Pens 'Torched' in Canada's Capital

One night removed from Sidney Crosby parading around his home province of Nova Scotia with the Olympic torch, the Ottawa Senators did the only 'torching' on the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sergei Gonchar and Max Talbot both returned to the injury-riddled lineup of the Pens, but their presence alone was not enough to mask the tenacity displayed by the Sens.

The Pens managed to show up for the first two minutes of the hockey game, then went missing for the next 54.

Jordan Staal, one of the few Penguins who actually turned in a solid 60-minute effort, scored just over a minute into the first period.

Gonchar made the play happen with a swift outlet pass from his own zone.

Billy Guerin directed a backdoor pass to Dupuis, who found the streaking Staal heading to the net.

Staal buried it for his second goal in as many games.

The Sens would reel off 5 unanswered goals, leading to Marc-Andre Fleury hitting the showers a little early.

Jonathan Cheechoo added insult to injury (pun intended) when he took advantage of a mis-communication between Gonch and Brent Johnson and deposited the puck into a gaping cage.

Geno added a power play goal (what's that? you might be wondering) at 17:09 of the third, but it was too little, too late.

Eric Godard fought for the first time in what feels like forever. Good scrap between Gods and Chris Neil that resulted in Neil shedding some blood under his left eye.

The Pens had to be expecting to waltz through the Sens, who have struggled scoring goals early on this season, especially with the presence of Gonchar and Talbot.

Gonch seemed no worse for wear in his return to the ice after a broken wrist. He logged just over 25 minutes of ice time and as usual, found a way to get the puck to the net.

The Sens blocked a ton of shots tonight, even without their stud d-man Anton Volchenkov.

Our boy Ben Lovejoy logged nearly 3 minutes of ice time on the power play, showing that the coaching staff's confidence in him is increasing with each game he plays. He was also the only Penguins to finish better than even in the +/- category. (Bourque was a -2, Engelland a -4)

The Pens were simply outplayed. They were beat to 99% of the loose pucks, outworked on the walls at both ends of the ice, and physically manhandled by a team who looks determined to turn its season around.

Nights like this happen more than once during an 82 game season. If we've learned anything about this Penguin squad over the past few seasons, it is that they usually respond to adversity quite well.

That being said, expect a much more motivated effort on Saturday night against Colby Armstrong and the Atlanta Thrashers.

Let's Go Pens

Pens vs. Ducks - Recap

The Penguins faced the Anaheim Ducks at Mellon Arena, looking to start a win streak after the amazing victory against the Boston Bruins on Saturday.

Despite the injuries, despite the foundering powerplay, despite the powder blue uniforms, the Penguins managed to win 5-2 against the Ducks.

Other teams complain about injuries, but they got nothin' on the Penguins right now. The latest loss on the blue line is Alex Goligoski. That makes FOUR of the top six defensemen are out of the lineup. Add to that, Tyler Kennedy, Chris Kunitz and Max Talbot.

The Pens managed to prevail with Malkin and Crosby on the same line and with a mish-mash of blueliners called up from Wilkes-Barre.

Pittsburgh came out to their typical strong start. They started with a lot of jump and Matt Cooke scored after a giveaway by the Ducks' defense. With traffic in front of Giguere, Cooke threw a backhand wrister toward the net and it found it's way in.

A few minutes later, the Pens capitalized on another giveaway and scored their first powerplay goal in 30 attempts. Crosby intercepted a weak clearing attempt and found Billy Guerin's wheelhouse. Guerin's slapshot hit the twine before Giguere heard the Guerin's stick hit the puck.

While scoring a powerplay goal was a big plus for the Penguins and broke a long drought, they didn't score on six powerplay attempts. The trouble with the PP has not been fixed.

I honestly got nervous when the Ducks scored a shorty and then controlled most of the action for the second half of the first period. Jordan Staal answered with a shorthanded goal of his own in the second period and restored the two-goal lead.

In the meantime, Fleury and Giguere put on a goaltending clinic. They both made outstanding saves throughout the game. The difference was that Fleury had support and Giguere didn't.

Martin Skoula scored early in the third and put a big damper on the Ducks' night. He fired a long shot on Giguere who should have made the save, but the puck eluded him and found the five-hole.

Teemu Selanne almost made it interesting late in the third with a second goal for Anaheim, but they weren't able to rally and with Cooke's empty net goal, courtesy of an unselfish Jordan Staal, the Pens closed out the game.

The Pens played a simple, solid game of hockey. The game opened up in the third for a while, but the boys from Wilkes Barre stood tall along with Fleury. They made it tough for the Ducks to get looks at the net, they swept pucks out of danger, they blocked shots, they made the difference.

