Pittsburgh Penguins OT

What a game, and now a rematch!

2012-02-01T18:03:00.000-05:00

Last night's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs is what some people love and others hate. For me, there is nothing quite like a nail-biting, on the edge of your seat, exciting game. Now, not every minute of last night's game was like that for Pens fans. I am sure there are some moments we would like to forget. Oh, and how easy they are to forget with a finish like that. The Pens were going into the third period being down 4-1 and were able to come back and win in a shootout 5-4. Late goals by players that we love chipping in on the offense and then of course, Malkin to tie it up with less than 7 seconds left in the game. Sure enough, Malkin was the only player to score in the shootout as well, securing the Pens' 8th victory in a row. It was a nice welcoming after the All Star Break and quite a way to start off a new stretch of games.

As much fun as last night's game was and how I would love to spend more time talking about, we can not forget that the Pens have a rematch against the Maple Leafs tonight in Toronto. Now, if the Pens were on the receiving end of that loss, I know they would come back fighting tonight, so the Pens must be prepared for a Maple Leaf team that will come out strong. Who knows what tonight's game will bring. Last night's game was a perfect example of why not to change the channel when your team is down.

Toronto is a strong team and they are a team that has had some secondary scoring chip in as of late and the Pens should be prepared for a tough game tonight, not that last night wasn't.
The Pens look to continue their winning streak tonight and we all know... 9 is better than 8.

NEWS: The Pens claimed forward Cal O'Reilly off of re-entry waivers from the Phoenix Coyotes today.
The 25 year old has 5 points in 22 games this season with Phoenix.

On the Crosby front, another press conference was held yesterday and it was announced that Crosby has a soft-tissue injury of the neck, in which the symptoms are related to those of concussion symptoms. He is being treated for this injury and we will have to see what happens.
Also, Tom Brady has said he has never met Sidney Crosby. Don't believe everything you hear folks!

Now, let's focus on the important thing: We have a rematch against the Maple Leafs tonight and if it is anything like last night's game, then it should be quite entertaining.

Eventful All Star Weekend.

2012-01-30T17:43:00.000-05:00

The Pens had three players attending the festivitites and partaking in the All Star game this past weekend, James Neal, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin. Though, it was not any of these three players who sparked the most questions and attention this weekend. That honor went to our captain, Sidney Crosby.

It was announced this weekend that Crosby had a neck injury that went undiagnosed along with his concussion. When Crosby was in Los Angeles and seeing Dr. Robert Bray, a neurological spine specialist, he was diagnosed with a neck injury and concussion. Dr. Bray reported the neck is fully healed, however. Now, Crosby will be evaluated and the latest findings will be evaluated further by independent specialists taking place this week.

Some blame and disbelief have been cast towards the Pens' doctors for missing the injury with all the tests Crosby had gone through, but I will not speculate on the details of the story or cast blame because I am not close enough to the situation nor do I know all the details. Also, it was reported that Tom Brady, quarterback for the New England Patriots, was talking to Crosby on the phone when Brady's wife, Gisele Bundchen, also got on the phone to recommend a doctor of Brady's in Utah that Crosby should visit. What a strange thing, at least in my mind. I had no idea the two were friends, but again, who knows what the whole story is.
As long as Crosby is on the way to better health, then that is all that matters. No use really specualting on anything else.

Now, on to the All Star Game festivities from this past weekend. It's not necessarily must-watch tv for hockey fans, but it can be somewhat entertaining to watch. I always find something to laugh about and there's usually always a record being made with Zdeno Chara in attendance. He keeps breaking his own record for fastest shot and this year he had an amazing 108.8 mph shot. Wow.
As for me, I was a fan of Corey Perry's shootout antics over Patrick Kane's, but the fans voted Kane as the winner.
Team Chara won the All Star game with a score of 12-9 over Team Alfreddson, making our Malkin the victor of the game and Marion Gaborik of the New York Rangers won MVP title with his hat trick and assist.

And as for Alexander Ovechkin not being in attendance... I didn't even notice his absence.

Odds and ends.

2012-01-26T19:04:00.000-05:00

I know it's old news and I am quite tired of hearing about it myself, but the Tim Thomas skipping the White House visit is a topic I have had varying views on.
First, I did not care that Thomas decided to skip the event and when I read Thomas' statement on why he skipped the White House visit, I still didn't have that much of an opinion on it. He's allowed to think whatever he wants about the government and express it in different forms as well. I accepted that he chose to express it by skipping the event. Would I have done the same thing? No. Now, Thomas explained his reasoning saying, "I believe the federal government has grown out of control, threatening the rights, liberties, and property of the people," Thomas wrote on his Facebook page. He continued, saying, "This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country," he said in the statement, adding he did not plan to speak further about his decision.
Now, I may agree with Thomas' views or not, but I would have attended the event, but that is just a difference of responsibility and judgement.
I wasn't all that affected until I heard Steve Mears discussing his view on the matter, in which he felt it was wrong for Thomas to not attend and that the event was a celebration of the Bruins' Stanley Cup win. Mears also stated that he does not think every other player there, or any player who has ever visited the White House in the past, agrees or has agreed with the government, but that is not the point of the visit anyways.
I agree with Mears and think that in this case, it would have been a way to celebrate a Stanley Cup win with your team. I understand Thomas' views, but I don't think the reasons were enough to pull out of this particular event.

