Pens (17-10-4, 9-7-2 Road) at Sens (14-14-4, 7-7-1 Home), 7:30 pm EDT
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Jordan Staal and Joe Vitale are game-time decisions, according to Pens coach Dan Bylsma. The team recalled both Eric Tangradi and Alexandre Picard on Friday morning, however, bringing into question who might sit.
Brent Johnson will start in goal for the Penguins. Interestingly, Johnson will be making his seventh road start in eight games in 2011-12. He hasn’t played particularly well but it’s interesting to note just how many times the team has started him away from CONSOL Energy Center.
On a positive note, Johnson holds an 8-1-1 career mark against Ottawa. Remember to check the
Penguins’ Web site for additional game-day details as they become available during the day.
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Pens-Sens: By the Numbers
Goals For/Against per game
Pens 2.97-2.48
Sens 2.91-3.44
5-on-5 For/Against
Pens 1.03
Sens 0.85
Power Play
Pens 18.2 percent, 12-for-66 (Road)
Sens 16.1 percent, 9-for-56 (Home)
Penalty Kill
Pens 84.7 percent, 11-for-72 (Road)
Sens 75.4 percent, 14-for-57 (Home)
Shots For/Against per game
Pens 33.7-27.8
Sens 31.2-31.5
Record When Leading After 1st Pd/2nd Pd
Pens 9-2-3/10-0-2
Sens 4-1-2/7-1-1
Record When Trailing After 1st Pd/2nd Pd
Pens 5-6-1/3-7-1
Sens 5-9-1/3-12-1
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Pens-Sens: Season Series
The Pens hosted Ottawa on Friday, Nov. 25 in Sidney Crosby’s third game back and won, 6-3. Rookie Kaspar Daugavins scored for the Sens 79 seconds into the game but Pittsburgh answered with four goals in the next eight minutes.
Ottawa pulled goalie Craig Anderson after he stopped just four of eight shots, replacing him with Alex Auld. Auld looked good in getting a full workout, allowing two goals on 32 additional shots. Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves for Pittsburgh.
The big news of the night was Crosby’s cross-checking of Sens forward Nick Foligno in the Pens’ crease. Foligno and the Ottawa organization cried foul over Sid’s elbow to the head. Foligno, who fell over Fleury and earlier ran Steve Sullivan, has collected penalties in eight of his last 11 games, including a game misconduct for a boarding call on the Canucks’ Ryan Kesler less than one week ago.
After the Pens jumped out to the early lead, coach Bylsma switched up the lines and even put Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal and Crosby together.
“We play one shift, it’s three terrors, we surprised them,” Malkin told the
Associated Press. “We never played (together before) and had good chances to score. I like it. It two great offensive guys who can control the puck and make passes.”
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Probable Starting Goalies
Pens Brent Johnson
2011-12 (Overall) 2-3-2, 2.83 GAA, .899 save percentage
2011-12 (Road) 2-3-1, 2.83 GAA, .905 save percentage
Career vs. Sens 8-1-1, 1.99 GAA, .940 save percentage, one shutout (no 2011-12 gms vs. Sens)
Sens Craig Anderson
2011-12 (Overall) 13-11-2, 3.42 GAA, .894 save percentage
2011-12 (Home) 6-6-1, 3.27 GAA, .892 save percentage
2011-12 (vs. Pens) 0-1-0, 26.13 GAA, .500 save percentage
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Injury Roll Call
Pens
Sidney Crosby – Out, no timetable for a return from concussion symptoms
Kris Letang – Out, no timetable for a return from concussion symptoms
Robert Bortuzzo – Out, no timetable for a return from concussion symptoms
Zbynek Michalek – Probable, expected to return from concussion symptoms
Jordan Staal – Questionable, game-time decision after Hartnell leg hit in Philly
Joe Vitale – Questionable, game-time decision with undisclosed injury
Brian Strait – Out, back practicing but will likely be sent to Baby Pens when healthy
Ben Lovejoy – Out, still not back from wrist injury
Dustin Jeffrey – Out, setback from knee surgery keeping him from lineup
Richard Park – Out, fractured foot will sideline him until January
Sens
Sergei Gonchar – Questionable, missed Wednesday against Boston with upper body injury
Milan Michalek – Out, no timetable for a return from concussion
Filip Kuba – Out, sidelined with shoulder injury
Patrick Wiercioch – Out, missing time after taking puck to the throat
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Treasure Life & Let's Go Pens!
JT