By Dejan Kovacevic | Trib Total Media
Looking ahead to faceoff …
Game: Penguins (17-8) vs. New York Islanders (11-11-3)
Time: 7:08 p.m.
Site: Consol Energy Center
TV, radio: Root Sports, MSG Plus (New York), WXDX-FM 105.9
Here is the official live box score.
Here is TribLIVE’s Penguins page. Josh Yohe and I are on the scene. Here’s Josh’s online-only recap of the Penguins’ news today.
This must be doubling as the Pirates-Twins thread, too.
No, this one will double as tomorrow’s Wakeup Call.
rub it in, guys
Malkin will be out due to upper body injury. Bylsma says it isn’t another concussion but the way he reacted and looked on the bench, wouldn’t surprise me if he did. Which makes Malkin playing one shift after the hit a major concern. What were they thinking?
Vitale gets a stick today, let’s hope he gets some time on the PK as I’ve seen enough of Glass and Adams. Team is getting killed on the PK with 45% faceoff percentage. Crosby, Sutter, and Vitale should be the three centers.
I guess my question is – if Malkin was unable to withstand a hit…then why did they let him out there at all?
Possibly because it wasn’t evident that something was wrong. Or Malkin didn’t say anything. Not all concussions show right away.
We have all been complaining about the defense and the PK. I’m starting to wonder about the goaltending. I couldn’t tell you the difference between what they call a “soft goal” and a regular one. How about someone in the know, How’s the netminding?
The netminding has been fine for MAF, spotty for Vokoun. He started well but has been inconsistent last 3-4 starts, including a couple of stinkers, a wild 7-6 win v Habs and then a solid 2 periods in relief in Philly.
MAF has plenty of haters around here, but he’s not the issue.
The Pens have very poor defensive awareness in their own zone, routinely allowing opponents loads of room unmolested around the net. That canNOT continue once playoffs start or it will be another short spring no matter who’s in goal.
Who’s in goal tonight?
Vokoun. Fingers crossed….
Hope the one shows up from the other night.
like
Bylsma says head injury not a concern w Malkin.
Though I believe Dan also said that Malkin was not experiencing headaches or memory loss a couple weeks back. Shortly before the team said he was out w concussion.
So who knows.
Isles swarming to start…
It’s a miracle…engelland is scratched! What’s next, an aggressive penalty kill?
Truly amazing Bylsma finally scratched Engelland.
1-0 Pens
What a nasty 1-timer shot by Dupuis (Kunitz, Crosby) from a sharp angle.
2 man advantage coming up for Pens for 1:21
Goal!!! 2-0 Pens Kunitz with the goal. Officially a 5 on 4 goal.
You know, the Pens could have been excused for coming out flat tonight. Late game last night before night air travel while losing an hour of sleep to DST. Not the case, really. Up 2-0 in the first despite the announcers commenting on how fired up the Islanders bench looked at the onset of the game.
So far I’m thrilled with how the guys look
2-0 Pens… love the movement on the PP. What a world of difference a quality RH shooter does down low on the LW side of the ice with Bennett manning that sheet of ice.
Neal pass down low setup Kunitz on deflection at top of crease.
What a season Kunitz is having.
Now all we have to do is beef Bennett up a bit!
Kunitz from Neal again. PP goal 3-0 Pens.
OMG.. what a play by Crosby to dish to Neal, who floats it to Kunitz for slam dunk. 3-0 Pens
Islanders would be wise to avoid penalties for rest of the game.
No, I want them to keep doing it. I want to see an absolute blow out.
One of best periods by the Penguins this season.
3-0 lead, 12-4 advantage in shots on goal, and 1/3 on PP
Yep.heres hoping they put together 3 full periods.
amen!
Crosby has 18 points in the last 19 periods of play…. that’s sick!
3-1 Pens
Despres was having a good shift, then falls down at blue line and Brad Boyes converts. Vokoun just stood there, too deep in his net. He had another few inches to move out and cut down the angle.
Not Vokoun’s fault. He was checking his iPhone for the Bucs-Twins thread when the puck flew by
The Flying Monkey Hat Trick by Chris Kunitz… that’s 17 on the year.
4-1 Pens
Neal breakaway is a no brainer…. 5-1 Pens
Islanders must be Twins fans
lol
YOu asked for a blow-out Eric, they’re tryin to oblige you
I’m enjoying it… stress free game.
Crosby has 44 points, same as Giroux (24) and Ovechkin (20) combined.
Now THAT is sweet~!!
sick Sid… just sick.
5 points for Crosby… Dupuis goal
6-1 Pens
For those tracking, that’s 20 points for Crosby in 20 periods of play.
I’m gonna say good night now…gotta get hubby up at 2AM. he’s driving to DE to work.
good night…. I think this one is wrapped up.
yeah I think it’s safe lol.
I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m starting to like the nickname “Sidneyland”.
My oh my are they on a roll right now. Steigerwald may have hit the nail on the head tonight when he mentioned how Sid and Kunitz worked together during the off season. Who knows; maybe the lockout was a blessing in disguise for that top line.
Not to be a debby downer but I still have no excitement once you get past those first 2 lines. 3rd and 4th lines have little to no scoring.
It’s 9:59 PM. Where the heck is the morning thread??
If you wore clothes you would know where the threads are.
ZING!