Next subject: I recently read a feature from Ryan Lambert on Yahoo Sports saying that people should feel sorry for any team trying to win the Eastern Conference. Well, that is the boat we are in. Lambert stated that the Western Conference has it's great teams a few good ones and maybe some mediocre ones and some really bad ones. They have some teams that are clearly going to make it into the playoffs.
On the other hand, the Eastern Conference, he says, is less clear. Yes, we have our share of bad teams and some mediocre ones, but he says we have a number of great teams and good teams that are all capable of winning the Eastern Conference. The Eastern Conference always does have an exciting battle at the end of the season to see who will make it into the playoffs and who could win the Conference as well. The West has some battling for spots up until the end as well, but the East does seem to keep fans guessing on who will make it out with the most points and tie breakers to lead the East.
This season is no different and the streaks and ups and downs of teams will surely leave many things to guessing up until the very end, probably in both conferences. That's part of what makes hockey exciting, you just never know what will happen, so stay tuned.

Now, on to the next subject: Tonight, be sure not to miss the "draft" for the All Star game this upcoming weekend. The Pens now have three players attending, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and James Neal.

Why the NHL All Star Game does NOT need Alex Ovechkin.

2012-01-25T18:14:00.000-05:00

As a Pens fan, I have a general dislike towards Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, it seems to come naturally. Does that mean that I am one of the people who say he is a horrible player and a horrible person? No. I would say he is a horrible rapper and guest in a 'rap' video from what I have seen on Youtube, but that is a different matter entirely.

There is no doubt that Alex Ovechkin is a great talent and an asset to the NHL at most times with the skill and attention he brings to the game of hockey. However, I do not believe that the NHL needs Ovechkin to attend this weekend's All Star Game. Ryan Kennedy, of the Hockey News seems to think differently. http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/44395-Kennedy-NHL-needs-Ovechkin-at-AllStar-Game.html

When Ovechkin was handed a 3- game suspension for a hit he delivered on Zbynek Michalek in a loss to the Pens, he decided that he did not deserve to be attending the All Star Game and that his heart was not in it. To me, this sounds like a player who is upset about a suspension and is acting a little childish. His excuse of saying he does not 'deserve' to attend because he is suspended seems like a great excuse to take a little vacation and sit and lick his own wounds, that he created himself. The NHL said he was still welcome to the NHL All Star Game when he was suspended and there is no doubt about that. The NHL knows that Sidney Crosby, arguably the league's best player, is out and they think they need Ovechkin to attend to salvage some of the viewers that they struggle to maintain for the event anyways.

Though, I do not think that is necessarily true. Ovechkin also said that his decision not to attend was based on the fact that he did not want to be a distraction with his suspension. No doubt his suspension would be a topic of conversation while at the event and is that really the kind of attention we want the NHL to be getting? 'NHL's top player receives suspension for hit to the head.'
I believe the NHL has a number of other players it can work on promoting rather than Alex Ovechkin. Also, we are aware that Ovechkin is not even having that great of a season. He is on pace to amass his lowest point total of his career this season and some hits he has been delivering have been questioned. Therefore, all the more reason to promote other players who are playing better hockey than Ovechkin for the All Star Game.

Evgeni Malkin, the best player in the league right now will be attending the All Star Game and is enough to promote the game. Though, as it turns out, the league has some other great talent, besides Ovechkin, Crosby and Malkin. It is up to the league to showcase other talents. Some superb goaltenders will be attending the All Star Game as well as some potent scorers. As much as it pains me to say it, the Flyers have some players attending that are playing well, not to mention Steven Stamkos and his league-leading 32 goals. James Neal, of the Pens, who will be taking Ovechkin's spot, has been on fire playing alongside Malkin. The list can go on and on.

Ovechkin currently sits at the 41st spot in scoring in the league and is suspended and he is the player we NEED at our All Star Game? If that's the player we need at our All Star Game, then I think we have bigger problems than Ovechkin not attending. Seems like the NHL needs to do a better job of promoting other players.

The All Star Game itself is not much of a must-see event and is not great with the ratings, but I don't think Ovechkin would help all that much if he would be attending. The problem is not the players attending and not attending so much, the bigger problem might just be the event itself. That is a whole other topic and issue though.

The NHL does not need Alex Ovechkin to attend the All Star Game. The NHL may not realize its own talents and personalities present within, but I do. I will watch the 2012 All Star Game and see the talent the NHL does have without some star players in attendance. I will see great skill and amazing talent and I won't be watching Alex Ovechkin.

Game night: Pens vs. the Blues.

2012-01-24T18:35:00.000-05:00

Before I discuss tonight's game against the St. Louis Blues, I forgot to mention some good news in my post yesterday. Dan Bylsma and Marc Andre Fleury are being recognized for their contribution to hockey and the Pens in the year of 2011 as Dapper Dan Sportsmen of the Year. They surely had a hand in making an injured team reach the playoffs last season and are still a major part of the team this season as well.

Also, soon after my blog post was written, some more good news came out of the NHL. It was announced that Alexander Ovechkin was suspended for 3 games for his hit on Pens' player Zbynek Michalek. He left the ice and targeted Michalek's head in the hit. On the other hand, Michalek, who also had a hearing with the league yesterday, was not given a punihsment from the league for his hit from the same game.
It's good to see Ovechkin get a suspension for a hit that would suspend any other player, because he did not receive a penalty for the hit during the game. This is Ovechkin's third suspension in his career and if he continues to play the way he does, it certainly won't be his last. There is no denying that Ovechkin is a talented player and when he is on his game, it is something to see most nights, but if he continues to think he can take any hit that he wants and play that style of hockey, he will surely see those suspension lengthen. At least we could hope that would be the case and that he would not receive any special treatment because of who he is. Hopefully this suspension sends a message.
It may have sparked something inside Ovechkin. It was announced today that he will not be participating in the All Star Game this upcoming weekend. Ovechkin stated that he did not feel deserving to attend the All Star game because of his suspension and that his "heart is not there." I think I know someone who should replace him, a very deserving player from the Pens lineup, goes by the last name of... Neal.

