Good evening Penguins fans and welcome to the latest edition of the Big Dave's Pens Pregame. Glad to have you aboard for yet another game. Tonight, the Penguins and Lightning will conclude their matchup in the Eastern Conference Finals. It is Game Seven. Do or Die. Win or go home! Does it get any better than this!?!?!
Puck drops on the deciding game at 8:00pm tonight, but the Pregame is live now....
@pensfan2259 selected the best song for Game Seven tonight as part of "Big Dave's Gameday Jams." He has selected Bob Marley's timeless classic "Three Little Birds." He selected because of the HBK line, the three guys that have been so huge to the Pens playoffs success, mirror Marley's title. I think it is perfect because it is some good advice, as we are all probably nervous for this game. Perfect song, enjoy it!
The State of the Penguins
The Penguins needed a win Tuesday night in Tampa if they wanted this season to continue. They needed the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang to have big games for any such success. That trio did just that.
Sidney Crosby scored a huge goal in the dying minutes of the second period. The goal proved to be the game-winner, his third such goal in this series v. Tampa Bay. The Captain also notched an assist on Phil Kessel's team-leading ninth goal of the playoffs, which came via the power play. Evgeni Malkin also assisted on Kessel's tally, his only point on the night, though he had a few really good chances in this game. As for Kris Letang, he bounced back from a horrendous Game Five to score a huge goal in the second period and play his best game of the series. It was a statement game from the Penguins' big three, and one bot they, and the team, needed desperately from them.
Now, the Penguins have one more chance to really make this season special. The Pens are looking to earn their fifth trip to the Stanley Cup Final with a win tonight. Any such trip, would be their first since the magical run in 2009. A long time coming in the eyes of some.
To achieve such a trip, the Penguins will need to ensure their play mirrors closely their efforts in Games Three or Six of this series. An effort similar to theirs in Games Four or Five will find the Penguins on the golf course next week, instead of playing in the Stanley Cup Finals. For the Pens to have success, they need to be aggressive in this game, on the attack for sixty straight minutes. This means aggressive forechecking and puck pressure. It means them not falling into a defensive, trapping stance to protect the lead. If the Pens can play an aggressive game and be on the attack for a sustained sixty minutes, the Penguins will find their way back to the Stanley Cup Finals for that fifth time before this night is over.
Scouting the Enemy: Tampa Bay Lightning
There is no other word to describe the Tampa Bay Lightning's play in this series. They have been the more consistent team over the series. They have played well enough to win this series. They deserve something for their consistent effort. The Penguins will look to deny them of what the Bolts deserve.
Besides Game Three of the series, Tampa Bay has by-and-large been the more consistent team. They have taken advantage of nearly every Pittsburgh mistake when they have occurred. The so-called "big guns" of Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov, Jonathan Drouin and Alex Killorn have all played very well and produced points in the series. 21-year-old Andrei Vasilevsky has been lights out in net, probably stealing at least one game in Bishop's absence.
Tampa will leave everything out there on the ice tonight. This team is not one to go quietly, and don't expect them to do so. No, the Bolts will make this an incredibly difficult game on the Penguins. They will wear them down to the bone if need be. They will push every ounce of strength and heart they have left if it means sending Sidney Crosby and the Penguins home. I guarantee you this will be the toughest game the Penguins will play all playoffs long...
Are you not entertained?....
Lightning Playoff Scoring Leaders:
- RW Nikita Kucherov - 19pts (11G-8A)
- C Tyler Johnson - 17pts (7G-10A)
- C Alex Killorn - 13pts (5G-8A)
- D Victor Hedman - 13pts (4G-9A)
- LW Jonathan Drouin - 13pts (4G-9A)
Injury Report:
- G Ben Bishop (lower-body) will be a game-time decision tonight. Bishop hasn't played since he exited Game One of the series, and I have a hard time believing HC Jon Cooper would reinsert him into the lineup in a Game Seven after sitting for nearly two weeks. I think it's doubtful he plays.
- C Steven Stamkos (blood clots) will be a OUT tonight. 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 been skating with the team, even shedding the no-contact jersey of late, but only time will tell.
Projected Lines:
- Ondrej Palat - Tyler Johnson - Nikita Kucherov
- Alex Killorn - Valtteri Filppula - Jonathan Drouin
- Cedric Paquette - Brian Boyle - Ryan Callahan
- JT Brown - Vladislav Namestnikov
Projected Pairs:
- Victor Hedman - Anton Stalman
- Jason Garrison - Andrej Sustr
- Matt Carle - Braydon Coburn - Slater Koekkoek
Andrei Vasilevsky will start in net for the Bolts tonight.
News & Notes From Around the Pens
- No updates on this front.
Penguins Playoff Scoring Leaders:
- RW Phil Kessel - 18pts (9G-9A)
- C Sidney Crosby - 155pts (6G-9A)
- C Nick Bonino - 15pts (3G-12A)
- C Evgeni Malkin - 13pts (4G-9A)
- LW Carl Hagelin - 12pts (5G-7A)
Miscellaneous Notes:
- The Penguins are 7-7 in Game Sevens in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a 2-7 mark at home in such situations.
- Pittsburgh has scored 30 goals at home in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, the most of any team.
- The Penguins have won 24 of 36 home games with Mike Sullivan behind the bench.
