Game #57 - at New York Islanders

Game 57

Penguins (35-17-4, 74 points) at Islanders (18-29-7, 43 points)

Why does it matter?
After a stirring win last night, the new-look Pens try to keep the good time rolling on Long Island.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A nice win over the Kings last night while seemingly losing another player to injury - this time it was Dustin Jeffrey.
• Islanders - Three wins in five games, though the Isles are onto their 5th goalie this season, with #6 (Montoya) sure to see action at some point.

Questions to be answered

• Can the guys from Wilkes-Barre keep the drive and intensity going? They visibly injected energy into the lineup last night.
• Anyone know anybody that can play center? The Pens have Staal, Talbot, Adams and Vitale... maybe Ryan Craig too. It's not exactly murderer's row right now.
• Who can slow down Grabner? He has four goals in three games and is starting to play big minutes (over 20 for the first time in his NHL career last night).

Keys to the game

• Keep them bottled up. The best way to neutralize the Isles is to have a strong game on the forecheck. Get the puck in deep and go to work.
• Roll the lines. This is a Pens' team with the talent spread much more evenly. Get everyone involved and keep the legs fresh, especially after the game last night.
• Keep your head up - the Pens can't afford any more injuries.

Penguins 2, Kings 1 (OT)

So what happened?

Jordan Staal was exhausted. He came onto the ice with 2:21 remaining in OT. His shift was due to change when the Pens iced the puck with 0:54 left in the game. HCDB was concerned, so he called timeout. That gave Staal and Dupuis (also on the ice, along with Letang and Martin) time to breathe.

After the timeout, the Pens got the puck out and worked it down the ice. After a Jack Johnson turnover, Staal had what seemed like his 37th good scoring chance, and he buried this one, with just 0:19 remaining in OT.

It was the type of shift the Pens were hoping to get from Staal in the absence of Sid and Geno.

The Pens brought the heart and desire tonight. They were certainly outgunned against the Kings, but they didn't let that stop them. Four lines rolled, and everyone (except Jeffrey, who got hurt) played over 10 minutes. That's terrific, especially when you consider it was the first NHL action of the season for all four of the Wilkes-Barre players.

This was a great way to earn two points.

Who scored?

Sterling (1), Staal (4)

The Good?

• Sterling has the offensive instincts, doesn't he? His goal was a great shot.
• The defense, especially Michalek, stepped it up big time. The Pens could not afford breakdowns and lapses, and they really didn't have any. The Kings nearly had a few odd-man rushes, but the Pens always shut them down.
• Marc-Andre Fleury was also great. He made every save you'd want him to.
• Jordan Staal played like a #1 center.
• The Pens were able to weather the storm and counter the momentum in the second period, which is good since I think the Kings would have blown things open had they kept going like they were in the first.

The Bad?

• Nothing really - a few dumb penalties to take in the first period that help put the team behind the 8-ball.

The Ugly?

• The Clueless Zebras decided that nothing would be called for the last five minutes of the third period. The result was essentially a free-for-all kind of melee. One of my least favorite phrases is "let the players decide", because it is a complete cop out on the part of the refs when it comes to doing their jobs.

Any Surprises?

• The four guys from Wilkes-Barre - who would have thought they'd all play this well in their debut? Certainly you hope things go this well, but I don't think anyone expected 10+ minutes and a big goal.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 35-17-4. They have 74 points and are still three points behind the Flyers for first place. The Flyers won tonight over the Canes and also (through the magic of NHL scheduling) have two games-in-hand over the Pens again.

Who's next?

The newbies need to get some rest because they're back at it tomorrow night against the Islanders.

Game #56 - vs Los Angeles Kings

Game 56

Kings (29-22-2, 60 points) at Penguins (34-17-4, 72 points)

Why does it matter?
Tonight is the return of Rob Scuderi to Pittsburgh. Scuderi was one of my favorite players when he was here. Other than being a great defensive guy, he had the role of the last guy on the 5-on-3 perfected. He was able to get down on one knee (to take away the cross-ice pass) and back up faster than anyone I've seen.

Oh, and the Pens could use some offense and two points while they're at it.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Two straight losses and a rash of injuries (plus a suspension) has the Pens in some deep trouble.
• Kings - 5-0-1 over their past six, along with some signs that the power play might be waking up.

Questions to be answered

• Who will score? Paging Jordan Staal and Pascal Dupuis...
• How will the Wilkes-Barre guys fit in? For those of you just joining us, Tangradi and Wallace were sent down and Vitale, Craig, Johnson and Sterling were called up.
• Can the defense step up and carry this team? That's where the money is, and they've been pretty good at shutting folks down. They need to do it now more than ever.

Keys to the game

• Circle the wagons. Play the "no respect" card if needed.
• Stay out of the box - no lazy penalties.
• Use the D. Have Letang, Goligoski and Martin get involved more offensively.

Pens running Wilkes-Barre shuffle

Some interesting roster developments this afternoon in the wake of Matt Cooke's four game suspension:

• Eric Tangradi and Tim Wallace were sent to Wilkes-Barre.
• Four players were called up from the Baby Pens (which has be be some kind of record) - Joe Vitale, Nick Johnson, Ryan Craig and Brett Sterling.

Of the four players coming to Pittsburgh, Craig has the most NHL experience with parts of 5 seasons and 184 games under his belt. He plays center.

Sterling is a winger and he has put up some BIG goal totals in the AHL. The knock against him, however, is his height. He's listed at 5'7".

Vitale is a center in his third professional season. He kill penalties and plays a good two-way game.

Johnson is the best prospect of the four. He has some size (6'1") and has produced at a respectable level the last few seasons. He's played well this year, leading Wilkes-Barre with 20 goals.

The Pens now have the Baby Pens two best players up here (in terms of point production) - Dustin Jeffrey and Nick Johnson. Let's see if they can make some noise.

Want to meet Mark Letestu?

Go to Ross Park Mall today, Wednesday, February 9th!

He'll be at Steel City Collectibles from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

You'll have to purchase an autograph ticket, from what I understand. Nothing was provided in the email I received that indicated how much said ticket would cost, which makes me slightly wary. Contact Steel City Collectibles if you want specifics.

