Happy Thursday Penguins fans and welcome to the latest edition of Big Dave's Pens Pregame. Glad to have you aboard for another Pittsburgh Penguin gameday. Tonight, our boys play host to former Pens sniper James Neal and the Nashville Predators at Consol Energy Center.
Puck drops on Pens/Preds at 7:00pm tonight, but you can begin enjoying the Pregame right now...
Today's "Big Dave's Gameday Jam" comes from legends of the country music scene. Playin Nashville tonight, we definitely have to go with a little country music for the jam. Tonight, I go with Brooks & Dunn; the legendary duo that has made some of the biggest country hits of the 1990s-2000s. This is one of my favorites by them, "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl." Enjoy!
The State of the Penguins
The Penguins got off to an absolutely atrocious start on Tuesday night, falling behind the Sabers three-nothing after the first period. The Penguins weren't up to snuff in that period, up-and-down the lineup. They generated a plethora of shots, but they were far from quality chances while the Sabers took advantage of the situation to score three goals.
The second was much different.
The Penguins came out with a purpose and dumped four goals on the overmatched Sabers. The Pens got goals from the role players, which is always key. They also got two goals while killing a penalty, which can always change the game for good. This was one of those games.
While the Penguins would require OT and a shootout to win the game, it was still a huge win. Pittsburgh needed to take two points from the lowly Sabers, and while we all wished they did it in a less dramatic, stressful situation, a win is a win.
Now, the Penguins must look ahead to the next four days. Tonight, the Penguins start a three games in four days stretch against three teams in the playoff hunt. Sunday, they will play the final regular season home game when they host the Flyers. Saturday, the Penguins head to Brooklyn for their final regular season showdown with the Islanders. Tonight, they face the Predators of Nashville and former Penguin sniper James Neal. It is a big game; not a must win, but one that would be in the Pens best interest to win.
Big Country: The Nashville Predators
Nashville enters tonight's game with 91 points on the regular season. They currently sit in the first wild card spot in the jam-packed Western Conference. With a solid next couple weeks, and if the Blackhawks continue to struggle, it is very possible that the Predators could climb up into third place in the Central division.
If the Preds hope to move past the Hawks, they need to turn this mediocre stretch of hockey around. Over their last 10 games, Nashville is 5-4-1 and have lost their last two games heading into tonight. Besides tonight, they have an easier schedule over the next 10 days. They will face San Jose, Colorado, Arizona and Dallas to close out the season. They will need a little help, but they will need to win most of those games to avoid a first round matchup with the Kings.
Looking at the Predators roster, they have gotten solid play from everyone they needed to get it from. Sophomore Filip Forsberg leads the team in points with 31 goals and 58 points. Defenseman Roman Josi is having another stellar season on the blue line, with 57 points through 77 games. Former Penguin James Neal is having another solid year in Nashville, potting 30 goals and 52 points. Finally, big trade acquistion Ryan Johansen has played solid; posting 27 points in 37 games with Nashville.
Despite both being essential playoff locks, Nashville needs this game just as much as the Penguins. At this point, it is all about seeding and both want to move up in the standings. The Pens to get home ice and the Preds to avoid Los Angeles. Expect a close, playoff-style game tonight.
The Lowdown on the Predators:
- 39-25-13 overall record.
- 91 points on the season currently has the Predators sitting in the first wild card spot in the West.
- Nashville has struggled of late, going 5-4-1 over their last 10 games, including dropping the last two games.
- The Preds have struggled more on the road this season, going 17-15-7 on the season away from Nashville.
Scoring Leaders:
- LW Filip Forsberg - 58pts (31G-27A)
- D Roman Josi - 57pts (13G-44A)
- RW James Neal - 52pts (30G-22A)
- C Mike Ribeiro - 49pts (7G-42A)
- D Shea Weber - 48pts (18G-30A)
Injury Report:
- D Anthony Bitetto (lower-body) is OUT tonight. Bitetto has missed the last three games with a lower-body issue, but is still considered day-to-day.
- D Ryan Ellis (upper-body) is a game-time decision tonight. Ellis was shaken up in Nashville's loss on Tuesday, but he could still play tonight.
Projected Lines:
- Calle Jarnkrok - Ryan Johansen - James Neal
- Filip Forsberg - Mike Ribeiro - Craig Smith
- Colin Wilson - Mike Fisher - Viktor Arvidsson
- Paul Gaustad - Colton Sissons - Miikka Salomaki
Projected Pairs:
- Roman Josi - Shea Weber
- Barrett Jackman - Ryan Ellis
- Mattias Ekholm - Petter Granberg
Pekka Rinne is expected to start in net tonight.
