Injury updates and more.

Last night's win against the Dallas Stars was an exciting one, as it took 4 rounds in the shootout to determine the winner and the Pens came out victorious, 4-3. The game had some back and forth scoring as well as some fast goals and the physical component of hockey surely was not missing in last night's game. However, that win and those two points came at a price. Kris Letang and Steve Sullivan both left the game last night due to injuries.

Coach Dan Bylsma said today that Kris Letang is experiencing concussion-like symptoms after his hit with Stars' Eric Nystrom. Letang will be further evaluated back in Pittsburgh once the current road trip has wrapped up. Nystrom will not face supplemental discipline for the hit.
Steve Sullivan is reportedly day-to-day with the lower-body injury he sustained in last night's win.

Tyler Kennedy practiced with the team yesterday with some contact, but there is no timetable for his return from a high ankle sprain.

It was announced this afternoon that the Pens have signed forward Adam Payerl to a three-year entry-level contract that will begin with the 2012-13 season. Payerl, 20, is currently in his third season with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League. Payerl is setting career highs this season: In 57 regular-season contests this year he has 20 goals and 44 points.

Pens face off against Stars.

Happy Leap Day to you all!

An extra day of the year, and what better way to celebrate this extra day than with a Pens game?

The Pens are in Dallas tonight to take on the Stars. The team that Matt Niskanen and James Neal came from in a trade last season for Alex Goligoski. Well, the trade has payed off for both teams, but Niskanen says it will be really weird playing in Dallas for the first time since the trade and that he wants to prove to his former team what they're missing.

Niskanen, and the rest of the Pens for that matter, should be prepared to face a team that has won 4 straight games including a great game against the Vancouver Canucks a short time ago. The Stars are in the eighth place in the Western Conference, but are only a few points behind their Pacific division leader. If they reach their division leader, the Phoenix Coyotes, they could jump all the way up to one of the top spots in their Conference. They are a team on a mission, just as the Pens are and the Pens better come out tonight ready to complete their mission of reaching the Rangers and ready to battle against the Stars who will be playing their best to reach their goal.
It's the last stretch of the season and most teams are focused on reaching certain goals and the teams completely out of the playoff spots like to play spoiler, so the Pens will need to stay determined and focused and continue to play a strong team game if they want to catch up to the Rangers.
The Pens will need to fire a good amount of shots on net tonight to beat the Stars' goaltender, Kari Lehtonen, who has been playing great between the pipes as of late. The Pens should stick to their game in tonight's matchup and this can be a very good game.

Trades and games

We know the trade deadline is fast approaching and while it has mostly been quiet so far, yesterday there was a trade involving Hal Gill and he is not coming back to the Pens as some reports were saying could happen. The Nashville Predators landed Gill and a conditional 2013 draft pick from Montreal in exchange for forwards Blake Geoffrion and Robert Slaney, plus a 2012 second-round pick.
Gill will bring some experience and size to the Predator's blueline and he will be an unrestricted free agent if not signed before July 1st this summer.

Oh, and those Detroit Red Wings won another home game, they are keeping that NHL record and adding to it. 22 home wins in a row.

Now, Hockey Weekend Across America is a great one for Pens because it includes a game against the Flyers today in Philadelphia. Philadelphia has not been on such a hot streak lately but they beat the Sabres 7-2 on Thursday and moved ahead of the Pens in the standings.

They have some offensive power, obviously with a 7-2 win, but some have been critical of their defensive work. That might explain why the Flyers acquired defenseman Nicklas Grossman from Dallas in exchange for a second and third round pick. Grossman is expected to make his debut in a Flyers uniform today against the Pens. Now, Daniel Briere left the game Thursday against Buffalo and practiced yesterday with a no-contact jersey so he is expected to be out of the lineup.
While the Flyers are down some players due to injuries, the Pens will have Arron Asham back in the lineup today after missing the past 14 games with concussion-like symptoms.

The Pens are 0-2 against the Flyers this season and they look to change that this afternoon. There is no need to say that this game will be an exciting one. It's a Pens-Flyers game, its already implied. I hope to see the Pens ready to take on the Flyers at full force this afternoon and we hope to get the offense clicking after a low scoring game on Wednesday. While offense is important, our defense needs to be strong as well against the Flyers. Max Talbot scored twice against the Sabres the other night, let's not let him do that against us.
Basically, the Pens will need to play a strong, consistent game and not let the Flyers reel us in for too many penalties. Let's hope this Hockey Weekend Across America goes like last weekend!

The good, the bad and the ugly.

It wasn't that bad of a weekend for the Pens. They beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 Friday night with a 2-goal effort from James Neal who continues to keep scoring the goals that we had hoped he would bring when we signed him. Saturday night, the Pens fell a bit short in a 5-3 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes. Jordan Staal had a 2-goal game against his brother Eric, but it wasn't enough to bring a win. That loss is behind us now though and we can now look forward to hosting the Colorado Avalanche tomorrow night. That's the good and the bad, now here comes the ugly...