This blog does not do advertising, and I received nothing for posting this notice. In fact, I normally ignore most of these types of things. In this case, Mark is one of my favorite Penguins, and anyone that just had surgery could use some cheer.

Blue Jackets 4, Penguins 1

I managed to completely mess up this post (writing a review of the Kings / Pens game), so this is now just a place-holder for what was a review of a crappy game the Pens played against the Jackets.

Game #55 - vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Game 55

Blue Jackets (25-22-5, 55 points) at Penguins (34-16-4, 72 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens need to figure out how to put some pucks in the net after getting shut out on Sunday. The Blue Jackets may be showing up at just the right time. Two points would get the Flightless Birds heading back in the right direction.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Is the glass half-empty (shutout loss) or half-full (eight wins in ten games)?
• Blue Jackets - Two nice wins over the weekend against Detroit and Edmonton.

Questions to be answered

• Can the top lines generate offense on a consistent basis?
• Will Matt Cooke calm down? He seems awfully agitated lately.
• Score first, right?

Keys to the game

• Win at even strength. The Jackets are really bad with the extra man, but the Pens power play isn't exactly playing well right now either.
• Avoid the slow start. The Jackets record is okay, but their supporting numbers are mediocre. Jump on them early and don't let up.
• Nothing cute - get the puck in deep and work from below the goal line. If Kennedy breaks a good cycle to bring the puck out high, someone shoot him.

Capitals 3, Penguins 0

So what happened?

The problem today for the Pens wasn't the offensive firepower of the Caps, it was their defense. The Pens simply didn't have the firepower to get the scoring chances they needed. Neuvirth was solid and made all of the saves you'd expect, and the defense locked down any second chances.

Who scored?

No one.

The Good?

• There were no other injuries today. The Pens can't afford to lose another center.
• Tim Wallace, called up for today's game, drew the honor of fighting Steckel, which was a direct response to the hit on Crosby. Nice job by Wallace. I'd rather have seen Steckel have to fight Engelland, but Wallace did the job.

The Bad?

• The Pens weren't able to get their forecheck going, and weren't able to bring their physical game into play.
• The Pens weren't able to roll four lines - they played Wallace and Tangradi less than 14 minutes combined.

The Ugly?

• Five shots in the first period. The Pens need to find a way to generate more offense.

Any Surprises?

• Ovechkin got hit... and it was around the knee area. I can't think of a nicer guy to get a knee-on-knee hit after his blatant hit on Gonchar in the playoffs.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 34-16-4.

Who's next?

GO STEELERS!!

Game #54 - at Washington Capitals

Game 54

Penguins (34-15-4, 72 points) at Capitals (28-15-10, 66 points)

Why does it matter?
Life without Geno begins with a difficult road match against the Caps, who have their superstars available to them. This game will be a measuring stick for the 20 guys that take the ice tomorrow since they don't have Malkin and there's no telling when they'll get Crosby back.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Eight wins in the past nine games, including five in a row.
• Capitals - They are a mediocre 5-3-5 since the Winter Classic, but Ovechkin and Backstrom each had four points as the Caps beat the Bolts on Friday.

Questions to be answered

• How does the team react to their first serious long-term injury to a star since the end of the lockout?
• Which Ovechkin will show up - the one with 8 shots and nothing to show for it or the one that scores on the power play and sets up three other goals?
• Can the Pens avoid the slow starts that have plagued them against the Rangers and Sabres?

Keys to the game

• Stay disciplined. The Caps have not been drawing many penalties - don't give the refs a reason to change that.
• Stay close on Ovechkin - let him fire all the pucks he wants from near the blue line, but once he gets near the slot area, take away time and space.
• Get ugly goals. That's how this team needs to win right now - get the puck to the net and crash hard.

Evgeni Malkin has torn ACL and MCL

Per Dan Bylsma, via the Pens website.

This certainly changes the outlook for the Pens at the trade deadline. You'd think they'll certainly go after a scoring forward if they're able to reclaim the cap space that Geno was using at least for the remainder of this season.

That would limit the alternatives to guys in the final year of their contracts, since they don't have the ability to add bigger salaries over more than one season.

Here are the direct quotes from Bylsma on Malkin:

Evgeni Malkin had an MRI this morning. The results show that he has a torn MCL and a torn ACL. At this point in time we are discussing options with the doctors on what to do next.

This is a difficult injury for him. It was kind of a fluke situation going into the boards with a guy. That's a tough injury for Geno. We have dealt with games without him. We've managed to find our way without him. That's what we're going to have to look at now.

We're discussing options with our doctor. Surgery is a possibility. I'm not sure if there are rehab possibilities. But right now I just got the news on the MRI.

Penguins 3, Sabres 2

So what happened?

The Pens were not ready for the start of this game. Just 17 seconds in, Paul Gaustad was left all alone in front of Marc-Andre Fleury. He was able to elevate the puck over Flower for a quick goal. The same line (Gaustad, Greer and Niedermayer) would account for a second goal just 7 minutes later to give the Sabres a 2-0 lead.

Geno was hurt in a collision with Tyler Myers, and that seemed to wake up the Pens (according to Tony Granato between the second and third periods). Where the Sabres had been winning the little battles and being more physically aggressive early in the first period, the Pens were able to turn the tide. They delivered 54 hits to the Sabres and rode the momentum to three second period goals.

That would be all they needed, as Flower was able to shut the door the rest of the way, with some help from his defense (Martin and Goligoski both had nice blocks).

Who scored?

Jeffrey (4), Kennedy (9), Cooke (10)

The Good?

• Matt Cooke got the game winner, and it was especially nice to see given the level of punishment he was taking (and handing out). Nice to see the hard work pay off.
• After a shaky start, the Pens were able to answer the intensity and desperation of the Sabres. I think the Sabres made a mistake in trying to be chippy and physical early in the game - it woke up the Pens. At that point, the boys in black staged their own version of the Under Armor commercial ("We must protect this house!")
• As physical as this game was, the Pens only gave the Sabres one power play. To be fair, that is due as much to the ref as it was to the Pens, but at least they didn't do anything that was blatant enough to warrant a call.
• Alex Goligoski had a strong night defensively, being in the right place at the right time (especially on blocked shots) on several occasions.

