Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Yet Another Penguins Roster Mystery

This evening the Penguins announced that they have recalled Jeff Taffe and Tim Wallace from WB / S Baby Pens.

Interesting.

And what the hell does this exactly mean? They just got done re-assigning Janne Pesonen back down to the AHL affiliate (and who the hell is Tim Wallace?!)! So I guess this could mean that Mike Zigomanis is not likely to be in the lineup tomorrow against the NJ Devils. And by only re-assigning Pesonen (not Minard) and recalling two additional players, Pittsburgh has now taken care of all available spots on the roster (remember, there was still an open spot left when Paul Bissonnette was re-assigned). Could they possibly be holding "try-outs" for that open spot by recalling all of these players using the setback of all of the injuries to their advantage? One can only wonder what their plan is.

As for Wallace, I did a little research and here's what I found (actually, he's already posted on the Penguins team roster). He's an American-born player from Anchorage, Alaska who played at the University of Notre Dame where he earned the the school's all-time "iron man" title by not missing a game in all four years with the Fighting Irish (153 total games). He also won a gold medal at the 2000 Under-18 World Championships. Sounds pretty impressive to me; let's hope it translates onto the ice!

And how does Wallace feel about it?
"Chills," he said. "It’s definitely what I’ve been trying to do since I was a little kid. To hear it, it’s a great feeling."

Pesonen Re-Assigned [Again]

The Penguins announced today that they have re-assigned forward Janne Pesonen back to their AHL affiliate the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Baby Pens.

This was Pesonen's second call-up with a total of six NHL games under his belt.

This can only mean one thing -- Mike Zigomanis must be ready to return to the lineup soon (most logically tomorrow for the Pens game against the New Jersey Devils) and it's not a moment too soon since we have gone downhill with face-off wins since his absence. According to the Penguins Report yesterday, Therrien that Zigomanis was "closer to getting back in the lineup."

Another One Bites the Dust (Pens Defense Bit by the Injury Bug)!


The Pittsburgh Penguins recently announced that Hal Gill will be out of the lineup for two to four weeks recovering from a shoulder injury that he suffered in the third period against the Ottawa Senators last Saturday.

Gill initially told reporters that it was probably just bruised; however, he was evaluated by team physicians who discovered there was more damage than originally thought.

This stinks -- all these injuries (and they're already low on defenseman)!! At least they're "disclosing" injuries more freely than before!! I did like what I saw from Lovejoy last night though -- he appears to be able to at least hang with the "big boys." I'm not surprised though because he did well during pre-season. The Pens are lucky when it comes to depth (all the way down to their minor league)!!

And you have to think, we're doing well despite all of these setbacks; yes - we've had some pretty disappointing losses (especially blowing a few leads), but looking at the whole picture, we're doing well. Just think what it will be like when Whitney and [if] Gonchar return!

ON A BRIGHTER NOTE: Rob Rossi is reporting that Ryan Whitney could be back in the lineup as early as next week

Malkin and Crosby More than Dynamic Duo

Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby are not only the one-two punch of the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they are now also #1 (Malkin) and #2 (Crosby) league leaders in points as of last night.

Malkin
Goals: 11
Assists: 34
Points: 45

Crosby
Goals: 13
Assists: 28
Points: 41

Talbot Video Tribute

PensTV has a new video highlighting Max Talbot's career as a Pittsburgh Penguin. The video site also has a cool "retro" video for Kris Letang (TANG commercial).

Crosby Now Leader Among Forwards (Malkin Making Headway Too)!

Have you voted for the 2009 NHL All-Star game lately? I'm sure you have because it looks like we, as Penguins Nation, have pulled together once again to get behind our team.

Currently Sidney Crosby is in the lead for forwards with 560,000+ votes (which appears to be about 40,000+ votes ahead of the nearest Montreal Canadien)!!!

Malkin is also edging up slowly but surely with 49,000+ votes (which is about 2,000+ votes to pass the nearest Montreal Canadien and about 3,000 to pass all three of the Canadiens above him to secure 2nd behind Sidney).

GOOD JOB Pens Nation -- keep it up!!!

