The Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks are
two of the NHL's elite and, under other circumstances, their game
tonight at PPG Paints Arena could be an occasion to match wits
and skill in an old-fashioned showdown.
Both clubs have 103 points, with playoff spots locked up and the
Presidents' Trophy within reach.
But each has hit a hiccup as it tries to get things in order for
the postseason, which starts in two weeks.
Chicago (48-21-7) crashed in a 7-0 loss Saturday at Florida, then
gave up a lead Monday and fell at Tampa Bay 5-4 in overtime.
Pittsburgh (46-18-11) has lost three games in a row, the first two
by shootout, and then a 6-2 loss at home Sunday against
Philadelphia.
"We talked to the group (Tuesday) just about making sure that we
have the right mindset going into each game," Penguins coach Mike
Sullivan said. "Our experience has been that you don't just flick a
switch and turn it on. We're going to have to go into each game
with the right mindset and try to win. A lot of it is just focusing
on the details of how we're trying to play, and then the compete
level. That's where our focus is. ... As long as our focus stays in
those areas, then our team will be in the optimal frame of mind
here going down the stretch."
It hasn't helped that Pittsburgh has been decimated by injuries.
Among the missing are two top players, center Evgeni Malkin and
defenseman Kris Letang. Neither is expected back Wednesday.
A new name was added to the list, Chad Ruhwedel, who has helped
fill in on a makeshift defensive corps but who now has an
upper-body injury. In addition, center Matt Cullen missed practice
Tuesday because of an illness.
In one bit of upbeat news, top-line winger Conor Sheary, who left
the game against Philadelphia with a lower-body injury, practiced
Tuesday and appears to be good to go against the Blackhawks.
The Penguins are still jockeying with Washington and Columbus for
the top three spots in the Metropolitan Division, with home ice for
the playoffs at stake.
The Blackhawks don't have that pressure as they are comfortably
atop the Central Division and the Western Conference, but they
still see a need for work on their game.
"It's getting close to the end here and we're getting a little bit
too comfortable maybe," Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson told
the Chicago Tribune. "As soon as you do that, you're going to lose
games. ... At the same time, I'm glad that we were playing like
this before the playoffs so we can make some adjustments."
The teams' first meeting of the season came March 1, a 4-1
Blackhawks win in Chicago in which the teams traded chances in a
game that was at times wide open.
"It was a great hockey game," said Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby,
who leads the league with 42 goals. "We were on the wrong side of
things, but not because of a lack of effort or chances. It was an
up-and-down game with a lot of skill on display. Games aren't
always like that. There's so much structure in the game, it's hard
to find games like that. There's a few that stick out, and that's
certainly one from this year when you look back. It was a fun one
to play in and, I'm sure, a fun one to watch."
Chicago coach Joel Quennville remembers.
"The last time we saw them was an incredible game," he said. "It
was an exciting game, a fast game. They've got one of the fastest
teams in the game, so we've got to be respectful of that."
Winger Patrick Kane had a hat trick and winger Richard Panik added
a goal for the Blackhawks.
There is more on the line for Wednesday's rematch, given the
approach of the playoffs.
"Regardless of the matchup, we're excited to get back to our
winning ways and get back to playing a solid 60 minutes,"
Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said. "We got closer toward that
in Tampa, but we fell short, giving up the lead. So, I think we'll
be excited."
