PENS UNIVERSE - Real hockey

What's The Buzz? Tell Me What's Happenin'!

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Tracey) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:23:00 +0000

Okay, enough with the rock opera stuff and let's get to hockey. In this column, we will discuss what Pens fans have been buzzing about lately on Twitter, Facebook and even dinner table conversation. (imagine that!)

Sidney Crosby.

The first and most obvious subject, the Captain. From a broken neck to his mystery press conference to his recent comments about not being symptom free yet; a lot has been swirling around about him and quite frankly, fans are frustrated. Can ya blame them?

I like to think that most Pens fans and general hockey fans want the best for Crosby. He, along with other NHL stars, make the game appealing to fans of all ages and undoubtedly to those who pay good money on tickets.

But there come a time where we as fans must place our fan card on the shelf and look at the situation differently, without our black and vegas gold glasses. Crosby not only has to consider his career but his life beyond hockey. But until Crosby is 100%, fans will have to deal with conflicting media reports and more vague updates.

Staal and Despres.

As if we are lucky on the injury front, fans received refreshing news that forward Jordan Staal and defenseman Simon Despres are close to returning to the lineup. Staal said, "Not far, I don’t think. It’s feeling really good. It’s just a matter of time."

Evgeni Malkin.

Enough said.

Tyler Kennedy.

The Ol' boy is the latest player that has been added to the shelf pending his reevaluation today. Even with an injury, TK has managed to cause quite the stir amongst fans. The 25 year old forward, who has a cap hit of 2 million since receiving a new deal this past off season, has managed only 6 goals and 22 points so far. A lot want Kennedy on the platter for the deadline.

Paul Martin.

Speaking of trade deadline, let's put Paul Martin out here, oh wait....errr...NTC. Unless GM Shero has the freak powers of that chick in Wolverine where he places his hand on Martin's shoulder and tells him to walk back to New Jersey and never turn around, Paul Mart is here to stay BUT stranger things have happened.

Eric Tangradi.

In a sense, you have to feel bad for the guy, right? I mean people talked Tango up to be this awesome big body forward that would put Ryan Malone to shame. With a few good shifts here and there, Tangradi really hasn't lived up to all of the expectations. This brings up the question, is Tangradi still in the plan? .....who honestly know what will happen, but we do know one thing that does happen to him...

PK Subban.

Without a doubt Subban is "dangerously tripping" his way up to the top of the jagoff list. The guy is a good player with a craptastic attitude. He's shown he has little to no regard for the safety of his fellow NHLers and as Josh Yohe reported, "I can assure you that Subban is the NHL's most unpopular player in the Penguins' locker room. They don't like the guy, as you just saw."

Habs Fans.

Boooooooooooooooooooooo! "Guys, we just won the game.." "Oh?" ... Booooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Brent Johnson.

Today we'll end the buzz with Brent Johnson. Yes Johnny has been a little iffy lately but we've got faith in BeeJ. So BeeJ our message to you is...

LETS GO PENS!

Blueline Beat: 1/19/12-1/31/12 and January Stats

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Myers) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:55:00 +0000

After going on a rough losing streak the Pens ended January on a high note with an eight game winning streak. Also boosting the team was the return of Kris Letang to the lineup on January 19 versus the Rangers, and he looked like he didn't miss a beat. Here is my recap of the final games of January and the individual player stats.

Pens vs. Rangers 1/19 (W 4-1)

-Martin earned his 13th assist on the Kunitz goal.

-Engelland earned his ninth assist on the goal from Park.

-Letang earned his 17th assist on the first goal from Malkin.

-While they have not looked the best this season, the Martin/Michalek pairing gave a strong effort here.

-Fleury stopped 30 of 31 shots faced.

-Martin led the team with four blocked shots.

-Engelland and Letang led the defense with three shots on goal.

-Letang led in ice time with 24:17 in his first game back.

Pens vs. Canadiens 1/20 (W 5-4 SO)

-Letang scored his fourth goal of the season.

-Michalek earned his fifth assist of the season on the first goal from Jeffrey.

-Letang also earned his 18th assist on the goal from Malkin.

-The Pens gave a much better effort in the third period of this game than the first two periods, which allowed them to tie the game.

-Fleury stopped 25 out of 29 shots and was a key part of the team's victory.

-Martin led the team with four blocked shots.

-Letang led the defense with four shots on goal.

-Letang led in ice time with 28:14.

Pens vs. Capitals 1/22 (W 4-3 OT)

-Letang scored his fifth goal of the season on the power play.

-Orpik earned his eighth assist on the second goal from Neal.

-Martin earned his 14th assist on the overtime goal from Malkin.

-In watching these few games since Letang's return, you could just see the difference he makes on the ice. Not only that, his return helped take some of the pressure and ice time off of the other defensemen.

-Fleury stopped 17 out of 20 shots.

-Letang led the team with four blocked shots.

-Letang led the defense with four shots on goal.

-Letang led in ice time with 27:09.

Pens vs. Blues 1/25 (W 3-2 SO)

-Martin earned his 15th assist on the goal from Neal.

-Engelland earned his 10th assist on the goal from Sullivan.

-Fleury played an outstanding game here. He stopped 32 out of 34 shots in a hard fought game.

-Michalek led the team with four blocked shots.

-Letang and Niskanen led the defense with two shots on goal.

-Martin led in ice time with 25:56.

Pens vs. Leafs 1/31 (W 5-4 SO)

-Martin earned his 16th assist on the goal from Cooke.

-Once again, Fleury played a remarkable game, stopping 35 out of 39 shots. Quite frankly he has probably been the most valuable player on the ice in these times.

-Letang led the team with three blocked shots.

-Engelland, Letang, and Michalek led the defense with two shots on goal.

-Letang led in ice time with 24:21.