The Bad?

• Do they need to get down 2-0 and watch Geno get hurt to wake up? Self-motivation will be a key for this team going forward.
• Hopefully Geno isn't hurt too badly.

The Ugly?

• Cooke trying to kill Montador when both were on the ground (and a linesman had separated them). That earned Matt a 10 minute misconduct and is generally a no-no in terms of sportsmanship.

Any Surprises?

• Cooke again - he was as animated as I can remember seeing him as a Penguin. He usually doesn't blow up or get overly emotional (that we see on camera), which is a must given the type of game he plays. Maybe after the crap with DiPietro the other night, this just put him over the edge...

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 34-15-4. Still one point behind the Flyers in the Atlantic.

Who's next?

The Pens go to our nation's Capital to play the Caps on Sunday. It's the warm-up for the Super Bowl, and it'll be on NBC.

Game #53 - vs Buffalo Sabres

Game 53

Sabres (23-21-5, 51 points) at Penguins (33-15-4, 70 points)

Why does it matter?
We're slowly heading for desperation time, when the teams like the Sabres (and Thrashers and Hurricanes right now) who are either just in or just out of the playoffs start to try to pick things up a bit. That makes them tough to play against, but it also acts as good preparation for the intensity level that the Pens will see in the playoffs.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Seven wins in their past eight games.
• Sabres - Four wins in their past five games, though the last two wins were over the Islanders and Senators.

Questions to be answered

• How will the Pens react to Geno's return? Can they keep things going the same way?
• Can the Pens take advantage of the Sabres leaky PK? The Sabres have allowed a power play goal in seven of their past eight games.
• Will Malkin bump Tangradi or Godard from the lineup?

Keys to the game

• Stick to the formula. Don't change the game plan just because Geno is returning. Keep things simple.
• Stay disciplined. The Sabres have been a puck possession team in the past. Don't take unnecessary chances and get out of position, because it will burn you.
• Keep the shifts short - the Sabres will roll four lines all night long. No forward averages even 20 minutes per night. Don't get caught with no legs out there in the second and third periods.

Penguins 3, Islanders 0

So what happened?

GOALIE FIGHT!!!!

Here's what happened - late in the third after the game was decided, DiPietro (moron that he is) decided to take a shot at Matt Cooke. He went high and then flopped like a fish. Everyone got their underwear in a bunch, and then like a bolt from the blue, Brent Johnson came all the way over to fight DiPietro. I only say "fight" because they both started out standing. After one punch by Johnson, DiPietro was down on his backside (Johnson respectfully didn't pound DiPietro when he was on the ice).

It was easily the best thing I've seen all year.

The game itself was honestly pretty boring. The two teams combined for 43 shots, and while there were some excellent scoring chances, there certainly was not a good pace to the play.

The Pens played this game like they knew they were the better team, and it showed. They were helped by some poor goaltending by Glass Jaw (DiPietro).

Who scored?

Kennedy (8), Kunitz (18), Talbot (6)

The Good?

• Talbot finally scored (an empty netter). He rang a shot off of both posts earlier in the game.
• Paul Martin had a quiet two-assist night.
• More great penalty killing again tonght.
• Brent Johnson's excellent goaltending was only surpassed by his fighting skills.

The Bad?

• DiPietro wasn't good on the two that he allowed. They'd both have to be considered soft.
• I'd like to see Tangradi get more than 10 minutes of ice time.

The Ugly?

• DiPietro's fighting skills.

Any Surprises?

• Dustin Jeffrey centering Sid's line and playing well. Hopefully he can be a contributor if Letestu will be out for any length of time.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 33-15-4. They are just one point behind the Flyers for the lead in the Atlantic, though the Flyers do have a game-in-hand.

Who's next?

The All-Star game is this weekend. The Pens are back in action next Tuesday against the Rangers.

Game #52 - vs New York Islanders

Game 52

Islanders (16-27-7, 39 points) at Penguins (32-15-4, 68 points)

Why does it matter?
Malkin may return tonight, but the important thing to note is another chance to get two points and improve the divisional record. The Isles are pretty bad right now - this would be a missed opportunity if the Pens didn't come out with a W.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Six wins in their past seven games. Last night's game at MSG was a good example of the resilience this team has shown this year.
• Islanders - They just won last night in Atlanta... Poulin has been decent in net... Grabner is really fast... other than that, the results have not been good.

Questions to be answered

• The biggest question for me tonight is how will many of the guys who played big minutes last night react? They aren't used to getting over 20 minutes of ice time. Will there be tired legs tonight?
• Can the Pens get back to drawing chances on the power play? It seems like some of the "keep the legs moving" kind of stuff isn't there right now.
• How effective will Tangradi be if he gets into the lineup?

Keys to the game

• Keep it simple. Get into the grinding mode right from the beginning of the game.
• Pace yourself. Don't look to get into a track meet early - keeping the legs for the third period is important.
• Stop Okposo. He's the biggest threat on the Isles, and he just scored two goals last night.

Penguins 4, Rangers 3 (OT - SO - 1-0)

So what happened?

The Pens played a great road game, getting some timely scoring and then hanging on to get to overtime. Once into the shootout, anything can happen (even against Lundqvist).

The Rangers scored the first two goals of the game, but the Pens came back by scoring three in nine minutes in the second period. The Rangers managed a power play goal late in the second to tie the score, and it stayed that way until Dustin Jeffrey gave the Pens the lead in the seventh round of the shootout, followed by Flower's save on Marian Gaborik to seal the win.

Nice to get two points, and nice to not have to listen to those horrible Versus announcers for a little while (tomorrow's game is also on FSN).

Who scored?

Jeffrey (3), Rupp (5), Kunitz (17)

The Good?

• The goalies were great tonight. Several of the goals were deflections or bad bounces around the crease. Neither of them were beaten cleanly until Jeffrey in the shootout.
• Speaking of Jeffrey - he's going to make it tough to get him out of the lineup, and with the news that Mark Letestu is on crutches, Jeffrey may get an extended look in the lineup.
• The penalty killers were tremendous tonight. Killing five of six isn't perfect, but they had to kill a five minute major penalty to Staal.

