Here We Go Again

Pittsburgh (23-10-1, 47 points) at Philadelphia (15-16-1, 31 points)

The stage has been set for game two of the Pens’ home-and-home series against the Flyers tonight. If three fights in 16 seconds hasn’t built enough tension, Philly’s desperate need for a win should do the trick.

The Pens were clearly the better team on Tuesday, and it showed where it mattered most – on the scoreboard. As an added bonus, the special teams came through with three goals (1 power play, 2 short-handed).

Aside from the brawls, perhaps the most interesting and most talked about aspect of the game was the absence of Max Talbot, who was scratched in favor of Eric Godard. Whether or not Talbot plays tonight remains to be seen, but his benching was a necessary evil at the time. With 13 healthy forwards, someone needs to sit. There’s really no obvious choice outside of Godard, who has to play against the Flyers for obvious reasons. I would expect to see #28 in the lineup tonight. If Bill Guerin can’t go (he took a puck off the skate late in the 3^rd and didn’t return Tuesday), Talbot will be back. If Guerin’s deemed fit, our Stanley Cup hero will most likely be in the press box again.

The Flyers were called out by their coach after Tuesday’s game and have fallen a game under .500 on the season. Captain Mike Richards even questioned his teammates’ effort. What Flyers team will show up tonight – the disappointing underachiever or the preseason Stanley Cup favorite?