Penguins Team Report
INSIDE SHOTS
Despite their recent slump, the Penguins (26-14-1, 53 points) are on a near franchise-best pace at the midway point of the season.
At this rate over the final 41 games of the regular season the Penguins would finish with 106 points—second only to their 1992-93 team, which earned 114 points on the strength of a 17-game unbeaten streak to finish the season.
That team, also coming off a Stanley Cup win, bowed in the second round of the playoffs.
These Penguins hope to avoid that fate, though they are facing an uphill climb against history. Of the four teams in franchise history to finish with 100 or more points, only the 2008 Penguins advanced to the Cup Final, and the 1992-93 and 1993-94 teams bowed before the conference final, which the 1995-96 squad reached.
The Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 1991 after an 88-point season, in 1992 after an 89-point season and in 2009 after a 99-point season.
Devils 2, Penguins 0: Pittsburgh has lost three in a row for only the second time this season after a shutout defeat at New Jersey on Wednesday night.
Failing on a lone power-play chance with 1:26 remaining cost the Penguins their fourth point-less game against the Devils, who are 4-0-0 against Pittsburgh. The Penguins have not scored a goal against New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur(notes) in 168 minutes and 20 seconds.
They managed 32 shots in this game, and many were quality, but Brodeur was strong throughout.
The Penguins are 1-4-0 in their last five games.
NOTES, QUOTES
• Cs Sidney Crosby(notes) and Evgeni Malkin(notes), two of the last three NHL scoring champions, have combined for just two assists in four games against New Jersey.
• D Jay McKee(notes) was a healthy scratch Wednesday at New Jersey. McKee was called for holding the puck in the crease Tuesday at Buffalo, resulting in a penalty shot for the Sabres. Buffalo scored and started its comeback from a three-goal deficit in a 4-3 victory.
Quote To Note: “We’ve got to start winning them.”—RW Bill Guerin(notes) on the Penguins’ games against top teams after losses at Buffalo and New Jersey on Tuesday and Wednesday
ROSTER REPORT
Defensemen: Sergei Gonchar(notes), Brooks Orpik(notes), Kris Letang(notes), Alex Goligoski(notes), Martin Skoula(notes), Mark Eaton(notes)
First Line: Chris Kunitz(notes), Sidney Crosby, Pascal Dupuis(notes)
Second Line: Ruslan Fedotenko(notes), Evgeni Malkin, Bill Guerin.
Third Line: Matt Cooke(notes), Jordan Staal(notes), Tyler Kennedy(notes).
Fourth Line: Mike Rupp, Max Talbot(notes), Craig Adams(notes).
Player Notes:
• C Jordan Staal was disappointed not to make Hockey Canada’s men’s ice hockey team for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Staal knew he was a longshot candidate but thought his strong play in the 2009 Cup Final and consistent offensive play to start the season had caught the attention of Hockey Canada executive director Steve Yzerman. Staal, 21, is on pace for 22 goals and 48 points, which would give him back-to-back seasons of 20-40 and three in four NHL seasons.
• G Marc-Andre Fleury(notes) and C Sidney Crosby knew they were Olympics locks, but both were excited to be named Wednesday to Canada’s squad. Fleury cemented his spot with an epic playoff run in which he made several momentum-turning saves for the Penguins. Crosby, a last cut for Canada at the 2006 Games, nearly convinced Canada executive director Steve Yzerman to name his captain with his 15-goal effort in the 2009 playoffs. That honor went the Anaheim D Scott Niedermayer(notes), but Yzerman said Crosby was the other candidate to wear the “C.”
Medical Watch: The Penguins are healthy.
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