The Bad?

• Tyler Kennedy was a -2 on the night. Not great. He also didn't seem to have a physical game, getting bumped off of the puck too easily.
• Not good enough in the third period with just three shots to eleven against. The Pens were lucky they didn't lose the game in the third.

The Ugly?

• The Versus announcers were tremendously bad. The whole thing with Staal was a perfect example - Prust pretty clearly got him with an elbow in the chops. Staal retaliated and was whistled for it. It probably shouldn't have been a match penalty, but either way, the announcers watched the same replay over and over and made no mention of the Prust elbow, or that it was probably a bad call. The Versus crew between periods brought it up... but not Beninati. It's almost like he's an announcer for another team...

Any Surprises?

• The Pen won a game without the top three centers for most of the year. I'd call that a surprise for certain.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 32-15-4. They are in second place in the Atlantic, three points behind the Flyers, who lost tonight to Tampa Bay.

Who's next?

The All-Star game is this weekend. The Pens are back in action next Tuesday against the Rangers.

Game #51 - at New York Rangers

Game 51

Penguins (31-15-4, 66 points) at Rangers (29-20-3, 61 points)

Why does it matter?
The All-Star break is over and we've made the turn for the home stretch of the season. The Pens badly need to improve on their mediocre divisional record of 6-5-2. Two points over the Rangers tonight would be a good start.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Five wins in six games heading into the break makes for a nice change after losing six out of eight.
• Rangers - The Rangers reached their high-water mark of 10 games over .500 back on January 8th. They've been treading water since then (4-5-0), but have won two of their past three games.

Questions to be answered

• Will the Pens be able to dictate the pace and put some shots on net? The Rangers have allowed no more than 23 shots in each of their past three games.
• Can the Pens control the NHL's fastest skater, Marian Gaborik? The defense will need to be on their toes.
• Who will step up and provide the offense?

Keys to the game

• Avoid the shootout. Lundqvist is good at those, and the Rangers have lost just one all year.
• You know Tortorella will have his guys ready to work. The Pens need to be able to exceed the Rangers' effort level.
• No more Pittsburgh North at MSG - Fedotenko and Christensen are both out and Rosival was traded to Phoenix.

Penguins 1, Islanders 0

So what happened?

We got to find out just how close the Penguins are to being the New York Islanders - just take away Sid and Geno and you're almost there.

On the flip side, the Pens battled throughout this game, giving the kind of effort that was necessary. Had they not played a complete game, this would have been a different outcome.

Great effort by both goalies, with one stop better than the next. Poulin was just unlucky tonight with one bounce.

Who scored?

Adams (3)

The Good?

• The Pens found a way to beat a hot goalie.
• The D jumped into the play frequently (especially Letang) without allowing too many odd-man breaks going back the other way.
• As mentioned above, both goalies were great.
• Jeffrey, Letestu and Talbot combined to go 17-8 on faceoffs.
• Four lines rolling, all night long.

The Bad?

• Staal was just 5-12 on faceoffs.
• Not much else was bad.

The Ugly?

• Did we need both fights at the beginning of the game?

Any Surprises?

• Are we seeing Ben Lovejoy take over the regular #6 defenseman role? He has played three in a row coming into the All-Star break.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 31-15-4. They are in second place in the Atlantic, five points behind the Flyers.

Who's next?

The All-Star game is this weekend. The Pens are back in action next Tuesday against the Rangers.

Game #50 - vs New York Islanders

Game 50

Islanders (15-25-7, 37 points) at Penguins (30-15-4, 64 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens have 32 games left this season. Including this one, four of those will be against the Islanders. They're not very good, but they play the Pens tough. May as well get used to beating them, starting with tonight's game, right?

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A big sigh of relief after the team held on to beat the Hurricanes on Saturday night (kinda like the Steelers, huh?)
• Islanders - Just what you'd expect - wildly inconsistent results (mostly on the losing end) with some flashes of promise.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens get to their power play? The Islanders haven't taken many penalties lately, and the Pens are all over the place as far as drawing penalties.
• Will there be a problem with work ethic? You know the Isles will bring a high energy game to Consol - the Pens will need to be ready to match it.
• Will we see Ricky D? He has been very good against the Pens this year with a .940 save percentage.

Keys to the game

• Stop Michael Grabner! Seriously - this guy has a six game point streak with 5 goals and 2 assists during that time.
• Out work the Isles. This will lead to power play chances, which the Pens should be able to exploit.
• Match up well against the Isles offensive players. Top players like Tavares, Moulson, Comeau and Parenteau have all been playing well this month.

Penguins 3, Hurricanes 2

So what happened?

A nice rebound win after the poor showing in New Jersey. The Pens scored the first goal. Once that happened, it dictated the pace of the game. They were able to build a 3-0 lead, which they held until late in the third period. It looked like there may be another late-game collapse, but the Pens were able to hold the fort this time (another encouraging sign).

Who scored?

Jeffrey (2), Letestu (10), Dupuis (10)

The Good?

• The Canes are now 8-2 against Pittsburgh when Eric Staal scores a goal.
• Really nice to see Jeffrey and Letestu both score - they are two guys the Pens were hoping would step up.
• Nice shorty by Pascal Dupuis.
• Another good night of work for the PK.

The Bad?

• Cam Ward. That shorty by Dupuis was the game winning goal. You think he might like that one back?

The Ugly?

• How about "almost ugly"? If they Pens had allowed the Canes to complete the comeback, this would have been the ugliest moment of the year.

Any Surprises?

• I was surprised the Canes didn't roll their lines earlier in the game. They finished with two forwards playing about five minutes and two more playing about 10.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 30-15-4. They are the second NHL team with 30 wins and are three points behind the Flyers for the lead in the Atlantic.

Who's next?

Islanders. Tuesday. In Pittsburgh.

Game #49 - vs Carolina Hurricanes

Game 49

Hurricanes (23-18-6, 52 points) at Penguins (29-15-4, 62 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens will probably be without Sid and Geno again. The Hurricanes are a decent team that can give the Penguins fits. This will be a measure of the character of the guys not named Sid and Geno in the Pens' locker room.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Some nice wins spoiled by that awful taste left over from Jersey.
• Hurricanes - A nice rebound win over the Rangers after two losses to Boston.

