Bruins - Penguins Preview and Notes from 12/20
The Bruins (18-12-3) host the Pittsburgh Penguins (16-15-2) tonight at the Garden. Pittsburg has recently lost their starting goaltender, Marc Andre-Fleury, to an ankle injury. Dany Sabourin is expected to get the start in goal. Sabourin is 6-6-1 with a .910 save percentage and a 2.54 goals against average. The Penguins have an incredible first powerplay unit of Crosby, Malkin, and Sykora with Whitney and Gonchar at the points. Although they are only ranked 10th in the league they are very dangerous. The Bruins must stay out of the box and when skating even strength must shut down the top duo of Crosby and Malkin for them to win this game.
Tim Thomas is expected to start for the first time since pulling his groin. Alex Auld will back him up. Andrew Alberts will miss his second straight game with a headache. Glen Murray and Peter Schaeffer also missed yesterday's practice with minor injuries. Both are expected to be available for tonight's game. The Bruins need a big game from their top defensive pairing, whether it be Ference or Ward paired with Chara. They will be matched up against Crosby's line all night. Here is the expected lineup:
Axelsson-Savard-Murray
Sturm-Metropolit-Kobasew
Lucic-Kessel-Schaeffer
Reich-Sobotka-Nokelainen
Ference-Chara
Stuart-Wideman
Allen-Ward
My Prediction
Bruins-3
Pittsburgh-2
Milan Lucic will continue his strong play and add a goal tonight. Wouldn't be suprised to see him have a fight either (dance partner-Laraque. Now that would be a good fight). The Bruins powerplay will take advantage of a poor Pittsburg penalty killing unit and score the game winning on the man advantage. If its Chara and Ference they will have a good game against Crosby. If its Ward and Chara it could get ugly, since both don't match up well in the speed department.
Tim Thomas is expected to start for the first time since pulling his groin. Alex Auld will back him up. Andrew Alberts will miss his second straight game with a headache. Glen Murray and Peter Schaeffer also missed yesterday's practice with minor injuries. Both are expected to be available for tonight's game. The Bruins need a big game from their top defensive pairing, whether it be Ference or Ward paired with Chara. They will be matched up against Crosby's line all night. Here is the expected lineup:
Axelsson-Savard-Murray
Sturm-Metropolit-Kobasew
Lucic-Kessel-Schaeffer
Reich-Sobotka-Nokelainen
Ference-Chara
Stuart-Wideman
Allen-Ward
My Prediction
Bruins-3
Pittsburgh-2
Milan Lucic will continue his strong play and add a goal tonight. Wouldn't be suprised to see him have a fight either (dance partner-Laraque. Now that would be a good fight). The Bruins powerplay will take advantage of a poor Pittsburg penalty killing unit and score the game winning on the man advantage. If its Chara and Ference they will have a good game against Crosby. If its Ward and Chara it could get ugly, since both don't match up well in the speed department.
posted by Pekese at 2:39 AM
3 Comments:
Pittsburgh is a one line team - and if the B's focus too muh on that one line, their scrappers from the other lines can do some damage. I just hope they play their solid style of play, stay out of the box (Alberts is not playing) and I expect Lucic to have a big game. I hope he gets promoted to the second line, pushing Sturm down in hopes of lighting a spark in Sturm's pants. 4-1 Bruins. Savard with a 3 point night, goals by Chara, Murray, Kessel and Lucic.
wasnt that already said big E?
Boston goaltender controversy article
http://bostonsportslife.blogspot.com/
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