Game 1 tonight.

Finally, playoff hockey gets underway tonight. The Pens will be taking on the Flyers at Consol Energy Center at 7:30 tonight.
Daniel Briere and Nicklas Grossman will be in for the Flyers tonight after missing some time due to injuries.
Ben Lovejoy may return to the lineup for the Pens tonight. Matt Niskanen was not in practice today.

The Pens are facing an opponent that is pretty close in range for statistics in some facets of the game with the Flyers. Some may even say that the two teams are similar in a lot of ways. Not to mention the fact that the two teams have quite a volatile relationship and this is quite a playoff series. However, I don't care if we were opening the playoffs against the Florida Panthers; playoff hockey is taking the game to the next level and every mistake could be the one that leads to the end of a season. Every goal or amazing play could be the one to lead a team to victory. For instance, look at the fight former Pens' player Max Talbot had with Daniel Carcillo of the Flyers in the series against the Flyers a couple of years ago. Yes, it got the fans more into the game, but while it was happening, we did not know what would result from it. That fight is now credited for pumping up the fans and players and the Pens never looked back.
Therefore, the Pens need to be strong in every aspect of the game and not allow the Flyers' antics to result in taking stupid penalties. Special teams need to be strong. During the season, a team can win a lot of games and still not have the best special teams at times. Though, in the playoffs, special teams play a much larger role in the way a series unfolds. We know all too well with our dismal power play and penalty kill from last season's first round exit courtesy of the Tampa Bay Lightning. We have had good numbers on special teams during the season and the Pens need to be sure to remain strong in special team play.
The Pens know what is at stake and are focused and determined to reach their goal of making it all the way, to raise Lord Stanley's Cup once again. Now all they have to do is play a strong game, stay focused and show the Flyers who the better team is.

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 win Home Opener

The Pens opened the Consol Energy Center with a win last night against the Florida Panthers. The Pens pulled off a 4-2 win last night at home without Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. Not that that should surprise anyone. Especially with our wonderful line of Matt Cooke, Joe Vitale, and Pascal Dupuis. That was meant to be read with a tone of sarcasm, because some might not expect that line to be as lethal as they have been, but they have been fantastic. Last night's game was no exception either. They have been chipping in offensively, Matt Cooke has 3 goals in 4 games, and work hard every shift they are out there. With key players out of the lineup, it's great to see the rest of the team click and make our great team that much stronger.

Matt Cooke is not only adding goals to the Pens, he is adding a new perspective to his game. That would be less hitting, or at least the kind that would get him suspended, which for Matt Cooke could be any hit he delivers since he has earned a reputation for the suspensions he receives for hits. Last night Matt Cooke got his first penalty of the season and it was for interference. He knows he hurt the Pens last season with a hit that caused him to have a 17 game suspension including all 7 games against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. The Pens struggled and who knows what might have been if Cooke had been able to pitch in during that first round elimination. Now, Cooke has a new philosophy and it seems to be working well. I commend Matt Cooke on the changes he has made to his game and look forward to seeing the changes continue the rest of the season.

Also, last night, Marc Andre Fleury was trying to get that empty net goal and I was rooting for him to get it just as much as he wanted it. It would be great to see Fleury get an empty-net goal and I loved seeing him trying last night because it is a tad funny to watch and see the team trying to help him. I hope he can achieve that goal this season and I'd love to see that huge grin of his when it does happen.

The Pens play host to the Washington Capitals tomorrow night and a question most are wondering is if Evgeni Malkin will be in the lineup. We'll see.

Pens Home Opener Tonight

After watching so many opening ceremonies during their Western Canada trip, the Pens will actually be able to take part in their own home opener ceremonies. There's nothing quite like having that first home game and hearing the excitement of the home crowd.
The Pens play host to the Florida Panthers tonight. Remember, if you are attending the game, you are asked to be in your seats by 7:20!

The season started days ago, but now there will be hockey in the city of Pittsburgh and now that they're home, the season truly gets underway for the Pens.

Pens conclude season-opening road trip.

