Happy Friday Penguins fans and welcome to the latest edition of Big Dave's Pens Pregame. Tonight, the Penguins embark on their fourth Eastern Conference Finals in the last decade and will face the defending Eastern Conference Champions in the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Puck drops on Pens/Bolts at 8:00pm tonight, but you can enjoy the Pregame starting now...
@pensfan2259 continues the "Big Dave's Gameday Jam" selection as he has done well in his choices so far in the playoffs. Today, he has selected a classic! It's Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's classic, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Enjoy!
The State of the Penguins
The Penguins closed out their series with Washington in dramatic fashion. After letting the Capitals come back from a 3-0 deficit, Nick Bonino broke their hearts and sent the Consol Faithful into a frenzy. Game, set, match and on to the next one. Gooooooodbye Washington!
Now, the Penguins are just four wins away from returning to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2009. This time, they will take on the defending Eastern Conference Champions: the Tampa Bay Lightning.
To assume this series will be an easy one for Pittsburgh would be a fatal mistake. Tampa, even without Steven Stamkos, is a dangerous team. They have gotten this far without him, and they certainly will not go easily against the Penguins.
So what do we look for from the Pens to advance?
Firstly, it is time for Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to burst out. Both superstars only accounted for two points each v. Washington. Despite the low point totals, both stars played a great series and created chances. Game Six alone has me convinced they will both have a huge series v. Tampa.
Next, the continued outstanding performance of the Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel line. That trio is the reason we are playing Tampa Bay tonight. That group just know how to play together, and they are producing at a deadly pace. Just look at the numbers, in 11 games, they have 30 points. Washington defensemen will have nightmares about them for the foreseeable future, and hopefully so will the Tampa defensive corps.
Then, you have the play of the Pittsburgh blue liners. While Kris Letang will get most of the accolades, it was the play of Trevor Daley, Brian Dumoulin, Ben Lovejoy and Ian Cole that won the series. Both Cole and Lovejoy played their best hockey in a Penguin sweater in the Washington series, and have formed a reminiscent shutdown pair to that of Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi in 2009. As for Daley and Dumoulin, they just need to keep doing what they're doing against the Bolts.
Finally, Matt Murray needs to keep being Matt Murray. He lets up the occasional soft goal, but he has earned the chance to remain in net. I love Marc-Andre Fleury, and think he should be back in there, but Murray has earned the opportunity and it's hard to yank him. Ride the kid, and hope Fleury is ready if necessary.
The fun begins again tonight. ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED???
Scouting the Enemy: The Tampa bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive season. They return after dismantling the Detroit Red Wings in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, before breaking the hearts of the Islanders with multiple overtime winners in Round 2. Now, the defending conference champs come to Pittsburgh with hopes of becoming the first team since the Penguins to win the East in back-to-back seasons.
It's impressive the hockey the Lightning are playing right now. Forward Nikita Kucherov has been the best goal scorer in the playoffs so far, with 9 goals in just 10 games. His line, the famed "triplet line," alongside Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat have combined for 29 points so far. Shutting that line down will be key to the Penguins in this series, and allowing them to run unchecked, unchallenged will lead to problems. Then you have guys like Jonathan Drouin and Alex Killorn. Drouin has impressed since returning from his banishment to the AHL, scoring 9 points in 10 games. Same for Alex Killorn, 9 points in 10 games, who has played well even without Steven Stamkos in the lineup.
The Lightning are a good hockey team. They didn't get this far solely on luck. In fact, they are similar in many ways to the Penguins. Both teams got off to slow starts in the regular season, before closing the year in high-flying fashion. Both finished second in their division. Both have weathered the injury storm to key players; Malkin, Fleury for Pittsburgh to Tampa's loss of Stamkos and Stralman. Finally, they both play a similar, up-tempo, speedy game. Should be a lot of fun...
What to Know About Tampa:
- The Bolts went 46-31-5 on the season.
- They finished 2nd in the Atlantic Division with 97 points; six points behind Florida.
- The Lightning eliminated the Red Wings in the first round and Islanders in the second to make the ECF.
