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Pittsburgh (12-4-0) at San Jose (11-4-2)

  • Game info: 10:30 pm EST Sat Nov 7, 2009
  • TV: FSPI, CSBA

By BRETT HUSTON, STATS Writer Nov 6, 2:27 pm EST

Preview | Box Score | Recap | Highlights
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The Pittsburgh Penguins’ impressive winning streak away from home is over, as is the San Jose Sharks’ similarly lengthy string of victories that was built largely during a road-heavy stretch.

San Jose’s streak of home dominance over Pittsburgh, however, is very much intact.

The Penguins haven’t won in their last eight visits to HP Pavilion, a drought they’ll hope to snap Saturday night in a matchup of two of the NHL’s early season heavyweights.

Pittsburgh (12-4-0) reeled off seven consecutive road victories to begin the season, tying the second-best start in league history, before blowing a 2-1 third-period lead Thursday in a 5-2 loss to Los Angeles.

“We didn’t play great, and sometimes you get away with that,” captain Sidney Crosby(notes) said after being held without a point for a third straight game. “It’s a good lesson for us. We have gotten away with bad periods in the past, but tonight we didn’t. We didn’t capitalize on our chances and we didn’t play well in the third, and in a tight game like that, you can’t afford for that to happen.”

San Jose (11-4-2) was looking for its seventh straight win Thursday in Detroit, but also gave up a lead in the final 20 minutes. Henrik Zetterberg’s(notes) goal tied it at 1-all, then he and Pavel Datsyuk(notes) beat Evgeni Nabokov(notes) in a shootout to hand the Sharks a 2-1 loss.

Saturday’s game against the Penguins will be the first of three in a row at home for San Jose after playing nine of 11 on the road.

“We fought hard for the one point, and we got five out of six on the road,” defenseman Dan Boyle(notes) said. “We would have taken that before the road trip started.”

Pittsburgh is playing without reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin(notes) and All-Star defenseman Sergei Gonchar(notes), but those absences aren’t the reason San Jose should feel good about its chances of extending its home record to 5-0-1.

The Sharks have beaten the Penguins six straight times at HP Pavilion and are 7-0-0 with a tie against them there since Pittsburgh last won Oct. 22, 1997.

Crosby, who doesn’t have a goal in three career games versus San Jose, has never gone four in a row without a point.

He’d have a better chance of breaking those droughts if the Penguins can improve their power play. Pittsburgh is 0 for 17 with the man advantage in the four games it’s played without Malkin, and its 15.5 percent rate of success is among the bottom third of the league.

San Jose has allowed one goal in its last 17 times short-handed.

Penguins forward Tyler Kennedy(notes) sat out against the Kings - his fourth absence in five games - with an undisclosed injury, but the Sharks also have a few injury issues.

Defenseman and captain Rob Blake(notes) was placed on injured reserve Thursday with an upper-body injury, meaning he’ll miss at least a week. Right wing Devin Setoguchi(notes) - who has seven goals in 11 games - hasn’t played since Oct. 24 with a leg injury, but Patrick Marleau(notes) and Dany Heatley(notes) have picked up the slack with a combined 21 goals.

Marleau doesn’t have a point in his last four games against the Penguins, but Heatley scored 10 goals in his last nine versus Pittsburgh while with Atlanta.

Nabokov is 7-1-0 with a 1.84 goals-against average in eight starts against the Penguins.

Updated Nov 6, 2:27 pm EST
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Team Comparison

Team G W L OTL Pts Standings GF GA Road/Home
Pittsburgh 22 14 8 0 28 2nd, Atlantic 68 64 7-4-0 Road
San Jose 24 15 5 4 34 1st, Pacific 82 60 7-0-2 Home

Notes

The Penguins outshot the Flyers, 15-5, in the first period but managed just 13 over the final 40 minutes. ... C Evgeni Malkin registered a team-high four shots on goal. ... C Sidney Crosby was impressive in the faceoff circles, winning 15 of his 22 draws. ... D Philippe Boucher was in the lineup in place of D Kris Letang, who has an undisclosed injury. RW Miroslav Satan made his first appearance for Pittsburgh since being sent to the minors on March 4. Satan replaced RW Petr Sykora, who failed to record a point in the first four games of the series.

Apr 23, 10:55 pm EDT

The Sharks failed to find the back of the net for the second game this series. San Jose was shut out only three times during the regular season. ... D Rob Blake fired a game-high five shots on goal. ... LW Travis Moen recorded a game-high five hits.