News & Notes From Around the Pens
- C Evgeni Malkin (upper-body) has resumed skating. PPG's Dave Molinari tweeted yesterday that Malkin skated for roughly 75 minutes on Wednesday morning. HCMS stated that the timetable for his return has not changed.
- F Bryan Rust (undisclosed) is OUT tonight. Rust was injured in Tuesdays win and is considered "day-to-day" according to HCMS.
Transaction Report:
- Pens have recalled F Oskar Sundqvist from Wilkes-Barre.
Pens/Preds Matchup Notes:
- Final regular season matchup between the Pens and Preds.
- Pittsburgh won the first matchup in Nashville with a Phil Kessel OT goal on October 24th.
- Evgeni Malkin had two points in that game, while Kessel and Chris Kunitz had the two goals in the game.
- James Neal scored the Preds only goal in that game, while Mike Ribeiro and Barrett Jackman assisted.
- Marc-Andre Fleury got the win in net over Pekka Rinne.
Miscellaneous Notes:
- The Penguins are riding a 3-game win streak into tonight.
- Pittsburgh is also 16-4-2 over their last 22 games at Consol Energy Center.
- C Sidney Crosby was named the Penguins Community Service Award winner on Tuesday.
- F Bryan Rust was named the Penguins Rookie of the Year on Wednesday. A tough decision between him and Dumoulin, but Rusty is very, very deserving of the award. Congrats!
- Sidney Crosby currently leads the NHL in points in the month of March with 20 points.
- D Kris Letang set a career high when he played 35:14 in Tuesday's shootout win. Letang is averaging over 32 minutes a game over the last three contests.
#AskBigDave
Really good question Nick and to be honest, I don't have an answer for you. I am sure this question is coming after the Penguins announced late Monday that they had signed St. Cloud State captain and Hobey Baker finalist Ethan Prow. Prow led all NCAA defenseman in points this season and has been a standout player for SCSU the last couple years.
Nick, I guess the best answer I can give you is certain guys thrive in certain situations and they really develop into something special. Other guys fit this mold as well, including several Penguins such as Chris Kunitz, Conor Sheary and Pascal Dupuis. These guys were not sought after commodities heading into their draft year and by big name college hockey programs for that matter. While Kunitz and Sheary both played at respectable programs, neither Ferris State or UMass Amherst have the reputation of Boston College, Boston University or North Dakota. These guys went in as underrated prospects and developed into solid players. Here's hoping that Ethan Prow becomes another one of those players.
That is the best answer I can give you for your question Nick.
From Matt on Twitter: "How far do you see the Pens going in the playoffs?"
Solid question Matt and one that is also tough to answer. There are several factors that will play into a playoff run, especially a deep one.
First, the Penguins need to get hot and stay hot at the right time. Right now, the Penguins are pretty hot. This level of hockey they care currently playing could win multiple playoff series. However, they need to maintain this level of play when the playoffs start. March success doesn't always equal playoff success, as 2013 proved, but it is a good way to head into the playoff season.
Next, is you need to get a good matchup. If I could choose the Penguins first round matchup, I'd much rather play the Florida Panthers or New York Islanders over the Capitals or Rangers. I think the Penguins could take down the Panthers in a playoff series rather easily, and the Islanders don't scare me as much with Halak out too. If the Penguins were to play the Rangers or Capitals, I wouldn't hate their chances, especially the way we are currently playing, but I don't want to play them if we could avoid it. I think we will ultimately face the Rangers, which will be tough, but doable.
Finally, the Penguins need to get key players back and avoid injuries. The Pens are without Malkin, Maatta, Dumoulin and Rust right now. All have played great this year and losing them hurts. If the Penguins could get those guys back sooner, rather than later, it would be a huge boost. Likewise, they need to avoid injuries. You don't want to lose a guy at a key moment either.
Hope that answers your question in a satisfactory manner.
From Puck Husky on the Tweety: "Assuming the Pens make the playoffs, which is likely, what's the biggest concern they need to address going in?"
I think my biggest concern is injuries. The Penguins are currently without Malkin, Maatta, Dumoulin and Rust. All have done well and all would be huge boosts to the lineup. If the Penguins added these guys back to the mix, it makes them a much deeper team and a far more scary one. I wouldn't want to face a team with these guys, plus Crosby, Letang and Fleury all playing at a high level.
The other big concern for me would be making sure they play with the same level of intensity and manner they are playing now. I don't want to see them play their best hockey in March, I want to see it in April, May and June. The Penguins need to make sure that the way they play now is the same way they play then.
Those are my biggest concerns.