Questions to be answered

• Who will provide the offense?
• Can the Pens keep Eric Staal in check? Carolina is 8-1 against the Pens when he scores a goal.
• Can Fleury step up and have a big game in net?

Keys to the game

• Limit their chances. The Canes like to pile up the shots. Keep them off of their game early to frustrate them and make them take chances.
• Get to the power play. The Canes' PK is one of the worst in the league this year.
• Be disciplined. It looks like the Hurricanes are content to trade chances. Make sure you win the battle at even-strength.

Devils 2, Penguins 0

So what happened?

The Pens weren't ready for the start of the game. Perhaps no one was less ready than Brent Johnson, who allowed a 47 foot unobstructed shot by Brian Rolston to get by him just 1:22 into the game. That put the Pens behind the Eight Ball for the rest of the night.

Brodeur made a few key saves, but the Pens were unable to mount any kind of sustained pressure until later in the third period.

The legs, tenacity and urgency just weren't there at the start.

Who scored?

No one.

The Good?

• Kovalchuk didn't do anything of merit.
• No one was hurt.

The Bad?

• Where was the skating and hitting, especially on the forecheck, during the first period? I know Brodeur can handle the puck enough to short-circuit some of that, but I also watched too many forwards not finish their checks when they had the chance.

The Ugly?

• The refs were wildly inconsistent again. Matt Cooke absolutely should have been called for goaltender interference.

Any Surprises?

• I can't say the outcome is a surprise. We've seen the Devils do this to the Pens too many times.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 29-15-4. They are five points behind the Flyers for first place in the Atlantic.

Who's next?

The Hurricanes come to Consol on Saturday night with All-Star captain Eric Staal.

Game #48 - at New Jersey Devils

Game 48

Penguins (29-14-4, 62 points) at Devils (13-29-3, 29 points)

Why does it matter?
This is a divisional game on the road against an opponent that is always tough for the Pens. It doesn't matter that the Devils stink this year - two points on the road in the Atlantic is never easy.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Three wins in a row has the Pens in a good place.
• Devils - They're excited about "making a push" after winning three out of four. The last time they won three out of four (Nov 22 - 27), they went on a 2-15 streak.

Questions to be answered

• Will the absence of Geno (and Sid) have an impact on Staal? I think so - he'll now see the #1 defense pairing, maybe for the first time in his career, for an entire game.
• What line will Jeffrey play on? I think it'll be the fourth line, but I'd like to see him get a decent amount of ice time. I think he can do more long term for the team than Letestu can.

Keys to the game

• Lock them down. The only reason the Devils have won a few games here is they're finally scoring some goals. Keep them at 3 or less and you have a good chance.
• Check the numbers - the Devils have used 32 different skaters so far this year.
• Capitalize on Kovalchuk. Ilya has 26 points this year and is a -27 (wow - that is really bad).

Penguins 4, Red Wings 1

So what happened?

I didn't see any of this game, outside of the Conner penalty shot.

Nice to see the Pens earn the two points, though.

Who scored?

Staal (3), Conner (6), Kunitz (16), Cooke (9)

The Good?

• Staal continued his hot play with another goal.
• Fleury was the #1 star with 36 saves on 37 shots.
• Conner's penalty shot goal was sweet.

The Bad?

• What's up with Geno only playing 15 minutes?

The Ugly?

• How did they not award a penalty shot to Drew Miller when he was tripped by Kris Letang while on the PK?

Any Surprises?

• Letestu is still on the #1 power play despite playing on the fourth line right now.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 29-14-4. They are three points behind the Flyers for the lead in the Atlantic.

Who's next?

Thursday is Snoozeapalooza in Jersey against the Devils.

Game #47 - vs Detroit Red Wings

Game 47

Red Wings (28-11-6, 62 points) at Penguins (28-14-4, 60 points)

Why does it matter?
Datsyuk, Modano, Stuart, Cleary, Holmstrom, Osgood, Howard... do these names sound familiar? None of them will play for the Red Wings, presenting a very different team than the one the Penguins are used to seeing. Still, it is a premier match up, and the Wings are the top scoring team in the NHL. It will be a tough game.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Two straight nice wins on the road have taken the edge off of the rough stretch lately.
• Red Wings - Even with their injuries, they've managed points in every game but two since Christmas.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens keep the intensity up even though the Wings are depleted?
• Can the Pens get to the power play? The Wings have allowed a power play goal in four of the past five games.
• Will the team scoring continue? The Pens have been getting balanced scoring across their lineup recently.

Keys to the game

• Be ready to go. The Wings will be especially gritty given that they're missing so many players.
• Keep Franzen in check. He, along with Zetterberg, are the biggest offensive threats the Wings have.
• Match up against Lidstrom?? Believe it or not, the All-World defenseman is a -1 on the season.

Penguins 3, Bruins 2

So what happened?

Another bit of revenge extracted against a tough opponent on the road, but it wasn't easy.

The Pens worked hard to build a 2-0 lead with somewhat fluky goals from Kunitz (skate deflection after he missed the puck with his stick) and Dupuis (wacky bounce off of Rask after a carom off of the end boards).

That lead vanished in 13 seconds midway through the second period when Seidenberg sent a seeing-eye shot through several screens, and then Ryder pulled the "use the defenseman as a screen" trick and toasted Fleury.

HCDB called timeout, and the Pens didn't panic. They kept playing, and their effort paid off when Jordan Staal gathered a loose puck in front of Rask and backhanded it past him to put the Pens up.

After that, they hung on for dear life, with some really nice saves by Flower. He was tracking the puck extremely well in the third period.

Who scored?

Kunitz (15), Dupuis (9), Staal (2)

The Good?

• The Pens played things pretty evenly with the Bruins. It was an exciting game to watch, with both teams getting several great chances.
• Staal had two more points and was the #1 star again. Geno who?
• Letang and Orpik were great, playing more than 25 minutes of ice time. They work really well together, with Letang jumping into the play while being able to count on Orpik covering up for him.
• Fleury was solid the whole game. He stopped 44 of 46 shots.

