Game Thread: Bolts host Penguins 10/29/13 @ 4:00

[I_Shall_Return]

PENGUINS (16-9-1) at LIGHTNING (16-8-1)

Last 10:*Pittsburgh 5-4-1; Tampa Bay 5-4-1

Season series:*This is the second of three meetings between the*Pittsburgh Penguins*and*Tampa Bay Lightning.*Sidney Crosby*recorded a hat trick but it was defenseman*Matt Niskanen's power-play goal with 18.6 seconds left in regulation that proved decisive in a 5-4 win on Oct. 12 at Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh each average 2.92 goals per game entering Friday, among the top 10 in the NHL.

Penguins:*It was Pittsburgh's other star center who sparked a come-from-behind 6-5 win Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.*Evgeni Malkin, who went 15 games without a goal earlier in the season, scored a power-play goal in the second period to start the Penguins back from a 4-1 deficit. In the third, he assisted on a power-play goal by*James Neal, then scored his second of the game for a 5-5 tie.

Lightning:*Victor Hedman*was the No. 2 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, and in his fifth season in the League, he appears to be taking the next step toward stardom. Hedman, who turns 23 next month, set a career high for goals with his fifth and sixth of the season in his 25th game, sparking a 4-2 win Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Who's hot:*Malkin and Neal are sizzling for the Penguins. Malkin has three goals and nine assists during a six-game point streak; Neal has six goals and five assists during a five-game point streak. Crosby has four goals and four assists in the past six games.*Chris Kunitz*has two goals and five assists in the past five games. ...*Teddy Purcell*has two goals and two assists in the past two games for the Lightning. Hedman has four goals and four assists in the past seven games.

Injury report:*Pittsburgh recently added forwards*Beau Bennett*(wrist) and*Tanner Glass*(hand) and defenseman*Paul Martin*(leg) to an injured reserve list that already included goalie*Tomas Vokoun*(blood clot), defenseman*Rob Scuderi(ankle) and forward*Chuck Kobasew*(lower body). ... Tampa Bay defenseman*Radko Gudas*(upper body) and forwardPierre-Cedric Labrie*(upper body) are day-to-day. In addition to Stamkos, defenseman*Keith Aulie*(upper body) and forwards*Ryan Malone*(foot) and*Tom Pyatt*(collarbone) are on injured reserve.

TEAM STATS:
Penguins: GP 26 Away 5-6-1 G/G 2.92 GA/G2.42 PP% 24.2 PK% 85.1 PIM/G 9.5 S/G 31.9 S/A 25.5 FO% 52.9

Bolts: GP 25 Home 10-2 G/G 2.92 GA/G 2.52 PP% 17.6 PK% 85.4 PIM/G 12.7 S/G 28.2 S/A 29.5 FO% 49

 

[Cobiemonster]

Should be a good one!

 

[I_Shall_Return]

I_Shall's skinny: Both teams were having similar problems, couldn't win. Bolts weren't taking as many SOG as the Penguins but getting the same result, a loss. It seems to me that both teams D are a bit on the weak side so consequently both teams really play a team Defense. Last Bolt game was a win but I thought our team D really could have been better, especially at the end of the game when we let the Flyers score twice in a short span of time. Both teams look to be ending a slump and it will be great to watch which team continues the winning ways! Sorry Doobee but I have to go with the Bolts bro. I really think that Bishop is better than both your net-minders playing together in the same net! I call a very close game with lots of grit and penalties. Bolts win 4-3 straight up, no OT.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Hard to call for me, both teams have key injuries and will probably be relying a lot on call ups to hold their own. I say 5-4 Pens, but it could just as easily go the other way.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Kunitz scores first, Penguins lead 1-0

 

[Todd1a]

Let's go bolts power play now

 

[I_Shall_Return]

Oops, sorry guys but the wrong Lightning team showed up! This is the no shooting, p#*sy team that just skates around and passes the puck while humming "i'm too sexy for my shirt" song! 5-1 Penguins, if they keep playing embarrassing non shooting hockey like this.

 

[I_Shall_Return]

Halfway mark in the 2nd period, a whopping 10 shots! Woohoo baby! You may say that that's all the Penguins have also but... they are ahead!

 

[Cobiemonster]

Penguins make it 2-0 on a Brandon Sutter goal

 

[Cobiemonster]

Kunitz scores into the empty net, 3-0 Penguins - this one is pretty much wrapped up

 

[Todd1a]

Bolts played ok but we needed to get more shots! But good win for the penguins they are always a good hockey team. Bolts fans need to hang in there we have like ten rookies and no stamkos and we are still a good team.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Bolts played ok but we needed to get more shots! But good win for the penguins they are always a good hockey team. Bolts fans need to hang in there we have like ten rookies and no stamkos and we are still a good team.

Agree with this, for Bolts fans they should be happy about taking two out of three this week at home - Rangers and Flyers have been playing much better lately and the Lightning beat them pretty good

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Good game Lightning fans.

 

[I_Shall_Return]

Bolts played ok but we needed to get more shots! But good win for the penguins they are always a good hockey team. Bolts fans need to hang in there we have like ten rookies and no stamkos and we are still a good team.

I agree with most except for that they played ok. Ok for what? The Juniors league? I think in the AHL, some team could beat them if they played like this. Another pathetic effort with absolutely few shots on goal. I wonder if they realize that their good looks will not win them games! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! :hdn: