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GAMEDAY! Third Atlantic Division Regulation Win in Four Days? |
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Pens (44-21-5, 20-13-3 road) at Flyers (41-22-8, 18-10-5 home), Wells Fargo Center, 12:30 pm EDT
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- Are we happy with Tyler Kennedy? He played an active game Saturday but failed to score for the 21st time in 22 games and that’s basically what he gets paid to do. He certainly shoots enough. Linemate Sidney Crosby was unhappy that he registered only one shot in his first game back Thursday but upped that total to six Saturday.
- Speaking of Sid, will he ever score again? He hasn’t lit the lamp since his 2011-12 debut when he beat an obscure replacement goalie for the Islanders. The nine-game drought matches the longest of his career. Should the Pens send him to Wilkes-Barre?
- Why are the Pens set to start goalie Marc-Andre Fleury for the third time in four games? Just because he’s 20-2-1 – including a pair of nine-game win streaks – in his last 23 decisions doesn’t mean he should be on the ice so much before the playoffs.
- Why is Pittsburgh driving so hard for the no. 1 playoff seed? Does it think a first-round matchup with home-ice advantage against Winnipeg, Washington or Buffalo would be easier than a series against Philly or New Jersey?
- What’s wrong with Eric Tangradi? He doesn’t have a goal in 19 games?
Okay, so the first question started out on a serious note but I couldn’t even finish that question without realizing how silly it sounds.
The Pens may have a small question marks somewhere, but the team’s riding an 11-game wining streaks. 'Nuff said.
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It will be interesting to see the direction of Sunday’s game against the Flyers. Does Philly want to rough it up against the Pens with hopes of slowing them down? Or do they play disciplined hockey and hope to score the game’s first couple goals? The Pens have shown in their last two games alone that they can win different ways. Thursday, Pittsburgh scored five goals but gave up 32 shots to the Rangers. Saturday, New Jersey mustered only 14 shots.
When the two teams met for the first time in 2011-12 on Dec. 8, Crosby sat out after taking several hits against the Bruins three days earlier. The Flyers jumped out to a three-goal lead at home. Daniel Briere netted a fluke goal that deflected off two Penguins before beating Marc-Andre Fleury. Wayne Simmonds and Scott Hartnell also scored before a power-play marker by James Neal made it 3-1 after two periods.
Evgeni Malkin made it a one-goal game midway through final period but that would be as close as Pittsburgh got to sending the game into overtime.
Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 26 of 29 shots while Ilya Bryzgalov made 25 saves for the win.
Robert Bortuzzo, Simon Despres, Steve MacIntyre, and Alexandre Picard all played for Pittsburgh. Arron Asham also skated. He missed Saturday’s tilt in New Jersey and is unlikely to go against Philly on Sunday due to illness.
The date many Penguins fans had circled on their calendars prior to the start of the season was Dec. 29. That date marked the return of Jaromir Jagr and Max Talbot to Pittsburgh. Jagr scored a goal and was arguably the game’s best player but was not named one of the three stars. Talbot potted an empty netter, giving the Flyers a 4-2 victory at CONSOl Energy Center.
Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky limited Pittsburgh to two goals on 26 shots. Bobrovsky won the first game ever at CONSOL and is 4-0 in Pittsburgh. He’s never knocked off the Pens in Philadelphia, however, going 0-2-1.
The teams didn’t meet again until Feb. 18.Two first-period Jagr goals gave the Flyers a 2-1 advantage heading into the second period, but it would last. Short-handed goals Jordan Staal and Matt Cooke put Pittsburgh into a tie after 40 minutes and chased Bryzgalov.
Dustin Jeffrey, Pascal Dupuis and James Neal rattled off three straight third-period scores, giving the Pens a 6-4 win.
Fleury made 27 saves while both Philadelphia goals surrendered three goals – Bryzgalov on 13 shots, Bobrovsky on 17.
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Four Atlantic Division teams have enough points to lead either the Northeast or Southeast Divisions. As it stands, the Rangers hold first place in the Atlantic with 95 points (in 71 games). The Pens are second with 93 in 70 contests, Philly is third with 90 (in 71 gms) and New Jersey fourth, with 87 (in 72 gms).
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The Flyers will likely be without Talbot, who injured a shoulder while fighting Saturday. Talbot has a surprising 18 goals and 29 points in 71 games. Talbot also ranks fifth in hits with 130. Andrej Meszaros (lower body) and deadline-pickup Pavel Kubina (upper body) are also expected to miss Sunday’s tilt.
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Picks to click
Penguins -- I’ll go with Tyler Kennedy. He’s due and he always plays well against the Flyers.
Flyers -- Scott Hartnell is having a career year with 33 goals and 62 points in 71 games. I always liked him when he played for the Predators, before he became known as Scott-the-Ear-Ripper.
Your picks?
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The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had a couple of interesting stats Sunday morning.
- The Penguins are 63-3-6 when Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal and Evgeni Malkin all score at least one point in a game.
- Jordan Staal's 10-game assist streak is one game longer than Crosby's longest career assist streak.
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Treasure life & Let's Go Pens!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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