Welcome to the latest edition of Big Dave's Pens Pregame. A short turnaround as the Pens go from Consol last night to on the road tonight. Tonight, the Pens will be hosted by their new division and regional foe the Columbus Blue Jackets. Puck drop is at 7:00pm, but the Pregame begins right now....
Tonight's gameday song is a classic from the 80s. Came across it while searching my iTunes for a tune. Loved it and went with it. Here is the legendary John Mellencamp's classic hit, "Jack and Diane."
The State of the Penguins
The Pens made some roster moves this morning, so we will see some new faces in the lineup tonight. For more on that, read the "News and Notes" section. The Pens will look to build off the solid performance of last night when they play the streaking Blue Jackets tonight in Columbus. For more on the Jackets, lets shift down to the next section.
The Columbus Injured Reserves
The only team in the East that understands the current plight of the Penguins is the Columbus Blue Jackets. They will be without six of their starters tonight and have been without many of their best players throughout the season.
That being said, do not let their record fool you - this is a very good hockey team. The injuries have really hampered the Jackets which led to a slow start. Two weeks ago, they sat in the bottom five of the league. Since then, with the return of a few players, the Jackets have climbed back into the talk of a wild card spot. They've won five straight coming into tonight.
The Jackets are on a five game streak, but the last team they may want to face is in town tonight. Over their last 12 games against Pittsburgh, the Penguins have won 10, including all five regular season games last season. Tonight is the first match up between the divisional/regional rivals this season.
Columbus gave the Penguins everything they could handle in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season and they hoped to build on that success going into this season. They lost several key members of that playoff team, including winger RJ Umberger, defenseman Nikita Nikitin and of course Blake Comeau who is now apart of the Penguins. Despite the losses of six players from their playoff roster, the Jackets entered the season poised to claim one of the top three spots in the Metro. They added Scott Hartnell in a trade with Philadelphia, former Penguin Brian Gibbons and brought in defenseman Jordan Leopold during the season. Their young centerman Ryan Johansen held out for a new contract and missed camp, but he has flourished this season, once again leading the team in scoring. Nick Foligno has had a breakout campaign thus far and Scott Hartnell, Jack Johnson and James Wisniewski have been steady veteran presences and point contributors. Former Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky started slow and then missed time with a broken finger, but has been hot of late to lead the resurgence of the Jackets. Tonight, the Jackets hope to make it six straight and do it over their new rival.
Here is what you need to know about the Jackets:
- Columbus is 11-15-2 overall this season. That is good for 24 points, but 7th in the Metropolitan Division.
- Don't be fooled by their spot, injuries have hampered the Jackets and to date have lost 186 man-games to injury.
- The Jackets come into tonight on fire, winning five games in a row. However, they lost their previous five games giving them a 5-4-1 record in their last 10.
- The Jackets have not been good in Columbus this year, going only 5-8-1 in their own barn.
- Tonight is the first of four matchups between the Pens and Jackets this season.
Columbus Scoring Leaders:
- C Ryan Johansen - 27pts (9G-18A)
- LW Nick Foligno - 26pts (13G-13A)
- LW Scott Hartnell - 17pts (6G-11A)
- RW Cam Atkinson - 14pts (8G-6A)
- D James Wisniewski - 13pts (2G-11A)
- D Jack Johnson - 13pts (1G-12A)
Injury Report:
- Pittsburgh fan favorite Scotty Hartnell (yes, that was sarcastic) will be OUT tonight. He was placed on IR yesterday with a finger injury.
- C Artem Anisimov will be out for 2-3 months with torn triceps muscle. He was reportedly being floated to Edmonton for David Perron before the injury occurred.
- D Fedor Tyutin will be OUT tonight as well. He has been out with a knee sprain since November.
- D Ryan Murray (knee) is OUT tonight. He took part in an optional practice yesterday, but he is not expected to return to the lineup tonight.
- Former Penguin Mark Letestu will be out another six weeks after undergoing groin and abdominal surgery last week.