CONTINUE TO VOTE AND HAVE YOUR HOCKEY VOICE HEARD!!!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Pens Lose to Buffalo


Penguins - 3, Sabres - 4

Derek Roy

Ruslan Fedotenko

Thomas Vanek


(Sabres win 4-3)
SHOTS ON GOAL: Pittsburgh - 8, Buffalo - 9
  • 6:13 - BUFFALO GOAL - Thoms Vanek; assisted by Jason Pominville and Jochen Hecht
(game tied at 3)
SHOTS ON GOAL: Pittsburgh - 13, Buffalo - 11
  • 1:31 - PITTSBURGH GOAL (PP)!! Kris Letang (first of the season in regulation); assisted by Sidney Crosby
  • 6:40 - BUFFALO GOAL - Ales Kotalik; assisted by Adam Mair and Maxim Afinogenov
  • 14:49 - BUFFALO GOAL - Daniel Paille; assisted by Paul Gaustad and Clark MacArthur

(Pens lead 2-1)
SHOTS ON GOAL: Pittsburgh - 11, Buffalo - 9

  • 9:37 - PITTSBURGH GOAL! Ruslan Fedotenko; assisted by Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora
  • 11:07 - BUFFALO GOAL - Derek Roy; unassisted
  • 15:15 - PITTSBURGH GOAL! Ruslan Fedotenko; assisted by Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora

Wednesday, December 10th @ 7:00 PM (NJ Devils)

Pre-Game News

*FREE*
LIVE STREAM of tonight's game at ATDHE.net

MARC-ANDRE FLEURY
Fleury practiced with the rest of the team today (full-team practice) for the first time since recovering from an undisclosed injury he suffered during the game against the Buffalo Sabres on November 15th.

HAL GILL
Gill did not participate in practice today and will not be in tonight's lineup (his injury is undisclosed, but several news sources have reported it is his right shoulder).

BEN LOVEJOY
Lovejoy was called up from the Baby Pens and practiced alongside Rob Scuderi (this is quite surprising; however, the coaching staff may not want to disrupt any of the other defensive pairings).

MIKE ZIGOMANIS
Zigomanis also did not practice today but was on the ice beforehand working with Mike Kadar, the Penguins strength and conditioning coach.

BENCHMARKS PLAYERS ARE CLOSELY APPROACHING:

  • Rob Scuderi - short two penalty minutes for a total of 100 career penalty minutes
  • Pascal Dupuis - seven assists away from 100 career assists
  • Philippe Boucher - nine goals away from 100 career goals*
  • Evgeni Malkin - nine goals away from 100 career goals*

*both Boucher and Malkin are the same number of goals away from reaching 100 career goals (I'm thinking Malkin will reach this benchmark first)

Staal Reaches Benchmark


Although the Penguins lost last Saturday's game against the Ottawa Senators, Jordan Staal could still celebrate his reaching a career benchmark of scoring his 50th NHL goal. This is just one of the benefits of the recent streak he has been on since overcoming his dry spell.

Another larger benefit may be a new contract with Pittsburgh. Speculation is that preliminary talks have started up with his representatives and the Penguins organization. According to Pierre LeBrun from ESPN.com, word is that the talks have revolved around a short-term deal that would ultimately fit under the Penguins salary cap and that talks should begin again at the beginning of 2009.

Practice Update - Fleury / Whitney

This week, Marc-Andre Fleury and Ryan Whitney are both expected to return to "full-contact practices."

However, when asked, head coach Michel Therrien said he "didn't know" about either of the player's status.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Penguins Recall Ben Lovejoy

[UPDATE] The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported this morning that defenseman Hal Gill had an icebag on his right shoulder after the game.

He said it was "probably just bruised" on a third-period hit by Ottawa center
Jesse Winchester.

Also from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
Lovejoy was summoned a day after defensemen Hal Gill injured his right shoulder
during a 3-2 loss in Ottawa. Gill said yesterday he did not believe his injury to be serious, and the Penguins made no mention of it when announcing that Lovejoy would be joining them.

Surprising news - the Penguins announce that they've recalled defenseman Ben Lovejoy from their AHL affiliate Wilke-Barre / Scranton Baby Pens!

John and I were trying to recall which defenseman got hurt then I remember Hal Gill appearing slow to get up and skating like he was hurt (I'm not quite sure, but I think it was towards the end of the game).

