Looking at the Skeddy: Next 5 games provide challenges for Pens
by Hooks Orpik on Jan 4, 2012 3:07 PM EST
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Sidney Crosby is the best player in the world. Kris Letang was writing his candidacy for the Norris ballot. Neither has been on skates recently and heaven only knows when one, or both, might be back in the lineup. It's certainly no time in the near future.
Despite this, the rest of the Penguins will have to carry on. The next five games could well be the toughest they see all season.
Friday, the Pens play host to the Eastern Conference-leading, outdoor-rink-saluting New York Rangers. After a long layoff, how will their legs be?
Saturday, they're right back at it when Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils (who thumped Pittsburgh in their last game) make an appearance at Consol.
Next Tuesday, Jan. 10, the Ottawa Senators come to town. Ottawa has been one of the biggest pleasant surprises in the East, currently clinging to sixth place in the conference and are winners of three straight games. The last time they faced the Pens, the Sens tallied six goals to secure a win.
Then the Pens have to fly to Washington for the back-end of a back-to-back with the Caps. Don't look now, but Washington's won four straight games. Furthermore, apparently Alex Ovechkin remembered he's capable of racking up points, as he has multi-point games in those four games.
Finally, the Pens finish up this highlighted segment by flying down to Miami for a game with the Southeast division-leading Florida Panthers. Florida's fallen off a little lately, but they did take the first game against Pittsburgh down in their barn.
The Penguins have yielded positive results against the weaker teams in the league, but have a tough record against the better teams. And on the surface, this is common sense and basic: The good teams are gonna beat ya more than the bad ones.
Evgeni Malkin and James Neal have been phenomenal and the missing offensive muscle from last year. Paul Martin is on the comeback trail and should be back soon to help bolster the defense with Brooks Orpik, Zbynek Michalek and Matt Niskanen. Pascal Dupuis' been a five-tool player, if hockey had such a term, and Jordan Staal's been a force at both ends of the ice. All of these guys, plus Chris Kunitz and the surging Tyler Kennedy, will have to continue to lead the way on the ice for the Pens to have a chance.
The NHL regular season is a long and grueling test, and this next five-game stretch will give the Penguins a pretty good chance to measure themselves.
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Yikes
This whole part of the schedule is scaring the crap out of me, especially given how players are dropping like flies. Disco seems to get them ready, but you gotta wonder when the depleted roster is really going to catch up with them. Let’s hope Flower is the best player during this stretch.
That’s a good point about Fleury, one maybe I should have touched on. There are two sets of back-to-backs, and the Pens play a fairly murderous schedule from Jan 6 -24 with a ton of games. I wouldn’t be surprised if the team uses Johnson for 2 of these 5 games, and he hasn’t been as great in some of his later appearances this year as we’ve been accustomed to.
Ever since Conklin in ‘08, the Pens haven’t had a backup goalie play like a backup in a while, and they might need a gem or two from more than just MAF along the way here.
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
Johnny
Something about him has seemed off this year. He’s 2-4, .885 and 3.24 and three of his last four games haven’t been his best. The last game he played in was December 16 and he was yanked after two periods. I’m sure he realizes he’ll be needed to play and play well during this stretch.
I’m really hoping Dupuis and Asham will be okay for this—it’s disconcerting that they haven’t practiced lately. I hope it gives everyone a chance to be well-rested but not rusty, too. The Rangers are really hot—I haven’t been this worried about the Penguins facing them in ages. But let’s keep the faith. We’ll see what we see Friday.
"This would have been a goal if it went in."--Paul Steigerwald, 2/10/11
The lack of practice doesn’t bother me too much, especially since Dupuis’ been able to get on skates a little. Might as well take advantage of the rare long rest period. I would hope that he could get a good, full practice in tomorrow. I suppose we’ll see.
But good point, the last thing the team needs is any more injuries to pile up.
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
The Pens have not been able to beat the better teams in the East sine Sid and Tanger went down, and in spite of the play of Geno, Neal and Duper they got beaten badly by the Flyers and the Devils. I hope they an elevate their game to just a little more than compete. We need some victories here.
The Hockey Dr.
Well
Johnny should get a start or two with the back to back games, which doesnt really help our cause. We will be lucky to get 2 wins outta this
Thats what she said! - Michael Gary Scott
play off,s
is the next 5 games.make or brake.i don,t see them makeing the play-off,s this year.teams r closeing in.the defence #4,#7.SUCK bid time.tanger is missed.5 on 5.power-play.up front all lines playing well.O johnny please find the form,like u did start of last season.it is going 2 b scarey.
The way Staal is playing and how his hands have improved so much, if he had a little better knack for finding the back of the net, he’d be a 40 goal scorer. Just sayin!
Let's grind these bitches down!
by lostprophetRJX on Jan 6, 2012 10:15 AM EST via mobile reply actions
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