Apr 24, 1:40 am EDT
NHL

80 Comments

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  1. MR.C
    80. Posted by MR.C Mon Nov 9 8:30pm EST

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    The Pens are 2 wins and 14 losses in California. That pretty much says it. They don't like to stay up late. Whatever, I am a reloacted Pittsburgh res. and I have been to two games when the Penguins played out here in California. Back in 2006 when they beat the Kings and a few nights ago when they beat the Ducks. I'm happy, and I'd love to see the Kings keep playing at the level they are playing at.
  2. Brett W
    79. Posted by Brett W Mon Nov 9 8:29pm EST

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    Dutch why are you so preoccupied with Delmore? The guy is in the minors where he belongs. Although with the mounting injuries Detroit is facing he might actually get to fufull every hockey players dream, wearing the winged wheel. Anyways, you can't get upset when other fanbases revel in a Pens loss. Red Wings fans have been dealing with this for years from people like the fat man who get more pleasure out od a Detroit loss than a win for his team, whoever that is.
  3. DON_DOC_IN
    78. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Mon Nov 9 4:48pm EST

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    Well Dutch. You say "Doc, Yeah I think the Fat Man is a class act, one of the few folks who post opinion with some fact to back it up." I agree that he is a classy young man : ) Curious to which facts you are refering to? The rants were he calls people from MI Schmindles? The names, Datsuck, Ozsuck or Cheddarburg? The homo references? Help me out buddy, which "facts" do you speak of?

    ps. When he gets home from "work", tell da fat man.....I am glad the season has started. I was forgetting some of the names he calls players and fans(Esp me). I enjoy them. Well, you two have a good night! I'm Gonna watch the Hawks/Kings game. Look forward to tomorrow to see how you mix in a Delmore reference about the Hawks and Kings. That is your homework assignment!
  4. hockeyfan00
    77. Posted by hockeyfan00 Mon Nov 9 4:34pm EST

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    Oh and I would take Malkin over Sid ANY DAY. You guys are idolizing the wrong player. Malkin is so much better... Crosby just sucks up to the camera better.
  5. hockeyfan00
    76. Posted by hockeyfan00 Mon Nov 9 4:31pm EST

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    I posted a while ago that Pitt hasn't really played any good or hot teams and was mocked. Well, they just played a couple... How'd that go?

    It's not so much me wanting to down Pitt as I just want Pitt fans to admit their team doesn't sh-t ice cream. Pens fans are so certain everyone sucks but their Pens. I saw the excuses, but at the end of the day, records matter, not excuses.

    Philly is getting hot and started slow, just like always... Pitt has played more games so their records aren't that far apart, yet Pitt fans will scream how bad the Flyers suck. THE SAME FLYERS you had to beat to get to the finals. So how bad is the rest of the NHL? Come on Pitt fans, your team won last year, but you're far from there this year.

    Where is the credit for James Van Riemsdyk? Matt Carle? Pronger is hot... Richards, Giroux with his crazy shoot out winners... There is more than one good team in the NHL and yours is among them. TRY BEING GRACIOUS and people wouldn't love to see you lose so much.
  6. STACY
    75. Posted by STACY Mon Nov 9 3:22pm EST

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    No good hockey on tonight you can always watch the defending NFL CHAMPS Steelers, take care of business. Go Pittsburgh.
  7. Dutch
    74. Posted by Dutch Mon Nov 9 3:12pm EST

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    @64 Fat Man, I agree Brett W. Patty "I was dropped on my head as a baby repeatedly" C, and of course Nwaf are part of the throw in the towel crew from Detroit. Pretty sad. @65 Brian S. Sorry I don't get your point. This is a Hockey blog, I would assume most folks here care about Hockey and who wins, Ovechkin and the Caps have to date won DICK, One Playoff Round, Whooooo...Will AO win a Cup? I don't know and neither do you, but outside the Hockey World which you seem so concerned with, Crosby is more well known than Ovechkin, and by the way, HE HAS A STANLEY CUP! confirmed, and more possibly on the way. 3-0 and 7-1, you know what those numbers mean, those are facts, you and the AO will win 20 Cups crew pure speculation only! @68 Doc, Yeah I think the Fat Man is a class act, one of the few folks who post opinion with some fact to back it up. I'm not a virulent Wings hater like he is but the flyers fans rate me about high as some of the Wings fans have Fat Man. Oh well can't be everyone's friend. But having said that, I'm still more Bullish on you pal, you're a class act and a great hockey mind, that you don't see the forest through the trees regarding Delmore, that will change in time. You are however spot on about Chris Conner, trophy winning material no doubt! Take care Buddy.
  8. dropthegloves
    73. Posted by dropthegloves Mon Nov 9 2:54pm EST