- Tampa Bay is 21-18-2 on the road during the regular season.
Playoff Scoring Leaders:
- C Tyler Johnson - 13pts (4G-9A)
- RW Nikita Kucherov - 12pts (9G-3A)
- C Alex Killorn - 9pts (3G-6A)
- D Victor Hedman - 9pts (4G-5A)
- LW Jonathan Drouin - 9pts (1G-8A)
Injury Report:
- C Steven Stamkos (blood clots) will remain OUT to start the series. Stamkos had surgery to remove a blood clot from his arm near the end of March and was given a 1-3 month timetable. He has resumed skating with the team, but he has not been cleared to play in games.
- D Anton Stralman (lower-body) is likely to remain OUT to start the series. Stralman broke his leg in March and has not played since. He is skating with the team, but it took longer for the leg to heal than expected. I expect him to play in this series, but probably not tonight.
- RW Erik Condra (undisclosed) is likely OUT tonight. Condra has been out with an undisclosed injury the last few games.
- RW JT Brown (upper-body) is a game-time decision today but is NOT expected to play. Brown has been a full participant in practice the last few days, but HC Jon Cooper states he is out indefinitely.
Projected Lines:
- Ondrej Palat - Tyler Johnson - Nikita Kucherov
- Alex Killorn - Valtteri Filppula - Jonathan Drouin
- Cedric Paquette - Brian Boyle - Ryan Callahan
- Matt Taormina - Vladislav Namestnikov - Jonathan Marchessault
Projected Pairs:
- Victor Hedman - Matt Carle
- Jason Garrison - Andrej Sustr
- Slater Koekkoek - Braydon Coburn
Ben Bishop will start in net for the Bolts tonight.
News & Notes From Around the Penguins
- No updates on Beau Bennett, Scott Wilson or Kevin Porter.
Pens/Lightning Matchup Notes:
- Tampa swept the season series, winning all three games.
- The Pens gave up 4+ goals in each game of the season series.
- Patric Hornqvist lead Pittsburgh scorers this season v. Tampa with five points.
- Vladislav Namestnikov, Steven Stamkos and Tyler Johnson each scored five points in the season series v. Pittsburgh.
- Ben Bishop won two of the three regular season games, while Marc-Andre Fleury lost two of the three he played.
- Matt Murray did NOT face Tampa in the regular season.
Penguins Playoff Scoring Leaders:
- RW Phil Kessel - 12pts (5G-7A)
- C Sidney Crosby - 10pts (3G-7A)
- C Nick Bonino - 10pts (2G-8A)
- C Evgeni Malkin - 9pts (3G-6A)
- D Kris Letang - 8pts (1G-7A)
- RW Patric Hornqvist - 8pts (5G-3A)
- LW Carl Hagelin - 8pts (4G-4A)
Miscellaneous Notes:
- Pittsburgh is in the Eastern Conference Finals for the fourth time since 2008. The only team in that span to appear in more are the Chicago Blackhawks (5).
- The Pens have won 21 of their last 26 gams at Consol Energy Center.
- The Penguins have scored 23 goals at home in the playoffs. That mark leads the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
- G Matt Murray has a seven-game home win streak entering tonight.
- RW Phil Kessel has nine points in his last six home games, which is currently 2nd in the Playoffs.
#AskBigDave
Tough question and one I have gone back-and-forth on about every 20 minutes for the last two weeks. It is a really tough one, but a great problem to have when you look at the grand scheme of things.
At this moment, I stick with Matt Murray. Murray has played really well over the last few weeks and has earned the opportunity to remain in the net. What I love about him is his calm demeanor and how he moves on from giving up goals so easily. The kid has ice water in his veins and, lets face it, he's a damn good goalie.
That being said, I'd have no issue if Marc-Andre Fleury were to start Game One of the ECFs. Look, MAF is a Stanley Cup winning goalie, is coming off a career year and has a ton of playoff experience. As good as Murray has been, I still think Flower is the best goalie on the roster.
