New Jersey Devils @ Pittsburgh Penguins: opening night

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

New Jersey Devils
L1: Ryane Clowe - Patrick Elias - Damien Brunner
L2: Adam Henrique - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr
L3: Dainius Zubrus - Andrei Lokitonov - Michael Ryder
L4: Ryan Carter - Stephen Gionta - Steve Bernier
D1: Bryce Salvador - Marek Zidlicky
D2: Andy Greene - Adam Larsson
D3: Anton Volchenkov - Peter Harrold
G: Martin Brodeur

Pittsburgh Penguins
L1: Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Pascal Dupuis
L2: Jussi Jokinen - Evgeni Malkin - James Neal
L3: Chuck Kobasew - Brandon Sutter - Beau Bennett
L4: Tanner Glass - Dustin Jeffrey - Craig Adams
D1: Brooks Orpik - Paul Martin
D2: Rob Scuderi - Matt Niskanen
D3: Olli Maatta - Robert Bortuzzo
G: Marc-Andre Fleury

Series notes
All time: Devils lead 105-87-3 plus 17 ties
Last season: Devils won series 3-1-0
Last meeting: 4/25/13 @ New Jersey, Devils won 3-2

Doob's analysis: I'm assuming Marty will start this game because he's Marty but they could just as easily go with Cory Schneider. Devils lost some key players in Illya Kovalchuk & Bobby Clarkson but they have a lot of depth so I wouldn't underestimate them. I'm really looking forward seeing the play of Olli Maatta in this one, but I don't have a good feeling about this game. Devils have had our number and I expect this trend to continue. Gonna pick the Devils to win 3-2, but I hope I'm wrong.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Oops, messed up by calling David Clarkson "Bobby" Clarkson. My bad there.

 

[evolver115]

Mornin Pens fans!

Heard that Schneider is getting the start for NJ tonight, and Marty is starting their home opener this weekend. Of course, we'll have MAF between the pipes. I haven't come in to a regular season with the mindset of needing to be worried about Fleury for a long time. I hope he gets out of the gate strong, and can build up his confidence.

Let's Go Pens!

 

[thedddd]

Can't wait for a good game! I would like to see Maatta play with Scuderi to give him the opportunity to do some stuff offensively.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Mornin Pens fans!

Heard that Schneider is getting the start for NJ tonight, and Marty is starting their home opener this weekend. Of course, we'll have MAF between the pipes. I haven't come in to a regular season with the mindset of needing to be worried about Fleury for a long time. I hope he gets out of the gate strong, and can build up his confidence.

Let's Go Pens!

Yup, Schneider in net. MAF should play like he has something to prove. Not sure about Neal's status tho, he's day to day I guess.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Can't wait for a good game! I would like to see Maatta play with Scuderi to give him the opportunity to do some stuff offensively.

Yup, put him there with a proven vet who could bail him out if he messes up. I'm all for that.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Have faith...Pens roll the Dev's

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Yeah I would like to see the Pens roll the Devils. I just don't like our chances of doing that. We always disappoint at home, we always struggle against the Devils, and their roster actually looks better than our considering we'll probably have Neal & Letang out. Oh well, at least hockey is back that's all that matters for now.

 

[thedddd]

You know Kobasew makes that third line look so much better than what we were predicting in the offseason.

If no Neal tonight I would like to see Jokinen - Malkin - Bennett.

 

[element1286]

Wait, is this the lineup? They are actually giving Dustin Jeffery playing time?

 

[thedddd]

Good question about Jeffrey I didn't even notice that!

 

[thedddd]

And I missed this one totally....Steve MacIntyre is finally gone.

 

[thedddd]

Per the penguins report:

MORNING SKATE INFO
Other than the three IR players (Vokoun, Letang, D'Agostini), the Pens only had one missing player from the morning skate: Neal (upper-body). Vitale skated in his place.

Here is how the skate flushed out...
Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Vitale-Malkin-Jokinen
Bennett-Sutter-Kobasew
Glass-Jeffrey-Adams

Orpik-Martin
Scuderi-Niskanen
Maatta-Bortuzzo-Engelland

Jokinen is taking Neal's spot on the top power play.
1st unit: Malkin, Martin on points. Kunitz, Crosby and Jokinen down low.
2nd unit: Niskanen, Maatta on points. Dupuis, Bennett, Sutter down low.

 

[element1286]

Hmmm....if they are just plugging Vitale in line two, I'm guessing they think Neal will play. If they don't think he'll play, they probably would have juggled the lines up.

Either that or Vitale is playing second line tonight, yikes.

 

[element1286]

And I missed this one totally....Steve MacIntyre is finally gone.

Lol, finally.

 

[thedddd]

Yeah I hope Vitale is just filler for practice. If not Jeffrey and/or Bennett should see 2nd line duties. I would say Kobasew but I would like to see him gel with Sutter.

 

[thedddd]

Lol, finally.

Funniest thing about it all is a team picked him up off of waivers. Makes you wonder how many hits to the head Lowe and Mactavish took over the years.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Love me-sa-me some Joey V on the second line. Dude works hard and can face off like no other!

Go Pens

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Good 1st 2 periods by the Pens, solid defensively. Kobasew, wow

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Great win by the Pens, defense looked solid, love the hustle of Kobasew, Sid was Sid, Maatta didn't look too bad in his 1st game, and MAF was just lights out.

The Doobster is pleased