2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Series Special Report – Pittsburgh Penguins play host to the Detroit Red Wings
Both the 2008 and 2009 Stanley Cup Champions, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, will square off against each other in the 684th game of the 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Series. Both these teams have developed a rivalry as they met each
other twice during 2008 and then in 2009.
One team is the powerhouse of Western Conference while the other is the powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. The match will be hosted by the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Consol Energy Centre and is expected to be a very tough and entertaining encounter.
Pittsburgh Penguins' coach, ahead of the match, said, "There are games on the schedule that we look at when we get it. We always look to see when the Red Wings might be coming to town or when we’re going there," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "Regardless
of what names are on the jerseys or not, we have plenty of history."
The last time these two met was during the 2009/10 season during the Detroit Red Wings won the match comprehensively 3-1. Though these teams have had some good runs recently coupled with the brilliant performances they have bagged in the recent Stanley Cups.
Along with this, both teams bring loads of talent to meet each other. However, Pittsburgh Penguins will be missing the Captain Sidney Crosby due to some unveiled injury at the moment. "He continues to get better," Bylsma said. "He won’t progress until he’s
symptom free to go on the next state."
Detroit Red Wings on the other hand also face some injury problems with their star player Pavel Datsyuk injured. However, players like Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal and Henrik Zetterberg are very well capable of filling the gap for him. These teams are currently
placed in the third and fourth places in the league respective which makes the match all the more exciting.
Detroit Red Wings depth and diversity in the squad has enabled them to come up with brilliant performances game in and game out. During the time Pavel Datsyuk has been injured, other players have covered up the gap.
The 10 games which the Red Wings have played during his absence, they have only lost 2 games which is quite impressive. Darren Helm was the star player on Saturday as Detroit Red Wings were trailing the Columbus Blue Jackets, scored and won the match for
the Red Wings 6-5 in the end and left them trailing their Central Division rivals Vancouver Canucks by two points.
Talking about the win Darren Helm said, "We've got to find different ways, different players to step up each night," he said. "And that's what we've been doing so far."
Currently Detroit Red Wings have played 45 games out of which they have won 28 games in regulation time, 6 in overtime and scored 62 points. While on the other hand, Pittsburgh Penguins have played 46 games in the season so far out of which they have won
28 games in regulation time, 4 games in overtime scoring 60 points.
Marc-Andre Fleury, goalkeeper of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been in terrific form and in the absence of Pittsburgh Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby, added responsibility is on him.
"We don't see them a whole lot throughout the year but in the last couple of years we had some great battles," he said. "There's no question it's a big game for our team and we're excited about it. It's always a great test against a team like Detroit. It's
a big challenge."
The match is surely going to be very exciting and entertaining and if Vancouver Canucks lose their match then one of the teams can very well take the lead provided that they win the match in regulation time.
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