Now, on to tonight's game against the St. Louis Blues. Despite having a slow start to the season that prompted a coach change, the Blues are one of the top teams in the NHL at the moment. They have been receiving some great goaltending and have been winning a lot of hockey games. It says something that their 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings last night was their first regulation loss in January. They have gone 8-1-1 in this month and are a stellar 13-0-2 in their last 15 home games.
Ok, they have a lot of good stats to look at, but we won't let those numbers and facts get in the way of what we have to do. The Pens have been playing very well against some good hockey teams and they will have to approach this game with just as much effort and determination.

The Blues have a strong lineup that consists of a number of players that chip in and do their part, with no real stand-outs, well, no Evgeni Malkin at least. They have a strong group of players who play well together. While the Pens have been a one-line team most recently for scoring, we are certainly capable of having more memebers of the team chip in and we may need to see that tonight against the Blues. The Pens would love to see their win streak continue going into the All Star break tonight and we all know... 7 is better than 6.

Good news all around.

2012-01-23T17:28:00.000-05:00

Much like the recent weather we have been experiencing, the Pens have had some ups and downs recently as well. We know of the 6-game losing streak and the injuries, but now Pens fans are smiling a lot more these days. Starting with the thrilling overtime winning game against the Washington Capitals yesterday. Are there really any other words to describe Evgeni Malkin at this point in time besides spectacular, amazing, and jaw-dropping? Pretty much any synonym for any of these words would suffice as well, of course. Malkin, it seems, is determined to change the direction and outcome of a game with each shift he takes and things have been going in his favor lately. So much so that the NHL announced today that Malkin was the NHL's first star of the past week.

The good things are not just coming from Evgeni Malkin either. His linemates, Chris Kunitz and James Neal are reaping the benefits as well. Neal is having a spectacular season playing with Malkin and Kunitz and on that line, the goals seem to be adding up for him. It's a shame he is not on the All- Star game roster, he really should be.

Though, speaking of the All-Star game roster, another name we are quite familiar with was added to the lineup it was announced today. Kris Letang was added to the roster for the All-Star game taking place this weekend in Ottawa. Letang himself has been playing well after coming back from missing some time with a concussion. In 25 games, he has 23 points with 5 goals.

With Malkin and Neal playing as well as they are and the Pens winning 6 games in a row, it's a great time to be a Pens fan, not that there isn't much of a bad time to be a Pens fan though.
After losing 6 straight, the Pens have turned it around and are beginning to make the climb through the division and therefore, the conference standings as well. Tomorrow night the Pens face the St. Louis Blues who have had some stellar goaltending this year and are a team that has surprised some with how well they are doing. We'll see tomorrow what the game brings because the truth is, you never know what to expect from a game and with the way Malkin is playing, who knows what he will come up with next to top himself. Be sure to not miss it!

Habs are in town tonight.

2012-01-20T17:47:00.000-05:00

Soon after a 6-game losing streak, it is a great feeling to write: The Pens have won four in a row and are looking to extend their winning streak to 5 games in a row tonight. We all know, 5 is better than 4.

The Pens will be looking for that fifth consecutive win against the Montreal Canadiens tonight at Consol Enrergy Center. The Habs are struggling this season and have already had a coaching change, but it has not made much a difference as they have only won 4 games since the mid-December coach change.

Also, the Habs made a trade just last week trading Mike Cammalleri to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Rene Bourque. (Strange to think that some thought when Cammalleri left a game with no injury that he could be on his way here due to the difficulties the Pens were having at the time.) However, we are not far removed from that losing stretch and we need to keep our focus. Just because the Canadiens are struggling this season whether it is scoring goals or on special teams, it does not mean this will be an easy game. That makes the Canadiens that much more desperate and we know that feeling all too well. Therefore, the Pens will have to stick to their game plan and execute a well-played 60-minute effort. We will need strong goaltending and perhaps Evgeni Malkin could have another stellar night, just because it is amazing to watch what he can do.

The Habs are a desperate hockey team as they move farther and farther down in the Eastern Conference and further and further out from a playoff spot. They currently sit in 13th place in the Conference and are well aware of that fact, I'm sure. So, expect to see the Habs come out looking like a desperate team and the Pens should come out as a desperate team looking for that fifth consecutive win.

Pens are in New York to take on Rangers.

2012-01-19T17:37:00.000-05:00

The Pens are carrying a 3-game win streak into Madison Square Garden tonight for their game against the New York Rangers. They want to leave with that number at 4. We all know... 4 is better than 3.

The Pens face a tough opponent in the Rangers. They currently are 10 points ahead of us as they lead our division and are on the top of the league standings with 62 points. The Rangers lost Sunday, but rebounded last night with a 4-0 win over the Nashville Predators. They will be looking to continue their winning efforts tonight for sure.

As for some good news for the Pens, Kris Letang will be returning in tonight's game from his broken nose and concussion. Though, with the good news usually comes some bad news. Arron Asham will be out of the lineup again due to illness AND concussion-like symptoms. Something Pens fans and many other teams' fans are becoming quite familiar with.

Having Kris Letang back in the lineup will be a great addition physically and defensively and we are happy to see him return. The Pens will need to be physical and defensively responsible tonight against the Rangers. The Rangers have plenty of members of the team who can contribute with goals and Henrik Lundqvist, their goaltender, has been doing extremely well this season.