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    It ain't over until the da fat man sings or is it fat lady sings. You've got to give Red Wings some credits. They won 11 Stanley Cups. As much as I don't like the Wings, but I still give them some respect. I remember in 2001-02 when Eric Belanger got the OT goal in 1st round of playoffs. He was all alone in front of Osgood about 17 feet to the left of Osgood. Boy what a shot! Belanger ripped it and the puck went under the cross bar hit the water bottle and came back out quickly. The referees had to go to video and reviewed it, but it was a good goal. The Kings took out the Red Wings 4 game to 2 if I am not mistaken. They were also swept out of 1st round of playoffs by the Mighty Ducks. I don't remember what year it was, but I remember J.S Guiguere and Mighty Ducks swept the Red Wings. At that time they still have Scotty Bowman as their coach. One NHL game tonight? Kings vs. Blackhawks in Windy City 5:00pm Pacific. Congratulations to Luc Robittaile. He was inducted into Hall Of Fame today. After all, he didn't scored 650+ by accident. Go Kings!
  9. HotStacey
    72. Posted by HotStacey Mon Nov 9 1:30pm EST

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    @ 70..............Pens get killed 5-0 and then here comes all the excuses........Typical!
  10. Elemenno P.
    71. Posted by Elemenno P. Mon Nov 9 1:16pm EST

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    Who can truly respect the Guppies and their miopic fans. The Guppies will have a great regular season, but overuse their goalie, and then the Guppies will exit the playoffs in the 1st round.
  11. Grimmis
    70. Posted by Grimmis Mon Nov 9 1:07pm EST

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    Ahem, if you morons would get your facts straight here's the true story, yes Fleury let in 3 goals and was pulled early, the pens wont have Kennedy, Gonchar, Malkin, AND Talbot for a while, their power play is in shreds due to gonchar's absence, they lack the speed to the puck without Kennedy, they don't have Malkin's great puck handling to go deep into the offensive zone...they are missing a lot of key players, they won against Anaheim when Kennedy was playing but during the sharks and kings games, Kennedy was scratched...so get things right for once...

    Also, to the Flyers fans and all other ppl still mocking Crosby, heres a fun fact, KISS HIS STANLEY CUP RING!!!! Flyers will NEVER get it because they are too busy taking cheap shots at star players, Rangers will never win because of their gay cheer that they have when they score a goal, Leafs fans will still be miserable for a long time to come, Caps are the only team along the lines of Pens caliber but the caps are gonna struggle without Ovechkin. So what does everyone do in a situation like this? when their team stinks, flame on the better teams and complain and refuse to cheer for their team. so Flyer fans, do your team a favor and chant lets go flyers, and not crosby sucks, same with ranger fans...

    Commence the outcry over my rant....now
  12. Patrick C
    69. Posted by Patrick C Mon Nov 9 12:41pm EST

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    HEY @#$%MAN oop's I mean fatman it's so funny to read your little postings about how bad the Wings are whenever your figure skater's from shi@#burg get beat, could it be you are afraid that your little Bi#@ch's will have to face the Wings for the cup again and cindyrella will not be able to talk his manlove Bitemark in to "pulling for shi@#burg" again. I notice most of your posting's are in the A.M. it must be right after you get done with your paper route and just before your "meeting" with your scout pack. How is it being a 40 year old man still living in your parent's basement ?? I bet you get alot chicks hittng on you when you go to the pigloo for games wearing your crosby sweater and your face "all painted" in penguin black and yellow GOO. Talk to people when your figure skaters win more then 1 Stanley cup every 15 years.

    zachary, calm down it's just sport's people don't just pick on shi@#burg for sport's there are numerous reason's to do so and here are just a few.
    1) The economy-- coal,steel mill's, ugly prostitute's sorry I mean women
    2) The smell-- coal, steel mill's, ugly prostitute's sorry I mean women
    3) The people elected to the Senate and House of Representitives
    4) Did I say the women yet??
  13. Greg B
    68. Posted by Greg B Mon Nov 9 12:13pm EST

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    Big deal so the Pens got one cup. GO SHARKS!
  14. DON_DOC_IN
    67. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Mon Nov 9 8:41am EST

