Avs (8-8-1, 6-2-1 road) at Penguins (10-4-3, 5-1-1 home), 7:30 p.m. EDT CONSOL
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Dustin Jeffrey returns early from a two-week conditioning stint with Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday. Jeffrey played in only two games for the Baby Pens, tallying one assist. He was pointless in six games prior to spending time in the AHL. Tyler Kennedy appears set for his first game back since Oct. 15 and Steve Sullivan took the ice after a bit of a delay.
Pascal Dupuis, on the other hand, left the ice early Tuesday.
The Pens and Avs met one time in 2010-11, with Pittsburgh taking an overtime decision, 3-2, in Colorado. Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves and Joe Vitale notched his first career NHL goal. Tyler Kennedy ended the contest when he beat Avs goalie, Peter Budaj, four minutes and 10 seconds into overtime.
This year, Colorado got off to a fine start in October, going 7-4. November has proved to be a tougher month, however. The Avs have won just one game (1-4-1) and a leaky defensive effort has hurt the team. Their record on the road sparkles at 6-2-1, but a 3-6-1 mark over the last 10 games really illustrates the struggles of the Mile High city squad.
The Penguins, meanwhile, have been flying. It was encouraging to see that, down by three goals heading into the third period of Saturday’s game against the ‘Canes, the Pens still played like they had a fighting chance. Three goals in 10 minutes tied the score, but Evgeni Malkin missed on a breakaway and James Neal couldn’t get his slap shot past Cam Ward in a game that Carolina would eventually win, 5-3.
The schedule picks up for Pittsburgh, which has seven games in the next 12 days. Five of the seven contests come against Eastern Conference foes, but a home game against the Islanders represents the only Atlantic Division matchup.
James Neal continues to crush it at home. Neal is one of five players, all-time, to score in each of his first seven home games, compiling nine goals at CONSOL Energy Center.
Kris Letang hasn’t scored since Oct. 9 but has 14 points (1, 13) in 15 games.
Chris Kunitz is arguably playing the best hockey of any player in a Pittsburgh sweater. Kunitz has six goals and eight points in his last 10 games and has really established himself as a serious net-front presence.
The recall of Dustin Jeffrey casts doubt on the role of Eric Tangradi on Tuesday. Tangradi played well in the third period of Saturday's loss, but Jeffrey could take his spot in the starting lineup.
Defenseman Alexandre Picard has quietly slipped in three games for Pittsburgh – and that’s a good thing. Picard has yet to pick up a point but has posted a plus-2 rating. He’s averaging 12:16 TOI and 16 shifts per game. The Penguins will likely be happy if he continues to operate like a solid offensive lineman in football -- the less his name is called out loud, the better.
The Penguins don’t have too many on-ice connections to Colorado, but assistant coach Tony Granato served as the Avs’ head coach in 2002-03 (32-11-4), 2003-04 (40-22-13) and 2008-09 (32-45).
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Pens-Avs: By the Numbers
A quick look shows that the Avs are giving up too many goals, both teams are struggling 5-on-5, the Pens’ power play is better on the road than at home and Colorado is rocking the power play on the road.
Pittsburgh doesn’t allow power-play goals at CONSOL while Colorado gives up plenty of scores on the man advantage away from home.
Both teams outshoot their opponents and neither squad likes to take many penalties. The Avs are outstanding on draws while the Pens have slipped into mediocrity.
Goals/Goals Against Per Game
Pens 2.82-2.24
Avs 2.71-3.18
5-on-5 Goals For/Against Ratio
Pens 0.79 (23rd)
Avs 0.76 (26th)
Power Play
Pens, Home 18.2 percent (6-for-33)
Avs, Road 41.4 percent (12-for-29)
Penalty Kill
Pens, Home 94.1 percent (16-of-17 kills)
Avs, Road 73.5 (9-of-34 kills)
Shots/Shots Against Per Game
Pens 32.6-27.9
Avs 33.4-29.8
Penalties
Pens 9.3 minutes per game (2nd lowest)
Avs 10.5 minutes per game (6th lowest)
Faceoffs
Pens 50.7 (14th)
Avs 53.3 (2nd)
Hits-Blocked Shots-Missed Shots-Giveaways-Takeaways
Pens, Home 142-88-103-40-31 in seven games
Avs, Road 218-124-105-51-69 in nine games
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About the Avs
Colorado named
Milan Hejduk its team captain Monday. Hejduk, who has scored 20 goals in 11 straight seasons, currently ranks second in points for the Avs with 12 (7, 5) in 17 games. Joe Sakic captained Colorado from 1992-93 until 2008-09. Hejduk, who was a possible trade deadline target for Pittsburgh last spring, signed a one-year, $2.6 million deal to stay in Colorado and so far the move has paid off.