- The Jackets paid big money for winger Nathan Horton two years ago, and have yet to get anything but bad health reports from him. He missed much of the last two seasons with shoulder issues but is facing possible career-ending spinal surgery at the present. Horton suffers from a degenerative spinal condition. He will be OUT tonight.
Projected Lines for the Jackets:
- Boone Jenner - Ryan Johansen - Jack Skille
- Matt Calvert - Brandon Dubinsky - Cam Atkinson
- Kerby Rychel - Nick Foligno - Brian Gibbons
- Corey Tropp - Michael Chaput - Jared Boll
Projected D-Pairs:
- Jack Johnson - David Savard
- Jordan Leopold - Dalton Prout
- Kevin Connauton - James Wisniewski
Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to start in goal against the Pens tonight.
News and Notes
The Penguins made some roster moves this morning in the wake of the developments last night. They are the following:
- LW Zach Sill will be out "several weeks" after suffering an upper-body injury in the first period last night.
- D Olli Maatta who was ruled out this weekend was placed on IR this morning. There has been no update on the nature or severity of the injury, though there have been some rumors that it is a serious shoulder injury. Again, those are just rumors.
- The Penguins re-assigned LW Jayson Megna to the Baby Pens this morning. The eight penalty minute performance definitely didn't sit well with the staff and the lack of production only added to it. That being said, I thought the last two games were really the only bad ones he has played since getting called up.
- The Penguins called up two wingers to replace Megna and Sill this morning. The first was Bryan Rust, who was called up last week but saw no action. The other was the rough and tumble winger Bobby Farnham. Both are expected to play tonight and make their NHL debuts.
Here is the scuttlebutt on Bryan Rust:
- The 22 year old Rust is a 5'11", 192 pound native of Michigan.
- This is his first season of professional hockey. He has played the last four years at the University of Notre Dame.
- In 25 AHL games, Rust has 10 goals and 14 total points including three multi-goal games. In the month of December he has three goals.
- Rust will wear number 36 for the Penguins tonight. The last to wear that number was Jussi Jokinen last season.
Not to be left out, here is the scuttlebutt on Bobby Farnham:
- Farnham is a 5'10", 188 pound, 25 year old enforcer from Andover, Massachusetts.
- He has played for the Wilkes-Barre Penguins for the last three seasons.
- In 23 AHL games this season, he has one goal and a league leading 113 penalty minutes.
- The Brown University alum signed a new, one-year contract in the offseason to remain with the organization.
- Farnham will wear number 34 tonight.
Projected Lines & Pairs
- Rob Klinkhammer - Evgeni Malkin - Blake Comeau
- Nick Spaling - Brandon Sutter - Patric Hornqvist
- Bryan Rust - Marcel Goc - Steve Downie
- Bobby Farnham - Andrew Ebbett - Craig Adams
I don't expect to see any defensive changes, especially considering Brian Dumoulin is the only Penguin to skate this morning. Here are the pairs:
- Kris Letang - Paul Martin
- Rob Scuderi - Simon Despres
- Christian Ehrhoff - Robert Bortuzzo
Marc-Andre Fleury will get the start in net. Brian Dumoulin will serve as #PressBoxHero tonight.
My Keys to the Game
The New Guys: Rust and Farnham are expected to make their NHL debuts. Neither will make or break the game, but both will play an important role in providing minutes for the Penguins. Rust has the ability to score, so that will certainly help in the absence of Crosby and Kunitz. Farnham's scrappyness and physicality will add a ton of grit and someone else to make sure guys like Brandon Dubinsky don't take liberties on guys like Malkin or Hornqvist.
Power Play: My goodness it was disgraceful last night. The Pens PK had better scoring opportunities than the power play, which is not good. At this point, I don't think it is a personnel problem, simply (pardon me) piss poor execution and mind frame. Sometime's it only takes one to get it going, so hopefully they can get it tonight.
