Pittsburg is going to play day-by-day game and they are seven games unbeaten after last nigh shootout win over Florida. New Jersey added five wins in last six games and they will have now advantage of tired line-up of Pens.
Last night Marc-Andre Fleury rested, and Johnson was at the net. But more difficult is for Pens injury of the most important player Sergey Gonchar (broken wrist). In the same situation were Pens last season when they were missing Gonchar and it was really different team withouth him, mostly in powerplays. We will see in time how huge it will be this season when Gonchar is not going to play, because good mood in Pens team after great start to this season.
New Jersey is now looking to help Martin Brodeur to reach one more shutout. He'll tie then with 103 shutouts NHL record. There are also couple line very hot for Devils and there should be good chance to use tiredness of Pittsburgh players. Patrik Eliáš is expected to play his first game this season.
Last season head-to-head games were 3-3 and both teams won two of its three games at home. At Pittsburgh in each single game there were high numbers of shots on goal, over 60 in all three games.
I would say that New Jersey has more chances to win this match as odds/estamination are saying by bookmakers. There is again lower number of goals expected in this game as day-by-day game by only one team. Even more when we will see Fleury vs. Brodeur.
Sat 24.10.2009 17:42 (Last modified Sat 24.10.2009 19:09)