Happy Tuesday Penguins nation and welcome to the latest edition of Big Dave's Pens Pregame. The Pens have less than ten games to go in the regular season, and tonight they begin their final week of home games during that portion of the schedule. Tonight, former coach Dan Bylsma and rookie sensation Jack Eichel enter Consol Energy Center with the Buffalo Sabers to take on the Penguins.
Puck drops on the action tonight at 7:00pm, but you can begin enjoying the Pregame right now...
Tonight's "Big Dave's Gameday Jam" comes from one of my favorite bands from high school. In those days, I was into a ton of different music, and these guys were always playing on a gameday for me. They are Norma Jean and this song comes off my favorite album by them, "The Anti-Mother." The song is "Opposite of Left and Wrong." Enjoy!
The State of the Penguins
The Penguins played to a disappointing loss last Thursday against the Devils at home. It was far from their best game played, and was certainly disappointing after the stretch of games they played leading into it. They left that game, looking forward to two tough, back-to-back games on the road over the weekend. It could have been a tough weekend, instead, it was a stellar one.
Pittsburgh imposed their will against the Red Wings on Saturday. They blasted the Wings with seven goals over the last forty minutes and got great production out of their second line. Same thing happened the following night in New York. The Penguins played a tough, playoff style game against the Rangers at MSG, which saw them earn a 3-2 overtime win.
The Penguins are rolling again. The slight hiccup against the Devils is behind them and they are rolling again. This all happening without Brian Dumoulin and Olli Maatta in the lineup. In their place, Ben Lovejoy and Derrick Pouliot both played very well. Offensively, we saw huge games from Phil Kessel, Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino over both games.
Tonight, I want to see the Penguins keep the pedal to the metal. The lowly Buffalo Sabers are in town, and the Penguins simply cannot look past them like they did with New Jersey. The Sabers are struggling, sure, but they will look to take the final game of the season series to hurt the Penguins run up the division. Focus, gumption and the will to dominate are key for this team tonight.
Finishing Up: The Buffalo Sabers
The Buffalo Sabers were all about tanking in 2014-15 with the hope of getting Connor McDavid. Instead, they had to settle of the consolation prize of Jack Eichel after Edmonton was handed the prize. The Sabers also added a couple other solid pieces in Ryan O'Reilly, Cody Franson and David Legwand with the hope of building for the future.
While the Sabers didn't contend this season, they do have several good pieces for their future. Jack Eichel has had a very good rookie season, posting 50 points through 75 games. Ryan O'Reilly leads the team with 53 points, while young core players Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen each have added 40 points. Veterans such as Evander Kane, Brian Gionta and Zach Bogosian have also been solid.
The struggle for Buffalo has been on the back and and especially in net. Robin Lehner is not the answer the Sabers thought he'd be, while Chad Johnson has performed admirably as the starter with Lehner missing time and struggling. If the Sabers could add a legit, number one goaltender and another impact top-4 defenseman, they could contend for a Stanley Cup Playoff spot as early as next season.
Buffalo is struggling, going just 5-4-1 over their last 10 games, but don't think the Penguins could look past them. They have several players who could take it to the Penguins and steal a win in our building tonight. And don't forget, with Dan Bylsma at the helm behind the bench, they'll want to get him a win against his old team.
What You Need to Know About Buffalo:
- 31-35-10 overall record.
- 72 points has the Sabers 7th in the Atlantic and 14th in the East.
- Buffalo has gone 5-4-1 over their last 10 games, including a loss in Detroit last night.
- The Sabers are 16-17-4 on the road this season.
Scoring Leader:
- C Ryan O'Reilly - 53pts (17G-36A)
- C Jack Eichel - 50pts (23G-27A)
- C Sam Reinhart - 40pts (22G-18A)
- D Rasmus Ristolainen - 40pts (9G-31A)
- LW Evander Kane - 35pts (20G-15A)
Injury Report:
- LW Evander Kane (undisclosed) is likely OUT tonight. Kane was injured in last night's game in Detroit and HC Dan Bylsma stated post game that he likely won't play tonight.
- D Cody Franson (upper-body) is OUT tonight. The veteran defenseman hasn't skated recently as he continues to deal with concussion issues.
