The Penguins will host a Western Conference opponent for fourth time this season when they host the Vancouver Canucks tonight at 7:00 p.m.
The Penguins are 3-1 in home games against the Western Conference this season.
The Canucks came into town late Tuesday night after beating the Capitals in Washington 4-3. This is the fourth game of a seven game road trip for Vancouver. It is their first trip to the Eastern Conference this season. They went 2-1 in the first three games. After leaving Pittsburgh, they will travel to Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.
The Penguins will take the ice without five injured players. Wingers Pascal Dupuis, Beau Bennett, Chris Kunitz, Scott Wilson, and defenseman Kris Letang are all on the mend and out of action. A sixth, center Marcel Goc, is poised to return after missing two games with a bruised foot.
In addition, Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo was suspended for two games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safery for his hit on Jaromir Jagr during Tuesday night’s 1-0 Penguins victory over New Jersey.
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NHL vice president of player safety Stephane Quintal explained that the hit was subject to supplemental discipline because of “it’s extreme lateness, it’s predatory nature, and the significant head contact that results from the way it is delivered.”
“I’m disappointed; you don’t want to miss hockey games,” Bortuzzo said. “It’s an unfortunate result, with the injury and everything, obviously [I’m] disappointed to miss games, but respect the league’s decision.”
Head Coach Mike Johnston isn’t worried about the suspension affecting Bortuzzo’s play in the future.
“A guy like [Bortuzzo], it’s his first time [being suspended] … [he’s] not going to change the way he plays, I know that,” Johnston said. “He loves to play a physical game, and that’s a staple of how he plays, and that’s what makes him good.”
In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, Bortuzzo will forfeit $6,451.62. He will be replaced in the lineup by rookie defenseman Brian Dumoulin.
TONIGHT’S OPPONENT: The Canucks have won four of their last five games and have recorded a point in six of their last seven contests. The team seems to be coming together under the leadership of first-year head coach Willie Desjardins.
“I enjoy watching them play,” Johnston said of the Canucks. “They’re an up-tempo team. Their defense is very involved, and they play a puck-possession game.”
Desjardins was offered the Penguins head coaching position this offseason, but he turned it down to accept the same job with Vancouver. Johnston and Desjardins have been friends since they were graduate students at the University of Calgary.
“I worked with him as an assistant,” Johnston said. “We were both still grad students coaching the university team. From then on, we remained friends, kept in touch, and our families are quite close.”
Johnston was even the best man at Desjardins’ wedding. However, he won’t take it easy on his good friend when they’re on opposite benches.
“When we play against each other, as he’ll tell you, it’s always competitive, there’s always a grudge match, there’s always something on the line,” Johnston said. “So there’s no friendships here tonight, that’s for sure.”
CREASE KEEPERS: Thomas Greiss will make his first start at Consol Energy Center as a member of the Penguins. Greiss is 3-1-1 with a .927 save percentage in five games with Pittsburgh. He has never faced the Canucks.
For Vancouver, Eddie Lack will be the starting goaltender. The 26-year old Swedish netminder is 1-3-1 in seven games this season. He has a .894 save percentage, which is well below the .912 mark he posted as a rookie in 2013-14. Lack lost his only prior matchup against the Penguins, a 5-4 shootout loss in January.
MINOR MATTERS: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (12-8-1, 1st East) called forwards Matia Marcantuoni and Sahir Gill up from ECHL Wheeling on Thursday morning. The AHL Penguins host Lehigh Valley on Friday at 7:05 p.m.
The Wheeling Nailers (9-7, 3rd North) host the Utah Grizzlies on Friday at 7:35 p.m.
#CAWLIDGEHAWKEY: The Robert Morris Colonials (8-3-1, 1st AHA) host Sacred Heart at 84 Lumber Arena on Neville Island Friday and Saturday at 7:05.
Penn State (7-4-2, 1st Big Ten) visits Wisconsin this Friday and Saturday. Both games start at 9 p.m. eastern time. Friday’s game will be televised on ESPN News. Saturday’s game will be televised on a tape-delay at 10 p.m. on WPMY (MyTV Ch. 22) in Pittsburgh and WJAC-TV (NBC Ch. 6) in Johnstown, Altoona, and State College.
Photo credit: Pittsburgh Penguins
