2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Series – Pittsburgh Penguins play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs
The 407th game of the 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Series will be played between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The match will be the second of 4 meetings between the two teams. The last time the two were up against each other,
it was the Toronto Maple Leafs who won the match with the score on 4-3.
The hot story ahead of the match is the fact that the Captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby is in sublime form as he has bagged points and goals in each of his last 16 games. This truly talented and amazing player has scored 18 goals in the last
16 matches and also is the second player with most assists (15).
Sidney Crosby has left behind the star Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos and has established 8 points lead with his score being on 48. He is also the top scorer of the league with 24 goals which are three more than the Steven Stamkos.
The Pittsburgh Penguins has been in superb form as they won the last 10 consecutive games and climbed to the top of the NHL standings. Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis have also been in great form and have played a key role in the Penguins rising to the top
of the standings.
"On a winning streak you sometimes ignore the things you do wrong, but we've done a good job going through video and stuff like that to focus on the mistakes we're making and always knowing that we can play a lot better than we've played," defenseman Brooks
Orpik told reporters Tuesday. "Obviously when you're on a 10-game winning streak you don't want to change too much, but there's definitely some detailed stuff that can be a little bit better. I don't think anyone's getting too complacent because there's always
room to get better."
The Pittsburgh Penguins has played 29 games so far and won 21 out of these games scoring 40 points. Their counterparts for Wednesday have played 26 games so far and won 14 games scoring 24 points.
The Toronto Maple Leafs has also had a good recent few games. Their last game was a tight match with the Washington Capitals which they won after shootout. The last two games of the Toronto Maple have been decided in shootouts and they have won both.
"It's two small steps in the right direction,'' goalie Jonas Gustavsson said after making 32 saves Monday night. "It shows a lot of character coming back in games, working hard, no matter what the scoreboard (says)."
However, the Toronto Maple Leafs chances will be hurt from the fact that their Captain Dion Phaneuf is out injured. He is expected to return later next week but his absence would surely hurt the Maple Leafs.
Predictions come from all over that Sidney Crosby will be the difference maker as he would continue to pile up the performances he has shown in the last 16 games and take the Penguins to a victory. Undoubtedly, the Penguins are the stronger of the two teams
on paper but keeping in mind their recent form, they are expected to win the match with a two goals difference on the minimum.
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