Islanders (3-4-0, 0-2-0 road) at Pens (7-2-2, 3-1-1 home), CONSOL, 7:08 pm EDT
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Well, it looks like it will be a rematch between Tuesday’s starting goalies, Marc-Andre Fleury and Evgeni Nabokov, when the Pens play host to the Islanders on Thursday night at CONSOL Energy Center. Pittsburgh will be wearing special sweaters with purple on them to raise funds and create awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer.
Evgeni Malkin, Steve Sullivan and Chris Kunitz are all expected to play against the Isles. Wouldn’t it be nice to see Sullivan get the 800-pound gorilla off of his back and finally put a puck in the net? I’m calling tonight as the night that will happen. He had so many chances a couple nights ago on Long Island, one of his shots is due to go in by accident.
Paul Martin played one of his finest games, by my account, Tuesday. It’s amazing how one guys steps up when another goes down.
It will be interesting to see whether the second of back-to-back games with the same opponent leads to hostility. Tuesday night was devoid of passion. I have a feeling there’ll be a fight shortly after the first puck drops. Not necessarily because of the Pens-Isles dislike for one another, but just because familiarity breeds contempt.
Enjoy the rest of your pre-game Thursday!
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Top Five Possible CONSOL Announcements Thursday Afternoon.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates sign Sidney Crosby to free agent contract after scouts break down his
PNC Park batting practice swing.
4. Owner Mario Lemieux announces Civic Arena parcel to be turned into outdoor ice-skating rink.
3. Pens announce Stanley Cup tickets to go on sale next Tuesday.
2. NHL awards Pens compensatory pick for 1997 No. 1, Robert Dome.
1. Commissioner Gary Bettman confirms worst kept secret in hockey – Pens to host 2012 NHL entry draft.
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RINK LINKS
Sidney Crosby remembers his draft day, in the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"I think it's a special day no matter where it is or how it is for anybody," Crosby said.
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Jordan Staal and his two-way play, from the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"I'll take a hundred goals if I can," Staal said.
Reminded that he does have 100, having notched that career milestone last week with two goals against New Jersey, Staal smiled.
"Yeah, I do," he said. "In one season would be nice, though."
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Hockey Fights Cancer Thursday night at CONSOL, via the
Penguins’ Web site.
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Penguins blueliners talk defense in the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury chimes in on his old gold goalie pads.
"I saw some pictures lately and was, like, 'That was so long ago.' Sometimes I kind of wish we would have a big yellow and black third jersey and I could come out in full yellow -- like a big banana."
In case you missed my Twitter feed, here’s the photo of
the Flower in his banana pads. The other guys in the picture aren’t bad either.
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Dejan Kovacevic chimes in with his opinion on autograph seekers, in the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
I owned a sports memorabilia business in Century III Mall for five years (1990-95) and I never sold autographs. One of my helpers signed Mark Recchi’s name better than he did. My contention has always been how can an authentic autograph be proved? That said, I don’t take issue with the folks running around with sharpies asking for signatures, even if they’re on the same card. Who am I to say what that person might do with the 10 autographs, give them as away as presents? Maybe they will try to sell them on eBay, who knows? It’s a tough market for sports memorabilia and there’s no way the eBayers are going to make that much money getting autographs from multi-millionaires. The day folks no longer ask athletes for autographs is the day athletes might worry about.
My favorite autograph experience is probably Prize Day at Three Rivers Stadium, 1977. I caught a foul ball in the second level of box seats along the third base side. After the game, my Aunt Helen and I went to the player’s entrance and exit. At Three Rivers, players had to walk to their cars around the outside of the stadium. There was no barrier between player and fan. Anyhow, I got my ball autographed by about 10 players/coaches, including Rich “Goose” Gossage, now a Hall of Famer. I gave him a blue ink pen to sign with and it ran out after his first name. He grabbed someone else’s pen and wrote his last name in black ink. I probably have the only Goose Gossage autograph half in blue ink and half black – so I got that going for me.
Hockey players, groupies, autograph hounds, that’s a whole ‘nother story for another day.
Anyone else got any good stories?
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The Windsor Spitfires are hopeful to have Penguins’ prospect Tom Kuhnhackl (knee) back in the lineup “at some point this weekend,” according to coach Bob Boughner, the
Spitfires’ Web site.
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Pens-Islanders Team Statistics, as per the nhl.com.
The Pens boast an entire one goal differential between goals scored and goals allowed, 2.91 per game to 1.91, respectively. New York has allowed opponents to score with more frequency than it has, 2.00 per game to 2.43.
Pittsburgh has improved its 5-on-5 play and now has an even 1.00 goals for/against ratio. The Islanders rank 29th in the league with a 0.62 ratio.
The Pens power play chimes in as the NHL’s seven best at 20.0 percent. The Isles click at 18.5 percent, 10th best.
Both teams are doing a great job killing penalties. Pittsburgh features the no. 1 kill in the league at 97.1 percent. New York comes in right behind them, with the second-best PK unit (92.3 percent).
In the faceoffs department, the Pens win 52.6 percent of draws (fifth best) while the Islanders only win 48.5 percent (20th in the league).
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Injury Roll Call
PENGUINS
Steve Sullivan – Probable, took maintenance day off from Weds. practice but returned Thursday.
Evgeni Malkin – Probable, also took Weds. Off. Bylsma expects him to go, but pre-game skate will likely determine whether he plays or not.
Chris Kunitz – Probable, left Weds. practice early with undisclosed injury but Bylsma said he’s alright.
Zbyenek Michalek, Brian Strait, Tyler Kennedy are all out for at least several weeks.
ISLANDERS
Milan Jurcina – Probable, set to make his season debut Thursday.
Mike Mottau – Out, scratched according to Arthur Staple of Newsday.
Nino Niederreiter -- Questionable, will likely need a few practices post-groin injury.
Brian Rolston -- Probable, returned Tuesday after birth of child but was invisible.
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Have a great Thursday & Let's Go Pens!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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