All in all, tonight will be a tough test for the Pens and they have to give a complete, 60-minute effort tonight to get another win. The Pens have not being doing well this season against teams in our division. We have some talented teams in our division, but we can not forget that we are one of those talented teams and can contend with any of the others.

Pieces to the puzzle.

2012-01-18T18:01:00.001-05:00

When a team is losing and playing badly, it is so easy to look for a scapegoat or two and then reminisce on the days when we had a healthy lineup, all those few games. It is also quite easy to overlook some good performances because most people are just stuck thinking, "If (insert star injured player's name here) were in the lineup, he would have made that shot, made that empty net, blocked that pass, never would have turned the puck over, and so on and so on.

I've said it before and I will say it again, we are extremely lucky as Pens fans. Sure, we've had our share of ups and downs from bankruptcy, possible relocation, dismal seasons, but we have risen to such a great spot. We have some of the best hockey players in the world on our team and one of the best to ever play in the NHL as an owner.

While in our 6-game losing streak, it was tough to see the good at times. It's not easy to see the good when you are focusing on what needs to be fixed and just thinking, "Would this be happening if we had a healthy lineup?"

Now that the losing streak is over and the Pens have won 3 in a row now, it's time again for people to realize how well players are playing and how some are contributing in ways that may not be so blatantly obvious to the casual fan.

First, it is plain to see who is playing spectacularly for the Pens at the moment. None other than Evgeni Malkin. He is a force to be reckoned with on the ice and unstoppable at most times. The fact that we have our captain, our best player, out with concussion symptoms and we have another player who would be the main star on pretty much any other team still to rely on is one example of how we are so lucky.

Everyone has also noticed the play of James Neal as well. After a disappointing goal output with the Pens after the trade to end last season, Neal has met and exceeded the expectations the Pens had when they traded for him. Neal has been scoring big goals and leads the NHL with the most power play goals. It is obvious that Neal has been a major piece of the puzzle this season.

Goals and points are what most base a good player on. Yes, those players who score a ton of goals and rack up the points are important to a team and we sure know that, but we also are aware that it is other factors also that help a team become a success. Sometimes, it's those players who continuously give up their body to block shots, or the players who draw the penalties, or the players who deliver the hits that halt a play, or those players we rely on to win those crucial face-offs or good back-checking, whatever it is, it's more than just goals and assists that make a good team great.

We have a number of players who step up and play their best but their efforts may go unnoticed by some. One of those players is Brooks Orpik. Pittsburghpenguins.com writer Sam Kasan wrote a great piece on how Orpik is an unsung hero of the team. Link available by clicking on title of post.
For Orpik, it can be a strong defensive play or a hit that can change a game and he does these things often. The physical presence Orpik brings to the game is an asset to this team and can help change the outcome of games, without scoring a goal or getting an assist. As the team member who has been here the longest, Orpik is a leader on and off the ice. Piling up the hit totals and being strong defensively, you better believe Brooks Oprik is an important part of the team who helps the Pens win. Without him, the Pittsburgh Penguins puzzle would be incomplete.

Pens host Canes tonight.

2012-01-17T18:03:00.000-05:00

The positive thinking has been paying off. Good news has started to flow in for the Pens. Winning two in a row and breaking our 6 game losing streak was the best news of all. Finally, we have been playing more consistently and the goals and wins have started to come again!

A lot has happened while I took a mini-vaca from my blog, but I will not recap or discuss everything. Though, we all know what happened anyways. Crosby skated with the team, not that big of news, but the media in the area wanted to make something big of it and Malkin was named to the All Star game. Also, amidst all the rumors that players were questioning Crosby's symptoms and his ability to play at this point in time, the team responded by wearing C's on their jerseys during practice in support of their captain, Sidney Crosby, and poke fun at the media stories suggesting the rumors.

Also, Kris Letang was given clearance to practice with the team and he did just that today. Meaning his return is coming sooner rather than later and he is trying to get ready for this week.

Now, the Pens will be looking to continue the win streak tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes at Consol Energy Center.

Just because the Canes are currently out of the playoffs and are hovering around 13th place in the Conference, does not mean they will be an easy team to beat tonight. They've had their share of wins, including a recent win against the Boston Bruins and their share of losses, including their most recent game, a loss to the Capitals on Sunday. Though, they recently got Jeff Skinner back from a concussion where he missed over a month and that is surely a boost for the team.

Both teams will be looking for a win tonight, the Canes to gain some ground in the standings and the Pens to continue the win streak they have going as well as gaining ground in the standings also.

Perhaps some good news.

2012-01-11T18:12:00.001-05:00

Everyone loves good news. With all the bad news the Pens have had lately, Pens fans especially love good news these days. Frankly, this is not really news. It was expected to come sooner or later, but the Pens needed to throw some good news out there.

Today it was announced that Sidney Crosby will be traveling with the team to Florida and will begin skating on his own. This is the next step in his recovery, as we all know. We have been in this position before and we are all too aware of the next steps and what followed the last time.

It was also announced that Crosby will be addressing the media some time in the near future as well. Now, I am not expecting anything too new from this; it will probably be very standard and give no exact details on his recovery because no one knows for sure what will happen.

In the midst of a losing streak, it does serve the team well to have some good news, but Crosby's return still could be a distant occurrence, if it even happens this season at all. It will be good to see Crosby on the ice again and maybe that news will be all the team needs to bring their A game tonight.

Pens and Caps tonight.

2012-01-11T17:40:00.000-05:00

We are all well aware of how much the Pens need to start winning games again. We are slipping out of the top 8 of the Eastern Conference and we are going to continue falling if we keep playing the way we have been during this 5-game losing streak we are in now.

