Penguins (34-15-4, 72 points) at Capitals (28-15-10, 66 points)
Why does it matter?
Life without Geno begins with a difficult road match against the Caps, who have their superstars available to them. This game will be a measuring stick for the 20 guys that take the ice tomorrow since they don't have Malkin and there's no telling when they'll get Crosby back.
What has been happening lately?
Why does it matter?
Life without Geno begins with a difficult road match against the Caps, who have their superstars available to them. This game will be a measuring stick for the 20 guys that take the ice tomorrow since they don't have Malkin and there's no telling when they'll get Crosby back.
What has been happening lately?
- Pens - Eight wins in the past nine games, including five in a row.
- Capitals - They are a mediocre 5-3-5 since the Winter Classic, but Ovechkin and Backstrom each had four points as the Caps beat the Bolts on Friday.
- How does the team react to their first serious long-term injury to a star since the end of the lockout?
- Which Ovechkin will show up - the one with 8 shots and nothing to show for it or the one that scores on the power play and sets up three other goals?
- Can the Pens avoid the slow starts that have plagued them against the Rangers and Sabres?
- Stay disciplined. The Caps have not been drawing many penalties - don't give the refs a reason to change that.
- Stay close on Ovechkin - let him fire all the pucks he wants from near the blue line, but once he gets near the slot area, take away time and space.
- Get ugly goals. That's how this team needs to win right now - get the puck to the net and crash hard.
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