GDT: Game #72 | Blues @ Penguins | 3.16 @ 1:00 EST

[BHD]

PREVIEW

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The St. Louis Blues go on a crazy run after finding themselves in a hole to start the season. Ever since Craig Berube took over from Mike Yeo, the Blues have gone 29-18-4 - a 112-point pace. They would have only accumulated 73 points if Yeo (.447 winning percentage through the first 19 games) had lasted the whole season. The big question, though, is whether they can carry this level of play into the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Penguins are hitting their stride at the right time. Leading the way is none other than Sidney Crosby, who is one pace for his best season (statistically) since 2013-14. What’s even more impressive is that he’s putting up these numbers while taking care of business at the other end of the rink. If the Penguins go deep in the playoffs, #87 will be a big reason why.

STARTING LINEUPS



10 - Schenn - 90 O’Reilly - 18 Thomas
17 Schwartz - 21 Bozak - 7 Maroon
12 Sanford - 70 Sundqvist - 20 Steen
62 MacEachern - 49 Barbashev - 15 Fabbri

29 Dunn - 27 Pietrangelo
19 Bouwmeester - 55 Parayko
42 Del Zotto - 41 Bortuzzo

50 Binnington



19 McCann - 87 Crosby - 59 Guentzel
53 Blueger - 71 Malkin - 81 Kessel
12 Simon - 27 Bjugstad - 72 Hornqvist
36 Blandisi - 7 Cullen - 10 Wilson

8 Dumoulin - 5 Trotman (LOL)
73 - Johnson - 4 Schultz
28 Petterrson - 44 Gudbrandson

30 Murray

PLAYERS TO WATCH

#10 | Brayden Schenn

9 career goals against the Penguins, including 7 on Pittsburgh ice.

#81 | Phil Kessel

Has found the back of the net 3 times in the last 5 games after going 16 games without a goal.


GAMEDAY MUSIC


LGP!​

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[BHD]

I'll update the lineups once there is confirmation about Rust and Letang.

 

[Tom Hanks]

Wow 10am game for me which I don’t mind. Hopefully we see more of the same from last game with our structure for 60 mins against a better team.

 

[Ryder71]

Wash and CBJ should have tough games tonight, not that I think the Blues are easy pickings, but they're without two key offensive wingers in Tarasenko and Perron. We need to bring it from the drop of the puck. If we do good things should happen. Let's go Pens!

 

[bathroomSTAAL]

Oh good an excuse to drink a bunch of beer at 1 PM

 

[Pens x]

Ugghhh still kind of annoyed we donated Sundqvist to St. Louis.

Tough game but the Blues have cooled off a bit over the last 10 games.

 

[madinsomniac]

Solid GDT....
Go Pens!!!

 

[EightyOne]

Pens going for the afternoon delight.

 

[Andy99]

Since it’s a day game, I’m expecting the Pens to sleep walk through the first period and likely get down 3-0 before coming back to tie the game and send it to OT, only to promptly lose it there...also it’s the game before they play the Flyers so I’m not expecting much...

Blues are teetering on the edge and are desperate...expect to see them outwork the Pens...only question is whether our goaltending can hold them off whoever it is (see Bob last night)

Going to miss the first half of this...hopefully that means they pot a few since I seem to hold them back...lol

 

[ColePens]

Blues should be desperate. Pens have been f***ing awesome. I think the blues will shine early and the pens have to make due and hope they aren't down big. Then convert...

Let's go!

 

[Andy99]

Pens going for the afternoon delight.

I wish I was...beats playing hockey

 

[JakeNBake59]

hopefully they dont come back tomorrow then and its CDS as well

 

[chethejet]

Pens are winning and no rush here. But with the playoff push to finish 2nd or 3rd in the Metro and play the flounders is my preference. Blues will be a tough out today and Flyers no matter will bring it due to the rivalry. But who knows. Win the next two and Pens up 6 in the wild card is a good position.

 

[Night Shift]

Watch out for the Schenn cheapshot to the head on Murray

 

[66-30-33]

Oh good an excuse to drink a bunch of beer at 1 PM

Or 10AM.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'm 99.99% positive that Rust and Letang are not playing today solely because Sullivan doesn't want to mess with a working lineup. It's dumb because Trotman is bad, but I really believe they aren't playing just because they're on a good run right now.

 

[EightyOne]

I'm 99.99% positive that Rust and Letang are not playing today solely because Sullivan doesn't want to mess with a working lineup. It's dumb because Trotman is bad, but I really believe they aren't playing just because they're on a good run right now.

 

[CrosbyMalkin]

Ugghhh still kind of annoyed we donated Sundqvist to St. Louis.

Tough game but the Blues have cooled off a bit over the last 10 games.

Sundqvist would still be nothing for us and is no big loss. I would not put him in our lineup over even Cullen as the 4th line Center.

 

[EightyOne]

Poll winning combo: waffles+nutella

 

[cheesedanish87]

I'm 99.99% positive that Rust and Letang are not playing today solely because Sullivan doesn't want to mess with a working lineup. It's dumb because Trotman is bad, but I really believe they aren't playing just because they're on a good run right now.

Yeah, it feels like that to me as well.

If the Pens lose today i bet they play tomorrow, if they win today they might keep them out again.

 

[66-30-33]

Pens are winning and no rush here. But with the playoff push to finish 2nd or 3rd in the Metro and play the flounders is my preference. Blues will be a tough out today and Flyers no matter will bring it due to the rivalry. But who knows. Win the next two and Pens up 6 in the wild card is a good position.

4-2 Pens in the open net where McGoal scores again with Jake, Sid, Kessel getting the other 3.

1st (14-13 Pens shots) 14-13 Pens
- no goals
2nd (17-10 Blues shots) 30-24 Blues
- no goals
3rd (8-7 Pens shots) 37-32 Blues
- Schenn 1-0 Blues 0:18
- Schenn 2-0 Blues 1:12 PPG
- Jake 2-1 Blues 4:20
- Crosby 2-2 Tie Game 5:17 PPG
- Kessel 3-2 Pens 8:11 PPG
- McCann 4-2 Pens 19:56 EN

Murray 35 saves
Binnington 28 saves

Crosby 3 points
Kessel 2 points
McCann 2 points
Jake 2 points
Dumo 1 point

 

[Shady Machine]

No way Sully would keep Rust and Letang out of lineup just because they’ve been winning. I think it’s more out of abundance of caution.

 

[ownal]

4-2 Pens in the open net where McGoal scores again with Jake, Sid, Kessel getting the other 3.

1st (14-13 Pens shots) 14-13 Pens
- no goals
2nd (17-10 Blues shots) 30-24 Blues
- no goals
3rd (8-7 Pens shots) 37-32 Blues
- Schenn 1-0 Blues 0:18
- Schenn 2-0 Blues 1:12 PPG
- Jake 2-1 Blues 4:20
- Crosby 2-2 Tie Game 5:17 PPG
- Kessel 3-2 Pens 8:11 PPG
- McCann 4-2 Pens 19:56 EN

Murray 35 saves
Binnington 28 saves

Crosby 3 points
Kessel 2 points
McCann 2 points
Jake 2 points
Dumo 1 point

Is Malkin not playing today? I don't see him with a point.

 

[heysmilinstrange]

Happy that this is an afternoon game because I'm watching Jack Hughes play tonight against my local USHL team. It should be a great day of hockey for me.

 

[cheesedanish87]

No way Sully would keep Rust and Letang out of lineup just because they’ve been winning. I think it’s more out of abundance of caution.

Yeah.

The reason they are being cautious is because they are winning.

If the Pens weren't winning they wouldn't be cautious.