Good evening Penguins nation and welcome to the latest edition of the Big Dave's Pens Pregame show. Tonight, the Penguins begin the second half of the 2015-16 season when they take on Jordan and Eric Staal in Carolina.
Puck drops on the action tonight at 7:00pm, but the Pregame is live now with no more waiting.
Tonight's "Big Dave's Gameday Jam" comes from one of my favorite bands of late. Their new album "American Beauty/American Psycho" came out last year and man is it awesome! This week, the premiered their new single featuring the lovely Demi Lovato and it makes this song even better! Here it is, Fall Out Boy featuring Demi Lovato in "Irresistible."
The State of the Penguins
Patric Hornqvist scored a great goal in front of the net on the power play in the second period. Recently recalled Bryan Rust returned to the team on Thursday and the lineup Saturday and scored a beauty of a goal just 7 minutes after Hornqvist to retake the lead for the Penguins. In the dying moments of the game, Eric Fehr added his 3rd shorthanded goal via an empty net, while the Penguins were killing another Kris Letang penalty.
Overall, it was a good performance from the Penguins on that night, and one they definitely needed. The mid-week home and home series with Chicago resulted in a tough loss and what could have been a blowout defeat. The Penguins rebounded well Saturday to take a win on the road from a struggling, but still very good defensive team.
I think what is most important about this win was the way the Penguins fought back to get this win after two disappointing losses. They didn't play a flawless game on Saturday, but they ground the win out. That's always good to see and something I'd like to see even more of going forward. The Pens showed a ton of heart and I love that the most.
In other news, the players that need to be big are. Sidney Crosby has looked really good over the last 10 games or so and I think he will continue a torrid run up the NHL scoring list from here on out. Kris Letang is playing a million-times better than he was in the early going and seems to have found his scoring touch of late as well. Evgeni Malkin has been steady all year and that has continued of late too. Then there is Marc-Andre Fleury, who on Saturday night was as brilliant as he's been all year. Another solid showing from the Flower and another reason why he should've been named to the NHL All-Star game.
Then there are guys that just aren't doing enough. Phil Kessel is probably top of this list because he is the biggest name. He recorded his 12th assist in the Montreal game, but he still isn't sniping goals like we would have hoped. I'd like to see more from him. I am complete disenfranchised with Chris Kunitz. He was vital in his first 4 years here, but these last two have been absolutely dreadful. He is doing little and less and I am completely dumbfounded that he is still on the top line. Same can be said for David Perron, to an extent. He is doing the little things away from the puck, but he still needs to score more.
This week continues a four of five games on the road stretch for the Penguins. They got the win in Montreal, now we need them to go to Carolina tonight and secure a win against a team that is looking to play spoiler to the chasing teams.
Raging Storm: The Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are far from a great team. They haven't been a great team since they won their Cup in 2006 and they haven't been a good team since 2009. They have struggled and they are in yet another year of struggles.
But of late, the Canes have actually played pretty good hockey. Since December 1st, they have gone 10-7-2. They have beaten teams like the Capitals, Blackhawks, Montreal and even us. This is a team, that can most certainly play spoilers for a lot of teams in the Eastern Conference the rest of this year. They play close, tough games; seven of their last 9 loses have been by a single goal, which means they are making their opponents sweat those games out.
The Canes are a team full of veterans they need more out of and a team with several solid young players who could be the building blocks for greater things. Defenseman Justin Faulk is one of the latter. The 23-year-old Minnesota native has had a great year on a sub-par Carolina blue line. He currently leads the team with 31 points (14G-17A) in roughly 25 minutes a night. Like Faulk, the 22-year-old Finnish center Viktor Rask has been outstanding on the Carolina third line. Though he's been hurt the last two games, he has posted 11 goals and 26 points so far. As for the veterans, captain Eric Staal has been better this year, scoring 8 goals and 26 points through 43 games, while brother Jordan has remained healthy and posted 10 goals and 21 points. Kris Versteeg, who was acquired just before the season from Chicago has performed admirably alongside Eric on the top line, posting 25 points so far. Finally, former Conn Smythe winner Cam Ward has returned to a respectable level of play after several injury-plagued, atrocious years.
