By Dejan Kovacevic | Trib Total Media
Looking ahead to faceoff …
Game: Penguins (12-6) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (9-7-1)
Time: 7:38 p.m.
Site: Consol Energy Center
TV, radio: Root Sports, NBC Sports Network (national), WXDX-FM 105.9
Here is the official live box score.
Here is TribLIVE’s Penguins page. Rob Rossi, Josh Yohe and I are on the scene. Here’s Josh’s online-only recap of the Penguins’ morning skate today.
Go Pens. It’s not every day that “…I are on the scene….” is part of a well formed sentence.
The burgh needs the sweep tonight
If you don’t see your current residence below, please add a reply to this post
Dejan’s Lunatic Nation – at the Trib,
Arizona – Tucson, Chandler, Phoenix, Sunnyslope, Davis-Monthan AFB*
Arkansas – Rogers
Austrailia – Mackay
California – Bakersfield, San Francisco, UNION CITY, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, Yuba City, Solana Beach, Yorba Linda, Yuba City*, Edwards, Long Beach, Modesto, Davis
Canada – Toronto, Winnipeg, Moncton – New Brunswick, Ontario – Muskoka
China – Beijing
Colorado – Ft Collins, Estes Park*, Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs
Connecticut – Cos Cob, Bridgeport, Wallingford, Norwalk, NEWTOWN
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
Delaware – Newark
Denmark – Greenland – Thule*
District of Columbia
Florida – Palm Harbor, Orlando, Valrico, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, Oviedo, Tampa, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Palm Beach Gardens, Cape Coral, Coco Beach (Major Nelson and Mary Ann), Niceville (Red Neck Rivera), St Petersburg, Pembroke Pines, Ft Lauderdale, Palm Beach Gardens, Hallandale Beach
Georgia – Marietta, Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Acworth
Germany – Leverkusen/Cologne
Hawaii – Honolulu
Idaho – Mountain Home, Coer d’Aline, Mountain Home AFB*
Indiana – Indianapolis, Burns Harbor, South Bend, Bicknell, Ft Wayne
Iowa – Bettendorf, Humboldt
Illinois – La Salle, Peru, Payson, Chicago, Palatine (3 inmates there), Lincoln Park, Grayslake, Algonquin
Japan – Tokyo
Kentucky – Louisville, Bowling Green, Lexington
Louisiana – Slidell
Maine – Bangor
Maryland – Arnold, Odenton, Severn, Baltimore, Waldorf, Hagerstown, Chevy Chase, Hampstead
Massachusetts – Boston
Michigan – Kalamazoo, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor
Minnesota – Yinzer
Mississippi – Biloxi
Missouri – St Peters***
Montana
Nebraska – Omaha
New Hampshire – Barrington
New Jersey – Chesterfield, Princeton, Roxbury, Lebanon, Lincoln Park, Berkeley Heights, Somerville, Hammock, Barrington, Delran, Pennsville
New Mexico – Mike
New York – New York, Smithtown, Manhattan, Long Island, Nyack, Brooklyn
Nevada, Las Vegas
North Carolina – Asheville, Hickory, Charlotte, Raleigh, Charleston, Wilmington, Chapel Hill, High Point
North Dakota
Ohio – Cincinnati, Columbiana, Westerville, Green, Hilliard, Toledo, Louisville, Columbus, Perrysburg, Pickerington, Youngstown, Cleveland, Olmsted Township, Liberty Township, Warren, Oregon, Wintersville, Austintown, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base*, New Philadelphia, Powell, Canton, Salem, New Albany, Bloomingdale
