Phoenix Coyotes at Pittsburgh Penguins
Former champions always say that the toughest thing about repeating is that you get every team’s best game. Everyone wants to beat the defending champs.
With that in mind, the Pens are making sure that the rest of the league knows you won’t be able to push them around this season.
Pittsburgh added some grit with the arrival of Mike Rupp and Jay McKee. Both players dropped the gloves in the win over the Islanders on Saturday, which was welcomed by their teammates.
“We want to be tough and bring that physical presence,” team captain Sidney Crosby told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. “It shows they’re sticking up for guys. It’s important.”
Phoenix lit the lamp six times in its first game against the Kings. Expect a high-scoring affair Wednesday between the Pens and Coyotes.
Pick: Over
Montreal Canadiens at Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver fans were excited about their team’s offseason push to become more of an offensive-minded club. But the results from the first three games have not been encouraging.
The Canucks have been outscored 13-6 over the first week of the new campaign. Monday’s 5-3 setback to Blue Jackets was especially troubling. All-Star goalie Roberto Luongo was pulled after allowing four goals on the last four shots he faced. It was so bad the home fans actually cheered when Luongo was mercifully yanked.
After the game the netminder pointed out to the defensive breakdowns as part of the reason for his early struggles.
“Sometimes we get caught with guys going to the net, all three of them,” Luongo told the Vancouver Province. “It’s just one of those things where, from myself on out, we’re not doing everything we need to be doing with our systems. And it’s costing us goals.”
Vancouver’s winless streak should be snapped tonight. Montreal is still coping from the loss of defenseman Andrei Markov and starting goalie Carey Price is due for a poor performance.
Pick: Canucks