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    I have to admit, it is emotional to see the bond that has developed between Dutch and Fat man. I have been here from the relationships conception and have marveled in its beauty as it has blossomed into what it is now. Haters, stop hating on them. You're just jealous! You wish you had a relationship as solid as theirs! A relationship built and fueled by Wing envy! Congrats fellas and good luck to both of you Dream Warriors!!!!!!! xoxo

    5-0? Him, let me guess, Sid was voted the games number two star anyways?
  15. STACY
    66. Posted by STACY Mon Nov 9 8:35am EST

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    TO ALL: The hockey season has many ups and downs. Teams go on winning streaks then may lose some. Injuries are also a major part of hockey. As I read the past comments there is a common thread either you like the Pen's or hate them. I read the Penguins are overrated. Over a 80 plus game season overrated teams will be flushed through the grind of the season. So when the Pens go the finals in 08 and win the whole thing in 09. They are not overrated. They have started off strong and now over the last week hit a bump in the road on a long road trip. The Pens have a great coach, good support of characters and leadership. All are the things needed to make another deep run. Happy Veterens day (Wednesday to all our hereos that make it possible for us to have these debates freely) Go Pens...
  16. Brian S
    65. Posted by Brian S Mon Nov 9 7:00am EST

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    Dutch Boy.... The only people in sports that remember Stanley Cup winners are the ones whose team won it. Do you honestly think people associate Gretsky with Stanley Cups or being one of the best to play the game? Hockey fans will know,but there aren't a whole lot of us out there in the sports world.
    So yes, the Pens have won 3 Cups and the Caps have nada. Fifteen years from now, people will remember Ovi but they won't be able to tell you who won the Cup in the 2008-2009 season. Nobody really cares.
    How's your pal dafatman? Are you two still playing leap frog?
  17. da fat man
    64. Posted by da fat man Mon Nov 9 6:57am EST

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    @ Dutch....Does it seem to you that the pink wings homers have ALREADY given up on their team, and have decided to seek refuge in a Pens loss, though they seem to occur rarely? I guess the Pens ripping their hearts out last season is STILL hard for them to swallow? Funny for fans that are KNOWN for their ability to swallow.
  18. Tim
    63. Posted by Tim Mon Nov 9 6:40am EST

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    how many cups the sharks got???...oh ok....wait till the end of the season. you @#$% california @#$%s ice hockey....right. Again, how many cups?? @#$%
  19. Puck Off EH
    62. Posted by Puck Off EH Mon Nov 9 4:31am EST

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    Looks like they are finally running into better teams, Kings scored 4 un-answered 3rd period goals to blow open that game and the Sharks continued the west coast ass beating minus that crappy effort from the Ducks earlier in the week. #37 said it best!
  20. Brett W
    61. Posted by Brett W Mon Nov 9 3:15am EST

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    #52 Pittsburgh fans only support their teams as ong as they are winning. Like you said, 3 years ago you didn't watch hockey. That is true of most Pens "fans" they are no where to be seen when the team is struggling then show up and start yelling about "city of champions" when the team is successful.
  21. Brett W
    60. Posted by Brett W Mon Nov 9 3:03am EST

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    Oh i'm sorry he only let in 3 goals on 14 shots thats so much better.
  22. garrison g
    59. Posted by garrison g Sun Nov 8 8:28pm EST

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    i went to that game and i throught it be closer but the sharks play good they didnt do that many mistakes and play very good and that was good pavelski came back

    in all and all good win for the sharks
    GO SHARKS !!!!!
  23. John G
    58. Posted by John G Sun Nov 8 8:08pm EST

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    San Jose = Regular Season champions. Always have been, always will be.

    Pittsburgh = Back-to-back Stanley Cup finalists & current Stanley Cup champions.

    Any questions?
  24. Dutch
    57. Posted by Dutch Sun Nov 8 7:43pm EST

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    @43 Brian S. Craps fan right? Well don't worry I can still serenade your team with the well earned, "Nev-er Won One", I could say the same for some of these Sharks loudmouths, but they've only been around since 1992-93 or thereabouts, although let's be honest, a great regular season team many times and an absolute playoff bust! Rob Flake is a POS as well. All good Kings fans still boo that POS and no he wasn't accepted back that one lame-o season before heading to SJ. @50 Brett W, Fleury is so crappy he shut down your Wings two games in a row when it really mattered, and as someone pointed out he gave up 3 goals not 5. Anyway who cares, regular season game. @55 Drop the Gloves, Yes the Wings are hurting but they do have Delmore, watch out!
  25. <i>cts304</i>
    56. Posted by cts304 Sun Nov 8 7:25pm EST

    Report Abuse

    so many posts so many IDIOTS
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