Penguins Game Day 8 - @ Minnesota Wild

Minnesota Wild

7:30 p.m., Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN

The big news out of the Penguins camp today was that they will be without the services of Kris Letang for two games. Letang was suspended by the NHL for his hit last night on Alexander Burmistrov that was called a boarding minor. Here is the video in case you missed it:



To be honest I don't have a huge problem with the suspension. I know a lot of people are really getting bent out of shape about it but this year already the NHL has taken a much harder stance on hits. Although these are split second decisions that need to be made at game speed the NHL is doing its best to get these types of hits out of the game.

With Letang not dressing tonight that means the Penguins are without Crosby, Malkin, Kennedy, Orpik, Letang and Jeffrey. I have no idea who even might be on the Penguins roster now that is capable of doing anything. This kind of still seems like the preseason when you don't dress half of your team because they don't play every night. I know it was bad this year but after the playoff loss I thought it might be a little different this season. Who am I kidding?

On top of the tough injury situation that the Penguins are in they are now playing their eighth game of the season. That will be eight games in 13 days. Just a ton of hockey to play to open the season. Not a good time to be tired.

As I am sure you will hear a million times tonight former Penguins power play guru coach Mike Yeo is now the main man in Minnesota. If you are looking to get rowdy tonight then there is a drinking game to be made.


That last time they met:

January 8, 2011 - Minnesota 4, Pittsburgh 0




The Penguins probables

Forwards
Steve Sullivan - Richard Park - James Neal
Chris Kunitz - Jordan Staal - Pascal Dupuis
Matt Cooke - Mark Letestu - Arron Asham
Steve MacIntyre - Joe Vitale - Craig Adams

Defense
Paul Martin - Zbynek Michalek
Brian Strait - Deryk Engelland
Matt Niskanen - Ben Lovejoy

Goaltender
Brent Johnson


The Wild probables

Forwards
Devin Setoguchi - Mikko Koivu - Dany Heatley
Pierre-Marc Bouchard - Matt Cullen - Guillaume Latendresse
Darroll Powe - Kyle Brodziak - Cal Clutterbuck
Brett Bulmer - Colton Gillies - Brad Staubitz

Defense
Greg Zanon - Marek Zidlicky
Nick Schultz - Marco Scandella
Clayton Stoner - Jared Spurgeon

Goaltender
Niklas Backstrom


The Stats