Game Thread: Pens @ BJ's

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Pittsburgh Penguins
Overall record: 28-11-1 (57 points, 71.3%)
Road record: 11-8-1
Last 10: 8-2-0
Streak: +1
GFA: 3.05
GAA: 2.28
PP%: 24.6%
PK%: 87.4%
Projected lineup:
L1: Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Joe Vitale
L2: Chris Connor - Jussi Jokinen - James Neal
L3: Harry Zolnierczyk - Brandon Sutter - Chuck Kobasew
L4: Tanner Glass - Zach Sill - Craig Adams
D1: Brooks Orpik - Deryk Engelland
D2: Matt Niskanen - Olli Maatta
D3: Robert Bortuzzo - Simon Despres
G: Marc-Andre Fleury

Columbus Blue Jackets
Overall record: 17-17-4 (38 points, 50%)
Home record: 9-8-2
Last 10: 6-3-1
Streak: +3
GFA: 2.66
GAA: 2.79
PP%: 17.5%
PK%: 82.2%
Projected lineup:
L1: Nick Foligno - Ryan Johansen - RJ Umberger
L2: Artem Anisimov - Brandon Dubinsky - Cam Atkinson
L3: Blake Comeau - Derek MacKenzie - Jack Skille
L4: Boone Jenner - Mark Letestu - Corey Tropp
D1: Jack Johnson - Fedor Tyutin
D2: James Wisniewski - Ryan Murray
D3: Nikita Nikitin - David Savard
G:Curtis McElhinney

Series notes
All-time: Pens lead series 14-4-1
Season series: Pens lead 3-0
Last meeting: 12/9/2013 @ Pittsburgh, Pens won 2-1

Doob's take:
Both teams have been playing very well as of late in spite of injuries to key players. Both have been forced to adopt a tight checking, blue collared style of play. I expect both teams to grind it out throughout, but also score some goals. Doob picks the Pens to win 4-3.

 

[pixburgher66]

Any reason this game is at 6pm? Weird.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Update: Penguins coach Dan Bylsma announced after their morning skate that Jeff Zatkoff will start in goal against the Blue Jackets.

 

[pixburgher66]

Update: Penguins coach Dan Bylsma announced after their morning skate that Jeff Zatkoff will start in goal against the Blue Jackets.

Huh...I'll try not to read into this too much since we have a three games in 5 days.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Huh...I'll try not to read into this too much since we have a three games in 5 days.

I agree, just figured I'd post it since I had MAF starting in net tonight.

 

[forty_three]

Huh...I'll try not to read into this too much since we have a three games in 5 days.

Zatkoff blanked the Jackets once before. He's a solid choice to start.

I saw that Malkin and Scuderi are out.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Zatkoff blanked the Jackets once before. He's a solid choice to start.

I saw that Malkin and Scuderi are out.

True but I think the BJ's have gotten better since Zatkoff blanked them. I think this will be a much tougher game.

 

[pixburgher66]

Zatkoff blanked the Jackets once before. He's a solid choice to start.

I saw that Malkin and Scuderi are out.

I'm actually quite comfortable with him in net these days. He's played well, really well, in the past month+. Geno has said, in fewer words, that they're taking it quite slow and being conservative. I'm assuming it was an ankle injury, but considering how slow it's going, it could've been a knee sprain of some sort. Scuds has been practicing for a bit now, so I'm honestly a bit surprised he's not back. Really no reason to rush him with the way the other D has been playing.

 

[forty_three]

Zatkoff is a solid goalie with a boatload of potential. He plays very big in net and doesn't seem to overreact much. He is going to be a solid goalie.

All in all, I'd rather face MAF (Missed Another Floater)

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

So it's basically Springfield Falcons vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins tonight. Game on!

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Haha the battle of the AHL squads! Should be good.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Zatkoff is a solid goalie with a boatload of potential. He plays very big in net and doesn't seem to overreact much. He is going to be a solid goalie.

All in all, I'd rather face MAF (Missed Another Floater)

MAF has been pretty solid for us this season tho. Leads the NHL in wins, has save % of 0.92, and has a GAA of 2.16; I think he gets a bad rep for some of his past performances, but no complaints about MAF so far this season. I expected him to get lit up once Orpik & Scud went down to injury, but he's stood strong.

 

[evolver115]

MAF has been pretty solid for us this season tho. Leads the NHL in wins, has save % of 0.92, and has a GAA of 2.16; I think he gets a bad rep for some of his past performances, but no complaints about MAF so far this season. I expected him to get lit up once Orpik & Scud went down to injury, but he's stood strong.

Why stop with Orpik and Scuds? Lol they skated 4 AHL' ers and a 19 year old rookie for the month of December. It's unbelievable where they are in the standings with what they are dealing with in injuries. They have the most man games lost in the Leastern conference.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

[/B]



Why stop with Orpik and Scuds? Lol they skated 4 AHL' ers and a 19 year old rookie for the month of December. It's unbelievable where they are in the standings with what they are dealing with in injuries. They have the most man games lost in the Leastern conference.

I agree, but Orpik & Scruds are our top 2 defensive stoppers. I made a thread on the Pens board about how I felt we had no defensive stoppers once those 2 went down, boy was I wrong. Baby Pens stepped up big time. But so did MAF.

 

[evolver115]

I agree, but Orpik & Scruds are our top 2 defensive stoppers. I made a thread on the Pens board about how I felt we had no defensive stoppers once those 2 went down, boy was I wrong. Baby Pens stepped up big time. But so did MAF.

I would put Martin in that category, as well. He doesn't go about it the way Scuderi and Orpik do, but he's pretty good at playing the puck and clearing his own zone. I will be glad to see all three of them return to the lineup here, shortly.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Any reason this game is at 6pm? Weird.

It sucks pix, The Bills game starts at 4:25pm and the Sabres start at 5 pm.

Thank god for PIP.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

It sucks pix, The Bills game starts at 4:25pm and the Sabres start at 5 pm.

Thank god for PIP.

Greetings Boss, hope your holidays are going well.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Greetings Boss, hope your holidays are going well.

Thanks Doob, Been very busy but going well. I get a break for a bit then do some more traveling again.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Thanks Doob, Been very busy but going well. I get a break for a bit then do some more traveling again.

Good to hear Boss, gotta find that balance between keep in' it busy & takin' it easy. Thanks for all your help with the banners.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Thank goodness for the early start, less waiting.

Let's hope for a big game by Sid tonight,

By the power of Grey Skull...

Sid has the POWER....