Up next: Tomas Kaberle, Matt Stajan and the Toronto Maple Leafs

by FrankD on Jan 9, 2010 8:00 AM EST in 2009-10 game previews

[SBN Toronto Maple Leafs blog - Pension Plan Puppets]

Record: 15-21-9 (14th in the east)

Top scorers: Tomas Kaberle (4g, 34a), Matt Stajan (12g, 21a), Alexei Ponikarovsky (15g, 14a)

Welcome to the first game of a five-game road trip. Some would say taking this sordid losing streak on the road isn't the best of game plans, but I tend to think that if the Pens come out of this above .500 (perhaps 4-1?), then they will skate back onto Mellon ice next week with renewed vigor. In other words, this road trip may be just the thing they need to get back on the right track.

Of course, the last time the Pens went on more than a three-game road trip (November 3 - 10), they finished 1-3. Under normal, bitter circumstances, I'd feel like the chance of a repeat is prevalent. But I'm feeling rarely optimistic this fine morning and really do think this team can get their act together, and it starts tonight in Toronto.

Now Toronto has, for some reason beyond comprehension, really busted Pittsburgh's jocks for a while now. The season series is etched at one a piece, with the most recent game being a 4-3 Pittsburgh loss two days after Christmas. (Thanks again Ian White.)

Last season, after taking the first game of the season series, the Penguins dropped three straight to the Leafs. Again, it's just one of those things.

The Leafs are coming off a fresh 3-2 loss to the Sabres last night, making it their seventh over the last 10 (two of em were in OT). Vesa Toskala was marked with the loss, bringing his season record to 6-9-2. Whether we'll see him or Jonas Gustavsson remains up in the air as of right now. I'll take a gamble and say TO will send in The Monster.

Puck and thread drop at 7:00.

I may be a bit late to the party, as I will hopefully be cheering on my NY Jets who will hopefully smack the Bengals around in the AFC Wild Card. Like I said, feeling optimistic today. "Hopefully" is just about as optimistic as you can get when talking about the Jets.

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I am also feeling optimistic about tonight and this road trip in general. I have to be, because the alternative is too horrible to consider. Has anyone else noticed that we are exactly .500 since December 1. We have actually been worse since we got healthy than we were in November when it seemed like half our starters were injured. Our overall record is still good because we had such a strong start to the season in October, so it’s not time to hit the panic button quite yet, but we definitely need to turn things around soon and I am hopeful that this road trip is what we need to do just that.

by OlenWhitaker on Jan 9, 2010 11:46 AM EST reply actions

Looks like Gonchar’s out again. He’s not in the projected lines.

by JustinM on Jan 9, 2010 12:26 PM EST reply actions

hello all.
i may be swinging by your game thread later. this game is the first part of the cbc double-header tonight (2nd part is the canucks-flames =]), so i get to watch the penguins for once.
it’s good timing to, for checking out team strengths and your blog, since next weekend the pens will be playing in vancouver.

Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
"If Chuck Norris was up against 7 Rangers, he'd call Ryan Kesler."
GO CANUCKS GO!

by missy on Jan 9, 2010 1:02 PM EST reply actions

sorry, typo:
“it’s good timing too, ….”

Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
"If Chuck Norris was up against 7 Rangers, he'd call Ryan Kesler."
GO CANUCKS GO!

by missy on Jan 9, 2010 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

Nice to have you. Hopefully you’ll see us playing decently.

by SlayerGhaleon on Jan 9, 2010 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

Sure thang. Come on by, we’d be happy to have ya. I’ll probably be watching both games as well, so maybe I’ll swing by Nucks Misconduct afterward.

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

by FrankD on Jan 9, 2010 2:54 PM EST up reply actions

For the Record ...

Penguins are 5-3-1 facing an opponent who’s played the night before (while the Penguins didn’t play the night before)

The Leafs, as victims of playing a rested team on the second night of games on consecutive nights: 3-2

Last time these two clubs met, this was the same scenario and Toronto won. interesting development there.

by Kats Hockey on Jan 9, 2010 1:30 PM EST reply actions

Thanks Gus. Unfortunately for Pens fans those aren’t entirely good numbers that are swinging in their favor. And yes, Toronto loves beating the hell out of the Pens. And they do a pretty good job of it too.

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

by FrankD on Jan 9, 2010 2:55 PM EST up reply actions