Tonight's game in Washington against the Capitals would be a perfect opportunity to get back in the win column and collect two points.
The Caps are back from a road trip in California where they lost to the Kings and Sharks by identical scores of 5-2. Their leading scorer, Nicklas Backstrom was placed on Injured Reserve earlier in the week and they will miss him. The Capitals are not doing all that well as of late without him. They are having their struggles as well and if the Pens can bring things together and play their game, they have a chance of turning things around tonight.

Don't let the recent California road trip for the Caps fool you though. Before those two losses, the Caps were 6-1-1 in their previous 8 games. Also, after a slow start to the season, Ovechkin is starting to score more, with 7 goals in the past 9 games. Of course, after the two tough losses, the Caps would want to bring their best in a home game, especially against a rival like Pittsburgh. This game has the potential to be an exciting one, if the Pens show up tonight.

Tonight starts the second half of the season for the Pens. Perhaps this could be a fresh start, a clean slate. Time to remember our game and stick to it. The Pens need to forget about the losses and the injuries and bring their best effort and pull off a win. The offense needs to produce more than it has been recently (obviously), the defense needs to be tighter and more responsible and the goaltending needs to be amazing. We are capable of doing these things, it's just a matter of executing them.

Let's start this second half of the season off right, or else we could watch the continuation of a deteriorating team. A good game against a rival to begin the second half is just what we need, let's go out and do it!

Mid-point, Low-point.

2012-01-11T11:10:00.000-05:00

Last night's game against Ottawa marked the halfway point of the season for the Pens. It just so happens that last night's game was also another low-point of the season for the Pens. Last night's 5-1 loss to the Senators was the Pens' fifth loss in a row and once again the team displayed another lousy effort. Well, at least I hope that was a lousy effort and not the best they can do, or else we have much bigger problems than just a five-game losing streak and injuries. Speaking of injuries, Simon Despres left early in the first period of last night's game with an injury and did not return.

We know the Pens can do better. Last night they barely showed any effor. Players keep saying that they need to start playing a full game and can't get discouraged when falling behind in a game. Well, saying it is one thing, doing it is another. Frankly, I'm tired of talking and hearing about it, I'm ready to see it put in action. What better time to start than tonight when the Pens are in Washington to play the Capitals.

Who knows why the Pens can not get it together. They talk about what they need to do and yet, in the games, it has been the same flat performances. Yes, we have injuries, but that does not explain why the players out there on the ice are not playing to their potential. Let's face it- Sidney Crosby may not be back this season. In fact, I practically expect him to be out the rest of the season. The team can not wait for him to return to turn things around, or any other injured player for that matter. The healthy players we have are capable of so much more. I believe in them. Now it's up to them to believe in themselves.

They say you have to hit rock bottom before you can turn things around. Let's hope last night was rock bottom and that tonight's game in Washington will be the Pens' first step in the right direction- which is up the standings, not spiraling down them.

Pens host Senators tonight.

2012-01-10T17:30:00.000-05:00

It appears that looking on the bright side is already paying off. What was being reported as a broken foot for James Neal appears to be a bruise that will not get any worse apparently with playing and will heal rather quickly. Here is what coach Bylsma had to say on the injury:

"The first preliminary tests after the game indicated a fracture in his navicular area, a tough bone and tough place to heal. Further tests, an MRI done yesterday showed that what he had was a pre-existing condition. Possibly having done it as a small kid. It showed up as a crack on the X-Ray, but the MRI showed it is not a break. He does have a bone bruise and it’s a play as pain permits injury for James. That’s why we saw James Neal on the ice today.
Over time it will get better. He’s fine and able to go. He was pretty relieved to find out the news. With just a bone bruise, he should be healing as days go by." - pittsburghpenguins.com

The good news doesn't stop there either. Craig Adams is expected to play tonight as well.

Paul Martin is a game time decision for tonight's game due to illness and as a precaution, the Pens have called up Simon Despres.

Even with the good news for the Pens, they still have a tough challenge tonight against the Ottawa Senators. The Senators are 5-0-1 in their last 6 games and have moved up in the standings to 5th place in the Eastern Conference. The Pens are on their 4 game losing skid and are looking to rebound to gain some points and some spots up the Eastern Conference ladder. Brent Johnson is in goal for the Pens tonight. He has struggled a bit this season and needs to get back to his form from last season where he was a splendid back-up goalie who sometimes stole the show when he was in net. The Pens know they have to play better in order to gain some points. I'll be happy with a good, full 60 minutes of play with some consistency and great goaltending. Also, Tangradi was called up and I would really like to see him step into the offense for the big club.

Our positive thinking has already given us some good news on the injury front, now, let's hope some more positive thinking will earn us the 2 points we desperately need.

Quite a predicament.

2012-01-09T18:06:00.000-05:00

Well, it is quite easy to have the blues in Pittsburgh right now (even if the Washington Post did name us the new "In" city recently). I'll have to admit, I find myself feeling a little sad at times. I mean, I graduated in the spring with a degree and certification in education. You know what that means: practically an absolute guarantee of not being hired full time for years for a job in my degree!

Also, most of the Pens are injured and when I say that, you know I am not exaggerating. I would list the players who are all injured now, but frankly, I am not sure I could make it through the list without losing it. I may be adding a little exaggeration, but we are in a tough spot with all the injuries.

However, then I think of all that is good: Pittsburgh WAS named the "In" city by the Washington Post. (This was before that horrible Steelers loss to the Broncos yesterday ending their season though, but I am sure they won't revoke the title from us!) I also remember that as a day-to-day sub, I can practically pick and choose the days I work and take off when I don't feel like it, and I have to admit, that is pretty awesome. Now, on to the Pens. Not being much of a Steelers fan, I was over the loss seconds after it happened, but the Pens' injuries are still on my mind. The list seems to never end and I am terrified of any additions.

