Gameday 80 - Devils
7:30 pm
CONSOL Energy Center
TV: Versus
EDIT: Sorry for the screw ups when gameday was originally posted.
It's the final regular season game at home. It feels like just yesterday that Mario christened the ice at the CONSOL and the new building opened up. Now it's preparing for it's first ever playoff run.
But first, the Devils. With Lord Stanley' Tournament in the near future, it would be easy to overlook this game while your eyes are on the postseason. That would be a huge mistake. Home ice still hangs in the balance and the Penguins need every point they can get if they want to start the second season on friendly ice.
Don't think that the Devils won't take great glee out of playing spoiler. They'd love to wreck the Penguins plans once again. The Pens need to knock them out.
Know your enemy: Running With The Devils
What they're saying about the Devils:
That Zach Parise is going to be just fine. The Devils need to find a way to sign him yet not handcuff the organization from making other moves we need to make. On this coming Sunday, approx 6pm, I will have to start rooting for a different team if the Stanley Cup Playoffs are going to be entertaining at all.
Season series: Penguins Lead 3-2
Last meeting: March 25th, 2011 - Penguins Won 1-0 [SO]
What we said in our recap:
The Penguins not only advanced in their quest to win the Atlantic Division, they buried one of their rivals in the process. After the game, Kovalchoo pretty much said the Devils are done. And so it goes. Marc-Andre Fleury finally has his signature win against Marty Brodeur. A 21-save stonewalling accentuated by three straight saves in the shootout. You have to give the Devils their due. They went on some unrealistic run to get themselves in a position to even sniff the playoffs. But in the end, they ain't coming to the dance. Maybe they shouldn't have lost 300 games in a row to start the season.
Penguins notes:
Dustin Jeffrey apparently had surgery today.
Devils notes:
It looks like Johan "MOOOOOOOOOOSE" Hedberg will be in net.Brodeur may retire after next season.No Parise for the Devils.
Favorite Devils-related Photoshop or gif:
Penguins lines:
James Neal - Mark Letestu - Alex Kovalev
Chris Kunitz - Jordan Staal - Tyler Kennedy
Pascal Dupuis - Max Talbot - Chris Conner
Mike Rupp - Craig Adams - Mike Comrie
Brooks Orpik - Kris Letang
Paul Martin - Zbynek Michalek
Ben Lovejoy - Matt Niskanen
Marc-Andre Fleury
Devils Lines from Empty Netters:
Ilya Kovalchuk - Travis Zajac - Nick Palmieri
Brian Rolston - Patrik Elias - Mattias Tedenby
Dainius Zubrus - Jacob Josefson - David Clarkson
Rod Pelley - David Steckel - Vladimir Zharkov/Adam Mair
Henrik Tallinder - Mark Fayne
Anssi Salmela - Andy Greene
Mark Fraser - Jay Leach
Johan Hedberg
Scoreboard Watching:
Hit "Post" too early. Screw up City today.
The actual games:
Do It.
Go Pens.