- C Sidney Crosby has three game-winning goals in this series v. Tampa (Gms 2, 3, and 6). Crosby has 9 career game-winning goals in the playoffs, third best in franchise history.
- G Matt Murray has 10 wins in this playoff season. Murray also became the Penguins first rookie goaltender to win a game in the playoffs where the team could be eliminated.
- RW Phil Kessel has 5 points (3G-2A) in the two home elimination games this post season.
- LW Carl Hagelin is playing in his eighth career Game Seven. He is 6-1 in the seven previous appearances.
- C Evgeni Malkin enters tonight on a four-game point streak (1G-3A).
- RW Patric Hornqvist has scored all seven of his playoff goals at Consol Energy Center this post season.
#AskBigDave
This is a great question and I wish I could give you a really long answer for it. But I am going to break it down so it is really simple and to the point.
- Be early to the game, wear the gold and waive the towel. Don't show up late, don't sit there like a dud. If you're in the house, raise hell and let them know you're there. And be on time.
- Let them know you are there all game long. Be loud, be proud. Yell and scream whether the Pens are up 3-0 or down 1-0. Don't shy away if things go south for a second. The boys will feed off the energy, so make sure they have something to feed off of.
- Dont leave early. You paid the money, stay the whole damn game. You can sit in traffic for one damn night. Be loud, and be there all night for the boys.
Simple enough I think.
From Todd W. on the Tweety: "What is different about this team than the ones that have lost game 7s in the past? Similarities to teams that have won?"
This is a really tough question to answer, but I will do my best Todd.
I think the biggest difference about this team from those that lost Game Sevens in the past is it's depth, health and youth. Previous teams that lost Game Sevens, such as 2010 v. Montreal or 2011 v. Tampa, didn't have nearly the depth, health or youth that this team has. The 2011 Pens were without Sid and Geno and boasted a top line of Jordan Staal, James Neal and Alex Kovalev and a second line of Chris Kunitz, Max Talbot and Pascal Dupuis. Frankly, that team was lucky to get to a Game Seven. The 2010 team was healthy, but they weren't as deep a team as this one. I really like that this team is: 1. Healthy. 2. Younger and 3. Deeper. Besides Daley, they are healthy. The mix of veterans and young guys has been a perfect mesh to this point and the Pens have four legitimate scoring lines, something they didn't even have in 2009 when they won the Cup.
As for similarities, I will always go back to the team that won the Cup in seven in 2009. You have several of the same faces in Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Kunitz and Fleury. You have three scoring lines in 09, to arguably four this year, which is always a plus. And you have similar cast of characters making this team eerily similar to the one that went all the way.
It really is a fun group to watch, and Mike Sullivan has them going good.
Projected Lines & Pairs
- Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Patric Hornqvist
- Carl Hagelin - Nick Bonino - Phil Kessel
- Conor Sheary - Evgeni Malkin - Bryan Rust
- Eric Fehr - Matt Cullen - Tom Kuhnhackl
Pairs:
- Brian Dumoulin - Kris Letang
- Olli Maatta - Ben Lovejoy
- Ian Cole - Justin Schultz
Matt Murray will likely be the starter in net.
My 3 Keys to the Game
2. Power Play: The refs are letting these teams play, but the Pens need to take advantage of whatever PP opportunities they get. It could mean the difference in the Penguins playing in the Cup Finals next week, or playing golf instead. I am looking at Malkin and Letang to be the catalysts here, and for Sid and Hornqvist to benefit from any second-chance opportunities.
3. Be Aggressive: I want to see the Pens be aggressive in everything they do tonight, mind you as long as they are smart about it. I would like to see them be most aggressive on the forecheck and pressuring the puck. This will allow them to showcase their speed and create scoring chances off of turnovers. That has been the Pens bread and butter and must be tonight. I'd also like to see them be aggressive in the offensive zone; i.e. creating sustained offensive zone pressure, getting in Vasilevsky's face and peppering him with as many shots as possible.
My 3 Penguins to Watch
2. Olli Maatta: The kid has been phenomenal since being reinserted in the lineup. He credits it to being allowed to jump up in the play a little more with Ben Lovejoy as his partner, than he can when he is with Kris Letang. If this is the Olli we get when he does that, then I wouldn't put him with Letang again. The Maatta we have seen these last two games is more like the 19-year-old rookie we saw two years ago. He is dynamic, productive and a force to be reckoned with at BOTH ends of the ice. I think he will be good again tonight.
3. Conor Sheary: Game Sevens often have an unlikely hero. Game Seven in 2009 had Max Talbot, and I think the 2016 version will be rookie Conor Sheary. Sheary played a solid game in his return to the lineup in Game Six, and I think tonight he is going to use his speed to create a turnover and score a big goal that will be monumental in the outcome of this game.
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 Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin 108 Stitches Tees now available!
- All fans in attendance tonight will receive a Penguins rally towel and Pittsburgh Gold t-shirt.
- 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!
- Steel City Gamerz will also be stationed at the First Niagara Fan Zone prior to Game 7 on Thursday! Get pumped for the game in this luxury, limo-style theater on wheels featuring 5 widescreen high-definition displays, surround sound and multiplayer gaming excitement! Go inside to play the latest hockey video games - for free!
- 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