Game #65 - at Toronto Maple Leafs

Game 65

Penguins (37-21-6, 80 points) at Maple Leafs (27-27-9, 63 points)

Why does it matter?
Practice makes perfect, and the Pens will get a chance to show what they've learned with another game in Toronto against a team that is playing well.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Somehow the Pens found the back of the net five times (plus one in the shootout) against the Leafs last weekend.
• Maple Leafs - Despite two losses in a row, the Leafs have earned at least a point in 12 of their last 14 games (all in February).

Questions to be answered

• Who will sit with the return of Kennedy and Martin to the lineup? The defense part is easy - Brian Strait has not been recalled (as of this writing). Up front? My guess is Chris Conner.
• Will the penalty kill get it's act together? They've allowed goals in four straight and killed just 12 out of 17 chances over that stretch (not good).
• Can the Pens keep the offense going? I'm not hoping for another 6-spot, but getting three or four behind Reimer would be ideal.

Keys to the game

• Repeat after me: no more dumb penalties. Stay out of the box!
• Pick on Kessel. Yeah, he can skate and score, but his numbers would make you think he spends too much time poaching up ice and not enough time in his own end. He's a -21 on the season.
• Keep getting traffic in front of Reimer. The Pens did a good job with this on Saturday.