January Stats

(leader of each category will be bolded)

Orpik

GP: 12

Points: 0G 3A

SOG: 7

Blocked Shots: 18

Hits: 53

Average Ice Time: 23:40

(+/-) +3

Letang

GP: 5

Points: 2G 2A

SOG: 14

Blocked Shots: 10

Average Ice Time: 25:45

(+/-) +4

Martin

GP: 11

Points: 0G 7A

SOG: 13

Blocked Shots: 24

Average Ice Time: 23:50

(+/-) +2

Michalek

GP: 12

Points: 0G 1A

SOG: 16

Blocked Shots: 20

Average Ice Time: 22:15

(+/-) -3

Engelland

GP: 12

Points: 0G 2A

SOG: 19

Blocked Shots: 4

Average Ice Time: 15:31

(+/-) even

Niskanen

GP: 12

Points: 0G 1A

SOG: 18

Blocked Shots: 12

Average Ice Time: 17:23

(+/-) +2

Lovejoy

GP: 5

Points: 1G 0A

SOG: 13

Blocked Shots: 5

Average Ice Time: 13:51

(+/-) -1

Blueline Beat: The Road So Far

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Myers) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:21:00 +0000

With this being the All-Star break and being a little over the halfway point of the season, here's my look back at how the defensemen have performed so far.

In the midst of all the injuries to the defensemen, Brooks Orpik has stepped up even more as a team leader this year. He has spoken up when the team was in their slump and will not mince words. He is a monster in terms of physicality: in 41 games played he has racked up 145 hits. He does not provide a lot of offense, but with 10 points so far, he has the potential to beat his total last year (13 points). He is a valuable veteran presence to this defense.

Kris Letang had an unfortunate 21-game absence due to a concussion, but upon his return he looks like he hasn't skipped a beat. In his first four games back, he has averaged just over 26 minutes of ice time. It is apparent that his rigorous conditioning has paid off. Letang has a wicked shot that can find his way through traffic. The power play is his to QB and he has shown to be a threat on it either at the point or roaming towards the net. Any mistakes he makes are few and far between. Currently he is averaging about one point per game, which we can continue to expect throughout the rest of the season.

If there was an award for "most improved since last season", that would go to Matt Niskanen. He improved his game because he had to to earn a roster spot on a team rich with defensemen. Niskanen had a strong training camp and has a total of 16 points during the first half of the season, which has already surpassed his total last season. Niskanen really had a chance to stand out while he luckily avoided injury while other players went down. He is making smarter decisions on the ice and is a good skater. However, he has fallen into a bit of a lull in the point department lately, with only one assist in the last 11 games. A little bit more consistency in that regard would be a good thing for him to work on.

Deryk Engelland is another defenseman who has improved his game this season. He has earned 12 points so far this year, surpassing his point total in 63 games played last season. Like Orpik, he is another physical presence on the blueline and is willing to drop the gloves. Engelland has the ability to make a good shot, but we do not get to see it too often. With the effort he puts out though, he is a solid presence on that final pairing on the Pens defense.

Paul Martin has been the topic of many conversations this season, and many of them have had a negative tone. His $5 million salary brings a lot of complaints, especially this season, because he has not had the best run. He found some difficulties in the absence of his partner Michalek and has been a minus the whole season. Many times he is on the ice against difficult top-line opponents where he has struggled. He has the tendency to get caught up ice at times. As of late though, his game has started to pick up. He sits at 16 points this season and his chemistry with Michalek is starting to show again. Bylsma has recently defended his play. While he can make a bad play, just as quickly he can turn around and help set up a goal. Martin can log a lot of minutes without much difficulty. I wouldn't write him off just yet.

Zbynek Michalek is another player who has been plagued with the injury bug this year. In terms of his strengths, he is a great shutdown defenseman who you do not see making many mistakes. He is a key member of the team's penalty kill unit and a great shot blocker. Michalek has a solid shot, but does not use it enough. It seems like when he does, it is right in a spot where the goaltender can make an easy save. With a little bit more variety there, he can be a greater threat offensively. In spite of that, he is a key member of this team's defense.

With a healthy blueline roster, Ben Lovejoy looks to be the one who will end up as the seventh defenseman. However, he seems to take it all in stride. During his stretch of playing time, we have seen that he plays with energy and tenacity. He can move the puck well in most situations. Lovejoy has the tendency to make some mistakes, which is something that experience can fix.

Simon Despres got the oppotunity to show off his skills during a time when he was needed on the blueline in the injury run. He held his own surrounded by top caliber NHL players. Despres is a mobile skater and he has shown he has the ability to produce offensively ( 4 points in 14 games with the Pens). Unfortunately he is now sidelined with a knee injury and will hopefully return to action soon. He is only 20 years old and still needs time to develop his game in the minors, along with developing more physicality. He has the potential to do great things in the NHL.

Alexandre Picard also got a good chunk of time with the Pens, playing 17 games with the team. In his run he scored four points. He was not one you noticed much on the ice, but that does not mean that was a bad thing. He gave a solid effort and did not make mistakes to harm the team. Picard is another reliable call-up from the Baby Pens when his services are needed.

Forward Progress: 1st Half Grades

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Myers) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:53:00 +0000

As we come to the All-Star Break, the Pens sit at 5th in the East with 33 games left to play. At a little more than halfway through the season, here are my Forward Grades.

Evgeni Malkin: A+
-Had a torrid preseason and started the season strong. Injury woes popped up again early, but he's rebounded and since Sid went down, Geno has elevated his game to levels we have not seen in a couple years. Playing fantastic hockey lately, leading the NHL in scoring with 58 points in only 42 games and hitting on all cylinders with his linemates. Taking over games and carrying the team on his back. If he stays healthy and motivated, expect more huge things from Malkin.

James Neal: A
-Last year's goal drought is LONG gone. Tied for second in the NHL in goals with 27. Tied for first in power play goals with 13. Leading the league in shots. 47 points in 49 games. All-Star. Terrific chemistry with Malkin. Forechecks like a beast and plays responsible in his own end. Primed for a big second half and the 40 goal mark. My only complaint is he seems to take too many minor penalties.

Chris Kunitz: B+
-Complements Neal and Malkin nicely on the top line. Gritty winger hits anything that moves and provides net front presence on the PP. 14 goals and 18 assists in 49 games. Would like to see him score more goals, but they keep getting called back.

Jordan Staal: B
-Grade would be higher, but he's been plagued with injuries. Out for a few more weeks with a knee injury. When healthy this year, he's been a terrific two way player. 15 goals in the 34 games he's played and strong on the PK and a shorthanded threat. If he can come back from the knee injury and play his type of game, he will be a force and make the Pens an even better team down the stretch.

Pascal Dupuis: B
-Was on a points tear for awhile, but has since cooled considerably. Has 27 points in 49 games. Still strong on the PK. Would like to start seeing him score again and give the Pens that secondary scoring they are going to need.

