Happy Tuesday Penguins fans and welcome to the latest edition of Big Dave's Pens Pregame show. Glad to have you aboard for another great one. Tonight, our boys play host to a Penguins legend in Jaromir Jagr and the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena.
Gametime is 7:00pm tonight, but my Pregame is live now....
Tonight's "Big Dave's Gameday Jam" comes from my absolute favorite country singer out there. But don't worry, this song isn't very country at all, it's more reggae than anything. Florida native Jake Owen is a hell of a talent, and I was privileged to see him live for the first time this summer. Puts on a hell of a good show. This song comes off his brand new album, and is the title track. Enjoy, "American Love."
The State of the Penguins
So what is wrong with the Penguins? Is it the Stanley Cup hangover? Is it the injuries? Is it the renaming of the arena that has led to this inauspicious start?
Well, maybe it is a little bit of all of those. Let’s start with the last question, since it is just a joke. But I will say, PPG Paints Arena doesn’t have the same ring as Consol Energy Center. Just PPGA Arena would have worked, but I digress.
How about the Cup hangover? I think that is playing a slight role. Some of the guys are a little lazy, a little complacent even. They are the defending Stanley Cup Champions are should find themselves in the playoffs once again this season. Sure, maybe the boys aren’t taking these early games as seriously as they should. Sure, maybe they are still a little tired, hungover from a long 2016 playoff run and subsequent short offseason.
And hey, maybe it is the injuries. Sidney Crosby has yet to play in a game this season. Kris Letang has missed the last two games and there is no update on him. Conor Sheary remains out after missing the last two games. Derrick Pouliot has been lost for the time being with a “long-term injury.” Bryan Rust just returned to the lineup and guys like Trevor Daley and Scott Wilson are coming off serious leg injuries from last spring. Injuries certainly have played a factor.
But frankly, those are just excuses. Every team has injuries. Every team deals with them. But there is never, ever, an excuse for just being lazy and outworked. That is what happened to the Penguins in all four of their games last week. They were flat out beat, and there is no excuse.
What I want to see from the Penguins tonight is a full-bore effort. I want a win sure, but I want to see them play the right way. That means no lazy penalties, quick feet and using their speed to keep their opponent on edge, not the other way around. Florida is a good team, they won’t be taken down easily, especially if the Penguins only show for part of this game…
The Wild Card of the East: The Florida Panthers
That team is the Panthers. This team reminds me a lot of the boys we root for night in and night out. They have a solid core of young players that will be the future of this franchise for the next decade. They have a group of veterans that not only are great for the room, but are still contributing on the ice. And they have a good group running them from the coaching staff to the front office. The Panthers are a great organization that doesn’t get the credit it deserves because they aren’t in a prototypical hockey marker in South Beach.
So why am I so high on the Panthers?
Firstly, any team with Jaromir Jagr is going to have some talent up front. Jagr, even at 44 years old, this man knows how to play the game. He is an absolute beast physically, and his mind still is so sound that any team that utilizes him properly will benefit from his game. He won’t score 40 like he did when he was 30 years old, but he will give you 40-50 points a year and make your power play lethal. Jags is a big reason for my liking of Florida. (Side note, don’t boo him Penguins fans. He doesn’t deserve it.)
Next, it is the young core this team has built around. Pittsburgh native and forward Vincent Trocheck is at the forefront of this. He signed a new six-year extension this summer after a breakout year in 2015-16. He will be their second line center, if not their top line center, for a long time, and he will only continue to get better. Jonathan Huberdeau, despite being injured currently, is a great winger for Trocheck or Alex Barkov. As for Barkov, he doesn’t get the praise he deserves either, and he has found great chemistry with the likes of Jagr over the last two seasons. Finally, their stud defenseman Aaron Ekblad is a big reason to be excited. It won’t be long before this young man is held in the same high regard as Drew Doughty, Ryan Suter or Kris Letang. He can score, but he can also play good defense. He will be a stud in this league, and I am willing to be he will win a Norris before he is set and done.
Finally, the supporting cast around these young kids. I already talked of Jagr, but there are others that are vital as well. Jussi Jokinen up front is still a productive top nine forward. He plays a solid two way game and is very versatile. Keith Yandle signed with the Panthers in the offseason after time with the Rangers. Yandle will add more stability to the Florida blue line and be a great compliment to Ekblad. Finally, you have “Big Lou,” Roberto Luongo in net. He isn’t a world class goalie, but he is a step above many in this league and he will give the Panthers a good chance to make a run at it.
The Panthers are a very good team. They will give the Lightning a run for their money and I think they could be the surprise team in the East that gets to the Stanley Cup Finals. They’re deep, they’re young and hey, they got “Spacey in Space.” What isn’t to like about this team?
What to Know About Florida:
- 3-1-1 on the young season.
- The Panthers won their previous game 5-2 v. Colorado at home.
- On the road, the Panthers earned a point in their only road game this year. They are 0-0-1 entering tonight away from South Beach.
Scoring Leaders:
- C Jonathan Marchessault - 7pts
- C Aleksander Barkov - 5pts
- RW Jaromir Jagr - 3pts
- C Vincent Trocheck - 3pts
- D Michael Matheson - 3pts
Injury Report:
- LW Jonathan Huberdeau (Achilles) is OUT tonight. Huberdeau will be out the next 3-4 months after surgery to repair a tear of his achilles tendon early in the season.
- C Nick Bjugstad (hand) is OUT tonight. Bjugstad broke his hand entering the regular season and is expected to miss at least another week or two.
- LW Jussi Jokinen (knee) is a game-time decision tonight. The former Penguin missed Sunday's contest v. Colorado with a knee issue, but he is listed as day-to-day and could be back in there tonight.
