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GDT: Canes @ Pens 12/31 7:00

A

andyt

Canes Moderator
Staff member
The Canes close out the year with a visit to Pittsburgh.

The Canes offensive woes continued with another 1 goal game against the Habs on Monday. They're now at 1.97 goals per game, ahead of only Buffalo. They've split the season series so far with each team winning on the road. Lines at practice yesterday:

E. Staal-J. Staal-Lindholm
Tlusty-Rask-Terry
Skinner-Nash-Gerbe
Malone-McClement-Dwyer

Murphy was recalled from Charlotte but didn't arrive in time for practice. The D pairings were the same as in the game. Morning skate at 11:30 so any changes will be known after that. Ward was in the starter's crease at practice yesterday.

For a change, the Canes aren't meeting a hot team. The Pens are winless in their last 4 and lost 3 straight in regulation for the first time all season. Crosby scored just his 2nd goal in his last 13 games on Monday in a loss to the Devils. Through illness or injury, they've been down 7 players but Ehrhoff, Beentt and Adams could be back, leaving Martin, Maatta, Hornqvist and Downie on the shelf. Pens are still 4th in the league in goals per game and both Crosby and Malkin are in the top 11 scorers in the league. MA Fleury is 6th in both GAA and Save %

Fox Sports Carolinas for TV.
 
Since the Pens are scrapping offensively, I'm going to go ahead and call this one a 2-1 Pittsburgh win in a shootout.
 
That's a fearsome first line that might just have a breakout game in tonight's atmosphere. New Years Eve, Crosby, Jordan's old buddies, festive crowd, heck, even JR. Plenty of motivation.

This is the game that Jordan aimed for in his recovery schedule, IMO. He wasn't missing this one. And to be centering the top line with his brother?...Well, hope Eric brings his big-boy game tonight, because this could be fun.

Tough test for Murphy, but this is a season-long training camp, after all, so let's see what he's got. Zone entries and shots on net on the plus side. We'll see if progress has been made on the D side. As andyt said in another thread, bar's pretty low there.
 
Ryan Murphy somehow tallied 17 assists in only 23 games for Charlotte despite there being no real goal scorers on their entire roster. I think he earned this recall considering how much the Canes have struggled to score goals.
 
Jordan Staal out as a precautionary measure.

Eric moves to the middle, Tlusty moves up to wing with Lindholm on the other side.
 
Holy crap, Cam holding them off alone right now.

Addendum: finally let one in. Damn embarrassing exhibition of clearing the puck.
 
HurryCanes said:
Holy crap, Cam holding them off alone right now.

Addendum: finally let one in. Damn embarrassing exhibition of clearing the puck.
Click to expand...

37 saves, a .949 save %. And his GAA will go down again. So will our average goals per game. Can't win 1-0 every night and that's what it's going to take.

ETA: Ward gets the 3rd star behind Fleury and Sutter.
 
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