Final
Penguins aim to keep Jets winless
Oct 17, 2011 - 2:56 PM (Sports Network) - The Penguins were hoping that Evgeni Malkin would help fill the void left by injured captain Sidney Crosby, but so far the Russian's surgically repaired knee has had trouble holding up.Enter James Neal.
The Pittsburgh forward will try to score in a fourth straight game and keep the Winnipeg Jets winless on the season in tonight's meeting at MTS Centre.
The Penguins knew they would begin the season without Crosby due to the lingering effects of a concussion suffered in January, though the center has finally been cleared for contact. Malkin was expected to help shoulder the load until Crosby's return, but he has missed three of the last four games due to soreness in his knee, which he had surgery on last year and missed the final 29 games of the regular season as well as all seven playoff games.
The former Art Ross and Conn Smythe Trophy winner did not travel with the Penguins, meaning the club will be without both Malkin and Crosby for its first game in Winnipeg since 1996. Pittsburgh will also likely be without the duo for Tuesday's contest in Minnesota.
Neal has been one of the Penguins who has stepped up this year, netting a league high-tying five goals through his club's first six games. Both Neal and Jordan Staal scored in Saturday's meeting with Buffalo, but couldn't help Pittsburgh from dropping its first game in regulation this year (3-1-2).
The Pens trailed by two goals after the first period and were unable to rally in the 3-2 loss. Marc-Andre Fleury gave up three goals on 28 shots.
"For 40 minutes we were probably the better club, but for the first 20 we weren't and it cost us the hockey game," said Penguins forward Steve Sullivan.
Neal has scored in three straight games, notching four goals in that span, and can equal his career-long goal-scoring streak with another tally tonight. The forward also leads Pittsburgh with 24 shots on goal.
"I always want to put it on net," said Neal, who has scored twice in three games versus the Jets franchise. "Put it on the net, be at the net, that's where you are going to score your goals and when you're playing with some good playmakers and great players like I've been playing with, you're going to put yourself in spots where you're going to get shots off."
The Jets return home for the first time since Oct. 9 following consecutive road losses in Chicago and Phoenix. At 0-3-0, Winnipeg is the only team in the NHL that has yet to record a point and the franchise is off to its worst start since beginning the 2007-08 campaign with six losses in a row.
Tonight's matchup does not favor the Jets either. They were swept in four games by the Penguins a season ago and have lost 12 of their last 13 games to Pittsburgh. The Pens had taken five of the past six meetings in Atlanta before the franchise's relocation.
Neither goaltender on Winnipeg's roster has ever beaten Pittsburgh. Ondrej Pavelec is 0-7-0 with a 4.68 goals-against average in the matchup, while Chris Mason is 0-4-0 with a 4.44 GAA.
Mason made 31 saves in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Coyotes, while Andrew Ladd scored the lone goal while deflecting a Tobias Enstrom shot with 19 seconds left in the second period.
A Dustin Byfuglien turnover allowed Phoenix to score just 34 seconds into the game, however, and the Jets are 0-for-13 on the power play this season. Overall, they have been outscored 13-5 in their three losses.
- PITTSBURGH: 1
WINNIPEG: 2
Final
Oct 17 11:01 PM - PITTSBURGH: 1
WINNIPEG: 2
End of 2nd
Oct 17 10:06 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
WINNIPEG: 2
End of 1st
Oct 17 9:16 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
WINNIPEG: 2
End of 1st
Oct 17 9:15 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
WINNIPEG: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Oct 17 8:38 PM
Related News
- The week ahead: Penguins have opportunity for big — and important — week Dec 26
- Pens Points: Holiday Hangover Dec 26
- Celebrating the holiday with the Penguins’ Christmas-themed videos of the past Dec 24
- Pens/Sens Recap: Pittsburgh plays well in one period, salvage one point in Ottawa Dec 23
- Gamethread: Pens @ Sens Dec 23
- Game Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Ottawa Senators 12/23/2023 - Lines, how to watch Dec 23
- Thoughts on Thoughts: Pens looking for defense, Crosby tinkering with stick pattern Dec 22
- Penguins weekly stock report: Alex Nedeljkovic gets on a roll Dec 22
- Pens Points: Surviving the Storm Dec 22
- Penguins/Hurricanes Recap: Crosby only Pens’ goal scorer in game, shootout to lead team to victory Dec 21
- Gamethread: Hurricanes @ Penguins Dec 21
- Penguins players visit patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital Dec 21