Pennsylvania – Downtown, Hopewell, Indiana, North Wales, Franklin Park, Forest Hills, Lansdale, Philadelphia, Du Bois, Reading, Crafton, Arnold, Wexford, Mt Lebanon, Canonsburg, Lancaster, Huntington, York, Boiling Springs, Philly suburbs, Morningside, Harrisburg, Lawrenceville, Bradfordwoods, Norristown, Hanover, Clearfield, Sewickley, DuBois, Plum Boro, Slippery Rock, Wilks-Barre, Sharpsville, Bessemer, Greensburg, Washington, Imperial, South Side, Duncansville, Newville, Sheppton, Grove City, Butler, Allentown, Ross Township, Blairsville, Flood City (Johnstown), Overbrook, Danny’s Hoagies, Baldwin, Economy, Sharpsville, Erie, North Huntington, Bellfonte, West Mifflin, Kennywood, Pleasant Hills, Beechview (Mad Turk, No 200), Macgunie, Mechanicsburg, Uptown, Cambria County, Mon Valley, Salisbury, Coraopolis, Emsworth, Cranberry Twp, Garrett, O’Hara Township, McCandless Township, 115 Federal Street, Bethel Park, Harrison City, Penn Hills, Kittanning, Dover, Lebanon, Upper St Clair, Rennerdale, Oakland, Scranton, Moon (RMU), State College, Erie, Penn Twp, Stowe, Elizabeth, Hermitage, Easton, Carlisle, Finleyville, Belle Vernon, Madison, Sellersville, Waynesburg, Warren, Beaver Falls, Chambersburg, Green Castle, East Freedom, Leechburg, Banksville
The Philipines
Rhode Island
Singapore
South Carolina – Duncan, Longs, Columbia, Bluffton, Greensville
South Korea – Seoul, Mike
Sweden
Tennessee – Smithville, Nashville
Texas – Tyler, San Antonio, Belton, Houston, Katy, Plano, El Paso
Utah – Salt Lake City, Provo
Vermont – North Bennington
Virginia – JAL, Hampton, Rescue, Richmond, Front Royal, Woodbridge, Suffolk, Warrenton, Springfield*, Virginia Beach, Fairfax, Arlington, Yorktown, Henrico, Aldie, Manassas, Newport News
Washington – Seattle, Nine Mile Falls, Spokane, Sammamish
West Virginia – Martinsburg, Morgantown, Wheeling, Mt Olivet
Wisconsin – Madison, Oshkosh, Hortonville
Wyoming – Caspar, Lander
315 locations represented in the blog,
Honorary members, people that have, in our opinion, made a difference
Beano
Lemonade Guy
The Gunner
Mr Roberto Clemente
Mike Lange
Myron Cope
The Honorable Mayor Richard Caliguiri
Kevin Mcclachety
Mike Emerick
13 countries
44 states, plus the District of Columbia, missing 7 states, North Dakota, South Dakota, Hawaii, Alabama, Kansas and Oklahoma
Two planets, at least confirmed
Honorable mention, England – London – Lisa
Asterisks denote confirmed hero’s, military, police officers or firemen/ladies
2/24/2013 4:58 PM
Should we add Commander Hadfield to Honorary Members?
DK: Good luck with the location on that one.
He said he could see the 3 rivers. He deserves to be an Honorary Member, Biz.
Pittsburgh-Banksville City – Sarah
Good as always to see you here OM, I like the avatar
Projected lines
Penguins
1st: Kunitz – Crosby – Neal – Orpik – Martin
2nd: Bennett – Sutter – Dupuis – Niskanen – Letang
3rd: Cooke – Jeffrey – Kennedy – Despres – Engelland
4th: Glass – Vitale – Adams
Starter: Fleury
Backup: Vokoun
Lightning lineup
Fowards
1st: Cory Conacher – Steven Stamkos – Teddy Purcell
2nd: Martin St Louis - Vincent Lecavalier – Benoit Pouliot
3rd: Alexander Killorn – Nate Thompson – Tom Pyatt
4th: B.J. Crombeen – Adam Hall – Richard Panik
Defense
DP1: Eric Brewer – Matt Carle
DP2: Victor Hedman - Sami Salo
DP3: Brian Lee – Marc-Andre Bergeron
Goaltender
Starters: Anders Lindback
Backup: Mathieu Garon
So – meddling with line 1. Hmmm….
