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Penguins vs. Rangers Pens can clinch the 4th seed with a win |
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By Ryan Wilson (Gunner Staal)
John is taking in opening day at the Pirates game today. Pirates have 1st place on the line today!
Here is a picture John took from the park today http://twitpic.com/95xtol
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Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers @ Consol Energy Center 7 PM
The Penguins and Rangers lock horns for the last time in the 2011-2012 regular season. Currently the Penguins hold the edge in the season series 3-2 with the Penguins on a 3 game winning streak against the Rangers.
Tonight’s game had the potential of being one of the best regular season games of the year, with a battle for the #1 seed being on the line. However the Penguins dropped the ball and lost their back to back games with the Islanders. Losing out on those 4 points has given the Rangers the ability to lock up the #1 seed in the conference early and thus giving them options with their lineup IE: rest. Had the Penguins earned those 4 points they would be 1 point away from the Rangers for tonight’s matchup, but they did not. Tonight’s game can clinch the #4 seed and home ice for the first round in the playoffs
Clinching the #1 seed early has given the Rangers an opportunity to rest Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist took a shot from Claude Giroux off the arm last game and left him with a stinger. Lundqvist is one win away from reaching a nice benchmark of 40 wins. His 39 wins is a career high.
The Rangers have the option to let him heal up for their playoff push and will indeed exercise their option to rest Lundqvist tonight as Biron will be getting the start in goal.
Lundqvist is 2-2 with a 2.28 GAA and a Save % of .931 against the Penguins this season.
Biron in his one game against the Penguins this year gave up 5 goals and took the loss with a Save % .844
One of my personal favorite goals that Malkin has scored came against Biron while he was a Flyer. Malkin was hit behind the Flyer net and was slow to join the play, so slow he was on the blue line ready for a breakaway pass. Instead of deking or a wrist shot, Malkin blew a slap shot by Biron at point blank range.
Marian Gaborik has had the kind of season that the Rangers were hoping for when the signed the high flying Slovak. After a so so 2010-2011 campaign where he only scored 22 goals he has almost doubled his output this year. This season he has 43 goals, 35 assists, for 76 points.
Most impressive is that since coming to the Rangers he has turned around his stigma of always being injured, which plagued him in Minnesota. This year he has played in 80 games. When he is healthy he is one of the best pure goal scorers in the league. He is known for his blazing speed but his goal against the Flyers the other night is a prime example of the many ways he can beat you. He was able to receive the puck in the slot and in a split second had a blazing snap shot wired past the Flyers netminder. In 5 games against the Penguins this year he has 2 goals and 3 assists.
Ryan Callahan is the straw that stirs the Rangers drink. There is nothing in the Rochester, NY native’s game that every one of the 30 teams wouldn’t love to have. Callahan has a career high of 29 goals and has tied his career high assist mark so far with 25 assists. 54 points is also a career high. In 4 games against the Pens this year he has 1 goal and 2 assists. The Rangers have hit a home run with Callahan as he will only get better.
Note to Penguin defenders: If Callahan and Dubinsky are coming down the ice on a 2 on 1, do not leave you feet and slide. Callahan can and will curl and drag around you to give Dubinsky the freebie. Twice the Penguins have made that mistake in the past, both big goals.
Brad Richards has 6 points in 5 games against the Penguins this year (2 goals).
The Penguins will be without the services of Matt Niskanen after taking a hard hit against the Bruins. Niskanen has been one of most consistent defensemen the Penguins have had this year. It appeared to be a shoulder injury. Brian Strait has been recalled from the Baby Pens.
James Neal and Steve Sullivan will also be missing from tonight’s game action as they did not practice today
Pens Inside Scoop @PensInsideScoop
#Pens coach Bylsma: Niskanen upper-body, Neal lower-body, Sullivan lower-body injuries. All will be ready for playoffs, not tonight -SK
Pittsburgh Penguins @pghpenguins
18, 26, 2 not at morning skate. #Pens lines at practice: 14-71-12, 25-87-9, 24-11-48, 45-46-27. Pens Report has more:
Pens Inside Scoop @PensInsideScoop
Park working the point with Letang on the top PP unit at morning skate. Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz down low #Pens -SK
Pens Inside Scoop @PensInsideScoop
On the 5-on-3 advantage, #Pens using Malkin and Letang on the points with Crosby, Kunitz and Staal down low -SK
Evgeni Malkin currently has a 10 point lead in his race for the Art Ross Trophy over Steven Stamkos (105-95).
Pascal Dupuis will try to extend the league’s best point scoring streak tonight as his is currently at 15 games.
Since the Penguins extended winning streak was broken, they have played loose defensively and it has resulted in a plethora of scoring chances for the other team. This style of play is a recipe for a first round loss. If Niskanen is out long term this issue will be further compounded as he is a guy through all of the poor play who has still maintained his defensive responsibilities.
The Buffalo Sabres are tied with the Washington Capitals moving into the final 2 games of the season. The Capitals hold any tie breaker against the Sabres. Further hampering the Sabres chances are that they will be without their top two defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Tyler Myers. Tough to lose that kind of blue line talent at this time of the year. The Sabres finish against the Flyers and Bruins. The Capitals have Florida and the Rangers.
Pretty great weekend for sports fans with the hockey playoff races coming to a head, baseball season goes into full swing, and last but not least The Masters! Feel free to throw in your pick for who will take the Green Jacket.
If you are a Flyers fan would you take being the 4th seed with home ice against the Penguins, or the 6 seed against the Panthers if given the choice?
Tidbits from Twitter
John Buccigross @Buccigross
College Hockey Frozen Four Today. Where? Tampa. Ferris State vs Union, 4:30 ET (ESPNU). Minnesota vs Boston College 8 ET
John Buccigross @Buccigross
Sidney Crosby- 22 points in 12 games (5 goals, 17 assists) since March 15. 1 point ahead Malkin for most points since that date
Seth Rorabaugh @emptynetters
I'm pretty sure if you banned Ken Hitchcock from the NHL, the average goals per game would return to immediate post-lockout levels.
Dan Rosen @drosennhl
Never before in the NHL has there been one division with four 100-point teams. If NJ and Chi win tonight, there will be 2 this season.
Thanks for reading!
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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