Dupuis played another energetic game and almost had a goal, but chopped the puck off the pipe. Guerin scored and then fought Getzlaf just as the momentum was starting to swing the Ducks' way. With Getzlaf off for five minutes, the Ducks lost steam.

Crosby had an assist, but secondary scoring came through in a big way. Assists went to Engelland, Adams and Lovejoy.

That's what has to happen when almost half your starters are wearing suits and watching from the sky boxes.

Pittsburgh improves to 14-7-0 while the Ducks drop to 6-10-3. New Jersey still leads the Atlantic Division with two games in hand on the Penguins though both teams have 28 points.

Pittsburgh travels to Ottawa to take on the Senators on Thursday.

Let's Go Pens!!!

Goligoski Out 2-3 Weeks

Lower body injury.

Pittsburgh native Nate Guenin got the call-up and will be in the lineup tonight against the Ducks.

Gonch Cleared for Contact

From PittsburghPenguins.com:
There was more good news for the club at Sunday afternoon's practice when we learned that Sergei Gonchar, who has been sidelined for three-plus weeks with a broken left wrist, has been cleared for contact in practice.

Gonchar, who had his cast removed last Wednesday, had been practicing with the team wearing a red "no contact" jersey. Gonchar took the ice in the normal white jersey for practice, indicating that he is healthy enough to participate fully in practice - a positive step towards his recovery.

Pens vs. Bruins - Recap

My apologies for the delay with my recap. Last night, I was having trouble with my DirecTV and my internet connection... Gotta love the modern world.

When the game started, I was doubtful that Evgeni Malkin's return would have a big impact. To go over something we all know, the Penguins are missing six starters. The news that Kunitz would be out with an injury gives a little insight on the Pens' troubles. With several guys out, including Malkin, Kunitz was playing injured and Goligoski was playing sick.

I was also dubious of the pairing of Malkin with Crosby. They have put up numbers during the game when they are double shifted, but not when they play together consistently. However, this proved to be a brilliant way to deal with Chara's task of shutting down Crosby or Malkin. Malkin had three assists and Crosby had a goal and two assists.

The first goal of the game was proof of this. Chara was forced to pinch forward to handle Malkin or Crosby who were in the same area. That left a big open space for McKee to skate into and score.

The Penguins, true to form this season, come out strong in the beginning of the period and score a goal and put a few good shots on Tim Thomas. However, after a few minutes, they give up a bunch of shots and get hemmed into their own zone. At 4:30 of the first, Skoula gave the puck away and the Bruins had a two-on-one. I watched that play several times, and I still don't know how the B's didn't score.

Engelland had a good fight against Bitz. It didn't look like much at first, but Deryk got two good uppercuts in as the two fell to the ice.

The Bruins scored an equalizer at 8:30 and that started the tremendous back and forth pace of this game. Great move by Krejci behind the net to pass against the grain to a wide open Blake Wheeler who banks the puck off an unsuspecting Brent Johnson and into the goal.

The Penguins' second goal was something I'd like to see more of this season. Ben Lovejoy made a great play at the blue line to keep the puck in the zone. With Matt Cooke and Dupuis creating traffic in front of the net, Lovejoy's shot was on goal and rebounded into the slot. Dupuis corralled the puck skated to the right of Thomas and ripped the puck into the cage.

The second period started kind of ugly. Neither team controlling the puck or even looking like they were playing hockey. Even though the Pens started with some PP time, they didn't do anything at all.

Unfortunately, just as both team settled down, the Bruins tied it up again. Ryder intercepts a pass at the blue line, skates in and wires one over Johnson's shoulder.

The Penguins follow up with some good chances. Mark Eaton skated in and took his time to pick his spot. Unfortunately, he hit the post. Then Staal has a great chance in the slot, but Thomas denies the score.

Crosby, working hard and skating through the entire Bruins' team (twice) sets up his own goal. Arriving behind the net, he cycles the puck to Malkin who passes the puck back to Goligoski at the blue line. Go-go takes the pass and, as it is still bouncing, times a perfect shot/pass. Crosby, hanging out at his favorite spot to the Thomas's left, deflects the puck into the upper corner. That was a beautiful play.

Later, Thomas makes an unbelievable save on Mike Rupp. A hard shot/pass goes directly behind the goal and comes straight out to Rupp. Thomas is turned around and the net is wide open. Rupp's shot is heading straight into the goal, but Thomas expertly uses his stick to make the save and knock the puck out of danger. that wasn't just a wild stab at the puck, Thomas had complete control the whole time - awesome.

The Bruins tie the game again with a shot from the point. The puck deflects off of Deryk Engelland's stick and goes just to the left of Johnson and into the net.

