Now, this is not what a typical Pregame show will look like. The Pregame will be more in-depth, but I won't be doing them until the regular season starts and the games really matter. So, this is simply an update on the team so you know what to expect tonight if you are going to the game.
Rosters for Tonight
The Pens will have a balance of veterans and prospects tonight as they do for every preseason game. Here is the Pens roster for tonight: Goalies: 29 - Marc-Andre Fleury 60 - Matt Murray Defensemen: 4 - Rob Scuderi 7 - Paul Martin 33 - Reid McNeill 41 - Robert Bortuzzo 44 - Taylor Chorney 47 - Simon Despres Forwards: 13 - Nick Spaling 16 - Brandon Sutter 17 - Blake Comeau 19 - Beau Bennett 34 - Bobby Farnham 39 - Josh Archibald 43 - Scott Wilson 48 - Anton Zlobin 49 - Oskar Sundqvist 50 - Jean-Sebastien Dea 59 - Jayson Megna 72 - Patric Hornqvist | The Red Wings will have the same strategy as the Pens, splitting vets and prospects. Here is the Wings lineup for tonight: Goalies: 34 - Petr Mrazek 35 - Jimmy Howard Defensemen: 25 - Mattias Backman 47 - Alexey Marchenko 48 - Ryan Sproul 52 - Jonathan Ericsson 55 - Niklas Kronwall 61 - Xavier Ouellet Forwards: 13 - Pavel Datsyuk 15 - Riley Sheahan 17 - Dan Cleary 18 - Joakim Andersson 20 - Drew Miller 21 - Tomas Tatar 26 - Tomas Jurco 42 - Martin Frk 43 - Darren Helm 45 - Colin Campbell 72 - Andreas Athanasiou 81 - Jeff Hoggan |
Pens Notes on Today
- Coach Mike Johnston stated that Crosby did skate this morning before practice.
- Evgeni Malkin did NOT skate via Coach Johnston. One could surmise that the nature of Malkin's injury is lower-body since he has yet to skate.
- Chris Kunitz also refrained from skating this morning. He is suffering from an undisclosed injury.
- Nick Drazenovic and Derrick Pouliot did skate prior to morning skate. Both are recovering from injury.
- Marc-Andre Fleury will get the start tonight, but Matt Murray will likely see time in net as well.
- Though Coach Johnston really likes the line of Downie-Sutter-Bennett, Steve Downie will not be in the lineup tonight for the Pens.
- Several of the newly acquired Pens (Spaling, Hornqvist, Chorney, Comeau) will make their Penguins debut.
Prospects to Watch tonight
1. Oskar Sundqvist (F): I really like this kid. A draft pick several years ago, finally signed his entry-level deal after playing the last several seasons in Sweden. He has made great strides since he was drafted and isn't far from cracking the lineup in my opinion.
2. Jean-Sebastien Dea (F): There is a lot of chatter around this guy. Everyone seems to like his game and think he could be a part of this team as early as October 9th. Watch to see what the hub-ub is about with this young center as he will likely center the "2nd Line" tonight.
3: Anton Zlobin (F): I really like this kid. A Russian winger who has improved every season he has been in the Penguins organization. I think he would be a great winger for Evgeni Malkin down the road, since they have the "Russian Connection." Watch him tonight.
For Those in Attendance and Those at Home
- For the 7pm puck drop, the doors will open at 6pm.
- Pens Gear's game day special is an extra 20% off all clearance items. For those of you looking for jerseys cheap, they had plenty of James Neal, Jussi Jokinen, Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik and Brian Gibbons jerseys available for $50-$54 dollars. The extra 20% off gets those jerseys down to about 40 bucks so don't pass it up!
For those of you who are not going to the game tonight, here is what you need to know:
- Tonights game will be televised on the Pittsburgh's CW (WPCW). Again, the game starts at 7PM and their coverage will begin then.
- You can also listen to the legend, Mike Lange, and the Ol' Two-Niner, Phil Bourque, on Pens Radio Network or at 105.9 The X. (NOTE: Steve Kolbe may have the Preseason games, but since it is a home game, Lange may well have the call).
- The Pens Radio Network should have Bob Grove on at 6pm with the Pregame show.
NOTE FOR ALL: The Pens Points program does NOT start tonight! It will not begin until the regular season opener v. Anaheim on October 9th.