse only Edmonton is under .500 against the East.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Yeah the "Metro" division makes the East look even worse. Just think if the season plays out as it is now the 3rd place team might make it, not by pts but out of default only.

And if that spot belongs to my team, i'll gladly take it! lol

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Some would argue that some of the younger D-men are better than the true top 4 of the Penguins.
Anyway it will be a great game to watch tonight, I guess we will all hate each other right before the game when they show the past rivarly stuff on NBCSN?

On that note I wonder if it will be the same episode as last time?

Maybe hate is a strong word, maybe just a strong dislike?! haha