The Bad?

• I'd love to see Letestu get more than 8 minutes (and change) of ice time, but that's what happens when you play him on the fourth line.
• The Bruins played with four defense, essentially. Both Kampfer and (Pittsburgh native) Bartkowski played less than 10 minutes, which is really low for a blueliner.

The Ugly?

• The refs blew a big one that could have cost the Pens the game - they called Dupuis for a double-minor for high-sticking, and it wasn't Dupuis' stick that did the dirty work (it was Chara's). Very bad mistake... and the Pens were very fortunate it didn't cost them.

Any Surprises?

• Only one chance on the power play was surprising.
• Also - the Steelers came back from being down two touchdowns at halftime to beat the Ravens!! Shannon Sharpe was kicking off the whining parade on the postgame show.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 28-14-4. They are still one point behind Philly for the lead in the Atlantic, though the Pens have played two more games than the Flyers.

Who's next?

The Red Wings come to Consol on Tuesday night.

Game #46 - at Boston Bruins

Game 46

Penguins (27-14-4, 58 points) at Bruins (24-12-7, 55 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens will play a fifth straight game without Sid. They'll also have a second straight shot at revenge after beating the Canadiens on Wednesday.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A nice win in Montreal has hopefully turned the momentum for the Pens.
• Bruins - Points in 10 of their past 11 games and they're winning several different ways. Thursday was an unlikely offensive explosion in a 7-5 win over Philly.

Questions to be answered

• The Bruins may have to play without Lucic, Ferrence and Stuart. Can the Pens take advantage, especially against a depleted defense?
• Can Geno pick up the scoring? I have a good feeling about today...
• Which power play will show up, the one that has is 5-12 in the past two games or the one that went 3-32 in the nine games before that?

Keys to the game

• Stay focused on playing 60 minutes. The Pens have lost three times when leading going into the third period this year. Two of those are to the Bruins.
• Be ready for the early start. Get the legs (and heads) ready to go.
• Get the shots on net, especially from the point or above the slot. Given the system the Bruins play, it's hard enough to get the pucks deep. Don't miss wide and give them a free breakout pass.

Penguins 5, Canadiens 2

So what happened?

The Pens extracted a measure of revenge from the Habs after their loss last week.

It didn't look good for a little while in the second period.

The Pens scored first on a blistering shot by Alex Goligoski. He put the puck in top corner over Price's glove hand.

The Habs scored the next two (the equalizer was just 18 seconds later) and that sinking feeling was starting to set in. Fortunately the Habs started "The Bennie and Wisi Show" in the penalty box, as Pouliot and Wisniewski combined for five separate minor penalties. Throw in one other one (Too Many Men) and you have six power play chances over the final two periods for the Pens. They scored on three of them and that was the deciding factor.

The Habs had the #1 PK in the NHL coming into the game. I can't imagine they will any longer.

My favorite part was watching Fleury imitate Price's pose from last week after the final horn sounded.

Who scored?

Goligoski 2 (8,9), Kennedy (7), Staal (1), Kunitz (14)

The Good?

• This was a complete effort. There was no letdown in the later stages of the third. The Pens out shot the Canadiens 13-7 in the third period despite having a lead.
• Staal had a breakout game with three points and six hits. He was the #1 star.
• Goligoki was good and bad. He had three points, but he also took two penalties and his man (Desharnais) scored in the second period (though to be fair, it was a deflection, and there wasn't much Goose could have done shy of knocking him down).
• Geno had seven shots and seemed to play a solid game.

The Bad?

• Not much. Two penalties in the first period could have been disastrous for the Pens had their PK not bailed them out.

The Ugly?

• On the line changes, several Montreal players would sit on the wall of the bench prior to the change. One of the Pens was checked into the player sitting on the wall. That has serious potential for disaster and needs to stop immediately. Stay in the bench until you hop over to change.

Any Surprises?

• The power play breaking through for three goals, and none of them involved Geno! That's a double surprise.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 27-14-4. They are one point behind Philly for the lead in the Atlantic, though the Pens have played three more games than the Flyers.

Who's next?

More revenge on Saturday as the Pens play a matinée against the Bruins.

Game #45 - at Montreal Canadiens

Game 45

Penguins (26-14-4, 56 points) at Canadiens (24-16-3, 51 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens are flailing right now. They need someone to step up and lead the way. The Habs will generally give them the chance to play a better style than we've seen against the Wild and Bruins.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Five losses in their past six games, including a heart breaker against the Bruins.
• Canadiens - With points in five straight games (4-0-1), the Habs are playing well right now.

Questions to be answered

• Last time the Pens allowed a comeback against the Bruins, they began their longest streak of good play of the season. Can they start another one?
• Geno? Are you there? We need you to score. This one is staying here until he steps up.
• Will the team be able to cut down on the dumb penalties? The high-sticking call on Matt Cooke stands out as one that really shouldn't have happened against the Bruins.

Keys to the game

• Get someone in front of Price (or Auld). Sid was scoring tons of goals from the front of the net area, but no one seems to be camped there now.
• Play 60 minutes.
• Win the special teams battle. That means no dumb penalties. It also means finding a way to get the puck in the net on the power play.

Bruins 4, Penguins 2

So what happened?

This was a kick in the nuts. The Bruins were the recipients of a seeing-eye one-timer from Zdeno Chara at the very end of a power play late in the third period. It cut the deficit to 2-1 and the Bruins were energized. At that point, they wanted it more than the Penguins did. Before you could blink, the score was tied and after a questionable call against Jordan Staal, the penalty kill betrayed the Pens a second time in less than three minutes, allowing the Bruins to take the lead for good.

This is a troubling trend - we've seen at least three third period collapses so far this season. Does this team have the will to win when it counts?

Who scored?

Rupp (4), Letang (7)

The Good?

• The effort for almost 57:00 was great, and Fleury was spectacular during the first 57 minutes.

The Bad?

• The last three minutes and change. You can't let another team steal the game away like that. At least get it to overtime.
• Too many penalties. Again. At crucial times. Late in the third.

The Ugly?

• The Pens were out shot 13-2 in the third period. You have to be able to get more than two pucks on net in a period, especially when the game is close, much less the DTGL (Dreaded Two Goal Lead).