The Penguins are really falling victim to so many injuries, but it's been amazing how they've been able to keep it all together and how great the AHL players they've called up have been playing! It'll only make the team that much more solid!

AND DON'T FORGET -- Ben Lovejoy has an awesome blog that he updates pretty frequently!!

Penguins Pics

TSCSF reader, Lexie, was nice enough to share a few of her pictures with us! A few are from a recent practice at Southpointe (at the IceoPlex) and a few from are from the game against the New Jersey Devils on November 29th.

THANKS A BUNCH, Lexie (these are really great pictures)!!




































Saturday, December 6, 2008

VOTE Crosby for BRIDGESTONE Favorite Captain (2000's)

Be sure to go over to the NHL.com's BRIDGESTONE Favorite Captains to vote for Sidney Crosby who is currently behind Niklas Lidstrom for first place by 15% --

Let's join together to vote our captain as the Greatest Captain of the 2000's!! VOTING ENDS TOMORROW - Sunday, December 7th!!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE
CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS

Thanks again to Molly for the "heads-up!"

Penguins Fall Short and Lose to the Sens


Penguins - 2, Senators - 3


Jason Spezza

Daniel Alfredsson

Dany Heatley

(Senators win 3-2)
SHOTS ON GOAL: Pittsburgh - 5, Ottawa - 12
  • 9:12 - PITTSBURGH GOAL!! Evgeni Malkin; assisted by Jordan Staal
(Senators lead 3-1)
SHOTS ON GOAL: Pittsburgh - 8, Ottawa - 7
  • 4:01 - OTTAWA GOAL - Jason Spezza; unassisted
  • 8:52 - OTTAWA GOAL - Jason Spezza; assisted by Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson
  • 16:17 - PITTSBURGH GOAL (PP)!! Jordan Staal; assisted by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin
  • 19:21 - OTTAWA GOAL - Jason Spezza; assisted by Filip Kuba and Dany Heatley

(Scoreless game)
SHOTS ON GOAL: Pittsburgh - 6, Ottawa - 12

  • no goals scored

Monday, December 8th @ 7:30 PM (Buffalo Sabres)

Watch Penguins vs. Senators Online!

*FREE*
LIVE STREAM OF THIS AFTERNOON'S GAME

Penguins Player Baskets Charity Auction

From December 5th until Friday, December 19th, holiday baskets "filled with items unique to each player's interests, favorite things, hobbies [and/] or hometown" will be up for auction on the NHL Auctions site. Each basket will be different but will have a monetary value of at least $75.00 and will include a Penguins pennat signed by the player. All proceeds will benefit The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh.

For more information, VISIT THE PENGUINS WEBPAGE or to bid on a players basket, VISIT THE NHL AUCTION SITE.

[Malkin's basket is pictured in this post; TO VIEW ALL THE PLAYERS BASKETS, CLICK HERE!]

Friday, December 5, 2008

Kennedy OUT Four - Six Weeks!

YIKES!!

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that Tyler Kennedy is expected to miss four to six weeks with a sprained knee (can you believe they actually disclosed the injury?!!!)!

As previously posted, Kennedy returned to Pittsburgh yesterday; he was evaluated by a team physician this morning and has been placed on IR (injured reserve) alongside Philippe Boucher.

Bittersweet Game for Sykora

Last night Petr Sykora scored his 100th power-play goal in the first minutes of the second period; however, this career milestone was also overshadowed by another "record" -- last night's game was the 43rd game in which he scored 2 goals and fell short of getting the first hat-trick of his NHL career.

At this point, everyone is just pulling for him and Malkin couldn't help him out anymore than he already has during these 2-goal games! But like Sykora said after his last 2-goal game, he has a beautiful son and it puts everything back into perspective!!

And the guy couldn't be happier!

TIOPS "Buzz"

Here's the latest speculation from TIOPS:
  • Marc Andre Fleury will return next week according to TIOPS source.

  • Source tells TIOPS that "a likely target date for Whitney's return" could be December 18th against Atlanta or the 20th against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

New "A Great Day for Hockey" Commercial

The Penguins have a new "A Great Day for Hockey" video up on PensTV and here's their awesome reason why (THANKS to TSCSF reader, Molly, for the "heads-up"):

As the season moves forward, there are always more reasons why it is A Great Day For Hockey!