2005 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS PREVIEW

---




Straight Ups NHL Money Lines NHL Puck Line Wagering NHL Teasers NHL Proposition Betting NHL Futures "IF" Game Betting IN Game Wagering

We strive to bring you the very best coverage of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Included on this site you'll find an NHL team index and resource pages, Hockey Wagering Previews, Standings, NHL Matchups, stats, injuries, transactions, and online sportsbook hockey betting information. It's truly all right here!!! NHL Hockey Guide >>>

2005-06 Pittsburgh Penguins preview

(MySportsbook.com) - Let's hope the Pittsburgh Penguins sent Gary Bettman a fruit basket or something to thank him.

Throughout the mess that was the National Hockey League lockout, the commissioner championed the cause of the small market clubs in his quest for "cost certainty." Well, Bettman eventually got his salary cap, and the benefits of its parity-friendly components were immediately seen by Mario Lemieux's Pens.

First the club won the draft lottery, beating out the other 29 clubs for the right to select phenom Sidney Crosby. Then the Penguins drafted him, then they dove into free agency with an aggressive approach.

Now they just might be a playoff team.

The addition of Crosby, the top junior prospect to be drafted since Eric Lindros in 1991, created a buzz around the Pens that hadn't been there in quite some time. If anything, his presence will help resurrect a dying franchise and perhaps lead to a new arena down the road.

But the Penguins weren't content with a future superstar on their roster, so they also added the NHL's premier offensive defenseman in Sergei Gonchar and injury prone, but still capable forward Ziggy Palffy as free agency opened. Then came Jocelyn Thibault to help tutor goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury in the crease and John LeClair to prove he can still produce at the age of 36.

And, of course, we can't forget to mention Lemieux, whose career was given new life when Crosby entered the picture. Expect No. 66 to take the phenom under his wing, and show him a thing or two when they're out on the power play together.

It has been a down era for the Penguins in recent years, but it looks like that's about to change.

FORWARDS - There are sure to be growing pains as Crosby takes the step from the QMJHL to the big time, but with new rules that appear tailored for his skills the learning curve might not be all that bad. A star center for the Rimouski Oceanic, Crosby tallied 120 goals and 183 assists in his last two years of junior hockey. This past season for Rimouski he netted 66 goals and 102 assists in just 62 games.

Now don't expect those numbers in the NHL, at least not yet, but the Calder Trophy would be a safe bet.

Lemieux, meanwhile, hopes to remain healthy, something that has been a rarity since his comeback in late 2000. In 2003-04 he appeared in only 10 games, recording one goal and eight assists. The previous campaign, Lemieux was effective for most of the season, appearing in 67 games and notching 91 points (27g, 63a). No. 66 will turn the big 4-0 on October 5, coincidentally the same day the 2005-06 season begins.

An x-factor for the Pens might be how much Mark Recchi and LeClair have left in the tank. The duo faded in recent years with the Philadelphia Flyers, but have still been respectable in lesser roles. LeClair is no longer among the elite power forwards in the league, but he potted 23 goals in 03-04. Recchi, who the club signed last summer, played all 82 games for the Flyers that year and bested LeClair's goal total by three.

Palffy was once one of the league's most dynamic talents, but his last five seasons have been plagued by injuries. That said, when he's able to be on the ice he remains productive. At the age of 33, Palffy can still probably be a 30-goal man if he logs at least 70 games.

DEFENSE - Gonchar was the team's top blueline addition, but it's no secret that actually playing defense isn't one of his strengths. He will provide an attacking presence from the backside and will jolt the Pens' power play, but he needs help around him to compensate for his deficiencies as a defender. During his last season in Washington, Gonchar's plus-minus was a career-worst minus-20 because the Caps played horrible team defense.

The problem is that the Penguins already have a similar player in Dick Tarnstrom, who posted a career high 16 goals and 36 assists in 80 games during the 2003-04 season. Another power-play maven, Tarnstrom was a minus-37 in 03-04, and is minus-60 during his three-year career.

The remainder of the Pittsburgh defense corps is filled with the likes of Ric Jackman and rookie Ryan Whitney, who are also puck-moving blueliners who shine in the offensive end. This will all be well and good as the Penguins adapt to the new offense-friendly NHL rules. However, those rules are a two-way street and the club will still have to stop the opposition, which could be a problem.

GOALTENDING - Thibault was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks as insurance until Fleury is ready to take the reins full time. The former Nordique, Avalanche, Canadien and Blackhawk missed most of 03-04 with a hip injury and has been inconsistent at best during his NHL career. All the Pens need is a stop-gap, though, and he should provide that.

Fleury, the top pick in the 2003 Entry Draft, had a 21-game stint with Pittsburgh in 03-04, but was sent back to juniors after going 4-14-2 with a 3.54 goals-against average. He spent last season with the Wilkes- Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL and wasn't the starter for most of the postseason. Especially with relatively decent talent in front of him, the Pens would like to start seeing some return for their investment

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - The Penguins will likely play their way back into the playoffs, and the excitement level at the Igloo should be at its highest point since the early 1990s. The team is sure to be an offensive force so long as its key parts remain healthy. What needs to be seen, though, is how well the club can play team defense, something that will be imperative with the fresh rules.

MySportsbook has all the lines on all your favorite sports!

Since their launch in 1997, MySportsbook.com has been recognized as a safe and secure provider of online gaming services - offering both a virtual casino and online sportsbook. This track record has made MySportsbook.com one of the top and most reputable online gaming companies in the world. Promo's Include Neteller SignUp Bonuses, Free $10 NHL Bet, Betting Specials, and their NHL Bet Promos are the best you'll find anywhere online.

Click Here To Bet On The Pittsburgh Penguins Today With Our Recommended NHL Sportsbook - MySportsbook.com - The Best Online NHL Sportsbooks - Better Than Vegas - (10% Money Bonus When You Deposit)

BODOG.COM - Pittsburgh Penguins betting sportsbooks

World’s Most Comprehensive Online Sportsbook, Casino and Poker Site Leads Trend for Wagering on Big-Time Events

Bodog.com located in San Jose, Costa Rica, is federally licensed by the Costa Rican and UK governments. One of the pioneers in the field, Bodog.com is the top-ranked US facing online gamblíng brand, with highest site traffic amongst multi-product US gaming web sites. Bodog.com, valued at over US $1 billion and ranked in the Power 10 online companies by eGaming Review. Bodog.com is turning into a marketing giant with their ads prominently displayed in Esquire magazine for starters. They are definatly here to stay. BoDog.com is always coming up with contest, promotions and awesome ideas for ways to improve their book for the player. They are a top NHL Bet website and have a 20% bonus with a 1 time roll over which you will not find anywhere else on the Net.

Click Here To Bet On The Pittsburgh Penguins Games Today - Bodog NHL Sportsbook Lines - (10% Free Money Bonus On Deposit)

NOTE: BoDog.com, MySportsbook.com, and Betus.comare our live Stanley Cup Betting matchups partners, and bring you up to date nhl and olympic hockey odds and lines, as well as great Stanley Cup Betting action, NHL sportsbooks action, and multi-sport parlay entertainment. These companies in our opinion are the best NHL sportsbooks online with great hockey matchup information, including NHL betting odds, LIVE NHL lines, fantastic customer service and fast payouts. Click the links to go to Bodog, Betus and My Sportsbook today, and bet Bet online in their NHL hockey sportsbooks today. Click any of the links in side the VIP sports information area including, NHL matchups, NHL previews, NHL standings, NHL live scores, and more today.

Pittsburgh Penguins Preview | Stanley Cup Lines | Hockey Sportsbooks