Game 4

News: Pens recall defenseman Simon Despres from the Baby Pens.

We need to focus on tonight, one game, one period at a time. The Pens surely know what is on the line and they guarantee their best hockey will be on display tonight in Game 4 in Philadelphia. Being down 3-0 in the series, their best hockey will be necessary to ensure that their season does not end tonight.
Some fans have abandoned their team, losing all hope. Sidney Crosby says this is a time when the Pens need their fans the most and this is a time when players lean on their fans. Sure, the odds are stacked against us and we have suspensions to go along with our troubles - James Neal got a one-game suspension, Arron Asham has been suspended 4 games along with Craig Adams' one game suspension, but we are not out yet. The Pens promise their best hockey tonight because they know if they do not play their best, their season is over. No one in that locker room wants the season to end tonight, so you better believe they are going to do everything in their power to keep it going.
I believe in this team. It will not be easy, but when this team is playing their best, there is no telling what they can or can not accomplish. Some might find it hard to believe this team can win this series or even a game or a few because they haven't shown where they can beat the Flyers in any certain area. Well, the Pens have not been playing their best. We know we can beat the Flyers, we have just a short time ago in the regular season. Now is the time to prove what the Pens can do, now is the time to show the best Pens hockey. It's now or never (or until next season).

Chris Kunitz knows that a full game will be needed tonight: “There is no tomorrow. We will leave it all out there. It doesn’t matter if you’re down by a goal with 30 seconds to go or up by two with 30 seconds to go. We have to play right through to the end on both ends.”

Crosby also said that in a dire situation like the Pens are in, this is when everybody's best comes out: “We’ve got to find a way to win a hockey game. When there’s adversity, that’s when you see guys’ true colors. I think we’ll show that. We’re going to leave it all out there and give ourselves a chance to try and get back in this series.”
That's all we can ask.
The Pens need to play their best, they need to leave everything out there on the ice. There is no saying they can't do this. We know they can. The Pens need their fans. I will be there for them every step of the way, every minute of tonight's game and beyond. I may sound like a broken record, but I believe in this team, I really do. Game 4 tonight- all or nothing. Let's Go Pens!

Pens take on Panthers tonight.

We're used to seeing the Florida Panthers pretty far down the list in Eastern Conference standings, but right now, the Pens just happen to be looking up at them in the standings. They don't have more points, but they currently lead the Southeast Division and sit in third place in the Eastern Conference. While the Panthers have made some great improvements, they have their problems and their motto might as well be, "Florida Panthers: Florida's longest roller coaster." The Panthers have been up and down with the wins and losses this season and they can not seem to gain consistency.
The Panthers have been on the lower end of the roller coaster track lately as they have lost three of their last 4 games. Scoring is a bit of a problem as of late as the Panthers have been shut out twice while letting in a lot of goals. A part of that is the fact that the Panthers are without their top scoreer, Kris Versteeg, due to an injury. Though being on the losing end does not mean that the coaster won't be making its way back up the track, so the Pens need to shut the Panthers down tonight at Consol Energy Center. The Pens need to continue trying to play a consistent game and they will look to do so as well as look to continue their win streak tonight against the Panthers.

Paul Martin is sick and may not play in tonight's game and Simon Despres was called up as a result. Kris Letang skated today before the team practice with Mike Kadar and while Brent Johnson has been back in practice, it is just another step in his recovery and he hopes it won't be much longer to heal his "nagging" injury.

Pens take on Bruins today.

The Toronto Maple Leafs snapped the Pens' 8 game winning streak on Wednesday and now it is time for the Pens to start the next win streak today in Boston when they face the Boston Bruins.

The Bruins started this season looking like they were going to be making a run at a consecutive Stanley Cup with the way they were playing. Surely, we know that a season is long though and more recently the Bruins are having mixed results and winning a game and losing one in a pattern. The Bruins are 4-4-1 in their last nine. However, they are still a very strong team and a threat for sure. They sit second in the east and are on top of their Northwest Division.

The Bruins are a deep team that can score goals and though they have not been so strong defensively as of late, that does not mean they are not capable of being strong defensively. When the Bruins are on their game, they are a tough team to beat and when they aren't quite on their game, they're still not all that easy to beat. The Pens will need to play a full 60-minute game and some secondary scoring won't hurt in this game today.

The Bruins are a strong team at home as well and today's game should be an exciting one!

Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal and Simon Despres travelled with the team for their road trip that will take them to New Jersey tomorrow and then Montreal, though do not expect any of them to be in the lineup during the trip. Coach Bylsma did say though that Despres and Staal could join team practices this upcoming week.


In other Pens' news: The Pens have resigned forward Joe Vitale to a 2-year contract extension. The annual amount of this deal is about $550,000.
Also, on this trip, we'll get to see Cal O'Reilly, the Pens newest memeber.

Pens host Senators tonight.

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.

Pens vs. Capitals tonight.

Just days after the Washington Capitals fired their head coach, Bruce Boudreau, and hired Dale Hunter, they will be facing a team they have a bit of a history with, our Pens. The Capitals lost their first game under their new coach earlier in the week and are looking for his first win with the Capitals. Let's hope he has to search longer. The Pens-Caps games tend to always be exciting and keep the fans engaged as you just never know what will happen. (Except for that game 7 a few years ago in the playoffs where the Pens blew past the Capitals to take the series!)

I might also add that Bruce Boudreau was announced today as the Anaheim Ducks new coach, as he replaces Randy Carlyle. Didn't take him long at all to find a new job.

Anyways though, on to some Pens news. Simon Despres was called up from the Baby Pens today as Alex Picard was sent back down. Despres will make his NHL debut tonight, and what a team to make a debut with.

The fans get excited for Caps-Pens games and it used to be the Ovehckin vs. Crosby game. That may have died down a little, but these teams still offer a lot of skill and talent and that is why I get excited for these games. There's a rivalry, both teams get fired up to play each other and hopefully that means they play their best. When asked today about playing the Capitals, Captain Crosby said, "I think both teams bring out the best in one another. It should be another good one." If they do bring out the best of one another, let's hope the Pens show the Capitals who is the best.

Pens Prospect Conditioning Camp.

The Pens' Prospect conditioning camp is set for July 20-26. Among those players scheduled to attend are Eric Tangradi and the Penguins’ first-round selection in the recent NHL Entry Draft, Simon Despres.
The complete schedule will be released at a later date.

For all the info:
http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=442501

2009 Draft.

Since I was not present at the Draft, and I know the bare facts about the players selected, I will post the links to the Pens blog updates from the draft by Sam Kasan.

Draft day 1:
http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=431808



Draft day 2:
http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=431943