I frigid day here in the Burgh and a cold one up in Montreal as well where our boys are tonight. Tonights game features our Pittsburgh Penguins and the NHL's top team at the moment, the Montreal Canadiens. Puck drops at 7:30pm, the latest edition of Big Dave's Pens Pregame starts right now...
Tonight's game day song is fitting for the weather and time of year. An instrumental rock song, so awesome you will need to get the album for the holiday season. Lancaster natives August Burns Red's 2012 Christmas album, August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill. The first song off that album is my selection tonight, "Flurries." Enjoy!
The State of the Penguins
The Pens had an up and down week coming into this one. They were embarrassed by Rangers in NY before getting back-to-back wins over the Leafs and Rangers on back-to-back nights. The Pens still sit atop the Metropolitan Division, but will have a big seven days ahead of them with the Canadiens tonight, a home-and-home with the second place Islanders this weekend and visiting Boston next Monday night. The two game win streak doesn't mean a lot yet, but if the Pens could take three of four over the next seven, it would be a huge week for our boys.
They will have to continue their solid penalty killing ways. After having their 39 consecutive penalty kills streak snapped in New York, the Pens have gone 9 of 10 in that department. Overall, they are 48 for their last 50 on the penalty kill. Enough to make them top three in the NHL. The power play has struggled of late and will need to find it's form with big opponents this week.
Health is always a concern to a hockey team and it's fan base. The Pens have been relatively healthy all year but will have some moves to play with this week. For more on that, check the "News and Notes" section. For now, lets shift gears and take a look at tonight's opponents, the NHL's best, the Montreal Canadiens.
The Silent Killers
It should be no surprise the Canadiens are the NHL's best team at the moment. They surprised everyone last spring when they made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals, only to lose in six games to the Rangers. They saw a lot of turnover in the offseason and a big move just a week ago. In the offseason, they saw Thomas Vanek walk away despite a hefty offer. Captain Brian Gionta left for Buffalo and his thought successor, D Josh Gorges, joined him in Buffalo after demanding a trade out of town. Daniel Briere was also let to walk, as was goaltender Devan Dubnyk. Montreal brought in some complementary pieces, moves that should solidify the forward corps. They brought in PA Parenteau from Colorado and signed Manny Malhotra from Carolina to fill out the bottom six. The Canadiens weren't finished though, they added to their blue lien depth last week when they reunited coach Michel Therrien with former Penguin defenseman Sergei Gonchar. Travis Moen was sent to Dallas in exchange for Gonch.
The Canadiens are rolling right now, and the Pens hope to slow the train. Here is what you need to know for the Canadiens:
- Currently sit at 14-4-1 overall. Good for 29pts which is best in the Atlantic, the East and the entire NHL.
- Montreal is 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
- They have a 8-2-0 home record so far this season.
- They are a +8 in goal differential.
- Tonight is the first of three meetings between the Pens and Montreal. They are in Pittsburgh on January 3rd and host the Pens on January 10th.
- Offseason Acquisitions: C Manny Malhotra, RW PA Parenteau, D Tom Gilbert, D Sergei Gonchar
- Offseason Subtractions: LW Thomas Vanek, D Josh Gorges, RW Brian Gionta, C Daniel Briere, LW Travis Moen, G Devan Dubnyk
Canadiens Scoring Leaders:
- LW Max Pacioretty - 16pts (8G-8A)
- C Tomas Plekanec - 15pts (7G-8A)
- C Alex Galchenyuk - 13pts (5G-8A)
- D PK Subban - 12pts (5G-7A)
- C David Desharnais - 10pts (2G-8A)
Injury Report:
- LW Michael Bournival (shoulder) - day-to-day
Projected Lines:
- Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais - PA Parenteau
- Alex Galchenyuk - Tomas Plekanec - Brendan Gallagher
- Brandon Prust - Lars Eller - Jiri Sekac
- Nathan Beaulieu - Manny Malhotra - Dale Weise
Projected Pairs:
- Andrei Markov - PK Subban
- Alexei Emelin - Mike Weaver
- Sergei Gonchar - Tom Gilbert
Expect Carey Price in net.
My 3 Canadiens to Watch:
- Sergei Gonchar (D): One of my favorite Penguins from the Cup finals years, Gonchar is still a solid defenseman even at his age. He was great in the Michel Therrien system in Pittsburgh, and is now reunited with him in Montreal. I expect Gonch to have a positive impact on the Canadiens team overall and their 2nd PP Unit.
- Alex Galchenyuk (F): Galchenyuk is one of the best young forwards that no one talks about. He plays a solid game and is becoming a very good player for this team. I think he will have a solid game tonight.
