Tough game tonight for the Penguins (37-21-7, 81pts, 4th in the East), heading to New Jersey (28-31-4, 60 pts, 12th in the East) to face a red hot Devils team that is 18-2-2 in their last 22 games. The Penguins are coming off of a tough 3-2 loss in overtime to a hot Maple Leafs team on Wednesday. Luckily the schedule makers have been nice enough to send the Pens to Boston tomorrow night to play another hot team as well. Thanks jerks. Meanwhile, the Devils won their last game, 2-1 over Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
But back to tonight's game...
Expected Lines: (pittsburghpenguins.com)
Kovalev - Letestu - Neal
Cooke - Staal - Kennedy
Talbot - Jeffrey - Dupuis
Rupp - Adams - Conner
Goalie: Johnson
Kunitz has been practicing with full contact the past couple of days, and Coach Bylsma has suggested he may return this weekend. Kunitz could be a huge boost to a team that still needs more scoring right now. When he comes back (maybe tomorrow?), I would expect to see Talbot bumped down to the 4th line, with Conner sitting. Personally, I would not want to sit Conner, but he was essentially benched in the 3rd period during the Toronto game despite his goal, so I imagine he is the next player to sit as the Pens get healthier.
Another interesting tidbit to this matchup will be the Penguins' rage against new Devil, David Steckel. Steckel has spent the past 2 days apologizing about the infamous Crosby concussion to anyone who will listen in the press, and even to Crosby through Engelland. Meanwhile, Mike Rupp has gone on the record as saying that the locker room is still unhappy about the hit and the lack of repercussions. With points becoming increasingly important at this time of year, will there be any room in the game for this type of drama? Let's hope not.
Prediction: 3-2 Devils win. Brodeur and Johnson have been studs in this series, sadly I have to give the kicker to New Jersey's Kovy as Kovalchuk has been on a tear leading this hot streak.
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