With that in mind, I have two reservations about reinserting Marc-Andre Fleury at this particular moment. First, he had a really rough year against Tampa Bay. Flower allowed at least four goals in each start. That is not very encouraging, though the Penguins were playing far from the level they are now at that time. The other reason is his rust factor. He hasn't played a game since March 31st, which is nearly six weeks ago. That's an issue for sure. I can't imagine him being sharp, and ultimately would give up a game for him to get back in the groove.
I'd honestly would have played Fleury in Game Five of the Washington series, but for right now, I'll take Murray.
From Joshua G. on Facebook: "Who do you hate more? Tom Wilson or Scott Hartnell?"
Easy question Josh, I absolutely hate Tom Wilson and love Scotty Hartnell. Tom Wilson is an absolute punk! He is a dirty player and always has been. When he talks, all I hear is nonsense and get the overwhelming urge to punch him in his stupid face. Is that still professional at this point? Ahhh, whatever...
As for Hartnell, I love Scotty. He's just like Matt Cooke, who was one of my favorites, where he plays on the line and has some scoring talent. Hartnell's hands have left him, but man, I do love the guy.
Matt and Nick are asking about our new opponent. "Who do you have winning the series? In how many games? Who is your MVP, X-Factor? What is your biggest concern about the Bolts?"
Good questions guys and a fun one to examine a bit.
I really like the Penguins in this series. I think the way they are playing right now. They are running four lines consistently. Their defense is playing outstanding right now and Matt Murray has played really well. The other factor is the Penguins are healthy. Unlike Tampa that begins the series without Steven Stamkos, Anton Stralman and JT Brown, the Penguins are healthy and, knock on wood, will stay that way.
I am picking the Penguins in 6 games to win this series. I don't think Tampa is as good as the Penguins, especially without Stamkos and the Pens are playing so well right now. So Pens in 6.
As for my MVP, I am going to go with Evgeni Malkin. I think he is poised to burst out and have a huge series. Malkin has played really well in the playoffs so far, but just wasn't been able to score in the Washington series. Now, he will get favorable matchups against Tampa's defensive corps. Couple all that with the fact that Malkin has great numbers against Tampa in his career, and he looks the safe bet to be the series MVP.
For my X-Factor, I am going with Eric Fehr. Fehr has been solid in the playoffs to this point, with a goal and some solid two-way play. If Malkin is going to burst out, especially at even strength, then he is going to need someone on his line to help. I don't know if that person is Chris Kunitz anymore. That person could very well be Eric Fehr. I liked what I saw from Fehr in Game Six on Tuesday night. He kept plays alive and was great in the corners. If he can keep that up, and Malkin gets started, Fehr should be a direct beneficiary.
As for what is my biggest concern about playing the Lightning, it would have to be to put the memories of the regular season behind us. The Pens got swept in the regular season series, and didn't play all that well in the process. But that was a different time; that was before this run of hockey and formation of these lines. I think that makes the regular season worthless at this point. However, if the Penguins dwell on that at all, it could become a factor.
Hope that answers the questions boys!
Projected Lines & Pairs
- Conor Sheary - Sidney Crosby - Patric Hornqvist
- Carl Hagelin - Nick Bonino - Phil Kessel
- Chris Kunitz - Evgeni Malkin - Eric Fehr
- Tom Kuhnhackl - Matt Cullen - Bryan Rust
Pairs:
- Brian Dumoulin - Kris Letang
- Olli Maatta - Trevor Daley
- Ian Cole - Ben Lovejoy
Matt Murray is expected to start in net tonight.
My 3 Keys to the Game
2. Shut Down the Triplets: Without Stamkos, the line of Palat-Johnson-Kucherov is the big offensive threat for the Bolts. Kuhcerov has 9 goals in the playoffs so far and they have combined for 29 points along the way. If the Penguins can shut them down, and Stamkos doesn't return, then the Lightning become a much easier team to not only defend, but defeat.
