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Game Night: Re-Match with the Rangers

April 5, 2013, 12:38 PM ET [392 Comments]
John Toperzer
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Rangers (18-15-3, 6-9-1 Road) at Pens (28-10, 15-5 Home), Consol, 7:00 pm ET




So the Penguins came out as flat as a pancake Wednesday. The penalty kill surrendered three goals in four New York opportunities. Evgeni Malkin again went goal-less and has six goals in 25 games. Kris Letang and Paul Martin sat.

If that wasn’t bad enough, rumors floated Thursday that Sidney Crosby was suffering from concussion symptoms. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Crosby suffering from symptoms emanating from a lack of solid food. Maybe that’s what the Howard guy from Philadelphia really meant.

TGIF is upon us now. Marc-Andre Fleury will get a chance to shake off the bad vibes from Wednesday and start against the Rangers.

Pittsburgh wrapped up the Atlantic Division courtesy of its 15-game winning streak. The team’s spot atop the Eastern Conference is a little bit more tenuous, however.

The Pens lead the East with 56 points in 38 games. Montreal is only three points behind at 53, with one game in hand. Boston is four points behind Pittsburgh, with two games in hand.

Jussi Jokinen has a gone from a player passing through waivers to one whom will center Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis on Friday. Jokinen is not only a faceoff guy and penalty killer, but he’s totaled 18 power-play points or more in each of the last three years.

New York is going with the exact same roster as the one which beat Pittsburgh on Wednesday.


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Pens-NYR: By the Numbers

Goals For/Against

Pens: 3.24-2.47 (per game)

NYR: 2.36-2.33

The Rangers had the lowest goal total (82) of any NHL team prior to Wednesday. Their game is all about keeping the score low, and that seems to happen more times than not, at both ends of the ice.


5-on-5 Play

Pens: 1.34

NYR: 1.11

The Pens have been outscored at even strength, six goals to one, in the last two games.


Power Play

Pens: 24.6 percent, 16-for-65 (home)

NYR: 11.1 percent, 5-for-45 (road)

The Rangers scored three times on the PP in Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.


Penalty Kill

Pens: 83.3 percent, 50-of-60 (home)

NYR: 76.6 percent, 36-for-47 (road)

NY’s PK is surprisingly bad on the road.


PP minus PK Time

Pens: 3:34, (105:07 – 101:33) home

NYR: 2:04, (74:37 – 72.33) road

The Rangers have allowed the fifth-fewest number of PP chances (30) in the third period while the Pens have given up the third most (47).


Hits—Blocked Shots—Missed Shots—Giveaways--Takeaways

Pens: 480H—308B—226M—106G—84T (home)

NYR: 461H—260B—187M—114G—72T (away)


Leading After 1st Pd—2nd Pd // Trailing After 1st Pd—2nd Pd

Pens: 16-3, 15-0 // 4-5, 4-8

NYR: 8-0-1, 10-0 // 5-8-1, 3-13-1


Scoring First // Trailing First

Pens: 19-5 // 9-5

NYR: 11-2-1 // 7-13-2

Getting the first goal is much more important to the Rangers’ success than that of the Penguins.


Record Outshooting Opponent // Record When Outshot // Shots Tied

Pens: 18-4 // 9-5 // 1-1

NYR: 11-6-2 // 7-9-1 // 0-0


Overtime & Shootout Records

Pens: 4-0

NYR: 5-3

Many Rangers fans believe Henrik Lundqvist is the best shootout goalie in the NHL. He has allowed five shootout goals on 19 attempts. Marc-Andre Fleury has given up two goal in five tries.


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Tweets ‘O the Day

Shelly Anderson ‏@pgshelly

Bylsma reiterated no concussion concerns for Crosby. Have to guard against infection. Doesn't know his protocol is for comeback.


Josh Yohe ‏@JoshYohe_Trib

No injury updates. I'm expecting Letang to play Tuesday in Raleigh.


Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins

RT @pensinsidescoop Orpik & Eaton taking turns working point on 2nd PP. Duper & Orpik/Eaton up top with Kennedy, Morrow & Jokinen down below



Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins

The #Pens lines and D as follows: 14-36-9, 18-71-12, 10-16-24, 15-27-48. 44-4, 3-2, 5-47-41.



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Tom Grace spoke on @penguinslive Friday. Grace said that Philip Samuelsson would be up with the Pittsburgh Penguins now if his skating was better. Grace noted Samuelsson’s poise and his ability to read plays as positive attributes. His hockey I.Q. is excellent and his penalty kill is “crazy good.”

Samuelsson has made as big of a progression from 1st year to 2nd year as any player Grace has ever seen. Grace, the Baby Pens play-by-play man, believes Samuelsson has a chance to make the Pens out of camp next year.


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I researched two players for the trade target article posted Wednesday, Boyd Gordon and Jussi Jokinen. I ended up writing about Gordon but not Jokinen. The reason I considered Jokinen wasn’t for his play or what he could bring to the Penguins. Rather, he is the poster child for players who can become over-hyped at the trade deadline. Jokinen was one of several Carolina pieces reputed to be available at the 2011 trade deadline, along with Joni Pitkanen and Erik Cole. GM Jim Rutherford re-signed Jokinen and Pitkanen, later trading Cole.

Jokinen is the type of forward who can play like an all-star one game and disappear the next. He’s killed the Penguins during his career, with five goals and 12 assists in 19 games.
A lot of folks on these Hockey Buzz boards were pushing for trading for Jokinen at the time.
Well, he’s here now. How much of Jokinen’s $3 million salary for 2012-13 and 2013-14 the Penguins will pay him hasn’t been made public, but the ‘Canes are kicking in some cash.
The fact that Jokinen can play on a top line for a little while likely swayed Pens GM Ray Shero into acquiring him over the likes of Gordon. If Pittsburgh got the good Jokinen – the one who scored 30 goals in 2009-10 and excelled in the circle, he should provide a boost, or at least a capable stop gap, until Sidney Crosby returns.


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A reply from Shark Circle to Mike Colligan describes the depressing downside of Doug Murray. Click here for the Debby Downer analysis.


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Penguins Audio

Dan Bylsma

Marc-Andre Fleury

Chris Kunitz

Pascal Dupuis

Jussi Jokinen

Courtesy of Pittsburgh Penguins


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Treasure Life!
JT
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