Matt Cooke: B+
-Much like Dupuis, his scoring has dropped off lately, but I've really been impressed with how he has changed his game and not been that guy that everyone hates. 16 penalty minutes, only 8 minors, in 49 games. Excellent on the PK. Would like to see a little more than his 7 goals and 9 assists for that all important secondary scoring.

Tyler Kennedy: D
-Yes, very disappointed in TK. He's missed some time to injury, but 6 goals in 38 games isn't going to cut it. Stepped up last year but been very one-dimensional and virtually invisible lately. He doesn't kill penalties and gets very little PP time, so he needs to start scoring more at even strength, especially with Sid out of the lineup.

Steve Sullivan: B
-Not doing too bad. Surprisingly hasn't missed a game yet and has potted 9 goals and 14 assists. Has really helped the power play, but the turnovers at the blueline on the power play drive me absolutely crazy though. Would also like to see a little more consistency in scoring.

Dustin Jeffrey: C
-Missed a ton of time with a bad knee, but seems to finally be getting back to his game as evidenced by a recent 2 goal, 3 point game. Gonna need him to step up and help in the scoring department in the second half.

Richard Park: B-
-4 goals and 9 points from someone not even expected to make the team in training camp. Has proved valuable on the third line and the PK. Like many players, more consistency in his game is needed.

Joe Vitale: A-
-I love this guy. He's not here to score, but has 2 goals and 9 points. He's here to win faceoffs and bang bodies and he does it well. Valuable 4th line and PK player.

Craig Adams: B+
-Another guy I love. Doesn't show up on the scoresheet much, but shows up every night to play gritty hockey. Hits, fights, blocks shots, gives it all on the PK. Tough as nails.

Arron Asham: B-
-Was rolling along fine in his role til struck with another concussion. Drops the gloves to protect teammates and plays his fourth line, veteran role with pride.

Eric Tangradi: D
-12 games, 2 fights (???), 2 broken panes of glass, no goals. Needs to step it up and provide secondary scoring and hasn't shown much at the NHL level yet. This is his time to prove himself NHL-worthy. Not that he hasn't been playing hard, it's just not happening. Needs to find a way to get his game going at this level.

Steve Macintyre: D
-Has been back and forth between here and the Baby Pens. Gets only seconds of ice time and has no fights in his 11 games in the NHL this year. Not his fault so much, as it seems the "enforcer" player is becoming expendable and there are less and less guys to fight.

So, everyone likes to play GM and say how they would fill out the lines, so here are my two takes...a healthy roster without Sid, and a healthy roster with Sid.

Healthy Without Sid:
Neal-Malkin-Kunitz
Cooke-Staal-Dupuis
Kennedy-Jeffrey-Sullivan
Adams-Vitale-Park/Asham

Healthy With Sid:
Neal-Malkin-Kunitz
Dupuis-Crosby-Sullivan
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Adams-Vitale-Park/Asham

Without Crosby, I think the Pens can still be very dangerous if they get secondary scoring going from guys like Jeffrey, Cooke, Dupuis, Sullivan, Kennedy to complement scoring machines Malkin and Neal.

With Crosby, the Pens can finally get back to throwing three dangerous lines with three great centers at opponents. Look. Out.

Either way, I'm excited for this second half of the season and can't wait to see what kind of a ride the boys take us on.

LETS GO PENS!

5 questions at the All-Star break

noreply@blogger.com (Corey Allan) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:24:00 +0000

The Pittsburgh Penguins have reached the All-Star break riding a wave of victories. After dropping six straight, the boys had some fun with Duct Tape and put together a seven game winning streak. Isn't Duct Tape amazing?

With half a season to go and the Penguins sitting in 5th place in the Eastern Conference (as of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning), many questions remain with the team and how the rest of the season could play out.

5. Does Ray Shero make a trade before the deadline?

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Malkin and Neal have both had incredible seasons thus far. 71, 18 or both players have had at least a point during this seven game winning streak. It looked like a no brainer Shero would shake things up during the six game losing streak. Things may look peachy now, but you know Shero is always keeping an eye on the market. I think the Pens need another player they can count on to put pucks in the net besides two guys on the same line. Names like Zach Parise and Ales Hemsky have been thrown around the trade rumor mill recently. My gut tells me Shero pulls the trigger again for a scorer before all is said and done.

4. Can Geno win the scoring title?

I must break you. Drago, aka Evgeni Malkin, is destroying it right now. Leading the scoring race with 58 points and just 26 goals, Malkin averages 1.38 points/night. Before Crosby got injured last season, he was making it rain points averaging 1.61 points/night. Very comparable between the two. However, much like the team he plays for, Malkin struggles against Atlantic Division teams. At the break, Malkin only has 12 points against teams in the Penguins' division. Geno and the Pens as a team need to start winning divisional games. I think the Pens will do just that with Malkin winning the scoring title.

3. Can Flower carry the load?

Getty Images

The Pens have won seven straight, and so has Marc-Andre Fleury. With a record of 26-12-2, Flower ranks in the top 10 among NHL goaltenders in six different categories (games player: 5th place with 42, wins: 3rd place with 26, goals against: 10th place with 93, goals against average: 9th place at 2.25, minutes played: 7th place with 2,484...and yes penalty minutes he ranks 10th with 2 PIM). The problem I see is Flower is on pace for a career-high in starts. Back-up Brent Johnson hasn't been as sharp lately, forcing Bylsma's hand in keeping MAF between the pipes. He's hot now, but how quick will that glove hand and kick save be down the stretch? It will be interesting to see how his body holds up.

2. When will 87 return to the lineup?

I posed the question this way as opposed to "can" Sidney Crosby return. He already did once, and we all feel like can again. The team rallied behind him with the Duct Tape which kicked off this current winning streak, and he's been back to the specialists to get treatment. The Pens are 7-0-0 since he spoke to the media. Maybe that's it. Leave him off the ice and when the Pens finally lose again, just stick Sid in front of the microphones again. When will Sidney Crosby return? Only he will know the answer to that question.