The Canes are hanging in there. They currently sit tied for sixth in the Metro Division and only six points out of a playoff spot. While I don't think they will ultimately qualify for the playoffs, I do think they will play spoilers for teams in the chase. Don't expect them to be an easy game tonight, in fact, don't be surprised if they sneak a win away from the Penguins again.
What to Know About Carolina:
- 18-18-7 on the season.
- Carolina is 10-7-2 since December 1st and 5-3-2 in their last 10 games.
- The Canes enter tonight's game on a two-game win streak.
- PNC Arena has been better for the Canes, as they have gone 9-8-4 at home this season.
Scoring Leaders:
- D Justin Faulk - 31pts (14G-17A)
- C Eric Staal - 26pts (8G-18A)
- C Vikor Rask - 26pts (11G-15A)
- RW Kris Versteeg - 25pts (6G-19A)
- LW Jeff Skinner - 22pts (15G-7A)
Injury Report:
- C Viktor Rask (upper body) will be a game-time decision tonight. He has missed the last few games due to an upper body ailment, but took the pregame skate on Saturday. I expect him to return tonight.
- LW Nathan Gerbe (lower-body) is also a game-time decision tonight. He hasn't played since November due to an undisclosed lower-body issue but has been skating again.
- LW Phil Di Guiseppe (concussion) is OUT tonight. The young winger hasn't played since January 2nd where he suffered a concussion in a game v. Nashville. His status as of now is "out indefinitely."
Lines:
- Kris Versteeg - Eric Staal - Elias Lindholm
- Joakim Nordstrom - Jordan Staal - Andrej Nestrasil
- Jeff Skinner - Viktor Rask - Brock McGinn
- Riley Nash - Jay McClement - Brad Malone
Pairs:
- John-Michael Liles - Justin Faulk
- Ron Hainsey - Jaccob Slavin
- Noah Hanifin - Brett Pesce
Cam Ward is expected to start in net tonight for the Canes.
News & Notes From the Penguins
- F Beau Bennett (upper-body) is progressing according to multiple reports. While ROOT Sports stated he would remain out "indefinitely" following the Montreal game, several other media outlets have stated he's closer to return than being discussed. We will see.
- D Brian Dumoulin, who missed the last 7 minutes of the Montreal game, skated yesterday and is expected to play tonight. Dumoulin took a shot off the fingers late in the game Saturday.
- F Chris Kunitz had a maintenance day yesterday.
Transaction Report:
- D Adam Clendening has been recalled from his conditioning assignment in WBS. He had 3 assists in 6 games.
Pens/Canes Notes:
- Second matchup between the Canes and Pens this season.
- These teams will play twice in the next 5 days (Sunday, 3pm at Consol)
- Carolina won the first matchup of the season 2-1 in PIttsburgh on December 19th.
- Evgeni Malkin scored the only goal in season series for Pittsburgh thus far, Daley and Crosby assisting.
- Matt Murray was in net for that loss, allowing two goals on 26 shots.
- John-MIchael Liles and Jordan Staal scored the two goals for the Canes in that game.
Miscellaneous Notes:
- Eric Fehr scored his 3rd shorty on Saturday, which currently has him in a tie for second in the NHL in shorthanded goals (Pageau leads with 4).
- The Penguins power play has gone 11-for-32 since the Pens last matchup with Carolina. That is good for 34.4% success rate and took them from the 29th ranked unit to the 12th.
- Marc-Andre Fleury is 2-1-1 with a 1.93 GAA in his last four starts.
- Pittsburgh's PK has killed off 25 straight penalties and its 85.2% kill rate is 5th in the NHL.
- Phil Kessel has four points (1G-3A) in his last 5 games.
- Evgeni Malkin has posted points in 5 of his last 6 games (2G-7A).
#AskBigDave
Reedie, this is a tough question to answer. I'm not GMJR, so I don't know what he wants to do and who he is willing to give up.
As I have discussed on multiple occasions, the rumors are the Pens are looking for a defenseman and a top-six winger. Both are needs I think they need to fill before the deadline for them to have a shot come the spring.
Now, like I said, I am not GMJR so I cannot say what he is willing to give up. If I were the GM, here are the guys I think are expendable and the prospects they should look to deal.
