Pens-Bruins thoughts with Opening Night still TBD
Much has been made about Marc-Andre Fleury’s postseason failures in recent seasons, but there’s been little talk about Boston’s backup, Anton Khudobin.
Khudobin, 27, has started only 19 games at the NHL level. He went 9-4-1 in 2013, with a 2.32 GAA and .920 save percentage.
He allowed three goals on 34 shots in a 3-2 loss at Pittsburgh on March 12.
The Penguins have chased opposing netminders four times in 11 games, something to keep an eye on with Tuukka Rask and Khodobin.
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Bad Blood: Sidney Crosby vs. David Krejci
Krejci might lead the NHL playoff scoring race with 17 points in 12 games – two ahead of Crosby’s 15 points in 10 games – but there’s more to the matchup than only scoring.
On Dec. 5, 2011, Krejci elbowed Crosby
here in a game that would force Crosby out of action for the next three months and 10 days. The Penguins center also collided with linemate, Chris Kunitz, in that contest. That collision can be seen
here.
In any case, rather than reliving Crosby’s head and neck injury woes, it’s probably sufficient to say that he and Krejci don’t get along.
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Bad Blood: Part II, Matt Cooke & another playoff opponent
Cooke showed off his hip checking talents to Adam McQuaid
here. Zdeno Chara and others apparently didn’t like seeing Cooke do anything to a Bruins player, though the hit was legal.
That term seems to be a reoccurring theme with Cooke – “Though the hit was legal.”
NESN announcer Jack Edwards says that
Cooke basically assassinated Marc Savard while discussing Cooke’s Masterton Award nomination.
Edwards apologized to Penguins GM Ray Shero for his Cooke comments during the first-period intermission of the Pens-Bruins game on April 21.
Don Cherry had plenty to say about Matt Cooke before he reformed his ways
here.
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Bad Blood: Part III, James Neal vs. Zdeno Chara
Neal is one of the few players who can stand neck-to-eye with the Boston defenseman.
Neal has shown the ability to agitate Chara.
Here’s an example of the way Neal goes out of his way to finish his check against Chara.
Chara has matched up against Crosby in the past, but the Evgeni Malkin line will give the Bruins something to think about.
Malkin missed all three regular-season games against the B’s.
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I’d write more, but today is Memorial Day.
Thanks to all who have served for the freedom of everyone.
Treasure Life!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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