Round 2 Game 3 Preview: Penguins/Capitals

by FrankD on May 6, 2009 11:30 AM EDT in News

When Chris Kunitz crushed Philly's Kimmo Timonen into the boards in the first round, any question of a retaliation was handled right then and there when the Flyers' Scottie Hartnell dropped the mitts with Kunitz and stood up for his defenseman. The situation played itself out in the old "govern yourselves" element of hockey that is often, under penalty of suspension or fine, forgotten.

Over the past 24-36 hours we've debated whether the Kunitz hit on Simeon Varlamov was suspension worthy and heard players like Ovechkin say they are disappointed more didn't come of it. There's hardly any way to make guarantees in playoff hockey (wins, fights, or otherwise) but if a Cap is looking to dance with Kunitz tonight it wouldn't be the least bit surprising.

It's looking like Kris Letang may sit this one out after suffering what appeared to be a shoulder (ahem: "upper body") injury in Monday's loss. He did partake in practice this morning, however Dan Bylsma may prefer a healthy defenseman over an injured one, especially when you consider most of Pitt's problems over the past two games have come on - you guess it, defense.

Eric Fehr may be out of the Capitals' lineup, in turn giving Michael Nylander a chance to play. Obviously this is more the territory of Japers' Rink, so hit them up throughout the day to see what Caps injuries look like.

On a final note the crowd will partake in another whiteout tonight. Hopefully it's more invigorating than the last one at Mellon Arena.

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My memory of Philippe Boucher is that he’s still reasonably able in the offensive zone but that as he’s gotten older his feet have turned to lead. Fair? Or no?

Modern Art Notes

by TylerG on May 6, 2009 12:00 PM EDT reply actions

Not necessarily to lead quite yet, but he has slowed down. Along with those changes though, he has improved his play in his own end.

by PensFan024 on May 6, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Last time he played he had some pretty decent hits if I recall. Hope he keeps up the physical play

go pens!

by cyroose on May 6, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

He doesn’t have much jump to his step, that’s fo sho. He makes the most of his size and reach, something a lot of “should retire soon” defensemen do and really put up some good hits in the Philly series when he played a game in place of Letang (I think).

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on May 6, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Sounds like a classic No. 7. Of course: Playoff teams have veteran No. 7s, non-playoff teams have kids/AHL-level scrubs.

Modern Art Notes

by TylerG on May 6, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Like Tyler Sloane?

by Rob Parker on May 6, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Sloan is the Caps’ No. 8, at best.

Modern Art Notes

by TylerG on May 6, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

True. I was just pointing out that we have an AHL backup playing, not a veteran.

by Rob Parker on May 8, 2009 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

First off I’m looking forward to the game tonight. And even though Mr. Boucher has lost a step he is still a responsible D-man with experience. He might be invaluable out there tonight, but we’ll wait and see

Lifes rough, wear a helment

by lambofgad on May 6, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I get the feeling Letang is going to play.

If his shoulder merely popped out, they can re-set it and he should be about good to go.

I have this feeling because they’re saying it’s not an injury issue but one of “strength”. If his shoulder has the strength to play, he should be good.

Of course, this is total speculation on my part, but it makes sense in my head at least.

by Hooks Orpik on May 6, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

Just popping it in...

…isn’t enough. If the shoulder pops back in, it will be easier to separate it again until he lets the injury heal. The problem with shoulder injuries (like a separation) is that they take weeks to heal, and even then, there likely will still be further issues with it down the line.

If he does play, I hope he doesn’t do any permanent damage to his shoulders… but if he just had a separation, that could come about as the result.

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on May 6, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

your defense is being slaughtered. fleury should be throwing his waterbottle at gonchar, oh sure sergei, sit in front of my view, thats fine semin can come knocking as much as he wants. if i was a pens fan I’d be furious.
we’ve had a similar problem here though, if it wasnt for richards i’m sure crosby and malkin would have exploded all over our defense minus first line.
and i love billy guernin, but hes so slow, he’s got to be more physical to make up for his lack of skating. I even acknowledged him in a professionally excited fan way on unholy saturday. [game 6]

by kolparty on May 6, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

What are you trying to say?

Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish, it will fill you up but it won't taste good. - Joe V. Paterno

by carolinaeasy on May 6, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

oh, something along the lines of, "stop sucking."

by kolparty on May 6, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude. Check out Pensblog. You’ll love it.

Modern Art Notes

by TylerG on May 6, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

thats the same play i’ve been seeing. wingers loosing track of thier assignments, dman getting in front of the puck and not blocking the shot. if your going to get in the line of sight, that puck better not make it through

by oldtimehockey09 on May 6, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Kunitz...

I have to say he’s showed me a bit about his character in the way he handled not getting suspended. Instead of saying how the hit wasn’t that bad, or going on about it, he admitted that the hit looked really bad and from what he said, he might have actually felt some remorse for the hit.

To me, it shows he’ll take responsibility for his actions, and that’s a step in the right direction…

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on May 6, 2009 4:22 PM EDT reply actions

yeah but

not doing the crap in the first place would help. it looks bad and like i said, if it wasnt for the mask varlamov would have been in some serious pain.

by oldtimehockey09 on May 6, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah but heat of the moment type of thing. Any guy looking back on a shootout attempt would say he’d do it differently too. It does show the good side though in the wake of an otherwise ugly move.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on May 6, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed

Windy City Hockey

by The Admiral on May 6, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

From the blog on the Pens site and the Coach’s Corner on Pens TV…it doesn’t sound like anything was broken or separated at all. There may have been a pinched nerve or something like that…he did participate in the morning skate doing all the reps with Eaton.

11:44 AM:
Letang spoke with the media following the morning skate. This is what he had to say in regards to his injury.

“Yesterday I went to see the doctor,” Letang said. “It was a strength problem. Today I felt pretty good out there. I battled and got my strength back so it’s up to the coach. My strength is getting back.”

Bylsma was asked about Letang’s status at his post-practice press conference.

“Kris looks good,” he said. “It was a strength issue. After the game he got an injury that immediately caused his strength to go away. His strength was coming back yesterday significantly and more so today so he is going to be a game-time decision, but he looked good this morning.”

by foreurs58 on May 6, 2009 5:33 PM EDT reply actions