Pittsburgh Penguins: Return Home To Face Montreal Canadiens

The Pittsburgh Penguins return home from their mini-road trip to play the Montreal Canadiens. On the ice, the road trip split a pair of games against the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild.

Unlike the Winnipeg game, the Penguins looked energetic and determined against the Wild. They managed to score four goals despite missing  the obvious assortment of injured players, plus Tyler Kennedy (concussion) and Kris Letang (suspension).

There were also a few moments of concern when fresh call-up Brian Strait went off with a hyper-extended elbow, Deryck Engelland took a puck to the dome, and Brent Johnson got twisted up in a Gumby impression.

Engelland and Johnson were okay and the team pulled of a nice road win.

Now that they return home to the Consol Energy Center, there is the potential to have a let down. Much like the road trip, the Penguins should look to keep things simple.

Here are four keys to victory.

Chris Kunitz

Chris Kunitz scored his first goal of the season in Minnesota.

He has been playing his role and not trying too hard.

If Kunitz can grab a goal for the second game in a row, the Penguins will be a much more lethal team.

When forwards like Kunitz play with the confidence a scoring streak provides, they are much more dangerous.

Brooks Orpik

Brooks Orpik will return to the lineup for the first time this season. He will be looking to get back to game speed.

Once that happens, look for "free candy" to be handed out everywhere.

James Neal

James neal cannot keep scoring goals forever. Or can he?

While it is dangerous to expect a player to score each and every game, it can be equally as bad to underestimate someone.

Perhaps the real James Neal is much closer to the version we are currently seeing.

He could be coming in to his own as top tier goal scorer instead of someone just riding a hot streak.

Regardless of which is true, the more he can score while the top guns are injured, the better.

Energy

The Penguins looked dead on their skate for the first period of the Winnipeg game.

Somehow they found the ability to bring back the hop in their step against the Wild.

Playing a smaller, quick team such as the Canadiens will require energy from start to finish. The team will need to find their energy any way they can.

Forecheck

With all the energy that the Pens will hopefully have, they cannot just skate around like Wild men.

Dan Bylsma has a method to his attack and it appears to be funneled through a relentless forecheck.

This helped the offense greatly against the Wild. A repeat performance will be one of the top keys to whether the Penguins win, or lose.