Columbus has a number of young stars, none more prominent of late than phenomenal rookie netminder Steve Mason, who posted his league leading ninth shutout of the season Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins. Mason's numbers have been absurd all year, and he has likely vaulted to the top of the Calder Trophy race for the league's best newbie.
A youth movement is also going on in Ohio, as young studs like Jakub Voracek and Nikita Filatov have been up and down from the AHL all year. They have both impressed, as has new acquistion and Pittsburgh native RJ Umberger, picked up for a draft choice in the offseason. Umberger and Manny Malhotra have nicely filled the void that was left when another sensational rookie, Derrick Brassard, was lost for the season with injury around the campaign's quarter pole.
Of course, Rick Nash is still an elite winger, quietly captaining his team to the best season in its history.
Petr Sykora is questionable for the game with a lower body injury for the contest. Columbus will potentially be playing without center Mike Peca, who was recently concussed. Brassard, Freddy Modin, Jason Chimera, and OK Tollefson are out for Columbus.
Marc-Andre Fleury will take the pipes against Mason.
Penguins-
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Fedotenko-Malkin-Dupuis
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Adams-Talbot-Godard
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Fleury
Fedotenko-Malkin-Dupuis
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Adams-Talbot-Godard
Gonchar-Orpik
Letang-Eaton
Scuderi-Gill
Fleury
Blue Jackets-
Huselius-Malhotra-Nash
Umberger-Vermette-Williams
Torres-Novotny-Voracek
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GO PENS!
Umberger-Vermette-Williams
Torres-Novotny-Voracek
Murray-Gratton-Boll
Tyutin-Klesla
Hejda-Commodore
Russell-Methot
Mason
GO PENS!
3 comments:
fleury vs mason = exciting game
Jackets fan/blogger here... like your site.
This is a huge game for Columbus; you guys are nuclear-hot right now, and there's always the fear of a let-down after the two back-to-back wins we've had against Detroit and Boston. Fatigue is always a concern, as well. Mason is, after all, only 20, has played exactly one season in juniors before this year, and did have mono earlier in the season. Rookie wall?
The Crosby-Guerin-Kunitz line scares me. I'd love to get your perspective on what your new coach might be doing differently that has the Pens at 9-1-0 since he was hired. Drop me a line at
http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=8719 if you're so inclined.
Thanks! Here's hoping for a great game tonight!
--Dan
WaitingForNextYear.com
Penguins have a new show, "The Penguins Show" on once a week starring Alyonka Larionov--daughter of NHL Hall of Famer, Igor Larionov. Aside from lighting up the show with her natural beauty, more importantly she brings first hand hockey knowledge and spirit--it's in the genes. She might even be a reason the 'guins make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals. Who knows? I guess you'll have to check it out: http://penguins.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp
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