Maximizes the nbr of guys who’ve not played with each other before. Good thing Bylsma is so smart.
Gonna throw this thought out there…….Bylsma takes a lot of heat for not adjusting strategy within games/series, but he sure seems to have no trouble adjusting lines. I understand throwing 87 or 71 out on an extra shift from time to time, but in general he seems to have a short leash with line combinations. My first thought when i saw the projected lines for tonight was that with Malkin out, Bylsma has made changes to all the lines instead of just shifting Sutter from 3 to 2 and plugging in Jeffrey on 3. Why switch Neal & Dupuis?
I can only say that DB’s propensity to juggle line combinations is a mystery to me. Chemistry takes time to develop. You don’t build it like this.
However I am not a DB fan, so you may find support for these moves from other fans. Just not me.
Why not? Sid loves to pass, Neal loves to shoot may be fun.
See what Sutter can do as #2 , Bennett pumped moving up – interesting.
W/Geno out good time to take a look at some different combos.
We shall see!
Indeed We shall! Hope you’re right and this is a good mix!
And I’m a bit confused re DB’s remarks re using the 2nd line and Sutter for defense. What’s Bennett for then?
Where did that Pitt-South Florida thread go? There were some good comments on there?
Camo !! Cool !!
Just saw a quick shot on ROOT.
Beat the he** outa the EVIL Blue!!
Crosby!
Well, that was fast….
So far soo good!
Hmmmm 2 goal for that line already -Maybe DB does know something! Just sayin.
Could be!
1-0 Penguins
What an awesome play by Crosby to accept that pass and then rifle it over Lindback.
Little plays like that is what makes Crosby the best player in the world.
So true. For every highlight play he makes, there are 99 other things he does on the ice that show just what a special talent he is.
…annnd the dreaded 2 goal lead!
Exactly! TBL can relax and go about tying it up now.
2-0 Penguins
Kunitz rushes up into TB zone, slows it down, finds Martin open at point and just a simple wrist shot is knocked into the goal by Lindback (goalie).
I’m probably in the minority here but I think the best way to protect a 2 goal lead is to make it 3-0.
good point !
Milo, you outta be a coach- 3-0. LOL
Do I hear 4, anybody?
I’m with you Milo!
You usually get a lot of energy from Joe Vitale. You really get a lot of energy from him after he’s been scratched.
What lottery numbers do you play?! You called 3-0 and vitale!!!!
6-1-3 and it’s due.
When the Penguins actually get the puck over center red line, they are owning the Lightning.
Yep. Very good on one side of the ice. Their forechecking late in the game Fri was great….
Martin! What a bounce! Right back to him.
Milo, youve got your 3 goal lead….
Vitale bites on that? Guess they really learned a lot from the Simmonds fight on Wednesday.
Hate fighting and I really hate fights like that by Vitale. Pens had nothing to gain by it.
3-0 Penguins… Paul Martin
just give him the Norris Trophy already… what a turnaround for him.
Guess he really did want to stay here.
Plus 3 in the 1st period.
TB going for the goaltending change. Garon in to start the 2nd period.
Guy Boucher’s scar is extra angry right now.
Just like that its now 3-2
I give up.
Never give up
Never give in! Buzz “Jandy” Lightyear.
Don’t anyone say they haven’t seen all the Toy Story movies, either.
lol
Tbis is why i fear for the playoffs…..
Wouldn’t be a Pens game without a goal off Orpik.
Or a Tampa Bay game without a slap shot from the left dot by Stamkos on the PP (yawn)…but no let’s all pay attention to every other player on the PK and let the obvious skate free and uncontested.
…only 80% of all his career goals come from that circle on the PP but no, he’s not one-dimensional… not at all.
