Pens
(14-8-0, 28 points)

Pens - 2, Sens - 6

Ottawa Senators webpage
RECAP (11/19/2009)

The Intelligencer
Sens goals don't impess Bylsma (11/20/2009)

National Post
Phillips waits 800 games for double (11/20/2009)

cbc.ca
Senators sock it to Penguins (11/20/2009)

The Globe and Mail
Senators pick apart Penguins in third period (11/20/2009)
Senators roll past Penguins (11/19/2009)

Ottawa Citizen
Sens soar over flightless Penguins (11/19/2009)
Game file: Senators vs. Penguins (11/19/2009)
Senators' Kovalev to leave for Russia after game agains Pens (11/19/2009)
Faceoff.com
Senators pick apart Penguins in third period (11/20/2009)
Unlikely snipers lead Sens over injury-plagued Pens (11/19/2009)

PENGUINS PLAYLIST -- Kris Letang

(these playlists also appear as a widget on the right-hand side of this blog)!!

Tangers enjoys pretty heavy music for seemingly such a soft-spoken guy!
SONG / ARTIST:

• Wherever I May Roam -- Metallica
• Sad But True -- Metallica
• Around the World -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
• For Whom the Bell Tolls -- Metallica
• Welcome Home (Sanitarium) -- Metallica
• Freak On a Leash -- Korn
• Falling Away from Me -- Korn

What I'm hoping to do eventually is find a widget that I can just load the songs of each player on my blog, so check back soon (I remember seeing / using one before, it's just a matter of finding it again!)!!

I compiled these lists by listening to the "Penguins Playlists" on Penguins HD2 radio station.

Talbot and Gonchar BOTH Return!!!!

The Penguins recalled defenseman Chris Lee (Penguins are reporting that Mark Eaton left practice early yesterday and did not participate this morning due to back spasms and will be a gametime decision after warmups) - if Eaton is out, that would mean ALL SIX of their starting defenseman are out - WOW!! AND (for some GOOD news!) ...

both Talbot and Gonchar will be in tonight's lineup against the Ottawa Senators -- YEESSSSSSSSS!!!

It IS official!!

Pre-Game Notes (Pittsburgh VS Ottawa)

GONCHAR
All over the internet / news yesterday, people were reporting that it's likely that Gonchar will be returning to the lineup tonight against Ottawa (also making it sound more probable then Talbot); I have yet to see anything about this on the Penguins webpage - even a mention. The only thing I have seen is HC Bylsma reporting his hope that either Gonchar or Orpik would be in tonight's lineup, so take it for what it's worth (I would think Gonchar would be more likely than Orpik for a return since Orpik just returned to practice yesterday) - even so, there haven't been any headlines on the Penguins site giving the impression Gonchar would be back, but we'll see tonight (it would be a great surprise / another boost for the Pens with all the injuries of the other players)!

LINE COMBINATIONS (projected)
Fedotenko-Crosby-Malkin
Dupuis-Staal-Guerin
Cooke-Adams-(Talbot)
Bourque-Rupp-Godard

TBD-Guenin
Skoula-Lovejoy
Eaton-Engelland

Fleury

Ottawa Injury / Line Info

• Anton Volchenkov, D (elbow) on IR

Crosby Nominated for SI 2009 Sportsman of the Year

Sports Illustrated writers posted their choice for this year's Sportsman of the Year. Michael Farber chose Sidney Crosby. CLICK HERE TO READ WHY.

My Sportsman: Sidney Crosby

Sports Illustrated will announce the Sportsman of the Year on December 1st.

VIDEO: Sid Carrying the Olympic Torch

For those of you who missed it (or those of you who just want to watch it again), here are two videos of yesterday's trek.

Sid discussing carrying the torch beforehand

UP NEXT: OTTAWA SENATORS
(9-6-3, 21 points)
In net tonight: Pascal Leclaire (projected)
Storyline: Will Talbot and / or Gonchar return to the Pens lineup tonight?