At the end of two periods, neither team had a lot of momentum. The play went back and forth, north and south, and both teams seem pretty evenly matched. The story before the game was that of two teams struggling to score and having injury problems. Both teams are scoring tonight though with six goals in forty minutes.

After nine more minutes of back and forth play, Mark Eaton makes up for this shot off the post by scoring another go-ahead-goal. A play as simple as a pass from Fedotenko to Crosby who crosses into the offensive zone and dishes the puck back to Eaton following the play. Eaton releases quickly and Thomas can't get all his blocker on the puck. Thomas looked a little upset with himself, but he really had no time to react.

The Penguins seemed to be doing a good job of controlling the game after Eaton's goal but then the ref's decided to make the game more exciting. I hate fans who blame the referees for their team's troubles, but I have to voice my disgust.

Matt Cooke, playing the puck in the offensive zone, moves to avoid a check from Bitz. Bitz misses Cooke and as he's trying to get a piece of Cooke, lifts Cooke's stick into his face. Okay, okay... the game is fast and Cooke's stick did hit Bitz and draw blood so he gets four minutes. But I don't think it was a very good call.

Only forty seconds or so later, Crosby gets called for tripping. Now, I can grudgingly accept the call on Cooke, but the call on Crosby was total crap. Crosby skated back and went down on one skate to sweep away a rebound. In the follow through, Crosby goes down and puts his stick on the ice to keep his balance. Wheeler, skating out, gets a piece of the stick and dives. He really embellished that. That was a piece of shit call.

Bruins score five-on-three. A couple minutes later, Chara blasts a slapper through traffic into the goal. With 2:29 left, Bruins take the lead for the first time in the game. The would hold that lead for 2:28.6.

This has got to be the sickest goal in hockey and a testament to the coolness under pressure of the Pittsburgh Penguins. A coolness they have developed from going to the Stanley Cup Finals two years in a row.

The Penguins pulled Johnson for the extra attacker with a little over a minute of game time remaining. Initially the Penguins control the puck in their offensive zone, but the Bruins are able to get the puck in around the empty net and it looks like the game is over.

With less than ten second to go, Bergeron tries to keep the puck in the offensive zone but he breaks his stick at the blue line. Malkin is there and rushes up the ice with Crosby. Every Penguins fan, in the arena and watching on TV (including me) is yelling, "shoot!" Instead, with TWO seconds on the clock, he makes a cross-ice pass to Bill Guerin who takes a moment to control the puck and rips a wrister past Thomas.

With four tenths of a second left, the Penguins tie the game.

The overtime frame is all Penguins. The Bruins barely touched the puck. On a harmless dump in, Thomas and Wideman get their signals crossed behind the net. Thomas stopped the puck for Wideman, but really tees it up for Jordan Staal. Staal centers the puck to Dupuis who makes a nifty play to get the puck free and shoot it into the enpty net.

That was an entertaining game of hockey. Eleven goals, two shorthanded breakaways for the Penguins, lots of good goaltending (despite the score), some good hitting, lots of great chances, an astounding goal with less than a second remaining and a great overtime game winner from the Penguins.

Pens win 6-5 in OT. They improve their record to 13-7 and stop a four game slide. The Penguins play the Anaheim Ducks Monday night. I'll be doing the recap for that game and you can look for it Tuesday morning. We all have busy nights on Monday and I'll do my best to get the recap in as soon as I can.

New Jersey - Pittsburgh Recap

Ugh. Pens have been playing so bad lately, they've given me bronchitis. So, that means you only get a scoring recap today, just because I feel like crap.

First Period

Crosby broke his scoring slump on a slick backhander towards the net that took Brodick down, and Feds jammed it in properly.

Second Period

Bergfors beats Fleury with a wrister to tie it up.

Greene gets a goal on the PP with a slapper that beat Fleury badly.

Third Period

Can't remember who, but a Penguin gave up possession in the neutral zone to Zajac (he's becoming a Penguin killer bigtime) and Parise put the one timer behind Fleury effortlessly.

Clarkson gets an empty netter.


Other

Lovejoy was solid.
We need less injuries.
My antibiotics need to kick in.

The Curse of the "A"

Sitting around thinking about all the injuries the Pens have endured this season got us wondering...

There has to be some correlation between all of the injuries, right?

Some little, minuscule, tidbit that no one has picked up on yet, right?

Right.

We present: The Pittsburgh Penguins and The Curse of the "A".

Below you will find three players who have worn the "A" as an assistant captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season. All are currently injured. We know, it's a stretch, but we've got nothing better to do with our lives.