- G Robin Lehner (lower-body) is OUT tonight. Lehner is suffering from an ankle injury that sidelined him earlier in the season as well. He was reevaluated over the weekend, but won't play this week.
- C Tyler Ennis (upper-body) remains OUT tonight. Ennis has been sidelined with a concussion for a while, but he appears close to returning to practice.
- C Cody McCormick (blood clots) remains OUT and his future is currently unknown.
Projected Lines:
- Matt Moulson - Ryan O'Reilly - Nicolas Deslauriers
- Zemgus Girgensons - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart
- Marcus Foligno - Johan Larsson - Brian Gionta
- Cal O'Reilly - David Legwand - Hudson Fasching
Projected Pairs:
- Josh Gorges - Rasmus Ristolainen
- Jake McCabe - Zach Bogosian
- Mark Pysyk - Casey Nelson
Nathan Lieuwen is expected to start in net tonight for the Sabers.
News & Notes From Around the Penguins
- D Brian Dumoulin (upper-body) is not expected to play tonight
Transaction Report:
- The Pens have signed D Ethan Prow to an entry-level deal. Prow was the captain of St. Cloud State University and was the NCAAs leading scoring defenseman this season.
Pens/Sabers Matchup Notes:
- Third and final regular season matchup tonight.
- The Pens have won the first two games both by the score of 4-3.
- Pittsburgh has won eight straight v. Buffalo.
- Patric Hornqvist, Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby each have 3 points in the regular season series v. Buffalo.
- Zach Bogosian and Rasmus Ristolainen lead the Sabers v. Pittsburgh this season with 3 points.
Miscellaneous Notes:
- The Pens have gone 8-1 over their last 9 games.
- RW Phil Kessel was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week with seven points. Kessel also broke the 50-point mark for the 8th consecutive season.
- F Pascal Dupuis has been nominated as the Penguins finalist for the Bill Masterton Award, as voted on by the local hockey writers.
- C Sidney Crosby's OT winner on Sunday gave him his 8th game-winning of the season. That number is tied for second best in the NHL.
#AskBigDave
This is a great question Spencer, and one I was giving a lot of thought during the game on Sunday night. We still don't know the status of Geno, more specifically, we don't know when he will be back. And let us not even begin to think we don't need him back. While the Penguins are playing outstanding hockey at the moment, Malkin will only make this team play better.
The question is where do you put Malkin when he comes back?
I honestly don't want to break up the Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel line. The way they are playing right now, I don't want to break them up. They have excellent chemistry and we are finally seeing the dynamic Phil Kessel we were so accustomed to seeing in Toronto. That is not something I want to see disappear because we think Malkin needs to play with them.
If I am Mike Sullivan, I am doing one of two things with Geno.
1. I put him on Sid's left wing and put Kunitz down on the 3rd line with Fehr. This makes sense, as then you'd really have two dynamic lines up top. However, Sid and Geno don't play great together, and Kunitz has played well with Sid of late. So I'm not crazy about splitting them up either.
2. Make a line of Bennett-Malkin-Fehr. It is a line that could find lightning in a bottle. Bennett, when healthy and unafraid, has some playmaking ability. Fehr is a dirty area, net-front guy that could really play well with Malkin if given a chance. This would be the best option I think, and would really give the Penguins four legit lines.
From Reedie on the Tweety: "Do you think Sidney Crosby has a chance at the Hart Trophy and Kris Letang the Norris?"
I think both have a really good chance to be honest Reedie, but I think Sid is more likely to win it than Tanger.
While Sid likely won't be able to catch Patrick Kane for the Art Ross Trophy, there is no doubt he is a serious candidate for the Hart Trophy. Sid's numbers after Sullivan took over are ridiculous. We finally saw that Sid wasn't on the decline, but that Mike Johnston's system was just atrocious for him. Now, Sid is a scoring machine and is playing his way to his third league MVP. As far as I am concerned, Sid deserves it more because the Penguins don't make the playoffs without his play over the last 40+ games. Chicago likely still makes it without Kane posting 90+ points. I think Sid should get it.