Then I think on the bright side. Sometimes good things can come from terrible times. The amount of injuries may rally the Pens to play an entire 60 minute game, and play it well. Players will step up to the task and lift this team in a time of need, perhaps. Call-ups will perform like they have been here all season and deserve to finish here. Let's face it, these things need to happen if the Pens want to make it into the playoffs. The Pens have slipped down further and further in the standings with their current 4-game losing streak and need to get back on a winning track if they want to play past April 7th. I have faith that the Pens can do it, that's what true fans do: believe in their team. Malkin has to regain his excellence from previous games and the team needs to play a better game. Pretty much, everyone needs to step it up and play their best- EVERYONE!

The truth is, the Pens are still a tough team, we just have to play our best and prove it. No time to feel sorry for ourselves, we just have to look at this situation and know that we can play better and be a contender.

We all know that in the past we have dealt with injuries and adveristy and have come out on the other side a better team for it. This time is no different. The list of injured players might be a little longer, but that may just be what the Pens need: A tough patch that we make it out of as a strong team that only gets stronger and more lethal when players return to the lineup. Let's keep our heads up high. (Seriously, please keep your heads up so you won't be caught off guard with hits or anything, we really don't need any more injuries.)

Malkin rising once again.

2012-01-04T18:47:00.000-05:00

As has happened in the past, Evgeni Malkin likes to show just how good he is when the team needs him to be at his best. Malkin has done so when team Captain Sidney Crosby was out with other injuries, and Crosby's concussion is no different. Malkin has been rising steadily in the points column after some early season struggles he faced himself with a nagging injury. Malkin has gathered 43 points in his frist 31 of the season and has 15 goals so far on the season.

This just didn't happen over night. Malkin worked hard all summer getting ready for this season. After a few seasons plagued by injuries, Malkin was determined to have a better season. People have noted that his work ethic this past summer was unlike any other they have seen from him and that he still maintains his focus on playing his best. This mind set could not have come at a better time. With all of the injuries, the Pens need each player to be playing their best and especially Evgeni Malkin. We are extremely lucky to have a Malkin on our team when a Crosby goes down with an injury. No other team in the NHL is quite that lucky.

If Malkin keeps up with his pace and his work ethic, he could be looking at another great year in his career because it is already shaping up like that.

So, with Malkin continuing to focus on his play and wanting to be better, and the rest of the Pens playing soundly, we will see how far this Pens team can go.

In the midst of a long break.

2012-01-04T18:27:00.000-05:00

The Pens are currently on a pretty lengthy break from playing. They have not played since their loss to the New Jersey Devils on New Year's Eve and do not play again until Friday night at home against the New York Rangers.

Speaking of breaks, I apologize for the lengthy break I have been taking. It was the holiday season and then some technical difficulties as well. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!

Now, back on to the Pens. The Pens went into their Christmas holiday break on a great win streak, but came into this long break losing two in a row. Losses to the Flyers and Devils nonetheless. Now the Pens will be looking to get back on the winning side and they face a tough opponent on Friday in the New York Rangers. The Rangers are currently sitting atop the Atlantic Division and racked up another win against the Flyers in the Winter Classic on January 2nd. (How about that Mike Rupp??)
Even with all of our injuries, we all know that this team is capable of accomplishing a good bit still. Evgeni Malkin is playing extremely well and James Neal continues to rack up the goals. Hopefully, some key players with injuries will return soon and this long break allows the Pens to focus on what they can improve on.

Let's hope this new year brings more health and less injuries to the Pens and let's also hope that Fleury can finally become more punctual (He's been saying that for years now!) and that Arron Asham can give up chewing tobacco!

Concussion prevention getting a new look.

2011-12-23T17:47:00.000-05:00

Upon receiving my latest Hockey News magazine today, and actually having some time to read it, I came across an article talking about a new way concussions could possibly be prevented. It seems every team has been hit with the concussion curse in some way or another this season and the Pens are a major one, so the league should be looking into various ways concussions can be prevented. That includes the way the game is played with some hits as well as certain measures the players can take to protect themselves as well. An article by Ken Campbell takes a look into a new invention that may help to lessen the chance of a concussion.

One of the biggest topics this year around the league has been about concussions. They have been on a rise it seems lately and when one of the league's best players misses nearly a year of action due to a concussion, you better believe they'll be looking into ways to limit or prevent concussions.

There has been discussion about helmets with extra padding in them to help reduce concussions, but when a concussion is caused by the brain moving around in your head, unless that padding is inside the skull, there's not much that padding in the helmet can do to prevent a concussion. That is why several researchers started looking into ways to help blood flow to the skull and keep brain movement to a minimum. They came up with a collar.

"This collar pinches off the outlet vein that directs blood out of the brain, which would allow the inlet vein to fill up the extra space with blood, which would give the brain less room to slosh around" (Ken Campbell).

This collar could be designed on the current neck guard used in the NHL. While this product is still far off from being used, it does show promise in some tests. When testing using a design of the collar on rats, the results showed that the rats with the collar were 85% less likely to suffer an injury rather than the rats without a collar.

The collar may be a little tight, but if we ask the players who have missed a lengthy time of playing due to a concussion if they would have minded wearing a tighter collar if it meant that their concussion may not have happened, I believe a lot of them would not have cared that their collar was a tad tighter.