1. Will the Penguins win the Stanley Cup?

My prediction at the start of this season was Pens vs. Kings in the Stanley Cup finals, with the Pens winning their fourth Cup. The previous four questions above are major concerns of mine whether this team can make it to the finals now, let alone the playoffs. Two weeks ago, this team wasn't even in the playoffs. It looks, however, things have turned for the better...for now. Teams get hot. Teams get cold. The same goes for players. It's all about consistency. The Penguins lost that earlier this month, and haven't found it at all within their division. I hope like all fans that the Penguins raise another banner at CONSOL Energy Center, and not a pointless banner to fill the rafters and make a team look accomplished like the Washington Capitals. But I need to see more from this team. Yes, more. This is just seven games folks. It doesn't erase the previous six games. It doesn't change the fact the Penguins are a mediocre .500 against Atlantic Division teams, with three of them in a playoff spot. It should remain fresh in all of our minds this season just how quick things can turn south. Show me consistency over the remainder of the season and the Pens still stand a shot.

The Real Deal

noreply@blogger.com (Damian Romano) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:35:00 +0000

by Brian Dye

The end of February of 2011 marked a time period where Penguins hockey would never be the same, although at the time we wouldn't have known the difference. If you’re having trouble remembering what happened around this time last year, let me kindly refresh your memory. We said farewell to Alex Goligoski and saw him off to Dallas and in return we welcomed James Neal and Matt Niskanen to a depleted, injury plagued Penguin lineup. While Niskanen proved he could play on both sides of the puck under Dan Bylsma with 9 goals and 22 assists before heading to the Stars, I’m not sure that the organization realized what exactly we were going to get with our return on investment.

Everybody knew the kind of season James Neal was having in Dallas and only expected better when he arrived in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, after several games in the black and gold (and sometimes blue and lighter blue) Neal had only managed one goal and only six points. He rounded the year off with 22 goals and a total of 45 points - ten points less than his previous year with the Stars. Sure, it was tough for him coming onto a team where he had little chance to conform to the Bylsma system and really get settled in place and feel comfortable. Of course, you can always say that he’s a professional hockey player – that’s what he’s paid to do is adjust. Or, you could have patience and wait for the 2011-2012 season, where we would see a side of James Neal that we wouldn’t have expected to see at the end of last season. Now we can say that Ray Shero really made the real deal for this organization back in February.

Coming off of a fresh offseason, full training camp, and a new perspective on how things work in Pittsburgh, Neal came out as one of the hottest players in the NHL, tallying goal after goal and point after point. Up until very recently, he led the Penguins in goals, lest he be surpassed by the Russian Rocket, Evgeni Malkin. The left winger has finally found his confidence on the team and it shows. Back on Christmas day, Neal said, “…I've felt like the bounces were going to go my way. That's brought confidence, and confidence is such a huge part of this game."

In the last six games of the current winning streak, Neal has tallied 5 goals, 4 assists, has a +10 rating and has averaged 21:29 of ice time. All this, and we thought we lost him for weeks due to a foot injury that turned out to be nothing. He has really stepped up his game when they needed him the most this season amid a locker room full of concussed (and other injured) Penguins.

To me, the Neal-Niskanen, Goligoski trade has been one of the most beneficial trades for Pittsburgh in recent memory. He is proving himself as an asset to the Penguins organization, contributes almost every game, is becoming a huge fan favorite, and has received a lot of support for being “snubbed” in this year’s NHL All-star game (while Ovechkin, who couldn’t score on a drunk hooker, gets to go). Personally, I feel that Neal has a bright future with the Penguins and has a lot to bring with the table. Here’s to hoping that ol’Ginger-Beard will stick around the Burgh for a while.

As always, LET’S GO PENS!

courtesy of our very own Nicole Tracey

Blueline Beat: 1/6/12 to 1/18/12

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Myers) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:53:00 +0000

2012 did not start off very well for the Pens. Starting with the two games at the end of December, the Pens suffered a six game losing streak that had both players and fans very frustrated. However, the Pens have seen their luck starting to change. The last three games have resulted in a victory. News broke this afternoon that Kris Letang is returning to the lineup tonight. We will have to see how their luck holds up in the next few days, with three games in four days against difficult opponents. Here's my defensemen recap over the first seven games of 2012.

Pens. vs. Rangers 1/6 (L 3-1)
-Lovejoy scored his first goal of the season.
-The Pens started out strong in this game, especially in the first period, then just fizzled out the rest of the game. The shorthanded goal from the Rangers just took the life out of them.
-The Martin/Michalek pairing was reunited in this game.
-Fleury stopped 18 out of 21 shots.
-Lovejoy and Martin led the team with two blocked shots.
-Michalek and Lovejoy led the defensemen with three shots apiece.
-Martin led the defense with 23:20 of ice time. Malkin led the team with 23:33.

Pens vs. Devils 1/7 (L 3-1)
-Martin earned his tenth assist on the goal from Malkin.
-This was another example of a game where the Pens had the advantage early on, then all the air blew out of their tires.
-Fleury stopped 24 out of 27 shots faced.
-Martin led the team with two blocked shots.
-Engelland led the defense with five shots on goal.
-Martin led in ice time with 25:25.

Pens. vs. Senators 1/10 (L 5-1)
-There were no points from defensemen in this game
-In the midst of their losing streak, this game was probably the team's low point.
-Martin was scratched in this game due to illness.
-Despres left the game in the first period after suffering a knee injury. He is now on the IR list, expected to miss at least four weeks.
-This was a poor night from the defense. Lovejoy especially had a rough game.
-The one bright spot was the 10 hits that Orpik delivered.
-After giving up a horrible third goal, Brent Johnson was pulled. Johnson stopped 3 out of 8 shots, Fleury stopped 13 out of 15.
-Niskanen and Michalek led the team with three blocked shots apiece.
-Lovejoy led the defense with three shots on goal.
-Orpik led in ice time with 25:36.

Pens vs. Capitals 1/11 (L 1-0)
-While the Pens were shut out in this game, they gave a better effort than in their previous few matchups.
-Martin returned to the lineup.
-Fleury had a pretty good night, especially with playing back to back games.
-Orpik delivered another seven hits in this game. Michalek was next with six hits.
-Fleury stopped 20 out of 21 shots.
-Michalek led the team with two blocked shots.
-Michalek and Engelland led the defense with two shots on goal apiece.
-Orpik led in ice time with 27:12.

Pens vs. Panthers 1/13 (W 4-1)
-Orpik earned his sixth assist on the goal from Kennedy.
-The Pens finally earned a victory and we saw a much better performance from the defensemen. Fleury also had another strong night.
-Fleury stopped 25 out of 26 shots.
-Martin led the defensemen with three blocked shots.
-Michalek led the defensemen with three shots on goal.
-Martin led in ice time with 23:22.

