Look out Loretta

By The Hack
Like most professional sports leagues, the hockey pre-season was just a warm up for what will surely be the most exciting NHL year in decades. The records mean nothing but if you look closely you can see some parts of the team that are forming and will make a difference when they drop the puck for real  on Wednesday  the 5th of October.

    Marc Andre Fleury was sent down to Wilkes-Barre Scranton but not because of his play. He was unquestionably the best goaltender in camp but the Pens decided to let him get more action in the minors instead of waiting for Jocelyn Thibault to need a break. With that settled the line combinations were next.  It looks to be Lemieux, Malone, Palffy and Crosby, Recchi and LeClair are the top two lines. No surprise there. Pirjeta, Fata and Koltzov will make up the third line.

    Defensively, The pairing of Gonchar and Jackman, Tarnstrom and Orpik, and Odelein and Melichar, give the team a fair balance of  defensive and offensive punch. How well they protect Thibault and get the puck to gifted forwards will be something to watch early in the season.

  

 THE WEEK AHEAD................

 

   This week has the Pens with two away games followed by Saturday's big home opener against Boston. In the season opener the Pens will battle the New Jersey Devils. This team that has been a consistent winner with the old NHL rules will have to adjust its defensive style to stop the wide open Penguin offense.Goalie Martin Brodeur must play the puck only in the small area behind the net that is designated for the goalies. This will hinder his style that has put him at the top of league for goaltenders that can move the puck. NJ's offense will come from Scott Gomez and Alexander Mogilny. Look for a low scoring game.

   Then the Pens travel to Carolina.  The Hurricanes revamped their line-up but still have a good blend of youth and veterans. They have a new goalie in Martin Gerber. He should see plenty of rubber and won't stop enough of it. This will be more high scoring than the opener , I suspect.

   A Hockey night in Pittsburgh on the 8th will be something special. Crosby dons the home uni's for the first time ever! Lemieux will be smiling like a butcher's dog and Look out Loretta, Mike Lange is back with the Pens for his 33rd season. Don't miss this one. Joe Thornton and  the Bruins have a top notch team that will challenge for the cup this year.