His reputation is obscuring reality. He’s not a shut down guy anymore. Started to sour on him last year when he would back up so far into the Pens zone that he screened Fleury on a ton of shots instead of stepping up into the rushing forward. I call him Back-up Brooks.
If I ask nicely, could maybe we get a power play tonight ?
There’s very little puck possession in TB zone, so they can’t draw them.
It would be nice if they could make a pass in transition and stop with the stretch passes. Get it deep .
Point being that there doesn’t have to be a penalty for one to be called. Like right there.
I’m playing 6-1-3 tomorrow!!!
When Mario retired the 1st time that was his career goal total. I’ve been playing it ever since.
3-0 lead turns into 3-2 lead because…
- turnovers
- stretch passes that don’t connect
- penalties
- 2nd period struggles
- Bylsma standing around with arms crossed
These 2nd period issues and blowing 2-0 leads (let alone 3-0) are not things contenders do at the rate this team does it.
I see BJ Crombeen & I think of his father. And that still infuriates me 32 years later.
Still. For sure. Painful game.
THAT’S exactly where Bennett needs to play on PP… congrats kid!!!
Eric, it’s what you’ve been saying for a while now. He needs to be playing with the best players.
Yeah, wasteful to have him anywhere but top 2 lines or power play.
When 5-on-3, he’s gotta get the LW circle call because that shot is exactly the type of danger a PK unit doesn’t want because it forces them to keep head on swivel for backdoor pass and gives more time and space for points to move puck around the zone.
Other than being able to drop the gloves, how is Engelland a better defenseman or better defensive option than Eaton?
or Bortuzzo
No lead is safe the way the Pens turn the puck over.
The Pens propensity to turn the puck over and get sent to the penalty box is way too alarming for me to be happy. At some point, team needs to start playing a style of hockey that wins playoff games.
Good luck waiting for that. Sadly, it’s been like this too long now and only a coaching change, and therefore a change in philosophy will make that happen. I don’t care if they somehow manage to win out the rest of the season, they aren’t defensively disciplined or inclined enough to go very far in the playoffs. I just dread them losing in the second round because too many will see that as an improvement over the past three seasons and it will prolong the obvious even longer. Sounds pessimistic I know, but that’s the reality of it whether people want to like it or not. Chicago is the team Pittsburgh should want to be like right now…a skilled team that can win 1-0 games and do it confidently.
Bad news for the Hawks – the playoffs don’t start for another 2 months.
Yup, but at least they’re playing the right way. There is always the chance of peaking too early but better now than never.
Anyone else hoping they can just salvage a point out of this 4-3 lead? Tampa just keeps bringing the waves.
always so comforting to see Pens with last change & finding their 4th line against 1st line. That’s on Bylsma & happens far too often.
Interestingly, the NBC announcers are saying the Pens are matching well.
every friggin game now.
Bowman would vomit.
Scotty would often put out his 4th line after his team scored, usually against the other team’s top unit.
Right, that’s why he “wasn’t” considered the best coach ever when it came to making line changes and matching up his lines against the other team’s. If he put his 4th line out against the teams top line he must have had a better reason than just not wanting to bother, especially when he had the last change. As it is; this Pens 4th line doesn’t match up well against Tampa’s top line and Bylsma left them out there.
I have no idea what you’re saying there, but if it makes you happy…
For entertainment purposes – Eric Tangradi in 6 games with Winnipeg has 0 points & is a minus 2. Maybe he’s not getting a fair chance.
Sid gave up on that puck after it went by him. Could have touched it first had he kept going. What the hell was that? They score off this face-off…that one’s on him. Weird. Not like him.
nice empty netter
Fluery with a shot…no.
A coach’s dream.
A victory and a load of teachable film to use to make it better.
Orpik finished the night a +1, despite being on ice for all 3 TB goals.
And your point is…..????
He’s been on the ice for most of the opponents goals the past several games. Really seems to be off his game.
2 points – not perfect game -I happy!