Pens vs. Lightning 1/15 (W 6-3)
-Martin earned his 11th assist on Neal's first goal.
-Orpik earned his seventh assist on Malkin's second goal.
-The Martin/Michalek pairing had a very solid performance in this game, in my opinion.
-Fleury stopped 17 out of 20 shots.
-Orpik and Lovejoy led the team with two blocked shots apiece.
-Niskanen led the defense with two shots on goal.
-Martin led in icetime with 23:59.

Pens vs. Hurricanes 1/17 (W 2-1 SO)
-Niskanen earned his 14th assist and Martin earned his 12th assist on the goal from Malkin.
-Orpik delivered a clean, crushing hit to Jeff Skinner that has become a popular YouTube clip. He was penalized but the referee later apologized to him. Even Skinner said it was a good hit.
-Fleury helped keep the Pens in this game. He stopped 25 out of 26 shots. Cam Ward had a strong night as well being peppered with shots from the Pens.
-Orpik led the team with four blocked shots.
-Engelland and Martin led the defense with two shots on goal apiece.
-Orpik led in ice time with 26:39.

Best of the Blueline

Brooks Orpik has stepped it up lately, both on and off the ice. He was not afraid to speak up when the team was in a slump.
"We give up a couple goals, and everybody's attitude [stinks] afterward. You can see on the ice, our energy starts out great, then they score a couple of goals and instead of getting [angry] and battling back, we just come out flatter and kind of feel sorry for ourselves, hang our heads..."

If he was saying this publicly, you know he was speaking up in the locker room to his teammates.
His physical presence, especially lately, cannot be ignored on the ice. In the first seven games this month, he has 35 hits. In the game against the Senators he delivered 10 hits. Also in these seven games he has been averaging over 23 minutes of ice time. As the longest tenured Penguin currently on the team, he is a great leader to the young defensemen on the Pens roster,

as well as the rest of the team. He makes smart defensive plays and you cannot deny his work ethic. While you will not see him lighting up the scoreboard, he is of great value to this team.

Thank you for reading.

PensUniverse Podcast 1.18.12

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Smith) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:18:00 +0000

After a week off Corey and Doug are back to discuss Kris Letang's return and how that may impact any trade talks that Ray Shero is in. Has the current win streak made fans forget about the long losing streak? Is the climate of the NHL to automatically think suspension and concussion with a good, clean hit like that of Orpik on Jeff Skinner?
We aslo talk about the All-Star Game and if it has any value as well as our predictions for the next four games.

Pens end skid with de-clawing of Cats

noreply@blogger.com (Joe Pfab) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:54:00 +0000

The Penguins were in a rut. Injuries have been plaguing them for the better part of the season, never seeming to catch a break. The media had been swarming all over the team about the status of Crosby. Ludicrous rumors swirled that certain players were suggesting the thought of a temporary captain.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer - @PensPRLady

Then the Pens landed in Sunrise. They needed something to spark the team. Something to get out of the funk. Something....anything... Then they took to the ice for their morning skate, but with something noticeably different about them.. They were all sporting a taped "C" on their practice jerseys, signifying that they were "one" with their captain. They were all Captain. That sprang a media frenzy into the social world where fans took to Twitter and Facebook like crazy all adapting a C on their shirts, jerseys, hell even some fans went as far to tape a C on their pets!!

That momentum surely came into the game against a division leading Panthers team. Right from the start of the game you could tell this team was unified.. Handling the puck differently, more control, outshooting the Panthers 15-3 halfway through the first period. Then the Penguins got a lead in the second from Steve Sullivan, and from some remarkable play by Geno went up 2-0 just as the second period ended.

That carried over to the 3rd as Tyler Kennedy scored just 36 seconds into the frame to put the Pens up 3-0 and there was no looking back. They played a full 60 minutes of hockey, had some great play from the likes of Martin and Park and ultimately won the game 4-1 behind some of the best goaltending I've ever seen live in person.

I can only imagine what the atmosphere was like in the locker room after the win. If I had to guess I would say it was similar to the Capitals during the 24/7 filming last year.

This was just what the Penguins needed to turn things around and start the climb back into the top of the Eastern Conference.

Lets Go Pens

#C

"C"

noreply@blogger.com (Corey Allan) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:08:00 +0000

All of the Penguins players came out for this morning's skate wearing a "C" on their jersey "in solidarity for their captain Crosby." Pretty awesome.

From the Penguins website...

Even Geno on the far left showing some love with the "K". In Russia, C = K. Malkin = Drago.

Sid also addressed the media after he took to the ice. In a nutshell, says it was great skating again but still suffering from symptoms impacting his motion. As for the supposed rift in the Pens locker room, Crosby called the idea "far fetched."

EDITORIAL: Things I Heard At The Consol Last Night, Vol.I

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Myers) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:01:00 +0000

We are all frustrated by the Pens poor play as of late. And that frustration was breeding stupidity last night at the Consol Energy Center. I make it to about 9 or 10 games a year (until my number finally pops up on that season ticket waiting list). It seems every crowd I sit in at the CEC seems to get worse. It's way too quiet, loud for the wrong reasons, or both. The Pens played pretty badly against the Ottawa Senators, but the crowd put in an even worse performance. Here is just some of the ridiculousness I witnessed last night.

-Just as I got my ticket scanned, 3 people in the line next to me BLEW past me in their excitement to get their Icetime and giveaway Pens Pillow Thing and flew up the escalator. What the huge hurry was, I have no idea.

-When we sat down down, the guy behind us BOOED Fleury when he was shown during the pregame montage. "I hate that guy" I heard him say.

-During the anthem, random people in the lower bowl (we were in the upper bowl) were just yelling random stuff. I couldn't even make out what it was, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't even a "Lets Go Pens!" C'mon people, show some respect.

-When Johnson makes his first save of the game, a relatively routine one, FleuryHater behind us tells his girlfriend, "If that was Fleury, it's 1-0 Ottawa."

-The Pens fall behind 2-0 and the crowd starts to get ugly. Drunk bald guy at the end of the row gets into it, "C'MON HIT SOMEBODY!", like the Pens aren't. The first period stats on the scoreboard minutes later that show the Pens are FAR outhitting the Sens 15-2.

