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UPDATE 2:10 PM
James Neal's phone hearing has concluded and the NHL has given him the maximum 5 games which is allowed via phone hearing.
My personal thoughts were well documented in the previous blog . I think Neal struck Marchand violently and on purpose. I don't feel that 5 games serves as any kind of deterrent for future behavior.
Neal is not a repeat offender under the NHL's current system but he is in the court of common sense. This is not the first time that Neal has gone out of his way to give a glancing head shot to an opponent.
Neal has now been suspended 3 times and fined once (although the fine was nonsense, it was when he was slew footed from Subban and his stick high sticked Subban).
Here is the explanation of the suspension from Brendan Shanahan
These minimal suspensions don't send a serious message to the rest of the players that these things are taken seriously.
There is a reason we still see these acts of violence at the frequency that we do.
Internally the Penguins will need to step in and educate Neal much in the same way they did with Cooke. Neal needs to sit down with the coaches and watch some video and learn that his current way of going about things is wrong and unacceptable.
The Penguins were successful in this approach with Matt Cooke, there is no reason it cannot be successful with James Neal.
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The Pittsburgh Penguins will have to put Saturday’s events aside and focus on the task at hand they have on Monday evening. The Penguins welcome the battered Blue Jackets to the CONSOL Energy Center for a Metropolitan Division matchup. You will see what I mean by battered when you get down to the injuries section of the preview.
The Penguins took both games in a home and home series earlier in the year. The Penguins won on a Friday night at home 4-2 and then shut out the Blue Jackets on the road on Saturday night 3-0. It was Jeff Zatkoff’s 1st career shutout.
Columbus is 7th in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 12-14-3 for 27 points. Only the New York Islanders are lower in the Metro standings with 21 points
The Pittsburgh Penguins cannot focus on the Boston Bruins this evening they need to focus on the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Obviously with Brooks Orpik out with a concussion that impacts the lineup. Dan Bylsma stated that Robert Bortuzzo will make his return to game action this evening. Brian Dumoulin was recalled from WB/S as well.
James Neal has yet to have his phone hearing with the league but as soon as he does the likliehood of him being suspended is right around 100%. The only variable at play will be if Neal appeals the suspension which would keep him eligible for tonight’s game as I understand it.
Personally I do not believe Neal should appeal the suspension.
Neal did practice today but did not take part in the line rushes.
If there is an update on Neal’s phone hearing I will try to provide that information here.
Malkin practiced this morning and was on a line with Jokinen and Megna. He also practiced with the #1 power play. He will make his return to the lineup tonight.
Aside from announcing Bortuzzo’s presence in the lineup and the fact that Marc Andre Fleury is starting Dan BYlsma added the following comments:
“Brooks is doing quite well. I’ve seen (Orpik) yesterday and today. He’s going quite well. He’s up and moving around just fine. Brooks was unconscious for around 30 seconds, maybe longer. We’re not going to try and replace Orpik. That’s something you can’t do. Robert Bortuzzo is a capable guy.On Orpik’s Hit: Unfortunately for Eriksson, he tried to play the puck. It was right shoulder to the front. It wasn’t from behind.… I’m not a fan of every hit in the game being something you need to answer to. They tried to do something about it. Thornton finally did.…
Line Combos
Projected lineup for the Penguins:
Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis Jokinen-Malkin-Megna Conner-Sutter-Vitale Adams-Sill-Kobasew
Maatta-Letang Engelland-Niskanen Despres-Bortuzzo Dumoulin
Projected lineup for Columbus: Foligno-Johansen-Umberger Calvert-Dubinsky-Atkinson Jenner-Anisimov-Comeau Letestu-MacKenzie-Tropp
Johnson-Tyutin Murray-Savard Prout-Nikitin
Injuries
Evgeni Malkin will most likely return to the lineup for tonight’s game.
Brooks Orpik will be out of action with a concussion.
The Blue Jackets have a plethora of injuries to key players.
Nathan Horton is still out after shoulder surgery in the offseason.
Sergei Bobrovsky is out 4-5 weeks with a leg injury. He left Tuesday’s game vs. Tampa Bay.
James Wisniewski is out with a groin injury
Marian Gaborik is out with a knee sprain.
Not exactly the personnel you want to see out of action if you are a Blue Jackets fan.
Power Play
The Pittsburgh Penguins have the best power play in the NHL right now and it currently sits at 26.6%.
The Blue Jackets power play is 8th overall at 20.6%.
The Penguins are tied for 8th in the league with 109 power play opportunities
The Blue Jackets are tied for 22nd with 97 power play opportunities.
Penalty Kill
The Penguins are 2nd overall in the NHL on the PK with 86.7%
The Blue Jackets are 22nd overall at 80.4%.
The Penguins are tied for 3rd best in the league with only being shorthanded 90 times
The Blue Jackets are tied for 10th overall at 97.
The Penguins have the top power play and the 2nd ranked penalty kill in the entire NHL.
They are clearly the NHL’s standard for special teams play so far this year.
Fenclose%
The Penguins are tied for 4th overall at 54.8%
The Blue Jackets are 28th overall at 46.3%
The Penguins have a clear advantage in special teams as well as at even strength. No excuses to not come away with 2 points this evening.
Even Strength Save %
The Penguins rank 24th in the NHL with an EVSV% of .917%
The Blue Jackets rank 18th overall at .923%.
Trends
Blue Jackets are 4-1 in their last 5 Monday games
Penguins are 9-4 in their last 13 vs. Metropolitan
Blue Jackets are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in Pittsburgh
Blue Jackets are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings
Thanks for reading!
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