Oct. 21 - Penguins @ Predators: What I'm Watching For

It's nice to see the Penguins looking like the Penguins again, especially considering what they're getting into.  They round out October and begin November with seven of their next eight on the road, including three in a row against a trio of good under-the-radar teams, beginning tonight in Nashville, where the Pens have not historically fared well.  Although the Preds have lost back-to-back games, both were in overtime, and only they and the Toronto Maple Leafs have yet to suffer a "pure" loss, so this banged-up team is still making the best of things.  The Penguins need to build off of what they've done in the midst of their three-game winning streak:  establishing their forecheck, finishing plays on even strength and on the man-advantage, and playing responsibly on the back end.  Most of all, they need to be patient, because the Preds can wear you down and frustrate you over the course of a game the same way the Penguins can.  Nashville plays with a mostly anonymous offense that might not have the same skill package as Crosby and Malkin, but they work hard and feed off the momentum of solid defense and goaltending.  A couple of guys are riding hot streaks for their respective teams, and they're among the guys I'm watching tonight:

MARK LETESTU.  Right now this guy can't miss.  He's developed a killer wrist shot that was on display early in Wednesday's win over Ottawa, and right now Letestu is tied with Crosby for the team lead in goals with four, including two tallies and three assists during the win streak.  He's doing all the little things right offensively, and he has earned his spot on the second line alongside Evgeni Malkin.  Maybe he can get Geno going the way Sid has recently?

STEVE SULLIVAN.  He is riding an early-season hot streak very similar to Letestu's, so he's the guy the Penguins really need to worry about taking out of the game.  Sullivan leads Nashville right now with four goals and five points.  Two years ago he won the Masterton Trophy for coming back from a career-threatening back injury, and he exemplifies the kind of work ethic that makes the Predators tough to play against.

THE PENGUINS' STARTING GOALTENDER.  Who will it be?  I don't know as I write this, but if Dan Bylsma's game-time decision ends up playing poorly, whoever it is, it'll make for some great talk radio fodder.  Then again, this seems like such a unique situation that, if whoever it is plays well, it'll still make for great talk radio fodder.  Hey, Coach, did I mention Brent Johnson has won five of seven lifetime against the Preds with a 1.60 GAA?  Just sayin'...

PEKKA RINNE.  He's back after missing the beginning of the regular season due to an unspecified lower-body injury (don't you just love how the NHL protects its players by ripping away your First Amendment rights?), and he made 27 saves in Nashville's last game, a 1-0 OT loss to Calgary.  He seems to be the same goaltender who carried this team to the playoffs last year, one of the best that no one talks about.







Enjoy the game, folks!

-"Popchock"