First, Chris Kunitz. It is a contract that certainly isn't helping the Penguins cap issues and he isn't helping much on the ice anymore either. He's just not a top line winger anymore and the fact that the Pens keep him in that role isn't doing anyone any favors. The problem is, he has another year at 4+ million and that will be hard to dump, but they also dumped Scuds so it's not impossible.
Next, Ian Cole. Cole has been atrocious for the Pens since the end of October. He was miscast in a top-pair role and has since been unable to regain his high level from the end of last season. I don't know what the Penguins are going to do with him. He is an ok sixth defenseman, but if he keeps in this rut, he won't be there much longer. If the Pens could flip him in some kind of deal, I think it's worth letting him go.
Finally from guys on the roster, I think you have to look at David Perron. While he has been better than Kunitz, he hasn't produced much offensively, even after moving to Crosby's line in mid-December. He has more value than Kunitz though because he is younger and will be a UFA. It would be easier to move him in any kind of deal the Penguins look to make. I don't think they should move him, but if they needed to, they could.
Now, as for the guys in system. Let me first say I do not think the Penguins would, or should trade Matt Murray. He should be completely off limits. Someone who should not be though, is Derrick Pouliot. The Penguins have lost some of their love for this kid and it seems they really don't think he is ready to go. Frankly, he isn't much worse defensively than some others currently on the roster. However, he could fetch a big haul if the Penguins decide to move him, maybe even filling both needs. Other than Murray, as far as I am concerned, no prospect is off limits. Murray is the next Marc-Andre Fleury, he will be key to the future. I can't really say that about anyone else in the system besides maybe Pouliot.
So Reedie, I hope that answers your question.
From Penguins Addicts on the Tweety: "Do you think the Pens will be close or at 100 points by seasons end?"
Let me preface this by saying the majority of playoff teams over the last 3-4 years have been within 5 points of 100 total points on the season to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. So if the Penguins are not close to that number, I don't think they will make the playoffs.
Now, to how close I think they will get. The Penguins have 45 points through 41 games. If they continue on that pace, they would only have 90. I think they will play much better in the second half of the season with Mike Sullivan fully-emplaced as the head coach. The one thing that will be key for the Pens is to play well within the Metropolitan Division because half of their remaining games are against divisional foes. If they struggle against them, it will be hard for them to get the points necessary to reach to the playoffs period.
I think the Penguins will somewhere between 95-103 points on the season. They should have enough to reach the playoffs but it will be close, especially if they do not take care of in-division games in the second half.
Projected Lines & Pairs
- Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - David Perron
- Patric Hornqvist - Evgeni Malkin - Phil Kessel
- Kevin Porter - Matt Cullen - Eric Fehr
- Bryan Rust - Nick Bonino - Tom Kuhnhackl
Pairs:
- Olli Maatta - Kris Letang
- Brian Dumoulin - Ben Lovejoy
- Trevor Daley - Ian Cole
Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to start in net tonight.
My 3Keys to the Game
2. Role Players: The Penguins need their role players to start playing better if they want to rack up wins, period. While Kessel needs to score more, I am specifically looking at the likes of Hornqvist, Perron, Bonino, Fehr, and Cullen to add more points. If they can do that, the Penguins become very dangerous.
3. Pepper the Net: Cam Ward is playing better, but he still is not a Vezina candidate. I'd like to see the Penguins pepper the net with a high shot volume and knock home rebound chances. They do that against any team, they'll win the majority of their games.
My 3 Penguins to Watch
2. David Perron: I don't hate the way he's played this year, but I'm not content with the little amount he's put the puck in the net. Right now, he's on pace for just 8 goals, which is terrible for a player of his calibre. He's got to start putting pucks in the back of the net and soon. Otherwise, he'll find himself demoted down the lines or on a plane out of town.
3. Bryan Rust: I thought he played really well on Saturday night in Montreal. He added a goal and created some solid scoring chances. I like the fact that he shoots a lot and I'd like to see him shoot it whenever he gets the chance in the offensive zone. Maybe his play can spark the likes of Nick Bonino.
What to Know for Watching/Listening
- 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:
- ROOT Sports Pregame Keyword: 5pts
- ROOT Sports Post Game Keyword: 5pts
- Pens Radio Keyword: 5pts
- Miller Lite Nite at Dino's Sports Bar in Greensberg: 25pts