- PK Subban (D): The former Norris Trophy winner is still one of the NHL's best offensive defenseman. That being said, the Pens are good at goading him into stupid penalties. Subban always has an impact in these Pens/Habs games, sometimes positive, sometimes negative. I think it is big for the Pens to harass him into stupid penalties.
News & Notes From Around the Pens
We have quite of bit of news around the team from the last 48 hours so lets take a look at it all.
RW Pascal Dupuis will miss tonight's game in Montreal with an undisclosed injury. He did not practice Monday, but did visit the doctor in the morning. He did not make the trip north either. Blake Comeau will replace Dupuis on the top line.
UPDATE: Dupuis missed practice due and will miss tonight's game due to illness, not injury. The illness has yet to be announced but could be by game time.
Olli Maatta is a game-time decision tonight. Coach Johnston said it will depend on if he feels "sharp" enough to go. In other words, expect Superman in the lineup. Bortuzzo likely relegated to "Press Box Hero."
Kris Letang left practice early on Monday and required stitches after taking a puck to the face. Nothing serious, just two stitches reportedly. He will be in the lineup tonight.
The Pens have a big week ahead of them, including a home-and-home this weekend with the Islanders. I expect Flower in the net tonight, but don't be surprised if Greiss gets the call at home on Friday. It would be his first home start as a Penguin and leaves Flower open to play on the Island on Saturday.
Projected Lines and Pairs
With Pascal Dupuis out of the lineup tonight, the Pens have made some changes to the lines. Expect the following tonight:
- Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Blake Comeau
- Nick Spaling - Evgeni Malkin - Patric Hornqvist
- Steve Downie - Brandon Sutter - Beau Bennett
- Zach Sill - Marcel Goc - Craig Adams
Olli Maatta will be a game-time decision, but I would be willing to be he will be in this lineup tonight. If Maatta DOES NOT return, the pairs should remain the same as Saturday. If Maatta DOES return tonight, expect the following:
- Kris Letang - Paul Martin
- Olli Maatta - Christian Ehrhoff
- Rob Scuderi - Simon Despres
Marc-Andre Fleury will get the start tonight.
My Keys To Tonight
The Power Play: It was a horrible week for the Pens on the man advantage. The Rangers proved that if you pressure them the Pens cannot get things going. Tocchet and company need to make the adjustments that allow the power play to function and produce. Hopefully, we will see more success tonight.
Top Line: No Pascal Dupuis is big. He is a catalyst regardless if he is scoring points. The only person on the roster that is capable of filling that role is the guy who will get the call, Blake Comeau. It will be important for him to find chemistry with 14 and 87 and quick. The Pens are heavily reliant on the top line.
My 3 Players to Watch
2. Olli Maatta: I'd be shocked if he isn't in tonight. He will return exactly two weeks after having a cancerous tumor removed from his neck. I think he will play somewhere in the 19-20 minute range in his first game in two weeks. He may be a little rusty early, but I figure by his 3rd or 4th shift he'll be back to his typical self. Believe in Superman.
3. Nick Spaling: Spaling played a great game alongside Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist on Saturday. I think it's big that he continues to play solidly and make things happen with Geno and Horny. He isn't likely the long term solution to 2nd line winger, but he is a good stop gap and a few points could get his confidence up.
Tuned In
- Puck drop is at 7:30pm tonight.
- ROOT Sports has the Pregame coverage at 7:00pm and will have the Post Game coverage following the game action.
- Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey will have the call from Montreal tonight, with Dan Potash handling the interviews. Game coverage starts at 7:30pm.
- Pens Radio Net and 105.9 the X have the call as well. Mike Lange and the Ol Two-Niner will have the game action starting at 7:30pm.
- Bob Grove will have the pregame show starting at 6:30pm and will return following the action with Penguins Hot Line.
- There are Pens Points available tonight, here is how: ROOT Sports Pregame Keyword, ROOT Sports Post Game Keyword, Pens Radio Net Keyword
Closing Remarks
I apologize for not writing as much the last few weeks. My internship has kept me incredibly busy and tired me out. I haven't had the time or energy to write up the post games and weekly reviews. I hope to get back in the swing of things this week. Just check the twitter/facebook pages for any updates or links to the blog.
I want to thank you all again for your support. I tweeted the other day that on September 1st, I had just about 170 followers. I hoped to get to 200 hundred by the home opener and 300 by seasons end. Instead, you guys blew me out of the park!!! We currently sit at 332 followers and counting. You fans are simply the best and I cannot thank you enough for you continued support. It makes this so much more fun to do knowing you all enjoy my thoughts! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
That will do it for me. Check the twitter/facebook page for updates during the game and whether the Post Game will be a tweet fest or a post. Enjoy the game!
LETS GO PENS!!!
Cheers!