Much needed break comes for Pens.

Just as the Pens are getting a break from the schedule, I took a small break from posting because of a busy schedule recently and I apologize. So here is the much anticipated next post:

After a pretty tough schedule for the Penguins for the month of October, they are coming to a stretch where they have some time off between games. Our next game is not until Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. This will give the Pens a chance to have some practices where they can focus on all facets of the game and work out any problems they may have noticed during the busy month of October.

Sidney Crosby will have a chance to get in some good practices and hopefully get some contact to see whether or not he is ready for some game action. However, with this time off and more chance for practices, we know that Crosby will be returning soon, hopefully. I am predicting a return shortly!

The Pens also will have a chance to reflect on their 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. The game was a bit back and forth in the goal-scoring, but the Pens could not pull off a tying goal and the loss ended their win streak at 5. They'll have plenty of time to analyze this loss and others and work on areas that are struggling perhaps, maybe 5-on-5 play. Their penalty-killing was not as strong as it has been all season Saturday night either. There is always room for improvement and the Pens who are exiting the first month of the season with the most games played and an 8-3-2 record, this time will give a pretty good team the chance to get even better and some injuries to heal.

Can't wait for Thursday!

Fleury shuts out Islanders.

Marc Andre Fleury earned his first shutout of the season and 20th of his career Tuesday night against the New York Islanders. Fleury was strong in net as the Pens completed their 3-0 win against the Islanders. Evgeni Malkin returned to game action last night and appears to be ready to go.

Now, I didn't let a thought of the possible shut out cross my mind and of course, I did not dare speak of the possibility out loud either. I was relieved when those last minutes wound down and the Islanders were unable to score. Great job Fleury. The Pens will have a chance to repeat another win against the Islanders tomorrow night as the Pens host the Islanders at Consol Energy Center.

Pens vs. Islanders tonight.

After a few wins at home, the Pens are on the road again in New York for tonight's game against the New York Islanders.
Coming off of victories over the Montreal Canadiens and the New Jersey Devils, the Pens are looking to get the next win on the road tonight.
The Pens also could have Evgeni Malkin in the lineup tonight, he is a game time decision for tonight's game. It would be wonderful if Malkin were ready to play tonight. Though, we have been doing pretty well without the forward and also without Captain Sidney Crosby. The Pens have maintained a great Penalty-kill that began last year and have been receiving some goal-scoring from James Neal and Jordan Staal had a two-goal effort Saturday night against the Devils. The Pens are playing strong without some of our key players and I can not wait for the entire team to be healthy.

Tonight's game against the Islanders will probably not look like the debacle these two teams had last season mainly because the two teams played against each other after that game last season and settled any lingering problems then. I don't need to detail the way the game last season played out or reminisce on any of the events or even the score, it's a game many of us will never forget.

It's a new season and a new season series against the Islanders and the Pens are just looking for a win.

Crosby not far from returning.

Crosby was cleared for contact a little while ago and it was exciting news for all us Pens fans because we know that that is one step closer to being ready for some game action. Though, with the Pens busy schedule, the captain has not been able to experience much contact since he was cleared because most of the practices have been game-day skates. I would like to think that when our schedule slows down a bit and the Pens are home more, the contact will be coming steadily and practice will become the routine practices and the captain will return soon.
I am not one to jinx anything dealing with the Pens. I don't make predictions on outocmes of Pens games or stats simply because I would think I jinxed the team. I'm the type of person that if a goalie hasn't let a goal in and it's the third period, I don't even dare think about a shutout and as the third period winds down, if someone I am with watching the game mutters anything about a shutout, I give them a glare. I just don't want to take any chances. That being said, I am hesitant to say anything, but I have a feeling Sid will be back soon. Not much of a prediction, I realize that, but I am just anticipating his return and hopefully his gradual process of being the same player he was when he was taken out last January.
When asked about an upcoming break in November from so many steady games and the chance at more practices, Sidney said, "I'm anxious for that for sure but, that being said, there needs to be times and situations and we haven't gotten a lot of those lately with our schedule," Crosby said. "As things go on, we'll get more and more time and hopefully get a better feel for where I'm at as far as contact is concerned." -thn.com

He's not the only one who's anxious.

Pens host Montreal Canadiens tonight.

Coming off of a win against the Minnesota Wild, the Pens are facing the Canadiens at home tonight. After a few losses in a row, the Pens hope to continue their winning streak they started Tuesday night. James Neal got his 6th goal of the season Tuesday night and continues his great play while we are down quite a few members.

However, we are getting a member of the Pens back for tonight's game... Brooks Orpik is expected to play tonight for the first time this season. Kris Letang will be out again, serving the second and last game of his suspension. It is nice to see some of our injured players beginning to come back to the lineup because when we have a healthy team, that's a scary team to play against.

Pens vs. Winnipeg Jets tonight.

After a couple tough losses to Washington and Buffalo, the Pens are looking to get back on track tonight against the Winnipeg Jets. The Pens will have to do so again without Evgeni Malkin who is still experiencing some soreness and did not even come along on the road trip and neither did Sidney Crosby. The Pens will have to pull off a win without the two forwards and will again rely on scoring from other players. James Neal seems to be filling that role quite well. After a disappointing end of last season with the Pens after he was traded, I am thrilled to see Neal coming into his own with the Pens and really finding his scoring touch. I can not wait for a full, healthy lineup for the Pens to be ready, but until then, I will be satisfied with continuing strong play on special teams and a bit of an improvement 5-on-5 as well as scoring from unexpected sources and scoring from players who were brought here to score some goals.

The Jets are having a tough time in their season back in Winnipeg as they have not won a game yet. They will be looking for their first win tonight against the Pens.

A day full of good news.

Well, a 3-0-1 record isn't a bad way to start a season and neither is hearing the news that Sidney Crosby has been cleared for contact. Just about a week and a half into the season, we get the news we have been waiting for. It's news we have been expecting to hear for a little while and today it finally came.
Another piece of information the Pens leaked today was that Chris Kunitz signed a two-year contract extension. Good to see Kunitz sign and stick around as well.
Malkin is a game time decision tonight for the game tonight against the Washington Capitals and a lot of reports are coming out that it is likely Malkin will be playing, but we will have to wait and see.

Tonight's game may be a heated battle against the Washington Capitals, but both teams are participating in a fundraiser for the tragedy that struck the Lokomotiv team this past summer.

A day of good news from the Pens will hopefully continue with great news tonight! Let's go Pens!