Friday, October 30, 2009
Will Eller
The Pittsburgh Penguins travel to Columbus to take on Rick Nash and the Blue Jackets tonight and attempt to remain perfect on the road early this season. Blue Jackets manager Ken Hitchcock has turned Nash around in two seasons with a plus/minus rating of +13. Nash was a -57 the three seasons before Hitchcock.
"YEA YEA you said Cock!"
Penguins head coach Dan Byslma did not tip his hand on his line parings tonight but the Pens website has these lineup projections.
Kunitz-Crosby-Guerin
Bourque-Staal-Fedotenko
Cooke-Adams-Dupuis
Conner-Rupp-Godard
Bourque-Staal-Fedotenko
Cooke-Adams-Dupuis
Conner-Rupp-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Eaton-Skoula
McKee-Goligoski
Eaton-Skoula
McKee-Goligoski
Johnson
Tonight comes down to rhythm. How fast can the new line combinations find the rhythm to gel into the scoring machines the Penguins have had this season. The power play will be an interesting match up tonight. With your two best shooters off with injury who can step up and take their place. I think you will see much more traffic in front of opposing goaltenders for the near future.
Early results of the Pens Universe poll show that Jordan Staal will carry the burden without Geno in the lineup. Staal no doubt needs to step up for the Penguins to remain on top of the NHL but with early season indications Sid is up for the task. Sid sat 2 seasons ago and watched Geno carry us to the playoffs. So it might be time for Crosby to return the favor.
Fluery's a beast.
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