PITTSBURGH (20-7-3) VS LOS ANGELES (15-12-2)
THE PAINT CAN, PITTSBURGH, PA.
7:30 EST. NBCSN
The Kings make their way to The Paint Can tonight still struggling to find their identity without Jonathan Quick this season. Though they are currently in the second wild card spot in the west, the Kings situation is exactly why you should be thankful the Penguins have two very capable goaltenders in rotation. The Kings 32 points would have the Pens 1 game ahead of Carolina. Speaking of goaltending situations, the Penguins might opt to give Marc-Andre Fleury his first start since the stone age tonight, and since it is a nationally televised game that should go well. More importantly than who will start in goal is who will step up for the defense in the absence of Kris Letang, who is injured thanks to a hit from David Backass the other night. Letang is currently listed as “out for weeks” by Sullivan, the same diagnosis he gave to Kunitz before Kunitz missed 4 games. The Penguins defense has started showing signs of life in the last few games, and losing Kris Letang is a huge blow to any team, but if you’re Derrick Pouliot…. man is this ever your shot. Pouliot has been waiting for this moment since suffering and early season injury, and many believe he is in the Penguins long-term plans, I am not one of them and think any time playing right now is a showcase to scouts, but I am probably wrong as usual. Usually we only talk about the other team in this section, so umm… the Kings suck. Thankfully the game is in Pittsburgh so there should actually be fans there, since most of the LA fans forget there is a hockey team until April. Much like the Bruins tried in the previous game, the Kings play a big, grinding style of offense that tries to suppress the Penguins speed. While the Bruins were able to limit the Pens shots on goal, they weren’t able to win. You can dry hump your prom date all night, but it’s still lying when you tell your friends you got some the next day.
Projected Starting Lineups:
I still have Letang in here because I am not entirely positive Pouliot gets the call. Sullivan has scratched Fehr in 4 straight, so I left him in here because every time I pencil him in he is scrtched and I am hoping that continues.
WHO TO WATCH:
FOR LOS ANGELES: LOS ANGELES
Looking through their lineup I would feel ashamed in telling you fine people to watch a specific player when I am not excited to watch said player. The Kings have a lineup of players that make me say “meh,” so just watch them and be happy most of them aren’t on Pittsburgh.
FOR PITTSBURGH: THE DEFENSE
Grown men pay money and hold up these signs for other grown men to read, we are weird people. With Letang going down the Pittsburgh defense needs to step up. Schultz and Cole have beena great pairing, but htat is with excellent usage and time on ice, will they continue to have success when that number increases? Olli Maatta has been unnoticeable lately, which is a huge improvement for him. I assume Pouliot will be the man called up, all eyes will be on him in his anticipated return. Chances are he goes bar down on his first shot of the game.
Final Words:
The Kings will play a similar game to Boston, but I again see the Pens speed to be too much to handle. The loss of Letang is significant obviously and that could hurt the Pens early on as new pairings are formed and matchups are created. I would look for a shaky first period, but if the Pens are within 2 by the mid-point of the game, don’t change the channel even if Pierre is making your ears bleed. Finally, be sure to go back a post and check out the amazing Pat and Leah and their latest hockey podcast released last night, and go to stephens.com and order your now completed 2016 Stanley Cup champions print!
LET’S GO PENS!
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