Round 2 Game 5 Preview: Penguins/Capitals

by FrankD on May 9, 2009 2:30 PM EDT in News

What started as a best of seven series is now down to a best of three as both teams head back to the Verizon Center in D.C. for Game 5 tonight at 7:05. Washington has dropped two straight and will likely have some extra jump on home ice - that is, if the ice will allow it. Today's Post-Gazette reports that ice conditions in D.C. aren't ideal this time of year with the heat and humidity outside, but according to Ruslan Fedotenko it's not much better in Pitt either.

"I don't think [Mellon Arena's ice] is the best ice in the league, but it has its good days and its bad days. Sometimes, it's better than other times. ... It's pretty much average."

Ruslan Fedotenko
Post-Gazette

There have been a few awkward bounces at Mellon and Verizon throughout the series, so it's kinda hard to argue with the ice quality at either arena.

Pittsburgh will likely skate without Sergei Gonchar, who is listed as both a game-time decision and day-to-day. After initially seeing him writhe in pain after colliding with Alex Ovechkin it's good to know it wasn't too serious an injury. Something tells me that if G5 were tomorrow instead of today he would've been a definite go.

In that respect, and just to be on the safe side, the Penguins recalled Alex Goligoski from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to man the blue line tonight. Dan Bylsma suggested the Penguins will potentially carry seven defensemen if Gonchar does in fact play, just as a security measure. If I had to guess I'd say the Pens' decision to start Goligoski over Boucher was one that came down to characteristics such as speed and overall foot work rather than experience and brute force. Either way this could make things interesting on the PP tonight. Given the hype of back to back games in the playoffs maybe it's not so bad after all to have a fresh set of legs getting the start on D.

As of right now no evidence suggests that either team is looking to alter its starting goaltender, but we'll monitor that and any other updates throughout the afternoon.

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MAF

although i thought his post game after game 3 was histerical i didnt think he would do it. maf has got to come out of the tunnel with his head in the game rather then in the clouds. two games in a row a softie right off the bat

by oldtimehockey09 on May 9, 2009 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

The ice quality in Pittsburgh is probably average around the league, maybe above because there aren’t dozens of basketball games all winter. That there were concerts and other WWEirdness going on there didn’t help.

Either way, it has to be better than the ice at Verizon….

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on May 9, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions

It wasn’t for games 3 and 4. The puck was just stopping on the ice. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that on NHL ice. The puck bounces all over the place on VC ice (and MSG, and many others) but I can’t remember seeing pucks just die on the ice.

by Rob Parker on May 9, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

whenever you get a puddle out there it happens. basically because of all the events the ice crew didnt have the ice level temperature low enough for long enough. yes the ice was there and it was playable. i see a lot of those puddles when im playing in some po dunk rinks out there

by oldtimehockey09 on May 9, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah I know the puck stops in puddles, I just can’t accept that NHL rinks can’t figure out how to not have puddles on the ice.

by Rob Parker on May 9, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

picture a golf course after the greens get airrated

got all them holes in the green. kinda the same premise.

by oldtimehockey09 on May 9, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

TSN reporting Gonchar out for weeks maybe season

" 60 percent of the time...it works everytime"

by shwedy on May 9, 2009 2:55 PM EDT reply actions

(bleep!)

The Pens run towards the playoffs started when Gonch came off the shoulder injury, no coincidence there….huge blow to the Pens’ hopes, obviously

by ahtrap on May 9, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

and no supplementary action against ao.. time to shine gogo gadget

by oldtimehockey09 on May 9, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

How about Golgothaski

Now that is because I’m a Caps fan.

by Rob Parker on May 9, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

for utilizing the golgotham feces demon from dogma

by oldtimehockey09 on May 9, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s the first thing I think of when I hear his name.

by Rob Parker on May 9, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't know how

“fresh” Gogo’s legs are going to be…WBS played last night, too.

by Thunder on May 9, 2009 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

Good point. Well, at least he’ll have that “I gotta impress the coach” drive…right?

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

by FrankD on May 9, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s also young. Everyone skated last night so he’s not at a huge disadvantage by any stretch. Comparatively I’d say a guy like Scuderi or Gill is more likely to be sluggish than Goligoski because they had to play more minutes than they normally play and are older.

by Rob Parker on May 9, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

One of the knocks

Against Goligoski when he was at Minnesota is that he was a pretty aloof player. Always one of the most talented players on the ice, but there were games he seemed uninterested or that he could just get by on his talent. I haven’t seen him play as a pro so I hope he’s outgrown it.

stop by Waving the Wheat (http://wavingthewheat.wordpress.com/) and The College Hockey Blog (http://thecollegehockeyblog.wordpress.com/)

by fetch9 on May 9, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions