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Penguins Notebook

Penguins Notebook 2/3/18: Pens vs. Devils, ZAR Called Up

Today’s top stories: Hornqvist hurt, Sheary on IR, ZAR called up.

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Check back throughout the day as this page will be updated with news, notes and developing stories.

UPDATE (5:08 PM):

UPDATE (4:48 PM): Jason Mackey of the Post-Gazette talked with new call up Zach Aston-Reese about his slow start to the season and why things have turned around recently.

MORE FROM LAST NIGHT’S PENS VICTORY (1:34 PM): Some numbers from last night. Crosby may have “only” tallied two power play assists, but from a possession stand point he (and the entire first line) were dominant. Crosby finished with a 65.7% Corsi (23 for, 12 against). The only player who was on the ice for more 5-on-5 chances was linemate Bryan Rust who finished the night with a 67.7% (21 for, 12 against). The third member of the top line, Dominik Simon clocked in at 62.1% (18 for, 11 against).

In total, the Penguins out attempted the Capitals 49-46 5-on-5. (Stats via hockey-reference.com).

Complete SAT breakdown from the always interesting @HockeyViz, (Micah Blake McCurdy’s bot which tweets out game charts.) You can clearly make out Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust far to the right (that mean’s good) in the 5v5 shot chart.

PENS vs. DEVILS NOTES (11:32 AM): In a bit of a scheduling quirk, this is the first matchup of the year between these Metro Division opponents. In 2016-17, the Pens swept the season series, 5-0, outscoring the Devils 26-14. In last year’s series, Sidney Crosby had 10 points (5 goals-5 assists) in the five games.

UPDATE (11:19 AM): The NHL has fined TJ Oshie $5,000 for his cross-check on Kris Letang. Five large and he made Ryan Reaves’ list. One hurts now, one may hurt later.

THE MORNING BULLETIN (10:18 AM): The Penguins took care of the Capitals, 7-4 last night at PPG Paints Arena, check out the recap from Dave Holcomb and Dan’s film study. The win moved the Pens to just four points behind the Caps for first in the Metro and continued their red-hot streak that begin in January. In the last 13 games, the Penguins are averaging four goals per game and have outscored their opponents 52-31.

Now for the bad news from last night’s game:

Hornqvist’s injury last night, along with Sheary placed on IR has forced the Pens to make a call-up from Wilkes-Barre.

Aston-Reese has 29 points (9 goals-20 assists) in 41 games played for the Pens’ AHL affiliate, third on the team. Reese had a slow start to the season but has been on fire lately for the Baby Pens. In his last 14 games he’s been kept off the score sheet only three times and has tallied 6 goals and 10 assists.