With further testing, I hope that this product continues to show great results and can one day be marketed and worn. Once that's done though, can someone create a time machine to have it complete and ready before January 1st of 2011 and make sure that Sidney Crosby wears it? I would really like to see what that season would turn out like for him, he was putting up some great numbers!

Researchers: Dr. Joseph Fisher - University of Toronto; Dr. David Smith - University of West Virginia; Dr. Julian Bailes - brain injuries expert with the NFL Players' Association.

Jets vs. Pens tonight.

2011-12-23T17:04:00.000-05:00

The Pens take on the Winnipeg Jets tonight and remember, game time is not until 8:30.

By now, I am sure you have heard that Deryk Engelland has been suspended for 3 games for a hit he delievered in the Pens' last game and as a result, the Pens called up Brian Strait from the Baby Pens.

The Jets have been playing well this December with a 7-2-1 record including a 4-0 win over Montreal just last night. Though they struggled in the beginning of the season, they are fighting their way up the standings this month. Just because the Jets played last night, does not mean the Pens should think they'll be tired. This team has been getting strong goaltending from Ondrej Pavelec, who despite playing last night was announced as the starter for tonight's game as well, and backup Chris Mason. Also, they have some good defensemen who like to chip in on the offense.

Therefore, the Pens have a tough task with the Jets tonight and will look to take a 3 game winning streak into their holiday break. Let's hope our Christmas wish of a Pens win tonight comes true.

Tis the Season

2011-12-21T18:44:00.001-05:00

I was inspired today to write a post about the things I love most about hockey when I read a column by Rory Boylen, of The Hockey News, about what makes Hockey great. (Link available above.)

Hockey has been my favorite sport all my life. Granted, I was not always as big a fan as I am now, but it was impossible for me not to fall in love with hockey. It was the favorite sport of my older brothers and the sport I watched them play and watched on tv all growing up. It wasn't until late middle school, early high school that I really began to understand the game of hockey and my mom would say that my brother turned me into a "Hockey monster." I began to live and breathe hockey soon after I attended my first Pens game at the old Mellon Arena. It was October 29, 2005. There was no looking back after that.

I had been to a Pirates game and knew that I could not really watch an entire Steelers game on tv(since then I have also attended a Steelers game.) and still, nothing compares to a live NHL game in person.

So, here are my reasons why I love the game of hockey.

Reason #1: The atmosphere of an NHL game. I do miss the days of getting into Mellon Arena with the Student Rush program and having almost an entire section filled with other students. Students that would stand in line for hours to get great seats for $20. Those sections will always be the best in my mind. They were loud and the camera man for the jumbotron never really left the area. I wouldn't have a voice the next day. Though the games I have attended at Consol have seemed a little more quiet, the atmosphere of an NHL game still is the tops! The game keeps you entertained and the crowd comes alive and there's nothing like it.

Reason #2: My family loves it. I may not be a hockey fan right now if it had not been for my family. My family is a hockey family. It is the only sport we can all sit down and watch together and when there is a Pens game on, you probably won't find anything else on any of the tvs in my house. I love sitting down with my family and watching a great Pens game, it's one of my favorite things to do.

Reason #3: The players. Sure, every sport has members and players that contribute to the community and donate time and money to charities, but it seems like the NHL has a great abundance of players who have started organizations and truly care for many charities. I know other sports are the same way, but I don't read as much about them.
Also, the players on hockey teams seem like a close group. The locker room atmosphere of a hockey team is important to how they play on the ice. In other sports, it seems like most individuals are out for themselves, but in hockey, the team is the most important in many players' minds and it makes me love the sport that much more.
The players' characters are another reason the players are a reason I love the sport. In other professional sport leagues, you hear so much about arrests and poor behavior and that news in hockey is few and far between. It seems the NHL is full of a lot of stand-up guys and I appreciate the positive outlook that gives the NHL. (I know there are excpetions to every rule and the NHL does have its share of negative news, but not nearly as much as other sport leagues.)

Reason #4: The players' love for the game and willingness to play after an injury. In some cases, this can be a bad thing. Especially with the rise of concussions in the NHL, some players are hiding their symptoms in order to continue playing which is nt helping their situation (ex: Colby Armstrong most recently). However, with other injuries, you often see a player get cut or take a bad fall or hit and they'll be back on the ice in no time. It shows the love for the game these players have and how they are determined to help their team win a game.

Reason #5: How it connects people. I know for myself, I would not have some of the friends I do now if it were not for hockey. Hockey is the first thing we found we had in common and in most cases, that is enough. Going to Pens games, waiting in those student rush lines, and talking hockey online, I have met friends that are some of the nicest people you could meet. We share the love of hockey and that is all some need.

Reason #6: The excitment and pace of the game. I said earlier that I struggle with watching an entire football game on tv and I have never been able to watch an entire baseball game on tv either. The slow pace of a baseball game makes me tired and the constant breaks and commercials of a football game make me lose interest rather quickly. On the other hand, most hockey games I find myself not being able to change the channel. The quickness of the game and the speed are, to me, what seperates hockey from the rest of the sports and makes it the most interesting and best.

I could go on and on with reasons why I love the game of hockey, but these are my top reasons and when it is this time of year, I tend to reflect more on what I am grateful for in life. Sitting down with my family to watch a hockey game and laughing and spending time together is often one of the things I am most grateful for in my life.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Pens beat Blackhawks

2011-12-21T17:29:00.000-05:00

Last night's game against the Chicago Blackhawks was an amazing game. The first two periods, the Pens were in control and were dominating in nearly every aspect of the game. Going into the third, the Pens had a 3-0 lead over the Blackhawks.

