Gameday 30: You Don’t Wear My Chains

PITTSBURGH (19-7-3) VS BOSTON (16-12-2)

THE PAINT CAN, PITTSBURGH, PA.

7:30 EST NBCSN

Tonight marks the 30^th game of the season which is just crazy. The Penguins host the Bruins tonight in NBCSN’s “Rivalry Night Wednesday” further proving that the current mode of thinking is that anytime teams meet in the playoffs it is now a rivalry, even if said meeting was 4 years ago. Not only does “Wednesday Night Hockey” sound just as good as Rivalry Night, but then the league wouldn’t get criticized by dicks like me with their team choices. This would make sense and we all know the NHL is gonna NHL, so whatever. The Bruins have been .500 in their last ten games and currently sit in the 3^rd spot of the Atlantic division with 34 points, which would be good enough for 6^th in the Metro. Yeah, 6^th, because the Metro is nuts right now. Boston won their last game 2-1 over Montreal on Monday (which would’ve been a perfect game for rivalry night, just saying), but overall they are lacking consistency in their play. Unfortunately for all of us the game is on NBCSN, so you will be reminded of the Crosby-Marchand combination from the world cup every 4 seconds. You will also want to punch Marchand in his horse-like mouth within the first 5 minutes.

I haven’t watched many Boston games (footnote: zero) because I hate Boston, so I am interested to see what they’ve got going on. My assumption is they aren’t that good and are just benefitting from playing in the weakest division in the league, and that benefit has them 2 games over .500. But when you trade away core players like Tyler Seguin for Loui Eriksson and then get nothing for Eriksson, you kind of deserve to miss the playoffs a few times. The Bruins also signed David Backes to some ridiculous deal this offseason (6 million dollars…woof).

You may recall Backes being upset about Phil Kessel throwing shade to team USA at the world cup in August, and said that that stuff doesn’t go unnoticed or some shit. Chances are Backes takes a run at Kessel in the first period, and Kessel responds in the second by burying a classic Phil! wrister and then forcing Mrs. Backes to perform a happy ending on the Bruins bench. David Backes, what a Shane Doan.

Projected Starting Lineups:

Sullivan has scratched Eric Fehr in 3 straight and has started Scott Wilson instead, and with 1 goal and 3 assists in those 3 games, Wilson has matched Fehr’s season points total. Matt Murray has also started 3 in a row, so it wouldn’t be a shock to give him the night off as the team seems to be moving in to a  3 on 1 off split with their goalies. Murray did just post a shutout so starting him tonight wouldn’t be the wrong move. Starting Murray any night will never be the wrong move. Friendly reminder Dominic Moore is still in the league, you can almost guarantee he scores tonight.

WHO TO WATCH:

FOR BOSTON:          David Prastrnak

It took me 4 attempts while looking to spell his last name correctly, so Steigy will most likely change the pronunciation every minute. Prastrnak is having one hell of a season posting 18 goals and 6 assists for 24 points in 25 games. The next closest Bruin to him in goals is Marchand at 8. With Prastrnak and Crosby scoring the way they are, this could be a fun matchup.

FOR PITTSBURGH:          PHIL KESSEL

I already mentioned above how Backes will try to show that he is relevant and worth 6 million dollars (or 800k less than the Pens pay Kessel, LOL) and will take a shot at Phil. After seeing Phil unload that slapshot goal against Arizona on Monday, I have a feeling that The Thrill is going to have a big night tonight.

FINAL WORDS:

The Pens are rolling right now and quickly making Emporio Subs wish they didn’t give away free food every time the team scores 5 goals. Boston always plays the Penguins with a grinding style, but if the Pens stick to their fast paced game I don’t think this Boston team has the legs to stick with them. The first line may have size issues with Sheary going against Backes-Marchand, etc, but Sidney Crosby isn’t human right now so that shouldn’t matter.  Expect some questionable hits and dirty plays, but also expect Sullivan to want to win like hell against the club that fired him.

LET’S GO PENS!