The Time: 7:30 PM EDT
The Broadcast: TV - VERSUS(HD); Radio -970 AM WNYM
The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (36-37-5) at the Pittsburgh Penguins (46-25-8)
The Previews: My preview from early this morning is right here. For the other side of tonight's game, please check out PensBurgh later for a gamethread.
Gameday Info: First and foremost, Tom Gulitti reported earlier today that Zach Parise is not playing tonight. While I'm a little disappointed in not seeing #9 again, I can understand giving him the extra day to recover since he hasn't played a hockey game for several months before Saturday's game. Not to mention that Pittsburgh's a rather physical and a penalty-minute generating team; sitting out the guy who just came back from injury is a sensible move. Due to this development, I would expect the Devils to go back to the lines they've used for most of the last two and a half months. This definitely benefits the Penguins tonight since Dan Bylsma can feel confident in rolling out the same match-ups again. It's still unknown as of this writing as to who will play in Parise's place, I hope it's Vladimir Zharkov because he's better than Rod Pelley (and Adam Mair, who has been playing as of late).
Second, Gulitti also reported that Johan Hedberg will start tonight and not Martin Brodeur. Gulitti misheard him on Monday. I'm fine with it. Moose proved last Friday against Philadelphia that he can come in cold and do quite well against good competition. He should be fine tonight.
Third, according to Sam Kasan's report at the Penguins' official website, Marc-Andre Fleury will start for the Penguins tonight.
Fourth, the latest report (as of this writing) from Gulitti has Jacques Lemaire still unhappy with the team's passing from this morning's skate. It's certainly discouraging. Hopefully, the Devils
A Song for Tonight: Some days, I wonder which Don Caballero album is better: 2 or What Burns Never Returns. Both are fantastic. I've used plenty of songs from the latter. Today, for this last game against the Penguins this season, here's this track from 2: "Cold Knees (in April)." Cold knees, indeed. It's a long but patient listeners will be rewarded throughout the second half of the song.
Want to Discuss Other Games?: Don't do it here. This is the Gamethread for tonight's Devils-Penguins game. You can talk about other games in the NHL or in other leagues in the comments here in this FanShot.
Please use this Gamethread to discuss what's going on in tonight's game between the Penguins and the Devils. As always, please keep your comments clean, relevant, and legal. If you want to be negative; fine, but do be rational as nobody needs any nonsense from anyone. Go Devils!