The Pens have concluded their season-opening road trip and earned 5 out of a possible 6 points. That's not too bad and I will take it. Yes, it would have been nice to see the Pens win in the shootout last night against the Oilers, but they got a point. Last night, the Pens were without Evgeni Malkin. He left the game against Calgary the night before early and sat out last night's game.
Brent Johnson looked sharp most of the game in net and then stumbled a bit in the shootout, but he played better than most back-up goalies out there.
The Pens had some chances on the power play last night that just came up short and could have been a difference maker in the game, including a 5-minute major where the Pens failed to capitalize on.

However, I am still pleased with many things from this road trip and can not wait for the Pens to be back home and have their home opener tomorrow night against the Florida Panthers. It will finally be a hockey night IN Pittsburgh tomorrow.




Short and sweet blog post, just what my best friend and blog reader asked for!

Pens lose back to back games.

The Penguins played two games this weekend against teams that are fighting for a better position or a spot at all in the Eastern Conference for the playoffs. The Pens ended up losing both of them. The Pens were in the same boat, trying to climb up in position and even trying to claim a guaranteed playoff spot. However, the Pens lost to the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers this weekend. The Pens outplayed both teams for a good amount of each game, taking over in shots and having some intensity, but it was not enough to win and the Pens remain at 93 points and 6th place for right now. The Pens will play the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow night and they will once again be trying to claim a guaranteed playoff spot with a victory. The Pens will need to refocus and come out strong once again, and hopefully they let nothing stand in their way of getting a victory tomorrow night.

Pens beat Panthers in shootout.

The Pens put together another 60-minute performance but still had to go into a shootout, thanks to Vokoun, the Panthers goalie who was faced with 50 shots last night from the Pens. Both goalies, Fleury and Vokoun, were strong last night, but Fleury proved to be the stronger in the shootout as he only had to face two shooters and successfully stopped them both. Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin scored for the Penguins in the shootout to ensure the Pens the second point. The Pens were down 3-1 but came back in the third to tie it and most of the Pens were confident they could do so. The locker room was calm before the third period because the Pens knew that if they continued playing a strong game and kept the Panthers in our end, we had a chance of winning.

Pens take on Panthers tonight.

After a successful road trip for the Pens, they don't get a break. The Pens go into tonight's game against the Panthers with the same amount as points as the Panthers and still battling for a playoff spot in a tight race. Therefore, this makes tonight another important game. It was less than a week ago that the Pens defeated the Panthers 4-1 and the game was one of the best 60-minute performances the Pens have put together. The Pens must execute the same kind of play tonight to get a win. The Panthers have a great record when leading after 2 periods, a 24-1-1 record for that matter, so it would be great if the Pens get a lead and keep it.

Battle for two important points tonight.

The Florida Panthers, the Pens' opponent for tonight's game, currently sit two points and one spot ahead of us in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers are in 6th place, while the Pens are tied for 7th. The Pens would love to claim two points tonight and move into a tie with the Panthers. However, the Panthers would love to claim the two points and make the Pens recent move up the standings start descending down again. This is an important game tonight and also because we will see what the expected first line of Crosby along with Kunitz and Guerin can do. This should be an exciting game and it is an important one.

Crosby in, Gonchar out tonight.

Sidney Crosby will be back in uniform tonight to take on the Florida Panthers. Sergei Gonchar will not be playing tonight because he is back in Pittsburgh to be with his wife who is expected to have their second child. Alex Goligoski has been called up to take Gonchar's place in the lineup.

Former Pen Noah Welch will donate brain to concussion research.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=250661

That's right, you heard correctly. Former Penguins player, Noah Welch will donate his brain after his death to the new Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, a joint program between the Boston University School of Medicine and Sports Legacy Institute. The reason is for concussion studies. Noah Welch is not alone, there are 16 other athletes who will also take part. Welch, however is the only NHLer to take part. The studies are meant to inform people that concussions should not be handled lightly, possibly find ways of preventing concussions as well as discovering many other things in regards to side effects and so on.

Isn't that nice of your former Pens player to give his brain to research?