Projected Lines:
- Jonathan Marchessault - Aleksander Barkov - Jaromir Jagr
- Kyle Rau - Vincent Trocheck - Reilly Smith
- Jared McCann - Denis Malgin - Colton Sceviour
- Greg McKegg - Derek MacKenzie - Shane Harper
Projected Pairs:
- Keith Yandle - Aaron Ekblad
- Michael Matheson - Jason Demers
- Mark Pysyk - Alex Petrovic
James Reimer will get the start in net tonight with Roberto Luongo backing up.
News & Notes From Around the Penguins
- C Sidney Crosby (concussion) is a game-time decision for tonight. Crosby, who has yet to play this season, was a full participant in yesterday's practice, with contact. HCMS said he hasn't been ruled out of tonight's game as of Monday, but it would be how he responds to the practice.
- LW Conor Sheary (eye) is a game-time decision for tonight. Sheary hasn't played since last Tuesday when he took an errant stick to the eye. He didn't skate yesterday and it is unlikely he will play tonight.
- D Kris Letang (upper-body) is day-to-day, but is not expected to play tonight. Letang hasn't skated the last few days and hasn't played since last Tuesday in Montreal.
- G Matt Murray (hand) has returned to full practice and could be in the lineup as early as tonight.
- D Derrick Pouliot (undisclosed) was placed on IR last week. Pouliot made his season debut against the Sharks, and only played 12 minutes before he didn't return GMJR characterized the injury as "long-term."
Penguins Scoring Leaders:
- RW Patric Hornqvist - 5pts
- C Matt Cullen - 5pts
- C Evgeni Malkin - 5pts
- RW Phil Kessel - 3pts
- LW Conor Sheary - 3pts
Miscellaneous Notes:
- The Penguins are 3-0-1 this season at home.
- C Matt Cullen played in his 1,300th NHL game Saturday when he faced his former team, Nashville.
Projected Pens Lines and Pairs
- Scott Wilson - Sidney Crosby - Patric Hornqvist
- Chris Kunitz - Evgeni Malkin - Phil Kessel
- Carl Hagelin - Nick Bonino - Bryan Rust
- Tom Kuhnhackl - Matt Cullen - Eric Fehr
Pairs:
- Brian Dumoulin - Trevor Daley
- Ian Cole - Justin Schultz
- Olli Maatta - David Warsofsky
Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to be in net tonight.
My 3 Keys to the Game
2. Captain Return: If Sidney Crosby goes tonight, it will be a huge boost for so many reasons. Not only is he the most talented player on the team, he is their leader. That "lazy" style doesn't fly with Sid on the ice, and if he's in there, I would expect a trickle down of enthusiasm and hype simply from his return.
3. Defense: The Penguins are without Kris Letang and Olli Maatta has been atrocious. The Pens defense is trying to make up for it offensively, but all they've done is create more havoc and disaster in their own zone and for their goalie. Tonight, I want to see better positioning, better feet, and better overall play from this unit. Because lets face it, the Pens can't win many games giving up the opportunities they have the last few games.
My 3 Penguins to Watch
2. Patric Hornqvist: If Sid is back, he will be flanked once again by the bull dog Patric Hornqvist. Horny has been the Penguins best skater over the first six games of the year. He has five points and he has given 150% every shift, which can't be said for others. If Sid is back in there, I expect Hornqvist to have a big game as well.
3. Evgeni Malkin: Geno was...solid, in Sid's absence. He had five points over the six games to start the year. That being said, Geno is still 1B to Sid's 1A, which means that Malkin can shrink into the shadows with the return of the Captain. This team is at its best when both are firing, and Malkin needs to keep up his level to do that.
What to Know for Attending/Watching/Listening
- Doors open at 6:00pm for an 7:00pm puck drop.
- Every fan in attendance will receive a Penguins Tote Bag courtesy of UPMC.
- It is Hockey Fights Cancer Night at the arena, here is what you need to know for that:
- The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation will auction purple Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys worn by the team during Tuesday's pre-game warm-ups starting Monday, October 31 at pittsburghpenguins.com. Place your bids on the autographed jerseys through November 13th! Proceeds benefit the Mario Lemieux Foundation and research at UPMC CancerCenter; Partner of University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.
- Fans are encouraged to personalize an "I Fight For" card Monday night. Cards will be available behind Sections 115, 121 & 225. Share a photo holding your sing using #hockeyfightscancer throughout the game.
- Pittsburgh Penguins Booster Club members will be selling mystery pucks during Tuesday's game as part of the annual Hockey Fights Cancer awareness campaign. Be sure to stop by the table located behind Section 104 to purchase an autographed puck for only $50 while supplies last. Proceeds benefit the Mario Lemieux Foundation and UPMC CancerCenter
What to know for WATCHING the game:
- The game will be nationally televised on ROOT Sports.
- Coverage begins with Penguins Pregame at 6:30pm and Penguins Post Game following the action.
- Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey will have the call, with Dan Potash handling the interviews.
What to know for LISTENING to the game:
- Full coverage will be available on 105.9 the X, iHeartRadio and on the Penguins app.
- Penguins Pregame will precede the game coverage, starting at 6:00pm with Josh Getzoff.
- Hall of Famer Mike Lange and Phil Bourque will have the game coverage starting at 8:00pm.
- Penguins Hot Line follows the game action with Josh Getzoff.
Pens Points:
- Game Attendance - 50pts
- Concession Purchase - 10pts
- Merchandise Purchase - 10pts
- Radio Keyword - 5pts
- ROOT Pregame Keyword - 5pts
- ROOT Postgame Keyword - 5pts