Today the Florida Panthers visit the Pittsburgh Penguins and with that come some PIttsburgh connections. The obvious one is Jaromir Jagr, but there are a couple more.
Vincent Trochek is a Pittsburgh native and is one of the better younger players in the league. He was an injury replacement for Team North America in the World Cup and had a sparkling 5v5 points per 60 of 2.18 last year. He's been an effective player for the Florida Panthers and enters tonight with three goals on the year.
The other Pittsburgh tie is their head equipment trainer Teddy Richards. Richards was formerly an assistant to Dana Heinze and is the youngest head trainer in the NHL. By going to Florida he is now responsible for appeasing Jaromir Jagr's finicky equipment needs. The two initially met for 90 minutes to go over how Richards could meet Jagr's various needs on that front.
Jagr is entering the game on a two game point streak (1G,1A).
The biggest news of the morning involves Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby. Sid was the first player on the ice today and after practice he proclaimed to the media that he would indeed be a game-time decision. That reads to me like someone is making their season debut tonight and the coach has all but confirmed that though.
I thought they would hold him out another game but it doesn't look like they are going in that direction. There have been no setbacks in his recovery. The team understands the importance of getting this right. I have no reservations if he does make his debut tonight.
Crosby remained with both Wilson and Hornqvist during his even-strength line rushes and was practicing with the first power play unit with Malkin, Kessel, Hornqvist, and Schultz.
Crosby's return will give the Penguins three incredibly strong scoring lines and once again put immense pressure on the opposition to slow all three down. This must be (sweet chin) music to HBK's ears as they have struggled to this point getting things going.
Kris Letang is skating today albeit in a non-contact jersey so he will not be available tonight. It is good to see him on the ice again as it shows he is making some progress on his mystery injury. He did claim that the injury had been nagging him before being hit by Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher and that the hit did not help the cause.
Matt Murray was in the backup goaltender net during the morning skate.
Conor Sheary remains day to day with an eye injury and was not present at the morning skate. He will be re-evaluated in a week as he is not cleared to play yet (eye).
It will be James Reimer and not Roberto Luongo in net for the Panthers tonight. Luongo has been great so far this year with an even-strength save percentage of .928. It will be James Reimer's first start with the Florida Panthers. Last year James Reimer had a .940 even-strength save percentage which is excellent.
Marc-Andre Fleury will be in the net for Pittsburgh yet again. Matt Murray was in the backup net during the morning skate today while Mike Condon was hanging out at center ice.
Pittsburgh has caught a few breaks so far this season with the opposition missing key player(s). When they played Montreal the Canadiens were without all-world goaltender Carey Price. In Nashville there were multiple players who missed the game due to food poisoning. Against Anaheim the Ducks were without Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell. Tonight the Panthers will be missing Jonathan Huberdeau and Nick Bjugstad. In the three games prior the Penguins were 1-2.
So far in this young season Florida has done a better job of driving play than the Penguins
Florida has been second best in the league while Pittsburgh is hovering near the bottom third at 21st overall. At the present time I don't have concerns about Pittsburgh. If this continues with Crosby and Letang both in the lineup I would raise an eyebrow, but until then it is what it is.
I'd say enjoy Jaromir Jagr tonight because it could be his last trip to Pittsburgh but we know it is likelier we get a #JagrWatch2022 than this being his last game in Pittsburgh at this point.
The Penguins made a nice gesture to Jagr today
Here are some quotes
Thanks for reading!
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