Pittsburgh (12-5-0) at Boston (7-7-2)

  • Game info: 7:00 pm EST Tue Nov 10, 2009
  • TV: VS., TSN

By BRETT HUSTON, STATS Writer Nov 9, 4:15 pm EST

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Key injuries are mounting for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and their power play has been rendered virtually non-existent as they’ve lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.

The Boston Bruins can certainly relate.

Both teams are banged up heading into the first of two meetings this week, but the Bruins may have center David Krejci(notes) back in the lineup Tuesday night against the visiting Penguins, who will be missing three-fifths of their top power-play unit.

Pittsburgh (12-5-0) won 11 of its first 13 behind captain Sidney Crosby’s(notes) nine goals and seven assists, but the Stanley Cup champions began to lose some key pieces along the way.

The Penguins went into the season knowing they’d be without forward Max Talbot(notes), who scored both goals in June’s Cup-clinching Game 7 in Detroit, for at least six weeks, but other significant names have gone down as well.

Defenseman Sergei Gonchar(notes) could miss another month with a broken wrist suffered last month and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin(notes) is still likely a few games away from returning from a strained right shoulder.

Forward Tyler Kennedy(notes) has missed four of the past five games with a groin injury and it’s unclear when he’ll return, and defenseman Kris Letang(notes) suffered a shoulder injury at San Jose in Saturday’s 5-0 loss, Pittsburgh’s second straight on the road after starting 7-0-0.

“Sure, we have injuries and it’s there as an excuse if you want to take it,” forward Matt Cooke(notes) said. “But if we want to win hockey games we have to face adversity and find a way to win 1-0 if we have to. You have to adjust, work harder and work smarter.”

Gonchar, Letang and Malkin are integral parts of the power play, which hasn’t converted in 21 chances over the past five games and is 3 for 36 since Gonchar was hurt.

Nearly 40 percent of Crosby’s 103 points last season came with the man advantage, and with the power play suddenly coming up empty, Pittsburgh’s captain has gone four games without a point for the first time in his career.

Boston (7-7-2) has also been plagued by injuries that have played a role in its slow start following a 116-point season. Center Marc Savard(notes) will be out another two to four weeks with a broken foot suffered in mid-October, and left wing Milan Lucic(notes) is still likely a week away from returning from a broken finger that’s sidelined him for 10 games.

There’s some good news, though. Krejci, the Bruins’ second-leading scorer behind Savard with 73 points last season, returned to practice Monday for the first time since being diagnosed with swine flu last week and will likely play against the Penguins.

Krejci doesn’t have a point with the man advantage this season after collecting 19 in 2008-09 - he has five total in 14 games - but Boston’s struggling power-play unit finally broke out Saturday. A miserable 2 for 42 over the past 13 games, the Bruins got power-play goals from Mark Recchi(notes) and Zdeno Chara(notes) in the first period of a 4-2 win over Buffalo.

“That’s what we’ve been telling them - to relax,” coach Claude Julien said. “Eventually you’re going to score goals. You know if you stick with it, it’s going to turn.”

Chara’s goal was his first after he scored 19 last season. The Bruins had scored four goals in going 1-3-1 in their previous five.

Boston, which visits Mellon Arena on Saturday, went 2-1-1 against the Penguins last season, getting a goal and three assists from Krejci.

Updated Nov 9, 4:15 pm EST
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Team Comparison

Team G W L OTL Pts Standings GF GA Road/Home
Pittsburgh 27 18 9 0 36 1st, Atlantic 87 75 9-5-0 Road
Boston 26 13 8 5 31 1st, Northeast 64 64 7-5-3 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 Bruins won the Eastern Conference quarterfinal for their first playoff series win in 10 years. ... RW Michael Ryder, who signed as a free agent after he was a healthy scratch for all but four of the Montreal Canadiens' 12 playoff games last season, scored twice on Wednesday. He recorded 27 goals in 74 regular-season contests. ... LW Milan Lucic returned to the Bruins' lineup after serving a one-game league suspension Monday and fought with Mike Komisarek late in the second period. ... RW Byron Bitz was left out of the lineup. Bitz replaced Lucic in the lineup Monday and recorded an assist in his playoff debut.