3. Shoot to Thrill: In Game Six, Sid didn't register a shot until the third period. Geno didn't register a shot until overtime. That's not good. On the flip side, Carl Hagelin had eight shots in the game and Phil Kessel added quite a few as well. What's my point? SHOOT TO THRILL!!! Fire pucks on Ben Bishop, relentlessly, and hope to make swiss cheese of the 6-7 goaltender.
My 3 Penguins to Watch
2. Evgeni Malkin: Much like the Captain, Geno is playing well, but not posting the points. Also like Crosby, Malkin has great numbers in his career against Tampa. I think he goes big in this series, especially the more he gets his legs under him. He's close, and man, he could really make this a quick series with a big showing.
3. Kris Letang: Tanger didn't post huge points v. Washington, but he played really well. The other big thing, he took a physical beating against the Caps. I don't see that happening nearly as much in this series. With a little more room, look for Letang to have a better chance to start the rush, which should generate more offense and spark either Malkin or Crosby.
What to KNow for Attending/Watching/Listening
- Gates open at 6:30 for the 8pm puck drop.
- The Penguins will wear their "Pittsburgh Gold" jerseys tonight.
- Be sure to stop by PensGear Wednesday night to purchase your 2016 Eastern Conference Final merchandise!
- All fans in attendance tonight will receive a Penguins rally towel and Pittsburgh Gold t-shirt.
- Fans attending Friday’s game are reminded to use tickets marked “Round 3, Home Game 1” when entering CONSOL Energy Center.
- Big Screen at First Niagara Fan Zone – Fans without tickets to Monday’s game are invited to catch the game on the Big Screen at the First Niagara Fan Zone located at the Peoples Gate! The First Niagara Fan Zone opens 3 hours before game time. All fans are invited to test their skills at a giant hockey inflatable, play interactive games, take advantage of free face painting and visit with Iceburgh and members of the Pittsburgh Penguins Ice Crew prior to the game!
- Miller Lite Party Plaza – Enjoy 24 oz. Miller Lite beers for only $6 at the Miller Lite Party Plaza located at the Verizon Gate! Opening 3 hours before game time, the Miller Lite Party Plaza will help you get ready for the game with free interactive games and a DJ!
- Bud Light Party Plaza - Enjoy 24 oz. Budweiser and Bud Light beers for only $6 at the Bud Light Party Plaza located at the Trib Total Media Gate! Opening 3 hours before game time, the Bud Light Party Plaza will help you get ready for the game with free interactive games and a DJ!
- Food Trucks – Grab a bite to eat before the game with the Penguins Food Truck round up lining Centre Avenue! Food trucks scheduled to appear prior to Monday’s game include: Las Chicas Mexican, Franktuary, Pittsburgh Smokehouse, Pittsburgh Pierogi Truck, Cool Beans, Dairy Queen, Dunkin’ Donuts and Nakama.
- Stop by Burgatory’s Burger & Shake Stand inside CONSOL Energy Center on Monday to try a Black & Gold Cake Shake. Thanks to Burgatory, $1 per shake served will benefit the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.
- “The Bulliest Dozer,” co-written by Penguins center Eric Fehr, is now available for sale at the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation’s silent auction stand outside of the First Niagara Club. This children’s book about why bullying doesn’t pay is signed by Fehr for just $20. You can also purchase the book by using the Foundation’s mobile bidding app at bidpal.net/pens.
Here is what you need to know for WATCHING tonight:
- The game is NATIONALLY televised on NBCSN at 8:00pm tonight.
- Coverage should begin at 7:00pm on NBCSN with pregame coverage.
Here is what you need to know if you're LISTENING to tonight's game:
- 105.9 The X, the Penguins app, the Penguins website and iHeart Radio app are all places you can pick up the game tonight.
- Mike Lange and Phil Bourque will have the game call beginning at 8:00pm.
- Penguins Pregame will precede the game coverage at 7:00pm. Josh Getzoff will host.
- Penguins Hot Line will follow the game action.
Pens Points:
- Attending the Game: 50pts
- Merchandise Purchase: 10pts
- Concession Purchase: 10pts
- Pens Radio Keyword: 5pts