From Rob A. on the Tweety: "Is it pure coincidence that the rash of Pens injuries started with the return of Beau Bennett?"
Hahahahaha, this is a funny question and I am going to say, "Sure, it is Beau Bennett's fault."
I think it is just coincidence, but where is the fun in that. It is far more fun to blame it on the oft-injured Bennett. He comes back in the lineup and Maatta, Dumoulin and Rust all get hurt. Geno gets hurt right before. Coincidence? Conspiracy? My goodness the chaos Rob!!!
From Crazy4Pens on the Tweety: "Which team won the trade involving Horny and Neal?"
Really good question and a tough one to answer. I honestly think, at this exact moment, it has been a great trade for both team.
The Predators got the sniping forward they needed when they made this trade. In 144 games with them, Neal has netted 53 goals and 89 points. He has also been a plus-36. Those are good numbers. Also, keep in mind that Neal has played with average centers in Nashville until Johansen was acquired. I expect Neal's numbers to go up greatly playing alongside a dynamic young center like Johansen.
As for the Penguins, I absolutely love the acquisition of Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling in this deal. Spaling wasn't great for the Pens, but he was part of the deal that brought Kessel to Pittsburgh, so that certainly helps the trade. As for Hornqvist, you all know how I feel about this guy. He plays the game hard, every shift and is a talented player. He is the perfect winger for Sid and you wish you had another couple players with his makeup on this team.
So, I'd say both have done pretty well in this trade.
From Lets Talk Pens on the Tweety: "What's your opinion on #LetangForNorris?"
I hope he wins. I really do. He has played well most of the year, but has really taken steps forward with Mike Sullivan at the helm. Right now, Letang is playing out of his freakin mind. I am still not convinced he isn't a terminator with the amount of minutes he is playing.
As for the movement on Twitter, again, I am all for it. As I stated in Tuesday's pregame, I think he will have a hard time beating Erik Karlsson, or especially Drew Doughty, but I think he should definitely be nominated and would definitely be worthy of winning if selected.
From Jeff W. on Facebook: "If the Pens weren't going to make the playoffs, which Pens player do you think would have the best summer golfing?"
Absolutely love this question. For those of you that don't know, the only sport I love as much, or maybe more than, hockey is golf. I grew up playing the game, I enjoy it's history, watching it and everything involving the game. It is really a wonderful game and I always encourage people to take it up. PSA: Play golf Penguins fans!!!
Now Jeff, this is a tough question to answer because I don't know which of these guys golf and if any of them are any good. The US Open trophy was in the Pens clubhouse just a couple weeks ago and a few of the guys discussed it.
If I had to make a prediction, I would say either Phil Kessel or Conor Sheary. Kessel, for all the S-and-Gs, would have the most practice time considering he has played for the abysmal Maple Leafs for so many years. I am sure he got plenty of rounds in in the spring and summer because the Leafs were never in the playoffs. Conor Sheary is probably my serious answer, because if I remember correctly form when the trophy was in town, he was one of the guys who seems really into the game. I could also see him being pretty good too. He has a small frame, which reduces the number of moving parts in the always tricky golf swing. His small, compact frame should translate into a solid golf swing.
So Jeff, I'll go with Kessel, but more seriously, Conor Sheary.
Hahahaha, these last two questions are rather silly and fun, so here we go...
From Anna on the Tweety: "Do you dip your French fries in ketchup or a milkshake?"
Anna, I am not much of a "dipper" when it comes to french fries. I like them hot, crispy and salty. If they are like that, I don't feel the need to dip my fries. If I am in the mood to dip, I'll actually go BBQ sauce over anything, then ketchup.
As for dipping it in a milkshake, I'm not into it. I like fries hot and not soggy. I see dipping it in a milkshake as making it cold and soggy. That's a no-go in my book.
So hot, crispy, salted fries plain for me Anna.
Finally, from Penguins Enthusiasts on Twitter: "How big is Big Dave?"
Hahahahaha, this is a great question. I am a big fella. I weigh in at about 6-foot, 5-inches and 250lbs. I am a combination of bone, fat, muscle, giggles and fun. I look imposing and brutish from time to time, but I am really just a big, ol teddy bear with a heart of gold. I am sure many could back me up on that self-assessment.
Projected Lines & Pairs
- Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Patric Hornqvist
- Carl Hagelin - Nick Bonino - Phil Kessel
- Oskar Sundqvist - Matt Cullen - Tom Kuhnhackl
- Conor Sheary - Eric Fehr - Beau Bennett
Pairs:
- Trevor Daley - Kris Letang
- Derrick Pouliot - Ben Lovejoy
- Ian Cole - Justin Schultz
Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to start in net tonight.
