On to the Blue Jackets.

Yesterday's game taught opposing teams, once again, why it is never good to make Evgeni Malkin angry. Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson threw a punch at Malkin while he was down and I am sure Roloson will think twice before doing that again. Malkin went on to score some amazing goals. After an exciting game against the Tampa Bay Lightning yesterday with an 8-1 win featuiring a hat trick from Evgeni Malkin though, the Pens will need to focus on this afternoon's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Consol Energy Center. Hopefully, the Pens still have some goals left to score today.

The Blue Jackets have no chance of making the playoffs this spring and are making quite the run at finishing dead last in the NHL. They are well on their way to accomplishing that feat. With a dismal season, that started out with 8 winless games, they have been active lately in the trade market making some trades and their best player this season, who is having one of his worst seasons, Rick Nash, has been a trade deadline storyline for a good bit of time lately.
With an 18-36-7 record and no chance at making the playoffs, that makes the Blue Jackets a desperate team. After playing yesterday, the Pens are going to need to be focused and prepared to play an exciting game like they accomplished yesterday. They need to take the Blue Jackets seriously and complete another win today.
Goalie Brad Thiessen is starting in his first NHL game this afternoon as it has been reported that back-up Brent Johnson "tweaked" something in practice on Thursday. Thiessen, 25, has been a reliable goalie this season in the AHL for the Baby Pens, posting a 20-14-2 record and 2.88 goals-against average in 37 games. Just alst season the goalie had a career year for the Baby Pens, winning the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s top goaltender and teaming with partner John Curry to capture the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award as the goaltending duo to allow the fewest goals in the AHL. We will see how he handles his first NHL game this afternoon. The Pens need to be sure to play a tight game in front of him and be a tough team to play against like they have been doing as of late.

With the trouble Brent Johnson has had this season, some are saying this could be the end for him with the Pens. Jack Johnson will make his Blue Jackets debut today against the Pens. Also, if the rumors and anticipation of Rick Nash are true, this could be his last game with the Blue Jackets this season.
This trade deadline has featured resignings of some players that were expected to be traded, with players like Ales Hemsky and Tuomo Ruutu, which shows that the market just is not that great and prices are high for others. Still, we have a little over 24 hours to see what happens in this year's trade deadline.

Status of both Ruutu and Cole unknown.

Tuomo Ruutu and Erik Cole were both injured in Game 1 last night. Ruutu did not return and it is believed that he could be held off the ice for a few days with a groin injury. Cole was hurt after a collision with Matt Cooke, and what Paul Maurice, the coach of the Hurricanes, described as a "knee-on-knee" hit after the game. Cole returned to the game, but was expected to be reevaluated today. Cole is expected to be back on the ice Wednesday though.

Pens win 3-2, lead series 1-0.

The Pens played a strong first period in which they scored two quick goals and Fleury made some great saves to jump start a 3-2 win over the Canes. Boucher and Satan were goal scorers for the Pens last night, making them their first of the playoffs, and not the players the Canes were worrying about before this series started. However, it has been said so many times how important secondary scoring is in the playoffs. Without secondary scoring last night, who knows what the outcome may have been.

Marc Andre Fleury was spectacular in goal last night, quieting all those critics of his lately, as he made some spectacular saves. He kept the Pens in the game and closed the door late in the game to keep the Canes from tying it up.

Two Carolina Hurricanes players were hurt during the game: Erik Cole and Tuomu Ruutu. Ruutu never returned, but Cole was able to finish.