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Penguins 1 V Devils 2...Live From Mellon Arena |
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I will be live at Mellon Arena tonight...haven't gotten down there yet, but will be arriving soon. Just wanted to get you all some pre-pregame notes, as I usually post them from the arena...
Mark Recchi and Darryl Sydor will once again be the healthy scratches. I am curious to see how Rex is taking the news. It has to be tough being a scratch at this stage of the game, but his play has dictated it.
These scratches make me read a bit more into the Internet rumors that have been circulating regarding Rex being unhappy and possibly on the move. I doubt that the Pens could get much at this point, but it is worth looking at.
Colby Armstrong will indeed be back in the line-up, as I speculated here last night. Look for Colby to have a big game...he will do everything he can to stay in the line-up.
Stay tuned for more when I arrive at Mellon Arena...
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The Penguins have played at home on Thanksgiving Eve in all but seven seasons since coming into the league in 1967. Twice they have been on the road, twice when there was no NHL season in progress and three times when they were idle. Their record on the eve of the Turkey is 15-13-6-1 all time.
Marty Brodeur will be in net for New Jersey this evening. The Devils goaltender has posted 31 victories against the Penguins in his career.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin each have points in the last 13 games. They also are the owners of the longest and second longest streaks in the league this season...Crosby with 19, Malkin with 13.
Crosby has points in 19 of 20 games this season, while Malkin has posted points in 18 of 20.
Some "goon-y" milestones to consider...
Jarkko Ruutu is 3 penalty minutes shy of 600 for his career.
Georges Laraque is 1 goal away from 50 in his career. Big Geo scored his first goal as a Penguin November 15th against the New York Islanders.
The Penguins won 64% of their face-offs against the Devils back on November 12th. It was a team's best performance in 336 games, since winning 66% back on October 30, 2002 against the Ottawa Senators. Sidney Crosby had a lot to do with the team's high mark winning a career high 74% that evening.
Marc Andre Fleury, who will be in net tonight, is moving up the Penguins goaltending lists. His shutout back on October 23rd against the New York Rangers put him in sole possession of 3rd place on the all time list.
Fleury's 62 victories rank 5th on the all time list behind former Penguins goaltender JS Aubin who has 63.
I have a tentative appearance on XM Home Ice this evening...the details haven't been finalized. If that is going to occur, I will let you know...
More in a bit...
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And in this corner...Ryan Malone dropped them with David Clarkson :02 seconds into the game! Each landed some nice shots...
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Zach Parise kills the Penguins again...notches his 7th of the year on the power play. The Penguins were doing a good job of killing off a two man advantage, but as the first penalty ended, Parise hit pay dirt.
More upsetting than the goal, is that it was set up by an offensive zone penalty by Erik Christensen. You simply cannot take a holding call behind the opponent's net.
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The Penguins didn't play a bad period, but it wasn't a great one either. They are being out shot at a 2 to 1 pace and took back to back penalties towards the middle of the period, which resulted in the New Jersey goal. The being the offensive zone gaffe I mentioned above. If the team wasn't in position to be killing Crusher's penalty, Adam Hall may not have found himself in the box.
Colby Armstrong has looked decent for a guy who hasn't skated in a game for a while now. He has tried to get himself physically involved, but wasn't a very big factor thus far.
The Devils power play moves the puck surprisingly well. They move it around the horn quickly and accurately. It is no wonder they are able to set their forwards up along the goal line with high frequency.
It doesn't look like the off days have produced many changes in our Flightless Bird. We will see what period 2 and 3 may hold.
More in a bit...
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Another 17,132 SRO sellout...the streak stays intact.
Erik Christensen is the Mike Bossy of blocked shots...
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The Penguins played a better period than the last, but still couldn't find a way to beat Marty Brodeur. It is feast or famine while playing him...they either score a bunch or score none.
Ryan Whitney missed a wide open cage on the power play when he didn't come forward on a rebound that he could have one timed.
Colby finally got on the score sheet...unfortunately it was for holding with 3:19 remaining.
Sidney Crosby got a short handed break away, but was turned aside by Brodeur.
The team still doesn't look hungry enough...something is out of sync with this group. I am trying to put my finger on it, but am coming up empty as of right now...
...too many penalties is a big part of the problem...I know that some of the calls have been ticky tacky, but we are guilty of too many that come from not keeping your feet moving. Hooking and Holding are the Penguins MO right now...
More in a bit...
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Sidney Crosby was called for tripping barely 2 minutes into the period, which resulted in another goal by Penguin killer, Zach Parise. A loose puck popped free to the right face off circle and Parise knocked it into an empty net.
The Penguins were quickly called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following the goal.
What is tougher, trying to thread a needle with a blindfold on, or coming back from a 2 goal deficit in the third period against Brodeur?
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Evgeni Malkin looked to use the force on Johnny Oduya..."You will give up the puck in front..." taking the coughed up biscuit and depositing it quickly behind Marty Brodeur. Now that is what I call a turning point...the Devils almost immediately followed the goal with a penalty of their own.
One point streak continued...can we see number 20 for Sid??
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Crosby trying his best to bring the Pens back...just drew another penalty, giving the boys a two man advantage. Not enough shots flying towards the net as of yet...maybe the time out they just took will work that out.
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Too many blocked shots...that is the story for the Penguins. The Devils cleared everything that popped free and the power play came up empty. There were several good chances, but chances don't equal goals...
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