Any Surprises?

• The defensive breakdowns late in the third. On the PK is somewhat understandable, but on the even strength goal that tied the score? If you're a forward, don't get beat going back towards your own net.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 26-14-4. They have lost five of the past six games.

Who's next?

A quick chance for revenge from last Thursday when the Pens go back to Montreal on Wednesday night.

Game #44 - vs Boston Bruins

Game 44

Bruins (21-12-7, 49 points) at Penguins (26-12-4, 56 points)

Why does it matter?
Another tough match-up for the Pens, who are struggling offensively without Sidney Crosby.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Losses in four of the past five games.
• Bruins - Same thing here - losses in four out of five.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens avoid the outcome from their last meeting when the Bruins scored five times in the third period?
• Geno? Are you there? We need you to score.
• Can the Pens "get to their game" (as HCDB and ACTG like to say)? They seem to struggle against defensively oriented teams.

Keys to the game

• Blah blah blah... Marc Savard... blah blah blah... Matt Cooke... blah blah blah... first meeting since "The Hit". I'll laugh my butt off if Savard tries to fight Cooke (though I'd probably have some respect for the guy if he tried it).
• Not really a key, but watch Kunitz try to hit Chara. He might come up to his elbow, but he keeps trying to plaster him.
• Be ready - the Bruins are physical and have some balanced scoring on the wings. Milan Lucic is a runaway freight train who can send you into next week if you're not paying attention.

Wild 4, Penguins 0

So what happened?

Yeah, this was about as exciting as the score would make you think. The Pens hit the post twice, but it really was a butt-kicking for most of the game.

Who scored?

No one.

The Good?

• Um... Michalek hit the post?
• No one got hurt?

The Bad?

• Everything else was bad. The Pens didn't get to their game until the third period, and then it was only for the first part of the period. That ended when there was a no-call on the Wild for tying up Mike Rupp and Cal Clutterbuck put the Wild up 3-0 right afterwards.
• Too many penalties. The self-discipline is there some nights and strangely missing other nights.

The Ugly?

• Getting out shot 27-16 in the second and third period when already down 2-0.

Any Surprises?

• I can't come up with one. This is exactly what most Pens fans were afraid of.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 26-13-4. They have 56 points and are one point behind Philly for the lead in the Atlantic.

Who's next?

Boston comes to Consol on Monday night.

Game #43 - vs Minnesota Wild

Game 43

Wild (20-15-5, 45 points) at Penguins (26-12-4, 56 points)

Why does it matter?
This will be a difficult game for the Pens. They need to find some offense without Sid in the lineup, but the Wild have been playing extremely well on the road lately. Having Jose Theodore in net against them doesn't help either - he usually tortures the Pens.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Not enough offense and a few breakdowns cost them the game against the Habs.
• Wild - Three straight wins, including a nice victory over the Bruins in Boston on Thursday.

Questions to be answered

• Will Dupuis rise to the occasion facing his former team? He had four points in two games last year, and the Pens need the help.
• Can Geno put this team on his back like he did a few seasons ago when Sid was out?
• Can Fleury pitch the shutout tonight? If there was ever a time for one, it's now.

Keys to the game

• Score three goals. The Wild have won just three games when they allow three or more.
• Score first - it will keep them from sitting back.
• Watch out for Brent Burns. He has 12 goals on the season from the blue line. He's not the physical force the Byfuglien is, but he's just as big (6'5").

New article at Hockey Indepenent

I have a new article up over at Hockey Independent called "The Kids Are Alright". It's about the four rookies in the lineup and the impact they've had on the team.

Give it a look!

Canadiens 2, Penguins 1 (OT - SO - 1-0)

So what happened?

No Sid, no Cooke, no pucks in the net. The Pens used a rebound to get their only goal of the night on a shot from the point by Lovejoy. Asham banged the rebound past Price.

Other than that, the game was entertaining enough, except for the part about losing.

The Pens killed off an extended 5-on-3 in the third period (which they earned after they put the puck over the glass twice in succession while already on the PK).

I wanted to see someone else (Geno, maybe?) step up tonight with Sid not playing, but Carey Price was up to the challenges.

Who scored?

Asham (5)

The Good?

• The PK was awesome. The MVP of the kills in the third was Craig Adams, who put himself in front of two bombs from Wisniewski.
• The Pens tried everything tonight - the defense activated to some extent, and they did out shoot the Habs by a margin of 32-23. It felt like the playoffs last year all over again.
• Johnson was sharp and did everything you could have asked him to.

The Bad?

• Nothing really bad... just not enough quality scoring chances.

The Ugly?

• Gionta using his stick to kick Geno's leg out and trip him. It was borderline dirty (like much of the stuff that Mighty Mouse does), and left me wondering if we'll be without Sid and Geno on Saturday.

Any Surprises?

• Dupuis in the first three in the shootout? I know he scored against the Caps, but he doesn't have the puck handling skill set that you like to see from a guy in the shootout.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 26-12-4. They have 56 points and hold a one point lead over Philly in the Atlantic division. They're one point behind Vancouver for the NHL lead.

Who's next?

The Wild come to Consol on Saturday. If Sid and Geno can't play, get ready for a complete snooze-fest with the way the Wild like to sit back and trap.

Game #42 - at Montreal Canadiens

Game 42

Penguins (26-12-3, 55 points) at Canadiens (21-16-3, 45 points)

Why does it matter?
Montreal has been a tough team for the Pens recently, but several of the Pens love going there to play (like Talbot and Fleury, just to name a few).

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Everything they threw at the net was going in last night.
• Canadiens - The Habs are 3-8-1 in their past 12 games, but have thrown 48 and 50 shots at the opposition in their previous two (both went to OT, with one win and one loss).

Questions to be answered

• Can Steigy and Errey please not call out any Habs in the third period this time? In the first meeting this season, they talked about how Gomez had been invisible... he scored the game winner about a minute later.
• Can the PK rise to the challenge? The Habs have two straight multi-goal games on their power play.
• Will the Pens have the legs to either lock down the Habs or get into a shootout with them? I think we're looking at an up-tempo game either way. I hope they slept well.