Attack Them: The Jackets learned how to play the Penguins in the playoffs last season. The Pens cannot afford to sit back and allow the Jackets to control the game. The Pens must not only attack them in the offensive zone, but don't let them get the upper hand in the physicality department. Strike hard and strike early, carry the momentum and control the game.
My Players to Watch
1. Bryan Rust: The 2010 3rd rounder was called up prior to the acquisition of Rob Klinkhammer, but appears will get to make his NHL debut tonight. The Notre Dame forward made the jump to professional hockey this season and has flourished in Wilkes-Barre. He has had multiple two-goal games this season, including last night in the Baby Pens contest. Rust may get an opportunity alongside Malkin tonight, but you will likely see him alongside Goc and Downie. He is a capable skater with good hands. Don't be surprised if he has a solid debut.
2. Bobby Farnham: The Massachusetts native is as much like sandpaper as they get. He will make Zach Sill look like a fairy princess. Farnham reminds me a lot of Matt Cooke, except he will not refuse a chance to drop the gloves. Expect him to play alongside Ebbett and Adams and hit everything that moves in his debut tonight.
3. Kris Letang: We saw the impact he has on the game when he returned last night. He had a great goal and really made the team flow. That will be important again tonight, especially with two guys making their NHL debut. Love the way he's playing under the Johnston system, and his production and leadership is more vital than people let on.
League Standings
Metropolitan Division: 1. Pittsburgh (41pts) 2. NY Islanders (38pts) 3. Washington (31pts) 4. NY Rangers (28pts) 5. New Jersey (27pts) 6. Philthadelphia (25pts) 7. Columbus (24pts) 8. Carolina (19pts)
Atlantic Division: 1. Tampa Bay (41pts) 1. Detroit (41pts) 3. Montreal (40pts) 4. Toronto (35pts) 5. Florida (31pts)
5. Boston (31pts) 7. Ottawa (27pts) 8. Buffalo (24pts)
Central Division: 1. Chicago (41pts) 2. Nashville (40pts) 2. St. Louis (40pts) 4. Winnipeg (36pts) 5. Minnesota (31pts) 6. Colorado (26pts) 7. Dallas (25pts)
Pacific Division: 1. Anaheim (45pts) 2. Vancouver (38pts) 3. Calgary (36pts) 3. San Jose (36pts) 5. Los Angeles (35pts) 6. Arizona (23pts) 7. Edmonton (19pts)
What To Know If You're Watching
- ROOT Sports has the coverage for the game tonight. Coverage begins at 6:30 with Penguins Pregame and their Post Game show follows the game coverage.
- Bob Errey and Paul Steigerwald will have the game action on ROOT starting at 7:00pm. Dan Potash will handle the interviews.
- Pens Radio Net and 105.9 the X will have the radio call tonight starting at 6:00pm tonight. Bob Grove hosts the Pregame show starting at 6 and will follow the game with Penguins Hot Line.
- Mike Lange and Phil Bourque will have the game coverage starting at 7:00pm.
There are 65 possible Pens Points available tonight. Here is how you can earn them:
- 25pts - Miller Lite Night at 11th Frame Bar and Grille in Butler.
- 25pts - Miller Lite Night at On Deck Bar and Grille in Cannonsburg.
- 5pts - ROOT Sports Pregame Keyword
- 5pts - ROOT Sports Post Game Keyword
- 5pts - Pens Radio Net Keyword
That will do it for me. A thank you to you all for your continued support and reading of the blog, facebook and twitter pages. Can't express my gratitude enough for your support and kind interactions with me. Each one of you are awesome in my book. Keep it up!
I will likely tweet my post game thoughts again tonight. Seems to be more interest in that and it gets up earlier than midnight. So check in with me after the game for my post game thoughts. I will likely be tweeting throughout as well, so look for that.
Everyone enjoy the game and the rest of their weekend. Stay warm and I'll see you later on. LETS GO PENS!!!
Cheers!