GDT: 82|Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators|The Grandest Stage of Them All!!!

[ColePens]

SENATORS (28-41-11) at PENGUINS (46-29-6)
7:30 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, RDS, TSN5, NHL.TV
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The Game

The Pittsburgh Penguins can secure home-ice advantage for the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a win or a loss in overtime or a shootout against the Ottawa Senators in their regular-season finale at PPG Paints Arena on Friday.

After defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 in a shootout Thursday, Pittsburgh is second in the Metropolitan Division. It is one point ahead of Columbus and the New Jersey Devils, who each have one game remaining.

The Penguins, who have won four of six (4-2-0), have five more regulation/overtime wins than the Blue Jackets and Devils.

Ottawa will play its penultimate game of the season before finishing against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. It has lost eight of its past 10 games (2-8-0) and will look for two straight wins for the first time since a three-game winning streak from March 12-16.

The Penguins have won each of their two previous games against the Senators this season by a combined score of 9-4, including a 6-3 home win on Feb. 13.

Senators at Penguins preview


Senators projected lineup

Mike Hoffman -- Matt Duchene -- Colin White
Alexandre Burrows -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Bobby Ryan
Magnus Paajarvi -- Zack Smith -- Tom Pyatt
Max McCormick -- Filip Chlapik -- Ryan Dzingel

Mark Borowiecki -- Thomas Chabot
Fredrik Claesson -- Cody Ceci
Ben Harpur -- Christian Wolanin

Craig Anderson
Daniel Taylor


Scratched: Erik Karlsson
Injured: Mark Stone (leg), Mike Condon (concussion), Chris Wideman (hamstring), Marian Gaborik (back)


Penguins projected lineup

Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust
Carl Hagelin -- Evgeni Malkin -- Patric Hornqvist
Conor Sheary -- Riley Sheahan -- Phil Kessel
Zach Aston-Reese -- Josh Jooris -- Tom Kuhnhackl

Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Olli Maatta -- Justin Schultz
Matt Hunwick -- Jamie Oleksiak

Matt Murray
Casey DeSmith

Scratched: Chad Ruhwedel, Dominik Simon
Injured: Derick Brassard (lower body), Carter Rowney (upper body)

Oh.. it's Wrestlemania weekend!!





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[Ryder71]

Just win and no injuries!

 

[Doogle]

Just win and no injuries!

Yeah I'm just glad we're not playing a playoff team; less inclination to try to injure.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Whats the word on whos starting in net?

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Yeah I'm just glad we're not playing a playoff team; less inclination to try to injure.

Dont underestimate the team we beat in the ECF last year.

 

[Ryder71]

Yeah I'm just glad we're not playing a playoff team; less inclination to try to injure.

True but sometimes these teams play loose as they have nothing to lose. We can't take this game for granted.

Although, they got a good number of key injuries.

 

[GoSensGo6172]

Oh please be starting Murray. I really need him going tonight for me on my team. Also, he’s just now starting to get in a rhythm before the playoffs, he needs to keep that going. He had a month off...he’ll have a few days to rest before the first round starts. START HIM!

 

[Shrimper]

I'm surprised we didn't sit someone like Sid or Geno and call up someone from WBS. Still, win and get to 100.

 

[3074326]

Just get Malkin 3 points and Crosby 2 goals. Preferably empty net just for the main board festivities.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Just get Malkin 3 points and Crosby 2 goals. Preferably empty net just for the main board festivities.

I'd prefer if all of them were on the PP just so the main board could talk about how the NHL gifted them those PPs to reach those milestones.

 

[3074326]

I'd prefer if all of them were on the PP just so the main board could talk about how the NHL gifted them those PPs to reach those milestones.

Yes indeed. Malkin gets two secondary assists on PP empty netters scored by Crosby.

 

[Ogrezilla]

all I really care about tonight is staying healthy.

 

[HuskerTornado]

I'm surprised we didn't sit someone like Sid or Geno and call up someone from WBS. Still, win and get to 100.

They are playing for the #2 metro seed, can't really afford to do that.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I'm surprised we didn't sit someone like Sid or Geno and call up someone from WBS. Still, win and get to 100.

I'd be in favor of starting DeSmith. Sure, you want to secure 2nd in the Metro, but a half decent effort against a depleted Ottawa squad with DeSmith in nets should get the job done.

I have visions of that meaningless Flyers game a couple of years ago where Murray got hurt, forcing us to go with Jeff Zatkoff for the first couple of playoff games. Obviously worked out in the end, but that was tempting fate.

 

[Penguin Suited Up]

I'd be in favor of starting DeSmith. Sure, you want to secure 2nd in the Metro, but a half decent effort against a depleted Ottawa squad with DeSmith in nets should get the job done.

I have visions of that meaningless Flyers game a couple of years ago where Murray got hurt, forcing us to go with Jeff Zatkoff for the first couple of playoff games. Obviously worked out in the end, but that was tempting fate.

Murray could get injured in game 1 of the first round. Or not. You have to start him in a game of this significance. This isn’t a meaningless game.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Destroys these turds and clinch home ice.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Murray could get injured in game 1 of the first round. Or not. You have to start him in a game of this significance. This isn’t a meaningless game.

It's not meaningless to the point you scratch half your roster and dress team WBS, but it's meaningless to the point where you should be able to still win with your backup goalie and not risk having your #1 miss playoff time.

 

[Penguin Suited Up]

It's not meaningless to the point you scratch half your roster and dress team WBS, but it's meaningless to the point where you should be able to still win with your backup goalie and not risk having your #1 miss playoff time.

Anything can happen in one game of hockey. The Senators were one goal away from eliminating us last year. You have to go with your best guys- especially in net.

 

[Penguin Suited Up]

And wow, apparently DeSmith is starting. I disagree with this.

 

[cheesedanish87]

Good move IMO.

Desmith has given the Pens a chance to win every game hes been in besides the Boston game.

 

[Ryder71]

And wow, apparently DeSmith is starting. I disagree with this.

This is so dumb on so many levels. Even if we win it's a stupid tactic.

 

[Ryder71]

Murray could get injured in game 1 of the first round. Or not. You have to start him in a game of this significance. This isn’t a meaningless game.

Yep, You go with your best. If we had the 2hd seed wrapped up then sure, no big deal. But considering home ice is on the line, you put your best out there. This only makes sense if MM has a nagging injury or something.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Thanks for doing this last minute, Cole.

Long hours trying to complete a job. I fell asleep last night starting it.
This was as far as I got.


Edit: Music NSFW


To Stay in your theme....

WRESTLEMANIA 1996



VS.

 

[Shockmaster]

This is so dumb on so many levels. Even if we win it's a stupid tactic.

Agreed. In a game of this significance, the #1 goalie should be playing. Murray would get 5 or 6 days off between tonight and Game 1. Fatigue will not be an issue.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Not really. Still need our backup to be sharp. Just in case. We had the luxury of having both Murray and Fleury the last two years.

Desmith has a solid game tonight and that gives him some more confidence heading into the playoffs. We already played Murray on the last set of back to backs. Played last night. If he started again tonight, that kinda shows they dont have much faith in DeSmith.

Its less about resting Murray, and showing some confidence in our backup and letting him get another game in before the playoffs