Now, Kris Letang is also a very good candidate for the Norris Trophy. I don't think there is a chance that Erik Karlsson isn't nominated, as the reigning Norris winner has 76 points to date on the season. Letang currently sits third in the league scoring for defensemen, trailing just Karlsson and San Jose's Brent Burns. If I was voting, my three finalists would be Karlsson, Letang and LA's Drew Doughty. While Doughty is only 10th in scoring, he also has the best plus/minus at plus-24 and plays similar minutes to all those mentioned above. I think Doughty has been the best overall defenseman this year, playing at an incredibly high level at both ends. If it were up to me, I'd give it to him. However, Letang's play should seriously be considered. He has come back from a staggering minus rating to come into tonight even. He is playing close to 30 minutes a night and his points are there. I think he's a great candidate and this could be his best chance at winning it.
So Reedie, if I were a betting man, I'd say that Sid wins the Hart Trophy, but Letang comes up short, despite being a finalist.
From LetsTalkPens on the Tweety: "If you were a hockey player, what position would you play and why?"
I absolutely love these questions guys; love giving you a little insight into myself. I do in fact play the game, but not on ice. I play dek hockey with a group of fellas on weekends and it really is a hoot. Absolutely love playing the game and have a much greater appreciation for what these guys do night-in and night-out.
Now, I play defenseman. As you know from reading my stuff, my favorite players are defenseman. I really enjoy playing the position. I like blocking shots, I like the style of play it requires. Biggest thing, I don't have to do as much running, which for a bigger fella such as myself, keeps me in the game longer. I am definitely a stay-at-home defenseman when we play, often not venturing further than the center line. I have gotten better too over the last few months, which is something I am really proud of.
I have played forward and goalie as well. Goalie is fun, but it is incredibly tough. I have a lot of respect for my buddies, and the guys at the pro level, for playing that position. It is really hard to move around and tough to see. It takes a special breed to be a goalie. Forward is fun, but it is a lot more running and I just don't have the hands and touch for the position. I can play it if forced, but I am miles more comfortable playing defenseman.
Projected lines & Pairs
- Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Patric Hornqvist
- Carl Hagelin - Nick Bonino - Phil Kessel
- Tom Kuhnhackl - Matt Cullen - Bryan Rust
- Conor Sheary - Eric Fehr - Beau Bennett
Pairs:
- Trevor Daley - Kris Letang
- Derrick Pouliot - Ben Lovejoy
- Ian Cole - Justin Schultz
Matt Murray is expected to start in net tonight for the Penguins.
My 3 Keys to the Game
2. Speed: The Penguins' speed is unbelievable and been on full display the last two games. I'd love to see that continue today against a struggling Buffalo D. Guys like Rust, Hagelin and Kessel are guys I'm specifically watching in this area and I think they should be big again.
3. Special Teams: The PP has looked a little better of late, despite their horrid zone entries on Sunday night. Saturday however, they struck twice. I'd like to see them get at least one tonight against a struggling team. As for the PK, they have been great all year and specifically of late. I'd like to see them not only kill off any penalties, but try to use their speed and aggressiveness to get a shorty.
My 3 Penguins to Watch
2. Eric Fehr: He has had an up-and-down first year in Pittsburgh, but I really like the way he plays on the PK. Tonight, I'd love to see Fehr use his aggressive PK play to go out and score a shorty. He's done it several times this year and I have a feeling he does it tonight.
3. Bryan Rust: Like Kessel, I wanna see Rusty use his speed against the subpar Buffalo defenders. Rust has been great of late, and he continues to get outstanding chances. I think he is going to get hot and start burying a lot of these. If, and when, that happens, it will be monumental for the Penguins.
What You Need 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, it's 30% off novelties!
- It is a giveaway night, Pennsylvania Lottery Coupon presented by PA Lottery – fans age 18 and older only.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins will host a Pet Supplies Collection Thursday night. All fans who make a cash donation or contribute pet supplies will receive a Pet Owner’s Emergency Decal and have the chance to win autographed prizes. Proceeds benefit the Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center. The Penguins thank you in advance for your support!
- 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 Scooby's Pub in Greensburg: 25pts