Pens vs Islanders Game Day 81. Wrestlemania 2? Not likely, expect offensive revenge.

Many many weeks have passed since the "Debacle on Long Island" took place on February 11th. This long over due rematch is finally going to take place as the fans invade Nassau Coliseum with many signs that will say "Bury Gillies." Emotions will be running wild during this game tonight.

From my recap:

Between Gilles at the end of the game taunting an injured and concussed Tangradi, Martin making a run at Talbot near center ice trying to sucker punch him, the slash on Letang's right knee before the end of the first period, the fact that the Islanders kept taunting Fleury in the 2nd period and coming down and giving him crap, OR the fact that they did run Johnson into the net twice, one time taking out both him and Letang, but this game pissed me off to new heights.

Just in case anyone missed this tidbit of news, Eric Godard will be in the lineup tonight instead of Chris Conner. I have mixed feelings about this and here's why; this game needs to be won in the goal column, not the fight cards. We all know what Godard is good for, throwing his meat hooks around and tagging people in the face, now not everyone knows Chris Conner's value but to put it simply, gets to the dirty areas to keep pucks alive in the offensive zone, sets up good opportunities even if not always capitalized on. This means that Bylsma is prepared at least, for one fight involving Godard, at the sacrifice of an offensive minded player, and that fight is probably going to be against Gillies or Haley. Haley if you remember took a run at Johnson, and they scrapped, during that time Godard left the bench to go to Johnson's aid and suffered a 10 game suspension because of it. Gillies, well we all know why Gillies needs to be buried.

So to answer back in this budding rivalry, the Penguins will need to find their offense against Al Montoya and this joke squad of a hockey team. Jordan Staal has increased his performance in the past 2 games after going scoreless for 5. Tyler Kennedy continues to have a career year, Max Talbot and Pascal Dupuis are more than capable of putting up goals in this game, but I'd like to see James Neal and Alexei Kovalev get some work done this game on the goal sheets. They weren't there for the debacle and therefor won't care for the events other than team camaraderie, but should still be looking to rifle shots past Montoya to light the lamp. Really would like for Neal to get some confidence going into the playoffs via more than just a shootout win.

Tonight is even more so important because this is one step closer to finding their way to the top of the division. Philly is only 1 point ahead of us now in the standings, they play Buffalo. Buffalo is looking to keep it's own playoff spot and will be playing hard to win these 2 points. Philly already lost one of their remaining 3 games, it is huge to have today go that way, they will want to play hard to keep their number one spot. The Islanders are going to want to beat us to bring us down a peg, keep us in check with reality, but it is going to be necessary to win this game, and Sundays game against Atlanta to seal the division and flip this playoff table in a different direction. A win tonight and a Philly loss puts us at the top of the division by a point. A win tonight and a Philly OT loss keeps us tied. A loss and a Philly win and we're stuck in 4th. An OT loss and a Philly win we have a chance to tie at best and is unacceptable. Winning tonight is the only option for continuing their path of persevering through adversity.

A win tonight brings the Penguins closer to #2 in the conference and #1 in the division. A win tonight brings Dan Bylsma one step closer to a Jack Adams award. If he wins tonight, and wins in Atlanta, and takes the division win, it is a no brainer he is coach of the year if it wasn't clear enough already. So this, is the second to last must-win of the year, and it is against a team that both the coaches and players probably have no respect for what-so-ever, so it is imperative we show that lack of respect by pushing the goals dial up to 11.

Tonight's lines will look something like this based on practice:

James Neal - Mark Letestu - Alexei Kovalev
Chris Kunitz - Jordan Staal - Tyler Kennedy
Arron Asham - Maxime Talbot - Pascal Dupuis
Michael Rupp - Craig Adams - Eric Godard

Between the Pipes for the Penguins? Game time decision between Marc Andre Fleury or Brent Johnson. Expect Fleury.

Another must win in a series of must wins. Get the 2 points and hope to see Philly lose in the standings.

GO PENS!

Talk about an Empty bench.

