Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals
- Referees:
- Wes McCauley #4
- 3.24 minor penalties per game
- 9.8 total PIM per game
- Favors home team (47.9% minors called vs. home)
- Kelly Sutherland #11
- 3.54 minor penalties per game
- 10.9 total PIM per game
- Calls even home/road (49.4% minors called vs. home)
- Wes McCauley #4
- Linesmen: Scott Cherrey #50, Greg Devorski #54
- Both teams have a strong power play (Pittsburgh #1 25.5%, Washington #2 23.2%). The Penguins are much better on the penalty kill (#1, 87.2%) than the 23rd-ranked Caps (80.3%). Worse is that Washington is 28th in penalties (12.8min/gm), compared to Pittsburgh’s 10.7 (16th). That works out to about one more power play for the Penguins, with the Caps challenged to kill it off.
Nashville Predators at Ottawa Senators
- Referees:
- Eric Furlatt #27
- 4.13 minor penalties per game
- 12.4 total PIM per game
- Favors home team (48.1% minors called vs. home)
- Greg Kimmerly #18
- 3.44 minor penalties per game
- 10.5 total PIM per game
- Calls even home/road (49.3% minors called vs. home)
- Eric Furlatt #27
- Linesmen: Steve Barton #59, Derek Nansen #70
- The Sens have allowed power play goals in six straight games (PK: 19/27, 70.3%); Ottawa is 2-4-0 over that run. On the flip side, Nashville hasn’t scored a power play goal yet this month, going 0-for-15 in four games.
Phoenix Coyotes at Tampa Bay Lightning
- Referees:
- Rob Martell #26
- 3.18 minor penalties per game
- 9.0 total PIM per game
- Favors home team (47.0% minors called vs. home)
- Francois St. Laurent #38
- 4.1 minor penalties per game
- 12.8 total PIM per game
- Favors home team (48.5% minors called vs. home)
- Rob Martell #26
- Linesmen: Pierre Racicot #65, Trent Knorr #63
- Knorr, a rookie official, spent his first five games of the season as a referee. Since the new year, he’s been working the lines in the NHL (three games) and in the AHL.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars
- Referees:
- Francis Charron #6
- 3.66 minor penalties per game
- 10.0 total PIM per game
- Calls even home/road (49.4% minors called vs. home)
- Marc Joannette #25
- 3.60 minor penalties per game
- 10.7 total PIM per game
- Favors home team (47.6% minors called vs. home)
- Francis Charron #6
- Linesmen: Jonny Murray #95, Don Henderson #91
Winnipeg Jets at Colorado Avalanche
- Referees:
- Mike Hasenfratz #2
- 3.75 minor penalties per game
- 10.3 total PIM per game
- Favors home team (47.2% minors called vs. home)
- Dan O’Rourke #9
- 3.92 minor penalties per game
- 11.5 total PIM per game
- Favors home team (46.2% minors called vs. home)
- Mike Hasenfratz #2
- Linesmen: Ryan Galloway #82, Bryan Pancich #94
Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames
- Referees:
- Gord Dwyer #19
- 4.05 minor penalties per game
- 12.2 total PIM per game
- Favors home team (48.8% minors called vs. home)
- Brad Meier #34
- 4.06 minor penalties per game
- 12.6 total PIM per game
- Favors road team (52.5% minors called vs. home)
- Gord Dwyer #19
- Linesmen: Mike Cvik #88, Brian Mach #78
- Calgary has registered a power play goal in just two of their past 12 games. The Kings have scored power play goals in four straight, while going a perfect 10-for-10 on the penalty kill over that span. The Kings have successfully killed off their last 15 penalties, dating back to February 26.
New York Islanders at Vancouver Canucks
- Referees:
- Brian Pochmara #16
- 4.26 minor penalties per game
- 12.8 total PIM per game
- Favors home team (47.6% minors called vs. home)
- Ian Walsh #29
- 3.57 minor penalties per game
- 9.3 total PIM per game
- Favors home team (45.7% minors called vs. home)
- Brian Pochmara #16
- Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron #74, Jay Sharrers #57
Toronto Maple Leafs at Anaheim Ducks
- Referees:
- Dave Jackson #8
- 4.03 minor penalties per game
- 12.2 total PIM per game
- Favors home team (48.6% minors called vs. home)
- Frederick L’Ecuyer #17
- 3.69 minor penalties per game
- 9.7 total PIM per game
- Favors home team (44.4% minors called vs. home)
- Dave Jackson #8
- Linesmen: Kiel Murchison #79, Brad Lazarowich #86
- With the Leafs near the bottom of the league on the penalty kill (28th, 77.9%) and penalties (26th, – 12.6min/game), the referees could tip the scales in the Ducks’ favor. The Leafs haven’t done much offensively on special teams. They’ve gone eight straight games without a power play goal.