My 3 Keys to the Game
2. Top Line: The line of Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist has been a little quiet of late. I'd like to see them bust out and have a huge game. They will likely have to deal with the Weber-Josi pairing most of the night, but if they could figure a way to score against them, it will be a big boost for the Pens and a deep blow for the Preds.
3. Keep Streaking: The Pens have won three straight and nine of ten. Great numbers and a great time of year to play at this level. That being said, they need to keep it going. They cannot take their foot off the pedal or think they can coast in. I want to see them play with a level of desperation as if they were fighting for a playoff spot, because that level and style of play is how you win big games and playoff type games.
My 3 Penguins to Watch
2. Carl Hagelin: This guy could make The Flash look slow. The way Hagelin has been moving has been key to a lot of the Pens success in all three zones. Don't discount his speed defensively as well, which may have as much an impact as it does when he's trying to produce offense. Tonight, I will look for Hags to use that speed to hamper the likes of Weber, Josi, Ellis, etc in their own zone and try to pressure them into turnovers.
3. Oskar Sundqvist: The Wilkes-Barre Express has featured this young man a lot. I am not happy to see Rust out, especially since we're losing his speed out there, but Sundqvist is a really solid player. He won't wow with speed or offensive flair like Rust, but he will be a staunch defender and work hard in the dirty areas. I am hoping he gets his first goal tonight, we will see.
What to Know for Attending/Watching/Listening
- Puck drop is at 7:00pm with the doors to CEC opening at 6:00pm.
- The Penguins will wear their traditional home jerseys tonight.
- Stop by Pens Gear tonight for the gameday special.Tonight, pick up a Mystery Grab Bag for just $50! Each bag contains a replica jersey, t-shirt, cap and a novelty – four items for one great price! Hurry – quantities are limited!
- Its a giveaway night for the ladies in attendance as Michael Kors Canvas Tote* and Penguins Luggage Tag presented by Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, Citrone Foundation & Breast Cancer Research Foundation
*Tote given only to first 3,200 ladies ages 18 and older in attendance - The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and the Citrone Foundation will team up to host “We Love Moms Night” when the Penguins take on the Nashville Predators on Thursday at CONSOL Energy Center. The unique event will give all fans a chance to salute moms – and especially hockey moms – while raising funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the nation's highest rated breast cancer organization.
- As part of Thursday’s “We Love Moms” night festivities, you can bid to win “Glam” items using the Penguins Foundation silent auction app. Visit bidpal.net/pens from your smartphone to take home items from Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Tory Burch and more with all proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
- You can also support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation by purchasing a Penguins Foundation 50/50 raffle ticket Thursday night or by texting your name, donation amount and a short message to 646 681 5166. For more information about the initiative, click here.
- Be a part of the excitement at EVERY home playoff game at CONSOL Energy Center this post-season. 2016 Stanley Cup Playoff Packages are on sale now. Visit pittsburghpenguins.com/playoffs or stop by the booth behind Section 104 on Thursday night to speak with a Penguins representative.
- The Labatt Blue Bear will be posing for photos with fans prior to the game on Thursday behind Section 105 and will be guest bartending during the first intermission at the Labatt Blue Zone located behind Section 108.
- Dollar Energy Fund volunteers will be selling tickets for their Fan Appreciation Night Raffle during Tuesday’s game. Buy a $5 ticket to enter to win two tickets to the April 3 game and the chance to participate in the Shirts Off Our Backs ceremony! Proceeds benefit the Dollar Energy Fund.
- Be a part of the excitement at EVERY home playoff game at CONSOL Energy Center this post-season. 2016 Stanley Cup Playoff Packages are on sale now. Visit pittsburghpenguins.com/playoffs or stop by the booth behind Section 104 on Thursday night to speak with a Penguins representative.
- “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 http://bidpal.net/pens
Here is what you need to know for WATCHING tonight:
- ROOT Sports has the coverage tonight. Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey with the call beginning at 7:00pm. Dan Potash will have the interviews.
- Penguins Pregame will precede the game coverage beginning at 6:30pm.
- Penguins Post Game will follow the game action.
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 7:00pm.
- Penguins Pregame will precede the game coverage at 6:00pm. Josh Getzoff will host.
- Penguins Hot Line will follow the game action.
Pens Points:
- Game Attendance: 50pts
- Concession Purchase: 10pts
- Merchandise Purchase: 10pts
- ROOT Sports Pregame Keyword: 5pts
- ROOT Sports Post Game Keyword: 5pts
- Pens Radio Keyword: 5pts
- Miller Lite Nite at Shenanigan's Bar and Grill in Pittsburgh: 25pts