-In the second period, after Johnson gets pulled after a bad goal to make it 3-0, FleuryHater comes back from a Beer Run to see Fleury in net and promptly starts BOOING him. Even his girlfriend seems embarrassed and informs him of the bad goal.

-DrunkBaldGuy is bored and starts yelling "BO-RING". FleuryHater joins him.

-DrunkBaldGuy, "THIS ISN'T A TENNIS MATCH!" Not sure what that means...

-DrunkBaldGuy to refs,"HEY REF, YOU STINK LIKE MY GRANDMA!" Now, the officiating was terrible, but I'm pretty sure that guy just insulted his grandmother. I said this to my wife sitting next to me and the old lady sitting next to her nodded her head in agreement.

-FleuryHater starts booing Gonchar, then remarks, "I hate that traitor. I'm gonna beat his ass." Sure you are, tough guy.

-Clueless lady sitting behind us, "Gonchar is SO old. Why doesn't he retire? He was never that good. He was only good, like, YEARS ago. When he was young." So...guess those 67 points in 06/07 and 65 points in 07/08 weren't too good? 14 points in the run to the Cup in 09 despite the wonky knee? Clueless.

-CluelessLady with a classic,"When did we get so bad!? We've ALWAYS been good." Where were you the six to ten years ago??

-As Richard Park dumps the puck and heads to the bench for a change, I hear, "UGHHH! PARK YOU SUCK GO BACK TO THE ISLANDERS!" Um, he was making a line change?

-Dupuis can't take a pass, the puck is bouncing and behind him, so he chips it deep. "DUPUIS?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? YOU SUCK DU-PISS!" Sigh.

-Ottawa defenseman are passing east-west in their own zone while the Pens and other Sens both change. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? GET IT! GET IT!"

-Orpik gets the puck at the point. A Senator goes to one knee ready to block the shot. Another Senator stands ready to go down too. "SHOOOOOOOOOT" rains down from the crowd. This is just one instance of people yelling shoot at a dumb time during the game.

-FleuryHater's girlfriend midway through the third, "All I care about is I get to SMOKE in 11 minutes!" FleuryHater," LETS GO!" They leave. Thank the Lord.

-After the game, some drunk dude comes down to the railing and starts yelling. "REFS YOU SUCK. PENGUINS FANS SUCK. TURN THE MUSIC OFF. TURN THAT OFF. THIS IS A DISGRACE." No one is on the ice except the guys taking the goalie nets off. The refs are long gone, Pens fans are long gone. Ushers just ignore his rants. He then stumbles off muttering as he collects soggy Icetimes and beer cups off the floor for souvenirs.

This is just a sample of what I heard last night between the long awkward silences from the crowd. Listen, I know people are frustrated. I am frustrated. The team was bad. The officials were terrible. But what is happening to Pens fans? I remember chuckling at hearing the occasional dumb comment over at the Igloo, but it's become an epidemic at the Consol.

Do people have a right to boo or say stupid stuff? Of course, they (or daddy) paid for the ticket. It's sports, you can boo or cheer or whatever. But when you obviously know little or nothing about the sport and don't even TRY to learn and just hopped on the bandwagon or you're just hear to drink and cause it's "cool" to be at a Pens game, someone is gonna write about your stupidity in a blog.

This is just MY opinion. This is just me venting MY frustration at these people. Do you hear this stuff at the Consol? Share your stories if you do.

Hopefully we break out of this funk soon. Winning cures almost everything.

C'mon boys. Let's Go Pens!

Crosby returning to the ice this week

noreply@blogger.com (Corey Allan) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:35:00 +0000

Boom. According to Yohe, Crosby will travel and meet the team in Washington tonight, then skate on his own during the trip.

After Mark Madden rips for more information from the team/Bylsma on Crosby, this comes out. Ironic isn't it?

MacIntyre...GONE

noreply@blogger.com (Corey Allan) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:58:00 +0000

You could see this coming from a mile away. Steve MacIntyre was placed on waivers.

The whole "protect Crosby" thing never really panned out. No Crosby, no fights, no need for MacIntyre.

Don't be surprised if Shero makes more moves before the All Star Game break.

Stop the hurting... Please

noreply@blogger.com (Corey Allan) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:51:00 +0000

The parade of injuries for the Pittsburgh Penguins marches on.

According to HCDB, Jordan Staal is out 4-6 weeks with a knee injury. James Neal is out "weeks" with a broken foot after taking a shot off it last night vs. Devils, and this morning at practice Craig Adams "stressed a previous knee injury" and will be reevaluated Monday. Mother of God.

According to the Penguins website, the Pens have suffered 210 man-games lost due to injuries. At this rate, the Pens are on pace to suffer 431 man-games lost. That would far surpass last year's total of 350.

Pens are now riding a 4 game losing streak, and all have come at the hands of an Atlantic Division team. The Pens haven't won a divisional game since Dec. 10 vs. Islanders.

Standings as of today. Pens are slipping, and slipping fast. The road ahead doesn't get much easier. 8 of the next 13 games for the Pens are against current playoff teams. Buckle up.

Down goes Staal

noreply@blogger.com (Corey Allan) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:06:00 +0000

As if the Penguins needed anymore injuries, this happened last night

Not a good sign Staal went down holding his knee. Rupp seemed apologetic after the game, and it looked unintentional. But still this is not what the Penguins needed.

Bylsma gave no status on Staal's injury after the game. Hopefully we hear the extent of it today.

Big game tonight, Letang skates

noreply@blogger.com (Corey Allan) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:12:00 +0000

First things first... THIS.

Boom. This would be Kris Letang's first time reported on skates since he played last. Similar to Crosby's concussion, who really knows how long it will be before he gets back to full contact practice, let alone dress for a game. This is very encouraging news for the Penguins.

As for the Rangers game tonight, the Pens really need a divisional win. Pens are only 5-4-0 against Atlantic Division teams, and they play two in the next two nights (NYR and the Devils on Saturday.) The Pens sit 8 points out of 1st place in the Atlantic, and are just two games above .500 against all Eastern Conference teams. Baffling.

Also, AHL All-Star and forwards Colin McDonald was called up from WB/S. Steve Sullivan who was ill and missed practice yesterday is back at practice today. No Michalek however.