CASE #1: Geno
Started the season wearing the "A" for the Pens.
Injury Date: Unknown
Injury Type: Shoulder
Games Missed: 6
Status: Practicing, Cleared for Contact
Return Date: Possibly by Saturday

CASE #2: Sarge
Started the season wearing the "A" for the Pens.
Injury Date: October 20 vs. St Louis
Injury Type: Broken Left Wrist
Games Missed: 8
Status: Practicing, but no contact
Return Date: 1-2 weeks

CASE #3: Brooks Orpik
Given the "A" after Gonchar's injury.
Injury Date: November 10 vs. Boston
Injury Type: Lower Body
Games Missed: 1 after tonight
Status: Not Practicing
Return Date: 2 weeks

So who's wearing the "A" now for the Pens in the absence of Malkin, Gonchar, and Orpik?

Billy Guerin

Let's just say we don't envy Billy's chances of staying healthy if this "curse" has any real bearing.

The other "A" is vacant as of now. Head Coach Dan Bylsma might award it to someone prior to tonight's game against the Devils, or simply allow it to remain vacant until Geno returns to the ice.

We realize people are going to read this and think "what a joke." Other people will buy into it. We don't care either way, we're just pointing out the obvious.

If you take nothing else away from this theory, at least realize that the Penguins aren't just losing bodies, talented hockey players, and integral parts of their team, they're losing leadership as well.

Let's Go Pens

Pens vs. Devils: Morning Skate Update

Pittsburghpenguins.com has some good info/pictures from this morning's skate before the Pens host the Devils tonight at the Mellon.

Brooks Orpik did not participate in the skate. The Pens have recalled BLJ from WB/S.

UPDATE: Orpik will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a "lower body injury". BLJ will be in the lineup tonight.

Some good news (which Penguin fans might not even know how to handle) is that Geno and Max have both been cleared for contact.

They were on the ice with the rest of the team this morning.

This doesn't mean one or both of them will play tonight, or even by Saturday, but it's definitely a step in the right direction.

The winner of tonight's game will take sole possession of 1st place in the Atlantic and 2nd in the Eastern Conference.

Let's Go Pens

Damn. Pens Shut Out For Second Straight Game

We're all tired of people reciting the list of injured Penguins. We've done it here like 30 times in the last two weeks or so.

Now it looks like you can add Brooks Orpik to that list after he left the ice and did not return after crashing hard into the boards in the first period of tonight's game.

Speculation says it's a rib injury. Penguin fans say we don't care what it is, as long as it isn't serious.

Rookie defenseman Deryk Engelland made his NHL debut tonight, wearing #5 for the Pens.

Due to Orpik's premature departure to the dressing room, Engelland logged over 19 minutes of ice time. Not bad for your NHL debut.

He looked solid, barring a muffed exit pass out of his own zone in the (?) period. He threw 5 hits and was a surprisingly physical presence given his average size.

If Orpik can't go on Thursday, look for our boy BLJ to get the call up.

If anyone sees Jordan Staal, tell him now is his chance to prove he is something more than a 3rd line, defensive specialist.

If anyone sees Ruslan Fedotenko, tell him he sucks.

Fleury was great again tonight. Thomas was just as good.

The Penguins forgot to show up for the first and third periods. They played their asses off in the second (as if that's supposed to make up for the other two), but they got nothing to show for it.

You have to wonder if Recchi still scoffs a little under his breath when he picks up points against the team that screwed him over twice in his career??

900 assists in 22 seasons for the Recch'n Ball after tonight.

The two Chris's (Bourque and Conner) are proving themselves to be good "energy guys".

Here's the problem: Tyler Kennedy is an "energy guy". He also led the team in goals before his injury. See the connection?

Bourque and Conner haven't done anything to warrant continued time with the big club, in our opinion, so why not give someone else from WB/S a shot??

The answer to that question is probably why we type shit on our computers after a hockey game instead of coaching one.

The Pens haven't scored a goal in like 150-something minutes.

Geno could play Thursday. Don't get your hopes up.

Let's Go Pens

Letang Out At Least 2 Weeks

The Pens' website broke the news that Kris Letang is going to miss at least the next two weeks.

This injury shit has become so ridiculous, we're not even giving you the link.

The Pens lineup Tuesday against the Bruins will be without: Malkin, Gonchar, Talbot, Letang, and Kennedy.

There are some unreal hockey players in that list of human beings.

"WTF is happening to my teammates?"

Look for Derek (although we think he spells it differently) Engelland or Ben Lovejoy to fill the void for Letang, who had been the Pens' ice time leader since Gonchar went down.

Our fingers are crossed for BLJ. He looked good last season and in this year's pre-season before some shoulder problem (imagine that) forced him to start the year in the minors again.

Keep the faith. Let's Go Pens.