Game 5 changes: Petr Sykora out, Miroslav Satan in, Kris Letang questionable
by Hooks Orpik on Apr 23, 2009 1:21 PM EDT
Email
PrintAccording to the penguins.com Dan Byslma said:
"Kris Letang will be game-time and Petr Sykora is not going to play tonight. Miro Satan will go in. That will be something we did this morning."
Even though it's rumored that Letang suffered a lower body injury and Sykora has been hobbled by a long-running shoulder injury Byslma would say (read: lie)
"The decisions that we made today were not based on injuries."
Riiiight.
The interesting angle is Satan. This will be his first game back for Pittsburgh since March 3rd. Even though he's been a disappointment, Satan has still scored 17 goals in the NHL. Also, Satan seemed to turn his game around under Byslma: he scored 3 goals in 7 games for Byslma and was skating noticably harder.
Byslma said today that he still rotate and shuffle players around. So while Satan will take Sykora's place on the 2nd line with Evgeni Malkin and Ruslan Fedotenko, expect to see guys like Pascal Dupuis and Maxime Talbot taking shifts all over the place. And if the Pens have to protect a close lead, that will happen a lot with Craig Adams too.
If Letang can't go, Philippe Boucher, another right handed shot, will take his place in the lineup.
12 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I’m all for putting a healthy Satan in the lineup in favor of an unhealthy (or slumping) Sykora.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
I agree, Sykora had 4 games to contribute. Atliest give Satan a shot. I’m not saying Sykora isn’t motivated, but this will motivate him more and he’ll be back in there shortly unless Satan is scoring goals, which no one on that line but Malkin is doing, and they also aren’t creating chances for Malkin.
Phili B
satan’s probably looking to prove himself. you know he’s not going to sit back or take anything lightly in a game 5, hes a veteran and i’m sure he’s gonna have it out on some checks for the flyers tonight.
And... looking for his next contract
I don’t think Satan wants to talk about WBS as his most recent work experience on his resume when he goes to negotiate his next contract. He has nothing to lose at this point.
I agree, Satan definitely is going to be playing hard tonight…Who knows how many chances he’ll get to play in these playoffs and he definitely is going to want to prove himself for a GM out there to get him a contract for next season.
Satan wouldn’t have been such a good sport sucking it up riding buses in the minors if he didn’t want to play in the NHL anymore. I don’t think he wants to go to Europe to play just yet, and this is basically his only chance to show he’s still got something in the tank, even if he’s not a 30 goal scorer anymore.
So I’m pretty excited to see what he might be able to do tonight.
finally
i have been screaming from my cubicle to get statan in there. sykora has looked slow, and made some questionable decisions. if he’s hurt, fine but he should not have been in there in the first place then. boucher starting wont hurt us too bad. hes a solid sakting dman i just like how letang plays the game. hopefully we end this sseries tonight and get the boys some rest.
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 23, 2009 2:25 PM EDT reply actions
I can get on board with this if Sykora is injured. Otherwise I think it is a bad idea. But hey I got my fill of “I-told-you-so’s” when not trading Staal worked out so If I am wrong here I won’t feel too bad. But I still don’t understand how the entire fan base seems to think that Satan is all of the sudden going to start playing differently than he has his whole career. He is streaky, he takes plays off and he doesn’t hustle. Add all of that to the fact that he hasn’t seen NHL playing time in months and still everyone seems to love this move.
Get well soon Sykora the Pens are going to need you.
hate to be a naysayer, but I don’t think the series is going to end tonight. Just a feeling…probably based on games 2-4, the way the Flyers showed up to play, those games could have easily gone 2-1 in favor of Philly, and I think they’ve got one last gasp left in ’em.
I’m thinking Pens close it out in 6, it won’t get back to the igloo again…just not feeling a closeout in the offing tonight…but then again, what do I know, I thought Steve Mason and the ceebee jeebies would give the Red Wings a good fight…
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on PensBurgh
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Thursday’s Three Stars: Kings win eighth straight; Kopitar’s sweet breakaway deke
- King leads Kings to super-meta Game 3 victory over the Coyotes
- Coyotes Coach Dave Tippett on embellishment: ‘The game is turning a little dishonest’ (VIDEO)
- No Hanzal, no Aucoin for Coyotes in Game 3 vs. Kings; Hal Gill, pylon (Playoff Puck Previews)
- Tom Renney’s contract not renewed by Edmonton Oilers; who might replace him?
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- King, Quick lead LA Kings to brink of Cup final with 2-1 win over Coyotes in Game 3
- King, Quick lead Kings to brink of Cup final with 2-1 win over Coyotes in Game 3
- Milano takes over NHL's Twitter feed for Game 3
- Scrivens gets shutout as Marlies blank Barons 5-0 in Game 1 of AHL West final
- Kostka scores twice as Admirals rout IceCaps 6-1 in Eastern Conference opener
