GDT: #35 | Wild vs Penguins | Thu Dec20@7PM est | ATTSN-PT, FS-N, FS-WI

[EightyOne]

As usual, lines for both teams subject to change, will attempt to update here off of Twitter later tonight.
Pens Lines updated:
Guentzel - Crosby - Rust
Simon - Malkin - Kessel
Pearson - Brassard - Hornqvist
Sheahan - Cullen - Reese
Dumoulin - Letang
Maatta - Riikola
Pettersson - Johnson

DeSmith
Murray

Wild Lines updated:
Zucker - Staal - Granlund
Parise - Koivu - Neiderreiter
Greenway - Coyle - Kunin
Foligno - Ericksson Ek- Fehr
D - D
D - D
D - D
Dubnyk
Stalock

Let's
Go
Pens!

Click to read more...

 

[Empoleon8771]

The D pairs are going to look so much better with Oleksiak out and Riikola in. I actually like them a lot, not just liking them relative to the heaping piles of dung that they usually are.

I've been super happy with the Pettersson-Johnson pair, so fixing the Maatta-Oleksiak pair goes a long way in my eyes.

 

[EightyOne]

The D pairs are going to look so much better with Oleksiak out and Riikola in. I actually like them a lot, not just liking them relative to the heaping piles of dung that they usually are.

I've been super happy with the Pettersson-Johnson pair, so fixing the Maatta-Oleksiak pair goes a long way in my eyes.

It is currently a fantasy line-up. I figured they'd give Pettersson a bone and move him up with Maatta, but, I am okay if they want Riikola put right into the second pair, too. As long as Oleksiak is scratched--thanks for the fight, but, yeah.

I am ready to have the exact same defense as last night though.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Yea, hoping the new D-Pairs sans Rig can give them some momentum but gonna be a tough back to back after a heated win over WSH.

Get to see Riikola play again. Thats cool.

 

[Empoleon8771]

It is currently a fantasy line-up. I figured they'd give Pettersson a bone and move him up with Maatta, but, I am okay if they want Riikola put right into the second pair, too. As long as Oleksiak is scratched--thanks for the fight, but, yeah.

I am ready to have the exact same defense as last night though.

I think they should plan on keeping Pettersson-Johnson together tbh, Johnson has looked a lot better recently with Pettersson and I think the two just complement each other well. That pair works like Sullivan thought Maatta-Johnson would work at the start of the year. I'd like to see Sullivan increase their responsibility and difficulty in their matchups to see if they can handle 2nd D pair minutes and competition.

 

[MrBurghundy]

It is currently a fantasy line-up. I figured they'd give Pettersson a bone and move him up with Maatta, but, I am okay if they want Riikola put right into the second pair, too. As long as Oleksiak is scratched--thanks for the fight, but, yeah.

I am ready to have the exact same defense as last night though.

They've paired Maatta and Riikola almost every time he's been in the lineup I believe. So it would be the most likely outcome to do it again.

Also for the people who want to shit on Riikola's advanced stats, you may want to factor that in. Maatta is dog shit on skates. That may affect him a bit.

 

[Fatty McLardy]

Now watch them lose like 3-1 to the Wild...

Powerplay needs to run through Crosby or Malkin. Recchi needs to get his head out of his ass and fix the PP.

 

[Bnat66]

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Come on boys, B2B wins here please!!!

Let's Go Pens!!!!

 

[DegenX]

Good stuff @EightyOne
Thanks again for all your help this month!

 

[Andy99]

I hope Rust is playing...they may sit him because he looked pretty hobbled after shot blocking Ovie last night....wouldn’t be surprised to see him out and Simon in....

Either way, they won’t be able to generate the emotion, intensity of last night’s game...I’m sure there’ll be a big letdown...let’s hope Minn is not interested in playing all out against a non-rival tonight....and that DeSmith is on point and can steal us one...

 

[Gurglesons]

I’m curious of Oleksiak broke his orbital. He looked in bad shape.

 

[DegenX]

I hope Rust is playing...they may sit him because he looked pretty hobbled after shot blocking Ovie last night....wouldn’t be surprised to see him out and Simon in....

Either way, they won’t be able to generate the emotion, intensity of last night’s game...I’m sure there’ll be a big letdown...let’s hope Minn is not interested in playing all out against a non-rival tonight....and that DeSmith is on point and can steal us one...

They re-assigned Wilson, so I'd say he's fine and Simon will be in tonight. Simon practiced with the team and took contact yesterday, maybe they just want to give it 24 hours to be sure.

 

[cheesedanish87]

If the Pens come out flat with no energy it would be completely excusable.

It just feels like a scheduled loss.

 

[IcedCapp]

They've paired Maatta and Riikola almost every time he's been in the lineup I believe. So it would be the most likely outcome to do it again.

Also for the people who want to **** on Riikola's advanced stats, you may want to factor that in. Maatta is dog **** on skates. That may affect him a bit.

Dog shit would probably keep the opposition away from the puck

 

[EliteGoaltending]

Into the Wild is a good movie. I loved it, but I watched it when I was a teenager.

 

[Gurglesons]

Simon should help us a lot. Really curious where he slots.

I personally go..

Pearson - Crosby - Hornqvist
Jake - Malkin - Kessel
Simon - Brassard - Rust
ZAR - Cullen - Sheahan

We will probably see..

Jake - Crosby - Simon
ZAR - Malkin - Kessel
Pearson - Brassard - Hornqvist
Sheahan - Cullen - Rust

 

[EliteGoaltending]

Simon should help us a lot. Really curious where he slots.

I personally go..

Pearson - Crosby - Hornqvist
Jake - Malkin - Kessel
Simon - Brassard - Rust
ZAR - Cullen - Sheahan

We will probably see..

Jake - Crosby - Simon
ZAR - Malkin - Kessel
Pearson - Brassard - Hornqvist
Sheahan - Cullen - Rust

Sullivan would never

 

[Gurglesons]

Sullivan would never

Why?

 

[EliteGoaltending]

Why?

He should explain why. But I just know he wouldn't ice this top 6.

Jake is taken away from Sid only when he's on a long cold streak.

 

[Gurglesons]

He should explain why. But I just know he wouldn't ice this top 6.

Jake is taken away from Sid only when he's on a long cold streak.

Then you run Jake - Sid - Kessel which has been done and Simon - Malkin - Hornqvist.

 

[Gurglesons]

So league average SV% is .908. Maybe we’ve been to hard on Moose.

 

[K Fleur]

I wanna see Not Sprong get more minutes tonight. Thought he was really good last night.

 

[TNT87]

Like others have mentioned I wonder how much the Pens have left in the tank after a physical and emotional win over the Caps. Letang played a ton of minutes last night. I believe they said it was the most in his career in regulation. Hopefully the high of the win carries over tonight.

 

[Don'tcry4mejanhrdina]

Anyway, how about those Pens, huh?