Apr 23, 12:02 am EDT
NHL

155 Comments

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  1. HAMMERofTHEgods
    155. Posted by HAMMERofTHEgods Thu Nov 12 4:00pm EST

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    BLACK AND GOLD ITALIAN
    wow you'd think he was a Bruins fan with that name!

    i guess he's not aware that the BLACK and Gold is the Bruins and the POWDER BLUE is the Pens!
  2. A-Train
    154. Posted by A-Train Thu Nov 12 1:50pm EST

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    I'll bank on Crosby slew footing (Chara) his way through games he gets frustrated about without going to the box. Lil baby he was in Boston the other night. Chara should have kicked his ass-well, probably would have gotten tossed for mishandling the NHL's pooh bear.
  3. tomstar
    153. Posted by tomstar Thu Nov 12 9:57am EST

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    I loove wen you guys corect speling and stuf.
    Ar you al inglish teechers?
  4. Chiqis
    152. Posted by Chiqis Wed Nov 11 10:13pm EST

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    Doesn't Malkin earn 9 mill per year? Also, please be advised that proper English dictates that the phrase "could have" is correct, not "could of".
  5. Brett W
    151. Posted by Brett W Wed Nov 11 6:47pm EST

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    Well actually Hudler went to Russia because there was no way in hell any NHL team would pay him 8 million per year. A NHL team might be willing to pay Malkin 8 million per though.
  6. Big Al
    150. Posted by Big Al Wed Nov 11 6:25pm EST

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    Black & Gold Italian @126. I'm going to put your statement in a folder, and save it for next May. I don't see how anyone can state what will happen, when. Did anyone predict the current injuries? I looked at the NHL injury list by team. Malkin does NOT appear on the Pens list. May be he went back to Slavakia like Jiri Hudler, 'cause they can't take it in the NHL.
  7. The unicorn
    149. Posted by The unicorn Wed Nov 11 6:14pm EST

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    "Maybe the Pens dont need crybaby out there maybe put his ass on the tradeblock along with Malkin them 2 losers they might of won the cup last spring this spring they sure will be lifting their jock strap lol while each kissing each other lol"

    Wow.

    I copied and pasted this into microsoft office word and my monitor reached out and slapped me. People; please, please, please, get a grip on the English language before you post.
  8. The unicorn
    148. Posted by The unicorn Wed Nov 11 5:57pm EST

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    Rough stretch for the pens. Even on some of their wins lately they are not playing up to speed. But you have stretches like this so no worries. Good game by the bruins. It was nice to finally see a clean game, without the ridiculous face washing scrums every stoppage. Honestly, if i was a ref I would send anybody involved in an after whistle scrum to the box for two. Or until they grew up. Hats off to the Bruins and lets go Pens.
  9. Brett W
    147. Posted by Brett W Wed Nov 11 5:57pm EST

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    Delmore is probaly better than Brett Lebda.
  10. <i>jrh2526</i>
    146. Posted by jrh2526 Wed Nov 11 5:07pm EST

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    Maybe the Pens dont need crybaby out there maybe put his ass on the tradeblock along with Malkin them 2 losers they might of won the cup last spring this spring they sure will be lifting their jock strap lol while each kissing each other lol
  11. Juicy Jay 412
    145. Posted by Juicy Jay 412 Wed Nov 11 4:33pm EST

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    Props to the Bruins on a good win. Not worried about the Pens though. Slumping now is not so bad because in hockey, you really need to save some for dessert, AKA, the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Crosby will be back in force and the Pens will go back to the finals. Bank on it Crosby haters!!
  12. Dutch
    144. Posted by Dutch Wed Nov 11 4:07pm EST

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    Well thank you Brian, I quite enjoy trading good natured barbs with you and some of the other fans from the Enemy camps. Try to keep the barbs civil, sans some of the below the belt punches. Obviously you're a long time and knowledgable Hockey fan, too few of those South of the Border. What fun is it to be on a Hockey Board whose game results get
  13. Dutch
    143. Posted by Dutch Wed Nov 11 4:02pm EST

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    @140 Hey Doc, that is flat out not true! I thought you knew me better than that. Initially I was razzing the Wings for picking up Delmore, but since I've been tooting his horn so much this year, I am honestly cheering for the guy. I really do think he'd do a better job than some of the overpriced "talent" currently wearing Winged Wheels. I'm down on Brad Stuart because he was a bust for the LA Kings then suddenly he plays well with Detroit (well until the Finals last season I guess). I've never been a Rafalski guy, always thought it was disappointing that Team USA had rely on him to be the shut down D-Man. I did post on the pick news of the Drew Miller pickup and I'd say it's a smokescreen to lure Ryan Miller over to the Wings as soon as Osgood hangs it up. At least you were honest on that other link. Opie Howard isn't the answer!
  14. Brian S
    142. Posted by Brian S Wed Nov 11 3:54pm EST

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    DUTCH......Now I feel as though I have to be nice to you. It's been since 72 since the B's won the Cup. A long time. I don't begrudge the Pens for winning the Cup,they've had good teams when they did win it. It's just fun to get on here and screw around. Back when the Pens were a new team in the league,they had a player named Michel Briere who was a sure superstar and really fun to watch play. He died too early.
    Anyway,good luck to you. You are a knowledgeable fan . But I'll still be looking for LA LA LAND.
  15. tomstar
    141. Posted by tomstar Wed Nov 11 3:25pm EST

