Pens v Bruins Game #80

POFA will preview the last three games of the season, but mainly to focus on analysis of what the Pens must do to get their playoff swagger back, which has been missing not only for the past two weeks, but last post season as well. They will get three big tests from teams that are legitimate contenders to win the East and it starts tonight against the Boston Bruins.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Boston Bruins

7:30PM TD Garden

TV: Root Sports

Listen: Penguins Radio 24/7, 105.9 FM

The Bruins enter this game having won their past two agains the New York Islanders and the the New York Rangers, both on the road. After being arguably the best team in hockey for the first few months of the season the Bruins faltered a bit, but are looking to regain the form of last year's run to the Stanley Cup. The Bruins are 7-2-1 in their past 10 and have clinched the Northeast Division title as well as the second seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. This could be a preview of a second or third round matchup for the Pens and will be a good measuring stick to see how much edge the Pens can bring to their game. Waiver wire pick up, Marty Turco (2-1, 3.22 GAA, .867 SV%) will get the start between the pipes.

The Pens are 2-1 against the Bruins which includes a gritty 2-1 victory in Boston as well as a 5-2 showing in March as part of the Pens 11 game win streak.

Brent Johnson will get what is likely and hopefully his last appearance of the season. No offense to Johnny, but after tonight if we need him the Pens are in Trouble.

Keys for the Pens

With three tough games remaining on the schedule, the Pens will have a chance to get themselves prepared for the long road ahead and here's how.

1. The Pens must get back to their game of having a physical forecheck and outworking their opponent's defenders. This is how they have been successful over the past four years. They cannot continue the haphazard passes and the belief that they are good enough for goals and wins to just happen. Look for the Pens to rebound in this area tonight and have a quick uptempo forecheck, forcing the B's defenders to play deep in their zone.

2. Forwards have got to be more defensively responsible all over the ice.  For the past two weeks or so we've seen the Pens get burnt because there were three forwards trapped a bit too deep and a bad pass basically led the other team to an easy transition. The Flyers exploited this in a big way this past Sunday, and they will do so come the playoffs. The Pens have to be aware of who the third man entering the zone is and where he is positioned in order to thwart a teams transition until the remaining forwards get back behind the puck.

3.  The Pens need to play with a bit more grit and a bit more urgency because over the past two weeks they were coasting on clearing the net in front of MAF, and making passes out of the defensive zone. The Pens will not make it out of the first round if they do not find this edge and do so quickly.  Tonight against the Bruins provides them a great chance to go at it with a physical and uptempo team, quite comparable to the style of play that the Flyers utilize.