In case you were wondering, Coach Bylsma stated today that the status of Crosby has not changed and he reiterated that they are not keeping a secret from the media and they will notify them when they know Sid is playing. When asked what the doctors are looking for in order for Crosby to return, Bylsma stated that he is not educated in that area and does not know what the doctors are looking for. Well, join the club. It seems as if all the pieces are together for a return but apparently, the jigsaw puzzle still has some key pieces missing. It seems like we need another press conference with the doctors to understand what is taking so long after Crosby has been cleared for contact. I really hope it does not come to that though, that press conference was too long and there were too many similes for my taste.
I understand that concussions are extremely delicate injuries to recover from and we have too many examples in the NHL of how they can end a career, but it just seemed like things were looking optimistic for a while. I knew better than to get my hopes up though and I am thankful I did not. I am prepared for Crosby's return to take quite a bit more time. Just in case of course. I am sure my mind could quickly adjust to the idea of Crosby returning in the very near future though.

Pens host Stars tonight.

After a long break of Pens hockey, the Pens will be back at Consol Energy Center tonight hosting the Dallas Stars, the best team in the standings so far in the season.
We have been anxiously awaiting the next Pens game during this long break but we had all of the Crosby rumors of whether or not he would be returning tonight to keep us satisfied. In case you haven't heard, Crosby is not playing tonight or tomorrow night either.
It was also reported that Tyler Kennedy would be a game-time decision for tonight's game, but coach Dan Bylsma said today that Kennedy is out for tonight's game and Eric Tangradi will be in the lineup.
The Dallas Stars have had a great start to this season so far with an 11-3 start and are looking to continue a win streak. The Pens haven't had that bad of a start to the season and tonight's game will be a good test and a great game I'm sure.
Thank goodness Pens hockey is back!!

When will Crosby play?

Most Pens fans have been wondering this week, ok really for months now, when Sidney Crosby would return to the lineup. Suspicion has grown recently because the Pens have had long breaks between games recently and that meant full practices with opportunity for Crosby to take contact. Well, those practices have been taking place and Crosby has taken contact. However, we still don’t know when Crosby will be back in uniform for a game.
Many fans and media outlets have had this Friday’s home game against the Dallas Stars circled on their calendars for Crosby’s likely return. The reasons… first, he’s had those practices with contact and no setbacks or side effects have been reported. For us, that would most likely indicate that he is ready to go. Though, one should not rush recovery from a concussion. Some also believe that this Friday’s date, 11-11-11, would make a great return date and the fact that the game is home is even more of a sign to point to Crosby returning.
While I was thinking Crosby would return this Friday also for some time, now I am not so sure. Every time he has been asked this week, Crosby has been spreading skepticism about playing Friday night. He has been saying he had not planned on it and that he has no date that his is looking at to return. (Also, the significance of the date will not factor into his decision of playing or not he says). The coaches and Pens’ reps have not led anyone to believe of a Friday return either.
That leaves us with two options: Crosby plays Friday night or he doesn’t. I am sure Crosby has not been lying in all those answers he has been giving all week. A concussion is not like other injuries and one never can be sure when one of those symptoms can present itself once again. So, Crosby most likely does not have a date in his mind to return and if he does, he would not share it with the media. A return is likely sooner rather than later though and it is this reason alone that could point to Crosby playing Friday. Surely, no one, not Crosby or the Pens, want anyone looking forward to a designated game that Crosby will play if there is still a chance he will not be able to. Therefore, they may have to dissuade people looking at a certain game on the calendar to not get everyone’s hopes up and have them crashing down. One thing is certain though, in order for Crosby to play Friday he would have to taken off the Injured Reserve list by 5:00p.m. this Friday. So, that date is still circled on everyone’s calendar, but who knows if it will be Crosby’s return or just a date that doesn’t come around too often, 11-11-11.

Pens beat Dallas, move into playoff spot.

The Pens have been winning lately and everyone is hoping that it stays like that. The Pens moved into the final playoff spot in the East with their win, but they have to continue winning to stay in the playoff picture. There is no room for small error. Malkin had a great game, with a goal and an assist. However, it would have been nice to see the Pens shut the Stars out from scoring. Fleury was close, but let in a goal on a power play in the third. The Pens have been improving most facets of their game lately, but I would still like the power play to be a little better. I don't expect to score every power play, but more consistently and more often would be nice.

Dallas and Tampa Bay to have scouts at Thursday's game.

With the trade deadline only weeks away, rumors are heating up. Especially with the Pens doing poorly this season. The Dallas Stars are supposed to have a scout in attendance Thursday night. News of a scout from the Tampa Bay Lightning is heating up the trade rumor that the Pens could be going after Martin St. Louis. I, myself, never look too closely at trade rumors. Talks come and go and trades are mostly unpredictable. I sort of dread this time until the trade deadline. I wonder who will go or come and I get too attached to players. I understand trades are a part of the business, but sometimes it is tough to see some players go.

News from the NHL.

Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils will be out of the lineup for up to four months to have and revcover from surgery.

Former Penguin, Michel Ouellet was not claimed off of waivers by any team by the deadline today and now is heading up to the Canucks due to various injuries the team has sustained.

Dallas Stars sign free agent Mark Parrish.

The Montreal Canadiens lead the way in the number of players on the All-Star Ballot.
The Pens have 5 members on the ballot including, Marc Andre Fleury, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Ryan Whitney, and Sergei Gonchar.