UPDATE: HCDB says Michalek will be a game-time decision tonight.

Game time is 7:00 p.m. and can been seen on NHL Network. Go Pens.

Martin, Park activated off IR

noreply@blogger.com (Corey Allan) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:25:00 +0000

Dick Park and P. Martin ... Welcome back.

Blueline Beat: 12/23/11-1/5/12 and December Stats

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Myers) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:52:00 +0000

December was a month of ups and downs for the Pens' blueline. The Pens saw a total of 10 defensemen seeing at least some playing time throughout the month. We lost Robert Bortuzzo and Paul Martin to injury. Deryk Engelland was suspended for three games (definitely questionable, but that is another story). Letang did not play at all throughout the month. However, we did see Lovejoy and Michalek return to the lineup, and saw several Baby Pens come up and hold their own. Here is my recap of the last few games of the month and the stats for each player.

Pens vs. Jets 12/23 (W 4-1)
-Picard earned his fourth assist on the goal from Vitale.
-Michalek returned to the lineup in this game and gave a solid performance.
-This was the first game of Engelland's three game suspension he served.
-Strait was recalled for this game, but he did not play.
-Fleury stopped 18 out of 19 shots.
-Michalek led the team with five blocked shots.
-Niskanen led the defense with four shots on goal.
-Orpik led the defense with 21:23 in ice time. Staal led the team in ice time with 21:59.

Pens vs. Hurricanes 12/27 (W 4-2)
-Michalek earned his fourth assist on the goal from Dupuis.
-Minus the turnover from Michalek that led to a Carolina goal, the defense put up a pretty good effort in this game.
-This was yet another game where the Pens managed to keep the opponent under 20 shots on goal.
-Fleury stopped 16 out of 18 shots.
-Michalek led the team again with four blocked shots.
-Lovejoy led the defense with four shots on goal.
-Orpik led the team in ice time with 22:38.

Pens vs. Flyers 12/29 (L 4-2)
-Despres earned his third assist on the goal from Kennedy.
-Overall this was a poor performance by the defense. The Flyers just dominated in all aspects of this game. Orpik and Niskanen especially struggled in this game, and you have to wonder if the increased ice time they've been seeing is starting to wear on them.
-Fleury stopped 19 out of 22 shots.
-Michalek led the team with four blocked shots.
-Niskanen led the defense with three shots on goal.
-Orpik led again in ice time with 23:36

Pens vs. Devils 12/31 (L 3-1)
-This was Engelland's first game back after his suspension. He missed most of the first period after taking a shot off his leg. Regardless of that, he gave a good effort on the ice.
-With Engelland's return, Picard was sent back down to the Baby Pens after playing 10 games with the team in the month of December.
-Niskanen earned his 13th assist on the goal from Kunitz.
-Fleury stopped 18 out of 20 shots.
-Engelland led the team with two blocked shots.
-Niskanen led the defense with two shots on goal.
-Orpik led the defense in ice time with 23:43. Malkin led the team in ice time with 23:59.

December Stats

Leader of each category will be bolded.

Orpik

GP: 13

Points: 0G 3A

SOG: 7

BS: 20

Hits: 43

Average Ice Time: 22:45

+/- (-1)

Niskanen

GP: 13

Points: 1G 9A

SOG: 30

BS: 17

Average Ice Time: 21:10

+/- (+1)

Despres

GP: 13

Points: 1G 3A

SOG: 16

BS: 15

Average Ice Time: 15:27

+/- (+4)

Picard

GP: 10

Points: 0G 4A

SOG: 8

BS: 7

Average Ice Time: 13:20

+/- (-1)

Engelland

GP: 8

Points: 1G 1A

SOG: 5

BS: 15

Average Ice Time: 19:14

+/- (+1)

Martin

GP: 7

Points: 1G 1A

SOG: 6

BS: 8

Average Ice Time: 26:02

+/- (+1)

Lovejoy

GP: 5

Points: 0G 1A

SOG: 8

BS: 6

Average Ice Time: 16:52

+/- (+1)

Michalek

GP: 4

Points: 0G 1A

SOG: 3

BS: 13

Average Ice Time: 20:33

+/- (+2)

Bortuzzo

GP: 4

Points: 0

SOG: 2

BS: 1

Average Ice Time: 11:01

+/- (+1)

Sneep

1 game played, 1 assist

Let's hope this new year brings some new luck for the Pens and the injury bug gives the team a break. Let's Go Pens!

PensUniverse Podcast 1.4.2012

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Smith) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:42:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

Tonight we do a quick recap of the last two weeks with some unexpected add-ins. Doug didn't actually ask for a new computer for Christmas, but it seems he needs one. We talk about Paul Martin, Sidney Crosby, and Kris Letang. We predict the outcome of All Star voting and the next four games against current playoff teams.
Corey and Doug also go around the league to talk about the Winter Classic, suspensions, and general nonsense.
Good times were had by all, at least we hope.

7 years ago, Sid and Ovi met for first time

noreply@blogger.com (Corey Allan) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:28:00 +0000

January 4, 2005 would be the first meeting between two young and rising superstars in the hockey world. Alex the Great vs. Sid the Kid. Russia vs. Canada in the World Junior Championship gold medal game.

Ovi got hurt and couldn't finish the game. Crosby got an assist as Canada won the gold medal. Chalk the first up for Sid. Canada also won Olympic gold in men's hockey in Vancouver. Sid scored the OT winner past USA's Ryan Miller. I still have nightmares as an American of that goal--even as a Penguins fan. Ovi doesn't have an Olympic gold. Chalk two up for Sid. The World Championships don't count.

They both have an Art Ross, a Hart and a Rocket. They were both 1st picks overall in the NHL Draft. Ovi has the satisfaction of beating Sid in a Winter Classic, but Sid has hoisted the Cup. Boom.

Here's a video on the gold medal game from 2005. Ovi is seen crying at the end. It's kind of funny.

NHL All Star Game voting ends today

noreply@blogger.com (Corey Allan) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:55:00 +0000

Today is the last day you can vote to send players to the NHL All Star Game up in Ottawa. Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Letang, Fleury, Staal... just vote already.

Click here to cast your vote.

Crosby Rumors.

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Tracey) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:11:00 +0000

The gentleman who runs the Hockey Break twitter handle caused quite a stir this morning regarding the Pens' captain Sidney Crosby.

