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Game Night: Pens-Flyers need no introduction

February 20, 2013, 11:58 AM ET [881 Comments]
John Toperzer
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Pens-Flyers set to renew rivalry Wednesday night at CONSOL

Flyers (7-9-1, 3-8 Road) at Pens (11-5, 3-3 Home), 7:30 pm ET, NBC Sports


The Penguins will be looking to improve to 6-3 against Atlantic Division foes Wednesday night against Philadelphia. These vaunted “four-point” games are even more important in a shortened season.

Pittsburgh has won eight of its last 10 games, holding opponents to three goals or fewer in all 10 contests. Marc-Andre Fleury has started six of the last seven games, winning five of six. In fact, Tomas Vokoun has started only two times in the entire month of February, going 1-1. Vokoun started three of seven contests in January.

Sidney Crosby is on a rampage, compiling five three-point contests in the nine games. Linemates Chris Kunitz (19 points) and Pascal Dupuis (12 points) round out an impressive first line.

The Flyers have struggled to a 7-9-1 mark, including just three wins in 11 road contests. They’ve missed Scott Hartnell for all but three games and the departure of Jaromir Jagr may have left a greater void than expected.

Philadelphia’s defense has been described in many derogatory terms, but one thing is for sure – the blueliners haven’t played well. In fact, it’s a weakness Pittsburgh will look to expose with an aggressive “keep-the-puck-in-the-offensive-end” mentality.

There are many subplots to watch for Wednesday night. Team captains Crosby and Claude Giroux don’t seem to like each other. Crosby is not a fan of Jakub Voracek’s gloves, either.

Sean Couturier will likely be charged with the task of slowing down Evgeni Malkin.

Brayden Schenn will probably try something dirty on Crosby, like this and teach his brother Luke these same bad habits.

Daniel Briere might try scoring another goal despite being offsides.

Ah, the possibilities are endless.

If history holds, special teams will play a huge role Wednesday. Pittsburgh offers the league’s sixth-best home power-play unit, clicking at a 26.1 rate (6-for-23). Philly leads the league with 48 power-play road chances, yet has converted only eight times for a 16.7 rate – tied for 16th in the NHL.

At home, the Pens’ penalty-killing unit has struggled. They rank 27th, allowing five goals on 19 chances for a 73.7 kill rate. The Flyers have limited opponents to seven goals in 47 road chances for an 85.1 kill rate, ninth-best.

The Penguins have lost seven of eight games against the Flyers (including the playoffs) since CONSOL opened. In the three previous seasons, the Pens won 12 of 16 home games against Philadelphia.


*****


Flyers Notes


Scott Hartnell: His broken foot is improving. Hartnell is expected to visit the doctor Wednesday with an update forthcoming. It sounds like #HartnellDown will miss the Pens’ game.


Zac Rinaldo: He was good for Penguins power plays in the playoffs, he’ll probably be good for a couple Wednesday night, too. Rinaldo leads Philadelphia with 46 penalty minutes.


Jakub Voracek: A four-assist Monday afternoon game versus the Isles vaulted him into the Flyers’ team lead with 15 points (3G, 12A). Along with four teammates, Voracek also leads with two power-play goals.


Nicklas Grossmann: Grossman lined Sidney Crosby up in the season opener with a big hit. He ranks third on his team with 37 hits and leads with 40 blocked shots.


Luke Schenn: The return for James Van Riemsdyk leads Philly with 60 hits but has just 11 penalty minutes. His 38 hits are the second-highest total.


Claude Giroux: Giroux has six points in his last four games, but only 13 (5G, 8A) in 17 games overall. He sports an impressive 54 percent road faceoff win rate.


Kimmo Timonen: The soon-to-be 38-year-old is the Flyers’ leading point-getter among defensemen with two goals and nine points in 17 games. Seven of his points have come on the power play, where he remains dangerous.


Wayne Simmonds: He missed a couple games with concussion-like symptoms. Simmonds has nine points (4G, 5A) in 14 games and generally makes a nuisance of himself against the Pens.


Ilya Bryzgalov: 7-7-1 with a 2.42 GAA and .911 save percentage. He’s 4-2 lifetime against Pittsburgh, with a 2.07 GAA, .930 save percentage and one shutout. Bryzgalov didn’t play in the 2011-12 regular season against the Pens at Consol, but won two of three playoff games in Pittsburgh.

The Bryzgalov Bears are expected to out from hibernation Wednesday, too.


*****


Penguins Leaders


Points: 24, Sidney Crosby

Goals: 11, James Neal

Assists: 17, Crosby

Plus-Minus: +11, Crosby and Chris Kunitz

PIMs: 26, Evgeni Malkin

PP Goals: 7, Neal

Shorties: NONE

GW Goals: 4, Neal

Shooting percentage: 21.6 percent, Neal

Ice Time: 25:37, Kris Letang and Paul Martin

Shifts Per Game: 26.9, Paul Martin

Faceoffs: 64.3 percent, Joe Vitale


*****


Tweets O’ the Day


Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins

#Pens Bylsma: Vokoun in net. No injuries, healthy 23-man roster. Lineup will be game-time decision


Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins

#Pens lines: Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis Cooke-Malkin-Neal Bennett-Sutter-Kennedy Glass-Vitale-Adams. Defense rotating in rushes


Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins

Former #Pens D Mark Eaton joined team for morning skate. He was released from PTO by WBS today


Dave Molinari ‏@MolinariPG

Eaton doesn't have a contract with the Penguins, and there's no guarantee he ever will. But he absolutely is a legit candidate to be signed.


Frank Seravalli ‏@DNFlyers

Bryzgalov just bizarrely through his stick at the glass in the morning skate, clearly unhappy about something.


Randy Miller ‏@RandyJMiller

#Flyers Lavy was in wedding of Pens asst Granato. Bylsma tells Granato to turn wedding pix around during staff meetings at Granato home.

*****

Poll Results

Question: Would you like to see the Pens trade for Minnesota's Matt Cullen?

Only 13 percent said yes, trade for Matt Cullen for his veteran leadership. Forty-six percent of voters said it depends on acquisition cost and role while 39 percent want no part of the veteran forward.



Treasure Life!
JT
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