The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to take down the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals Saturday.
One player who is excited to get back on the ice is Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby. The MVP-Candidate was recently told that he could play without the mouth guard he has been using since the first round of the playoffs. The Penguins have gotten over a week of rest after finishing off the Ottawa Senators in five games.
"It's been productive," Crosby said of the extended rest. "We've prepared and rested up. We all know what is coming and we'll be ready for [Saturday]."
Crosby knows that he will likely see a lot of Boston's Captain Zdeno Chara. The towering defenseman has done a terrific job this postseason of shutting down the opposition's top forwards. There has been no information on whether Boston Coach Claude Julien will utilize Chara against Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh's other top center.
"I'm sure [Chara]'s going to get both of us," Crosby said. "It seems he's always out there. He plays a lot of minutes. I wouldn't be surprised to see him play both of us, depending on situations."
Meanwhile, Boston Captain Chara hopes that he can be effective in shutting down Pittsburgh's top duo.
"My priority always is playing well defensively and shutting guys down. If I can help out offensively and contribute, obviously on the power play, it's a big plus," Chara said. "But like I said, if the whole team is not scoring, it's tough to really produce something as an individual."
The Penguins hope to get a better performance from Malkin. The center dominated against the New York Islanders in the first round, but was held in check throughout the series against the Senators. Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma hopes that Malkin can perform the way he did during his Conn Smythe winning campaign in 2009 when he put up nine points in three games against the Carolina Hurricanes.
"Evgeni won a Conn Smythe Trophy but really elevated his game when he got to the third round," Coach Dan Bylsma said. "That series, he took it to another level."
Prediction: Pittsburgh wins Game 1 3-2.
Start Time: 8 PM EST
TV: NBCSN