Hockey Break first started off with a tweet saying,

the handle then goes on to say,

After being the "bearer of bad news", this tweet popped up,

All this being said without notable sources; and people wonder why fans get frustrated so easily.

What's your take? Do you think Sidney Crosby will be back this season or not? Why?

Penguins back in the Winter Classic?

noreply@blogger.com (Corey Allan) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:56:00 +0000

The 2012 Winter Classic isn't even 24 hours old, and talk of future outdoor games is already going on. The Penguins are an organization being thrown around as a contender for the Winter Classic trifecta.

In a post Tuesday morning from Puck Daddy, Greg Wyshynski lays out his predictions for future Winter Classics. Seems pretty obvious the Red Wings will host in 2013, but Wyshynski talks about the possibility of a Pens/Caps rematch in 2014 where Washington is the home team. And he backs his prediction pretty strongly. There is some debate where the supposed game would be played. Either the MLB or NFL stadium in Washington.

The Pens and Flyers are tied for the lead in Winter Classic appearances with two.

Pens struggling against top NHL teams

noreply@blogger.com (Corey Allan) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:35:00 +0000

I hate seeing Jagr smile in that jersey as much as the rest of you, but the Flyers and the rest of the teams at the top of the NHL standings have been doing a lot of smiling when they play against the Penguins.

In an article by Alan Robinson of NHL.com, he points out some hard hitting stats.

The Penguins are 16-10-3 without Crosby this season, and 39-23-8 over the last two seasons, but being without their best player certainly seems to be hurting them against the best teams. They are 1-5-0 against the top five teams in the Eastern Conference and a combined 3-7-1 against the top five in both conferences, based on the standings going into Thursday night's play.

Yikes. You have to believe Bylsma, Shero and Mario are keeping tabs on how they're stacking up against these conference leading teams. There's still over half a season to be played, but the Pens can't keep losing these pivotal points. You know it could come down to the end of the year and we're on the 4/5 seed threshold with home ice in the balance. Then we'll think back to those missed points early in the season.

A new year is coming. Let's hope it brings us some wins and health.

#NHL All Star Voting Process Unappealing

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Smith) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:34:00 +0000

In only the second year of the new format for the NHL All Star Game voting, it has already run its course. It was easy to see the fan voting would lead to stuffing the electronic tally box for the first six to be voted into the game. Yes, there are many more deserving players that will get into the game outside of the top six, but this is now aligning with other major sporting leagues that have given the fans the control. The player draft and other aspects of the NHL All Star game have appeal, but this voting process needs tweaked.

A week from voting closing the top six players are Phil Kessel, Daniel Alfredsson, Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Dion Phaneuf, and James Reimer. Two of those six players, Alfredsson and Karlsson, play in the host city for the game, Ottawa. As you may imagine there have been multiple campaigns for write-in candidates, to get ex-Senators as the starters, and to get the hometown players in the top six. The impact of these top six on the game is not meteoric and some may say it is just an All Star game that doesn't deserve a blog post like this. The other school of thought is that this should be a recognition of production on the ice. For that crowd, let's examine the top six closer.

Phil Kessel has been near the total point and goal scoring lead since the beginning of the season, currently trailing in both categories by two. Alfredsson has 26 total points including three power play goals. Sidney Crosby has quite the impact when he returned after almost a year long absence, but has missed the last eight games. Karlsson was the Senators' All Star representative last year, but now leads all defensemen in points with 33. Phaneuf has been solid averaging over 25 minutes per game registering three goals on the power play. Reimer has started 15 games, winning seven, and has registered a 2.94 goals against average.

The arguments for Kessel, Karlsson, and Phaneuf are fairly solid. There are other blue liners that could be ahead of Phaneuf, such as Brian Campbell or Ryan Suter. However, it is easier to put up an argument for Phaneuf's candidacy than that of Alfredsson, Crosby, and Reimer. The deserving defensemen stand a good chance of making it on the team.

With Alfredsson there is an emotional sentiment since he has played so long in Ottawa and most know his career is coming to an end. Unfortunately, the Senators have not been consistent this year and Alfredsson's productivity is not what it once was. Alfredsson has almost one and a half times the votes of the league's current leading point scorer, Claude Giroux. Steven Stamkos and Marian Gaborik, currently tied for most goals in the league, are 19th and 28th, respectively. They have 22 goals, four behind Alfredsson's total point tally.

Sidney Crosby is hated by a lot of fan bases on the exterior, yet continues to get votes and is used in many marketing materials. Another Senator, Jason Spezza, could surpass Crosby for third in the forward ranks by the time voting ends on January 4th. Crosby scored in his first game back against the Islanders and many joked that he would catch the points leader by the new year. Now no one is sure when he will play again and Penguins' broadcasts state he has an undisclosed injury.

Reimer was unavailable for most of the year and has played somewhat inconsistently. The goaltender with the most wins, Jimmy Howard, is a write-in candidate. Brian Elliot started the year as a back up and sits second in goals against average and is tied for the most shut outs on the year with four. He is no where to be found on the voting tally. Tim Thomas, who leads the league in goals against average, is currently second in votes and may catch Reimer.

With that said, I will toss the naivety aside and realize that the NHL wants the fans to be involved. They have placed much effort into interacting with fans through social media and at arenas. Fan voting is here to stay, but perhaps a few provisions could be put in place.

Injuries - If a player has not played 75% of the games available when All Star Game voting begins, he will not be placed on the ballot. Also, if a player is out with an injury that is indefinite or the timetable would not allow for a return, he will not be allowed in the top six. This could be determined by the team's medical staff and is especially vital in a climate that allows teams to diagnose concussions better.
Legacy - If there must be a place for a sentimental choice, install a legacy position when the remainder of the roster is named. It can only be a player from the host city's team and does not have to be used each season. The player must have played at least ten years and 75% of said years on the host city's team.
Goaltenders - Remove them from the top six voting. Goalies just get bombarded at this game and understandably may not go all out. They do not want to be injured while facing many shots in a recreational game. This is more about the forwards and defensemen. However, the top performers in net should still be given the recognition and allowed to have the fun time before the stretch run and the trade deadline. Do not let the fans determine which players get selected.

Wishful thinking? Most likely. Pet peeve or knit picking? to some. One more week to go so some changes may occur, but it is not likely. Here is my latest ballot. What does your ballot look like?