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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Tonight's Playoff Match-up 05/06


Pittsburgh Penguins @ Boston Bruins (8:00pm ET)
TV: CBC, RDS, NBCSN
Series: 2-0 Boston
The Penguin's backs are definitely against the wall tonight, and they have to win to avoid the dreaded 3-0 series deficit. So far, this match-up has gone exactly the opposite of how it seemed it would beforehand. Pittsburgh, who was expected to dominate on the scoreboard, as been outscored 9-1 in just two games. One thing that isn't a surprise though is the play of Bruin's goalie Tuukka Rask. With a 1.99 goals against average and .935 save percentage through 14 post-season games, he could be cementing his status as one of the top five goalies in the world. Another thing that should come as no shock to Penguins fans: their goaltending is letting them down. Through four periods against Boston and allowing six goals, coach Dan Bylsma had seen enough and pulled Tomas Vokoun in favour of Marc-Andre Fleury in game two. Fleury did little better, allowing three goals of his own. Looks like Vokoun will get the start again tonight, and he's got to be more than adequate to give his teammates a chance. As much as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the rest of the Penguins forwards are struggling, they're playing from behind in every game and Vokoun needs to at least keep it close. It won't be easy tonight, playing in TD Garden in Boston, where the Bruins are 5-2 so far this post-season. It doesn't look like there will be any lineup changes for either side tonight, but Wade Redden is available to play defense again, should the Bruins need him.
Prediction: 4-2 Bruins.

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