Lightning (9-7-1, 3-4 Road) at Pens (12-6, 4-4 Home, CONSOL, 7:30 pm ET, ROOT Sports
The Penguins beat Tampa Bay in three of four meetings in 2011-12, including both games at Consol Energy Center. Of course, Evgeni Malkin will be sorely missed after suffering a whiplash injury Friday. Malkin had his hand in 11 of 19 goals versus the Lightning last year.
Dwayne Roloson – remember him – stopped 33 of 34 shots in a 4-1 Lightning win on Nov. 17, 2011 in Florida. Roloson was named the game’s No. 1 star. Victor Hedman earned second-star honors despite going pointless. Hedman is infamous in Penguin circles for his behind-the-net hit on Sidney Crosby in January of 2011. Even though the hit wasn’t illegal, the collision knocked Crosby out of action for the rest of the season.
Vincent Lecavalier scored twice in the Tampa Bay victory, gaining No. 3 star honors. The 32-year-old center has scored 27 goals and 17 assists in 49 career contests versus Pittsburgh. He’s also had some flareups against Malkin, dating back to the 2006 Olympics, but that’s one matchup that will have to wait for another day.
For the Penguins, Tyler Kennedy scored the team’s lone goal and Marc-Andre Fleury allowed three goals on just 17 shots.
On Jan. 15, 2012, the teams played once again in Tampa Bay and this time the results were a little different. Malkin netted a natural hat trick and added two assists in a 6-3 Pittsburgh win. He also
tangled with Lecavalier.
James Neal chipped in with a pair of power-play scores and Fleury made 17 saves.
For the Lightning, Lecavalier had two assists and backup netminder, Mathieu Garon was kept busy, stopping 38 of 43 shots in the losing cause.
The series’ final two games were played in Pittsburgh.
Malkin had his customary big game with two goals on Feb. 12 in a 4-2 win, but several others – including his linemates – helped out. Chris Kunitz potted a goal and two assists, and James Neal tallied three assists.
Kris Letang was named the No. 1 star, netting the game-winning goal while assisting on two others. Backup Brent Johnson made 21 saves for one of his six wins.
The Pens kept Garon busy once again. Garon allowed four goals on 41 shots. Agitator and former Lightning, Steve Downie, scored both goals for Tampa Bay.
Less than two weeks later, Pittsburgh closed out the series with an 8-1 romp at Consol. Malkin had yet another hat trick and four points overall. Neal had three assists, Kunitz cashed in with one goal and a helper, and Jordan Staal collected three points (2G, 1A).
The Flower started for the third time in four matchups, stopping 34 of 35 shots.
Roloson absorbed all eight goals on 34 shots for the Lightning.
Sidney Crosby missed all four games against Tampa Bay.
Martin St. Louis has 17 goals and 41 points in 45 games against the Pens, but totaled just one assist and a minus-1 rating in four games against the Pens in 2011-12.
All-world Steven Stamkos may have finished with a whopping 60 goals and 97 points last year, but the Pens held him to two assists and a minus-1 rating. Stamkos has 13 points in 16 career games against Pittsburgh, but only three goals. Perhaps he’s always keeping an eye out and his head up for Brooks Orpik.
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Tampa Bay won in Carolina on Saturday night, 5-2, with Mathieu Garon making 32 saves.
As a result, look for Anders Lindback to the get the nod in goal. Lindback holds a 7-4-1 mark, 3.12 GAA and .895 save percentage in his first season as a starter.
Stamkos scored his 12th goal and added an assist, giving him 26 points, one more than Sidney Crosby and Thomas Vanek.
Rookie Cory Conacher contributed with an assist and now has 16 points (6G, 10A) in 17 contests.
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The Lightning’s big win Saturday over rival Carolina boosted them into first place in the Southeast Division and third overall in the East. They are one spot behind Pittsburgh, despite having just the eighth-most points (19) in the league.
On the plus side (pun intended), Tampa Bay features the second-best goal differential at plus-13, behind only the Pens (plus-15).
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Short of the Penguins trading for Carolina’s Eric Staal so baby brother Jordan can take Malkin’s spot on the second line, Brandon Sutter will get a chance to see what he can do with James Neal and Beau Bennett.
Something that’s getting lost in the shuffle a lit bit is the fact that coach Bylsma is going to play Bennett on the second line again Sunday. I think most would agree that’s a good thing.
Dustin Jeffrey will stay in the lineup, centering the third line. His seven-goal, 12-point performance in 25 games back in 2010-11 gave fans a glimpse of what he can do. Now that he’s fully healthy again – thanks, in part, to a healthy dosing of healthy scratches – the next stage of his career begins tonight.
If Malkin misses an extended period of time, he just might lose his favorite sniper. James Neal was originally brought in for Crosby, but has found a home alongside Malkin. It would be more surprising to see coach Bylsma keep Crosby and Neal separated than together – if Malkin is forced to miss an extended period of time.
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Treasure Life!
JT
PS -- Interested in guest blogging sometime in the next week? Shoot me a message and I’ll get back to you.
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