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    If the Pens get 76 points in the next 64 games or just 6 games over 500 for the rest of the season, they will have 100 points.
    More than enough to get into the playoffs. When they get healthy, do you really think that they are only going to be only 6 games above 500 for the rest of the season?
    If that is what you think, that is the reason that you don't run a hockey team.
    The Pens proved last year and the year before that they don't need to win the division to get to the finals.
    Cause in the playoffs, they man up and other teams wuss down.
    Ovie can have the scoring title, I'll take a Stanley Cup winner any day. Besides, the Pens have already had the scoring title 13 of the last 21 years anyway and most of those years it meant nothing.
    Only Stanley Cups count.
  16. DON_DOC_IN
    140. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Wed Nov 11 3:21pm EST

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    Azulonius..................Dutch is not a fan of Delmore, nor is he mocking Andy. He is mocking the Red Wings Organization and Wings fans. They lose the Cup and some key players. They didn't get any big impact players to replace what they lost. So when the Wings signed Delmore to play in Grand Rapids, he grabbed that and ran with it. Not sure why, but I think he thinks it is funny. So, I have no problem with him saying the same thing in almost every post. As long as it makes my buddy, happy, I am fine with it!

    Wings claim Miller off waivers? Look out! Dutch may have just received some new material...........................
  17. Azulonius
    139. Posted by Azulonius Wed Nov 11 3:15pm EST

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    @ Dutch-I forgot to mention, no love for Brad Stuart? Yes he did choke in the finals but overall I think he is an extremely good defensemen. Is he worth 3.9 mil? Ehhhh, maybe more like 3 mil. As far as Draper, I didnt expect you to give him any credit lol so its all good. Im not a huge Draper fan but he has his role on the team regardless. Its time for him and Maltby to let go of the old glory days though and hang em up.
  18. DON_DOC_IN
    138. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Wed Nov 11 3:13pm EST

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    Dutch.....I don't remember Malkin getting hurt in game 7? On a side note your captian was a -3 for the series. Lucky for Sid his teammates(Talbot, Scuderi, etc...) really picked him up.

    Sizzle......for someone that is bored and as you said in #116 that you were "out" and "later", you sure have been posting alot. Just saying................. : )
  19. Azulonius
    137. Posted by Azulonius Wed Nov 11 3:10pm EST

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    @sizzle-its not really argueing man, just talking about hockey and answering questions. Its a lot different when people dont flame each other. it allows you to have an actual conversation.
    @Dutch-I knew the Wings were dogging it after game 2 and I couldnt wrap my brain around why. They were seriously pissing me off as to how much they were slacking. A lot of the details about the injuries didnt come til after game 7, then it all made sense and I was able to forgive and forget. I wont lie, even though he wasnt a factor in the finals, I cheered when I saw Sids face after he got crushed into the boards by the mule. he made the right decision by sitting out the rest of the game. Lets not even bring up AFTER the game though ok :P I gotta ask man whats with you and Delmore lol. Are you being serious or are you realy this guys biggest fan? Just when I start to think you are just mocking him you say something to make me believe otherwise.
  20. Elizabeth
    136. Posted by Elizabeth Wed Nov 11 3:06pm EST

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    Cindy Crosby - what a douche. Penguins suck. It'll be more of the same for the rest of the year.
  21. Dutch
    135. Posted by Dutch Wed Nov 11 3:00pm EST

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    @134 Sizzle- Answer: Nope.
  22. sizzle
    134. Posted by sizzle Wed Nov 11 2:47pm EST

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    You would think people would get tired of having the exact same arguments over and over and over and over......................

    Doesn't it ever get boring to you people?
  23. Dutch
    133. Posted by Dutch Wed Nov 11 2:47pm EST

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    @128/29- OK gents I will buy the argument that your team was less than 100%, but come playoffs and finals time who is? Obviously I can't give krissy draper any credit that would go against my code. It'd be like giving the philadelphia flyers credit for something. Not possible! As for Rafalski I didn't realize his injury was so serious, even injured he was a hell of a lot more useful than Brad "$3.9M" Stuart, but at $6M is this guy really more of an asset than Delmore? No way! The series went 7 games and I challenge you guys to say that in the first 30+ minutes of the game that the Penguins didn't either really outplay Detroit or that the Wings were dogging it. Because in a Game 7 at Home you shouldn't be getting soundly outshot, outplayed and outscored to the point where you're scrambling to catch up. Oh yeah I almost forgot, 5 minutes into the 2nd the Penguins lost their "best player"! Go Sid Go! Go Sid Go!
  24. <i>cts304</i>
    132. Posted by cts304 Wed Nov 11 2:38pm EST

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    so many posts so many IDIOTS
  25. DON_DOC_IN
    131. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Wed Nov 11 2:35pm EST

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    BGI-----Good to see ya man! Kinda surprised it is after 2 straight shut-outs...Normal you appear after a big Pens win.....ha. Hope all is well. Steelers looking good again, but my pick as of right now is the Colts Vs Saints for the title! As a Lions fan I have adopted the Saints as mine. A historically weak team that MIGHT have a chance to win it all(unlike my pathetic team)
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