So what happens after 346 penalty minutes, 14 fighting majors and 21 misconducts? Your bench looks just about this depleted, and the penalty minutes list is this long:

1st Period Summary

Time		Penalty Detail
2:37		Micheal Haley: 2 Minutes for Roughing Zbynek Michalek
10:22		Micheal Haley: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Craig Adams
10:22		Craig Adams: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Micheal Haley
14:33		Travis Hamonic: 2 Minutes for Hooking Mike Rupp
15:51		2 Minute Bench Penalty for Too Many Men on the Ice (Served by Eric Tangradi)
17:56		Eric Godard: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Trevor Gillies
17:56		Trevor Gillies: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Eric Godard
20:00		John Tavares: 2 Minutes for Slashing Kris Letang

2nd Period Summary

Time		Penalty Detail
5:21		Josh Bailey: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Pascal Dupuis
5:21		Josh Bailey: 10 Minute Game Misconduct
5:21		Pascal Dupuis: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Josh Bailey
5:21		Pascal Dupuis: 10 Minute Game Misconduct
5:21		Travis Hamonic: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Mike Rupp
5:21		Mike Rupp: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Travis Hamonic
5:21		Mike Rupp: 10 Minute Game Misconduct
5:21		Deryk Engelland: 2 Minutes for Roughing Matt Martin
5:21		Deryk Engelland: 10 Minute Game Misconduct Matt Martin
5:21		Travis Hamonic: 10 Minute Game Misconduct
5:21		Matt Martin: 2 Minutes for Instigator Deryk Engelland
5:21		Matt Martin: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Maxime Talbot (Served by Trevor Gillies)
5:21		Matt Martin: 10 Minute Game Misconduct
5:21		Matt Martin: 10 Minute Misconduct
7:51		Frans Nielsen: 2 Minutes for Slashing Alex Goligoski
17:20		Eric Godard: 2 Minutes for Roughing Jack Hillen
17:30		Zbynek Michalek: 2 Minutes for Slashing Michael Grabner

3rd Period Summary

Time		Penalty Detail
1:19		Brooks Orpik: 2 Minutes for Charging Kyle Okposo
1:19		Kyle Okposo: 2 Minutes for Roughing Brooks Orpik
4:47		Brent Johnson: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Micheal Haley (Served by Marc-Andre Fleury)
4:47		Eric Godard: 2 Minutes for Roughing Micheal Haley
4:47		Eric Godard: 10 Minute Game Misconduct
4:47		Eric Godard: 2 Minutes for Roughing Micheal Haley
4:47		Eric Godard: 10 Minute Game Misconduct
4:47		Maxime Talbot: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Micheal Haley
4:47		Craig Adams: 2 Minutes for Roughing Trevor Gillies
4:47		Craig Adams: 10 Minute Game Misconduct
4:47		Micheal Haley: 2 Minutes for Instigator Eric Godard
4:47		Micheal Haley: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Brent Johnson
4:47		Micheal Haley: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Maxime Talbot
4:47		Micheal Haley: 10 Minute Game Misconduct
4:47		Micheal Haley: 10 Minute Misconduct
4:47		Trevor Gillies: 2 Minutes for Roughing Eric Tangradi
4:47		Trevor Gillies: 2 Minutes for Roughing Eric Tangradi
4:47		Trevor Gillies: 5 Minute Major for Elbowing Eric Tangradi (Served by Jesse Joensuu)
4:47		Trevor Gillies: 10 Minute Game Misconduct
4:47		Trevor Gillies: 10 Minute Misconduct
12:12		Brett Sterling: 2 Minutes for Roughing Kyle Okposo
12:12		Kyle Okposo: 2 Minutes for Goalkeeper Interference Brent Johnson
12:40		Tyler Kennedy: 2 Minutes for Holding Frans Nielsen
16:04		Zenon Konopka: 2 Minutes for Roughing Maxime Talbot
16:04		Maxime Talbot: 2 Minutes for Roughing Zenon Konopka
16:04		Maxime Talbot: 10 Minute Misconduct
16:04		Kyle Okposo: 2 Minutes for Roughing Kris Letang
16:04		Zenon Konopka: 10 Minute Misconduct
16:04		2 Minute Bench Penalty for Too Many Men on the Ice (Served by Jesse Joensuu)
16:04		Kris Letang: 2 Minutes for Roughing Kyle Okposo
16:04		Kris Letang: 10 Minute Misconduct
16:04		Kyle Okposo: 10 Minute Misconduct
16:12		Brett Sterling: 10 Minute Misconduct Jack Hillen
16:12		Jack Hillen: 10 Minute Misconduct Brett Sterling
17:43		Andrew MacDonald: 2 Minutes for Cross checking Joe Vitale
17:43		Joe Vitale: 2 Minutes for Cross checking Andrew MacDonald
17:43		Andrew MacDonald: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Joe Vitale
17:43		Joe Vitale: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Andrew MacDonald
17:58		Ryan Craig: 2 Minutes for Cross checking Frans Nielsen (Served by Alex Goligoski)
17:58		Ryan Craig: 10 Minute Misconduct

So you think TK might of been a little bored there? Granato looked like he wanted to lace up and hit an Islander also. Here is hoping Bylsma doesn't get suspended but he probably will for a game, until then, Free Bylsma 2011.