PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (44-28-9) vs MONTREAL CANADIENS (41-29-11)
IN MONTREAL @ 7:30
RADIO FEED ON WXDX.COM, for video try to look in comments for feed
CANADIENS BLOGS: Habs Eyes on the Prize
NOTES
The Pens website is listing a "normal" lineup for Pittsburgh, as in expect Hal Gill, Marc-Andre Fleury and Max Talbot to be back in which would leave Philippe Boucher, Mathieu Garon and Miroslav Satan all in street clothes. That could change though, so I guess we'll play wait and see.
The Canadiens have aspirations for the #7 seed and to avoid playing Boston, a bitter Northeastern Division rival. PIttsburgh could end up with anywhere from the 4th to the 6th seed depending on how things settle out between the Hurricanes and Flyers.
It's playoff time and if you weren't expecting intensity you need to wake up. Hockey in the spring, it's about to turn up a notch.
Also up for grabs is Evgeni Malkin's chance to clinch the Art Ross Trophy, which is awarded annually to the leading scorer of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Oh wait, that trophy is league wide, but unless Alex Ovechkin scores four more points than Geno tonight, Malkin will win the Ross for the Penguins for the 13th time in the last 21 seasons. Malkin's win would make him the 4th different Penguin to pace the league in points (the others, of course are Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr and Sidney Crosby).
Ironically this would tie the Montreal franchise, tonight's opponent, who currently lead the league with having four different Art Ross winners since the trophy's inception in 1948. If you're a trivia buff those four players are Elmer Lach, Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, Dickie Moore and Guy Lafleur.