Matt Duchene has bounced around on different lines, but leads his team with 13 points (6, 7) in 17 games. He has five goals and nine points in his last eight.
Preseason rookie of the year candidate, Gabriel Landeskog, has chipped in with five goals and eight points. The 2011 no. 2 overall pick has slowed down in November, contributing but a lone assist in six contests.
On the blue line, Kyle Quincey has found a way to stay healthy, leading Colorado with 29.5 shifts per game. He’s tied for second in points with 12, and all three of his goals have come courtesy of the man advantage.
The concussed Peter Mueller played in three early October games but has missed 14 straight due to concussion-like symptoms. Mueller, who is one year younger than Sidney Crosby, is not expected to play Tuesday.
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Probable Starting Goalies
Semyon Varlamov got off to the great start one might expect for a player deemed worthy of a no. 1 and no. 2 pick in an offseason trade. Varlamov went 5-3 in October. November hasn’t been so kind, however. He’s yet to win a game, going 0-4-1, and has allowed fewer than three goals in just one of his starts.
Backup J.S. Giguere has gone from Toronto to Colorado. He’s started two of the team’s last three games. Giguere is 3-1 with a 2.18 GAA and .920 save percentage.
For the Penguins, Marc-Andre Fleury is due back in goal after watching Brent Johnson allow five goals in a 5-3 loss at Carolina on Saturday night. The Flower is playing the most complete hockey game of his life right now. The Pittsburgh netminder has yet to surrender more than three goals in any of his 12 starts.
PENGUINS
Marc-Andre Fleury
2011-12 9-2-1, 1.87 GAA, .932 save percentage, one shutout
2010-11 vs. Avs 1-0, 1.87 GAA, .935 save percentage
AVS
Semyon Varlamov
2011-12 5-7-1, 3.08 GAA, .897 save percentage, one shutout
2010-11 vs. Pgh 1-0, 1.00 GAA, .970 save percentage (with Washington)
Jean-Sebastien Giguere
2011-12 3-1, 2.18 GAA, .920 save percentage
2010-11 vs. Pgh -- did not play against Pens –
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Injury Roll Call
PENGUINS
Pascal Dupuis – Questionable, left morning skate early.
Tyler Kennedy – Questionable, game-time decision following concussion.
Steve Sullivan – Questionable, game-time decision with lower-body injury.
Sidney Crosby – Questionable, coach Bylsma will address masses after game-day skate, Crosby likely won’t.
Zbynek Michalek – Out, recovering from broken finger.
Ben Lovejoy – Out, will miss at least another month.
Brian Strait – Out, skated before practice Tuesday.
AVS
Brandon Yip – Out, broken forearm expected to sideline Yip on Tuesday.
Peter Mueller – Out, still dealing with concussion-like symptoms.
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RINK LINKS
Great quotes from Colorado players about Sidney Crosby – and a list of notable head shot injuries the past two years -- in the
Denver Post.
Being on the minus side doesn’t add up for Pens Paul Martin, the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Assistant Todd Reirden, who oversees the defense, views Martin's plus-minus as an indicator that the veteran isn't playing as well as he could.
"Paul's done a lot of good things that aren't represented in the statistics, but right now his plus-minus isn't where he wants it to be and where we need it to be as a team," Reirden said. "We'll continue to work toward that.
"There's room for improvement, but it certainly doesn't come from a lack of effort."
Crosby comeback still on hold for Penguins, the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
"Nothing's changed, Sid's not talking," said Frank Buonomo, senior director of team operations. "I don't blame him."
Buonomo also serves, unofficially, as Crosby's media contact with the Penguins.
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Have a great Tuesday & Let's Go Pens!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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