Though, we know nothing is perfect. The Pens lost some focus in the third as the Blackhawks came out determined to change the momentum of the game in their favor. They peppered Fleury with 17 shots in the third period, but the Pens were able to slow them down and not allow the Blackhawks to tie it up. The final score was 3-2 and the Pens got a big win against the team atop the standings.

Now, we will look to Friday night's game against the Winnipeg Jets. It's the last game before a little holiday break for the Pens and they will be looking to finish strong before the break so they can enjoy their time off. It would be nice going into the break with a 3 game winning streak.

Eric Tangradi was assigned back to the Baby Pens today and Paul Martin is listed as day-to-day.

Pens host Chicago Blackhawks tonight.

2011-12-20T17:32:00.000-05:00

The Pens take on a tough task tonight against the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are currently the top team in the NHL with 46 points. They are on a 5-game winning streak and are 7-0-1 in the month of December. Plus, they have won their past 5 road games as well. That's a lot of good news... for them.
All lines of the Blackhawks are clicking as of late and are contributing, which the Pens can accomplish as well, we just have to be on the top of our game. The Pens are coming off a stellar 8-3 win over Buffalo and let's hope that momentum carries over to tonight's game. Ray Emery has been in net for a lot of the Blackhawks' success and will be in net for them tonigh against our Pens.

Injury update: (Oh how I wait for the day when there will be no injuries to update or report on!)
Sidney Crosby will not be in the lineup, shocker!
Jordan Staal and Craig Adams are game time decisions for tonight's game. Both say they feel ok and feel ready to go, they just need to talk to Dan Bylsma and the trainers and we will see if they will be in the lineup tonight.

Perhaps if we had our full team intact we would be experiencing success like the Blackhawks' current success. They have a pretty healthy lineup, something any Pens fan is jealous of right now. Take a look at the two teams' injured lists. We're not playing horribly and are doing ok most of the time, but we know that this team is a lot stronger with everyone healthy.

PENGUINS:
C Sidney Crosby, undisclosed
F Dustin Jeffrey, knee
D Kris Letang, broken nose and concussion
D Ben Lovejoy, broken wrist
D Paul Martin, lower body
D Zbynek Michalek, concussion
F Richard Park, fractured foot
F Jordan Staal, lower body

BLACKHAWKS
F Dan Carcillo, upper body

Pens blow the Sabres away!

2011-12-19T18:53:00.000-05:00

I apologize for not posting in a few days, but it is that time of year when one can become quite busy.

After a tough loss to Ottawa, the Pens needed a strong game, a game with some goal scoring and great work on the power play and most of all, a win.

The Pens got exactly that in their 8-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres Saturday night. It was a night of juggling goaltenders for the Sabres but neither goaltender in any of their attempts could stop the Pens Saturday night. They were determined and focused and it translated into scoring 8 goals. Now the Pens will have to ride that momentum into their game tomorrow night against the Chicago Blackhawks at Consol Energy Center.

Next,...

We are all well aware of the injuries that have been plaguing the Pens this season and the Pens' website has a new way of looking at the injuries and putting them into a different perspective: The salary cap effect. The Pens spend pretty close to the cap limit almost every season since the salary cap has been put in place and this season was certianly no exception.
Just from recent games, the Pens are missing around $28 million of player salary from the lineup. Our lineup Saturday would have a salary hit of a little under $39 million, that's a lot under the salary cap of $64.3 million and even under the cap floor, the minimum each team has to pay, of $48.3 million. Shows how many of our top players are missing from the lineup, as if we needed any other reminders.

For the rest of the article by Sam Kasan: http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=607234&navid=DL|PIT|home

Pens fall short against Detroit.

2011-12-14T17:51:00.000-05:00

The Penguins just could not pull off a win last night against the Detroit Red Wings. Despite leading a good portion of the game 1-0 on a late first period goal by Evgeni Malkin, the Red Wings came on strong in the third and beat the Pens 4-1. It was not a game in which the Pens played horribly. Are there areas to improve in, of course. There are after every game. Every area of our game has to be strong with or without our best players in order to win hockey games, especially against other strong teams.

Marc Andre Fleury states that he needs to be better in order to give the Pens a fighting chance every night. He knows it's not good to give up 3 goals to a good team and that in doing so, it makes it tougher on the team. He knows he can play better and step up and be a stronger force in net. We all know what Fleury is capable of and have seen him at his best. He has carried this team through injuries numerous times before and needs to do it again.

Alex Picard and Jason Williams have been sent back down to the Baby Pens and Zbynek Michalek says he may return Friday night.

Pens take on Red Wings tonight.

2011-12-13T17:55:00.000-05:00

It seems to be a recurring theme for the Pens: Injuries. The past few seasons have brought us a lot of different injuries and we usually rise to the occasion and show our opponents what skill we have even with so many players out with injury. The same will need to go for tonight's game. Crosby is out and Malkin is a game-time decision as is Jordan Staal. Jason Williams was called up from the Baby Pens for tonight's game. All souds too familiar. Though, that means that the Pens are used to it and know they have to play their best to get a win against a team that has consistently been a contender for years now, the Detroit Red Wings.

Detroit has been playing well as of late, in fact they have managed to force the starting goaltender out of the game their past two games. Which reiterates that the Pens will need to be at their best tonight, but when do they not have to be? Again, the Wings power play is strong and the Pens will have to match with a strong Penalty Kill that has been getting away from them a bit the past couple weeks. Also, the Pens power play needs to be better and they need to keep it simple and get their chances.

While a game between the Pens and Red Wings is not quite like a game against the Flyers or the Caps, it still is a rivalry because of the two Stanley Cup finals in recent years between the two. Tonight's game could be an exciting one, so be sure to tune in!