Sabres (19-21-6, 9-11-3 Road) at Pens (35-10, 17-5 Home), 7:30 pm ET, Consol
Ottawa’s Son?
It seems as though the tabloid entitled the
Ottawa Sun is more preoccupied with Matt Cooke than, well, any other topic.
Many Ottawa Sun readers are calling for the resignation for writer, Don Brennan, after his juvenile ramblings about Cooke. I won’t get into the details, you can click on the above link if you so wish, but needless to say Mr. Brennan has stooped to a new low.
One wonders what the Sun’s illustration and graphics department will do if the Pens meet Ottawa in the playoffs. After all, the bar has been set pretty high (or low) by
Philly.
For the record, Cooke drew two penalties against the Senators on Monday and didn’t take one.
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When the Penguins tried to play a gritty style a season ago, things didn’t go smoothly and the team didn’t always win. In fact, Philadelphia eliminated the Pens a year ago yesterday.
That’s changed. Pittsburgh can play it any way opponents like it this time around. The team still has the skill to win, but has added the grit it lacked against Philly. That versatility in style of play might be the biggest reason why it’s difficult seeing the Pens bow out early for the fourth straight season.
It’s also encouraging that Tomas Vokoun -- who recorded his 300th career NHL win Monday -- continues to play so well, too. His mere presence has to be comforting to starter, Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury knows he doesn’t have to carry the load like he did when Brent Johnson was the backup. Nothing against Johnson – he was a strong goalie in Pittsburgh from 2009 to 2011 – but his play dropped off a cliff last season.
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The Penguins have won 22 of their last 24 games. That’s exactly half of the regular season. At that pace, the team would put up a 44-4 record. Just wait until Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Paul Martin get back.
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Pittsburgh could make a bigger stink about the Chris Neil hit on Simon Despres last night. After watching the end zone replay of the hit
here, I’m convinced that the league will likely fine Neil for the play. Not so much because of the forearm shiver to the head that knocked Despres’s helmet flying, but because of the 15-20 foot charging start by Neil.
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Congratulations to coach Dan Bylsma for reaching the 200-win mark faster than any NHL coach ever.
Now he needs only 1044 more victories to tie Scotty Bowman for the all-time record.
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There were so many bottom page tickers and reports Monday of how a Chicago win and a Penguins loss would clinch the Presidents’ Trophy for the Blackhawks that I was glad it didn’t happen – at least not Monday. Both teams have three games remaining and the ‘Hawks lead the Pens, 73 points to 70. Pittsburgh (35) has one more regulation win than does Chicago (34).
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As previously mentioned, the Flyers eliminated Pittsburgh from the 2011-12 playoffs on April 22, 2012. Isn’t it interesting the direction the two organizations have taken since then? The Penguins have already clinched the East while Philly won’t even make the postseason. Funny how those things happen.
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Mike Milbury calls Matt Cooke a “freakin’ skunk” Monday night. Click
here for the smelly clip.
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Pens-Sabres
There is a game to be played Tuesday night at Consol Energy Center.
Pittsburgh and Buffalo have split the first two games of the season series.
The Pens won the first matchup, 4-3. Click here for
scoring details.
Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller called out his team after the Penguins turned a third-period 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 victory.
The Sabres then ended Pittsburgh’s 15-game winning streak on April 2, winning 4-1 at Consol. Click here for
scoring details.
The Penguins played without Sidney Crosby for the first time this season. The Sabres jumped out to a 4-1 lead 23 minutes into the game and that was it for the scoring. Pittsburgh threw only 19 shots at Miller.
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Poll Results
Question:
How much have you enjoyed the NHL's compressed 48-game schedule as compared to a regular 82-game slate?
Only 12 percent of respondents favored the 82-game slate. Nearly half (47 percent) favor the compressed 48-game schedule while 40 percent are just happy to have hockey back. Of course, when September rolls around, I would hazard to make a guess that the 82-game response gets more than 12 percent of the vote.
As always, thanks for voting!
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Penguins Post-Game Audio Interviews
Dan Bylsma
Tomas Vokoun
Jarome Iginla
Matt Cooke
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Treasure Life!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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