Keys to the game

• Stay out of the box entirely. The Habs have four goals in just seven chances over the past two games.
• Stick with Cammalleri around the net. He has been a Penguins killer lately.
• Watch out for offense from the blue line. Wisniewski has been hot since he was acquired from the Isles (he must feel like he used a Get Out of Jail Free card or something).

Penguins 8, Lightning 1

So what happened?

Geno scored 7 seconds into the game when he made a great read off of the opening draw and stuck with the play long enough to flip the puck past a down-and-out Dwayne Roloson. They could have stopped the game right there, because it didn't get any closer.

It was 5-0 by the end of the first period, which rendered the Stamkos penalty shot a moot point early in the second (Stamkos blew a tire on the way to the net and never got to shoot the puck).

The Pens out shot the Bolts 36-15 through two periods. They never took their foot off of the throttle until the third period. It was one of the few true laughers we've seen in recent years since most games are at least competitive.

Who scored?

Malkin (15), Conner (5), Kennedy (6), Kunitz 3 (11,12,13), Letestu (9), Goligoski (7)

The Good?

• This was a blowout from the very beginning of the game. The Pens came out like a huge weight had been lifted from their shoulders, and it was great to watch.
• Kunitz had a hat trick, with the second two goals being nice deflections of Goligoski shots on the power play. It was the second hat trick of Kunitz's career.
• Letestu had a sick move on his goal, showing great patience and quick hands in front of Roloson.
• The Pens watched the Bolts change the goalie three times (Roloson --> Ellis --> Roloson --> Ellis).
• No one should be worn out since the turnaround is quick for tomorrow night's game.
• How do you know you had a great game? When Lovejoy plays more minutes than Brooks Orpik (no offense to Ben).
• If you could give a star to the opposition when they lose 8-1 on the road, I'd give one to Adam Hall, who never quit playing. He scored the only goal for the Bolts on a nice deflection.

The Bad?

• Nothing, really.

The Ugly?

• No, and that leads into the surprise...

Any Surprises?

• The Lightning didn't try anything stupid while the game was still in reach. No fights, and only one questionable hit (and that was later after everything was decided). You could be kind and say they were classy or, be a disgruntled Tampa fan and say they didn't care.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 26-12-3. They have 55 points and are currently tied with Detroit and Vancouver for the NHL lead, but the Canucks are just getting underway tonight.

Who's next?

A trip to Montreal to play tomorrow night. Get ready for those silly Canadiens (and the opposition on the ice won't be bad either).

Game #41 - vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Game 41 - vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning (24-11-5, 53 points) at Penguins (25-12-3, 53 points)

Why does it matter?
This game might be more difficult than the Winter Classic. The Lightning have been red hot, going 9-2 over their past 11.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Forget the Winter Classic - the Pens have lost three of their past four games.
• Lightning - In addition to their hot streak, the Lighting just finished off the Caps in Washington tonight.

Questions to be answered

• Will the Bolts stick with Roloson after his shutout? Isn't he too old to play back-to-back?
• Which team will score 5? The winning team has scored five in each of the first two games between these teams this year (they split, by the way).
• Will Conner continue to sit with Staal returning? Who else would you sit instead of Conner? If it were me, I'd think about Rupp or Asham... depending on the opponent.

Keys to the game

• Focus on the details - four of the past five wins for the Lighting have come in OT. That tells me they're both lucky and good right now.
• Play the PK like you would if Ovechkin is out there... except that Stamkos is the one to watch, and he's more dangerous than Ovechkin is right now. Get ready for his one-timer.
• Don't let St. Louis beat you. He never stops, especially when killing penalties.

Capitals 3, Penguins 1

So what happened?

The Caps rode a hot goaltender along with a few key plays to a win over the Pens. Both teams had spurts where they turned up the pressure, but Washington was able to capitalize on the chances they received.

The Pens were unable to score on four power play chances. That was the single biggest disappointment. They also allowed a power play goal to the Caps.

Flower was solid, making several key saves, but his miscue when trying to play the puck behind the net gave a wide open net to Eric Fehr on what would be the game winning goal.

It's hard to view this as just another regular season game. It felt like more than that. In the end, however, it is worth the same two points to the Caps, and will be just another loss for the Pens when the season comes to a close.

Who scored?

Malkin (14)

The Good?

• The effort and intensity was there.
• Staal was able to return. He was very effective on faceoffs and had some visibility early on.

The Bad?

• The ice conditions were bad. If that game is on a regular rink, Fleury doesn't misplay the puck.
• The hit Sid took at the end of the second was nasty and should have been a penalty. You don't really want your superstar getting blindsided on a national TV showcase.

The Ugly?

• The TV broadcast was the worst part. They were nowhere near close enough to the ice surface. The result was the worst viewing experience I've had since all of the games went to HD.

Any Surprises?

• Staal's return would be a surprise. Asham playing less than 5 minutes would be another one.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 25-12-3. They have 53 points and are still on top of the standings in the NHL (though they are tied with Detroit).

Who's next?

It doesn't get any easier, as Tampa Bay is coming to Consol on Wednesday.

Game #40 - The Winter Classic

Game 40 - The Winter Classic

Capitals (22-12-5, 49 points) at Penguins (25-11-3, 53 points)

Why does it matter?
You won't get a better hockey spectacle than this game. Everything about the event will be special and something to savor.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The Pens have been plagued by a bit of inconsistency lately, with the power play, the PK and the final scores all over the map.
• Capitals - The Caps not only have ended their losing streak, they have points in 5 straight games (4-0-1) and are playing well.

Questions to be answered

• Will the teams be too juiced up to start the game?
• Did someone outfit Geno with the rear view and side view mirrors so he can see Ovechkin coming this time?
• How will Staal's return impact the second line? Will HCDB put Staal right back up there, or will he work Jordan into a more familiar role on the third line until he gets his legs back?

Keys to the game

• Watch Ovechkin, especially early. He's sure to try to run someone in the name of "excitement".
• Win at even-strength. The Caps and Pens have both been inconsistent at best on the power play lately.
• Roll four lines and stay out of the box. Given the importance of even-strength play, you want to let the guys get into the flow of the game (especially with Staal returning).