Ottawa Senators webpage
PREVIEW (11/15/2009)

Ottawa Citizen
Faceoff.com
Gonchar might bolster Penguins' battered blue-line (11/18/2009)

Ottawa Sun
Fans don’t faze Sens’ Kovalev (11/18/2009)
Volchenkov not ready to return (11/18/2009)
Sens get ready for some tough competition (11/18/2009)

Check back for updates throughout the day!!

No 'Superstar Treatment' for Car Dealership

It seems that the Penguins organization isn't a fan of the latest A&L Motor Sales commercial featuring Max Talbot.

According to WTAE-TV news, the organization made the dealership pull the TV ad. A&L apparently didn't get permission to use the official Penguins logo in the commercial which features several people wearing Talbot's jersey (and depicts the logo).

"Obviously, they have a little bit more stake in it than we do. So, you know, we have a good relationship with the Penguins and we want to do what we could to keep that relationship going with the Penguins and the organization," said Alex de Francisco, of A&L Motor Sales.

They plan to reshoot the commercial minus the Penguins logo this time.

Sid with the Torch

That was AMAZING!! I hope those of you who wanted to catch it, did! It didn't last very long and you could BARELY see Sid, but it honestly gave me chills (and you could tell he was just so proud)!!

All the media were swarming him and he could barely jog to the next carrier. I did manage to get a few screen caps. They're not the greatest, but they do show Sid clearly (I'm off to find better, more "professional" pictures to post later!)!

Still -- simply AMAZING!!

McKee Out for 2-4 Weeks

Head coach Dan Bylsma reported today that Jay McKee will be out of the lineup for the next 2-4 weeks with an infected finger.

Is each player getting his turn or what (this would be laughable if it wasn't affecting the team so much!)?!

On a few similar notes, Mark Eaton left today's practice early, but no details on that. Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik both returned to practice today (Letang was in the red, "no contact" jersey).

Crosby to Carry Torch Tonight in Nova Scotia (VIEW LIVE FEED!)!!

Today is Day 20 of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay and the torch will be travelling from Truro, Nova Scotia to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Sidney Crosby will be carrying it for about 300 meters at around 6:30 PM this evening (another news article is reporting the time to be around 5:30 PM, est).

And beginning today in Halifax, you can actually view live feed of the entire relay route all the way to Vancouver with the unprecedented "Olympic Torch Cam!" DON'T MISS IT - it begins with Sidney (read more below!)!!

CTV (LIVE torch cam)

On Wednesday at around 5:30 p.m. ET, the technology will capture a 22-year-old man from Cole Harbour, whose ferocious athleticism has made him an icon of the modern NHL -- Sidney Crosby.

As he jogs a few hundred metres with the Torch in Halifax, hundreds are expected to line the streets. But thanks to the Torch Cam video, the cutting-edge technology will allow thousands of fans across the country to cheer him on.

On this Date in Pittsburgh Penguins History

1995
Ken Wregget has his third shutout with the Penguins (stopped 32 of the Washington Capitals shots).

1993
Tom Barrasso recored his 250th career win against the Washington Capitals.

1991
Mark Recchi recorded his first career hat trick against the Quebec Nordiques (Kevin Stevens also scored a hat trick).

That's So MAF (the musings of a Penguins goalie)!

Yesterday afternoon, the Penguins held their annual "Project Bundle Up" shopping day and paired up with a child chosen by the Carnegie Salvation Army. Then later in the evening, the Penguins organization was recognized as the Salvation Army awarded the club with the Project Bundle-Up Award for years of service to the cause during the Salvation Army’s 2009 Allegheny County Doing the Most Good Dinner at the Sheraton Station Square.

Marc-Andre Fleury accepted the award.

“Probably your wives or girlfriends would have been better shoppers, but we had fun,” Fleury joked to the assembled crowd. “Speaking for all the players, it’s a great honor. To receive an award is a good feeling.”

NHL in Russian (“NXL Na Russkom”) Now Part of Penguins HD2 Radio Station

The Penguins organization is pretty savvy at marketing and this is just another example.

They have created a new show, in partnership with the NHL, called "NHL in Russian" that will feature Russian players, news and notes (and will be broadcast entirely in Russian). It will debut on Tuesday, November 24th at 8:30 AM (which is 4:30 PM in Russia).

The first show will include interviews with Evgeni Malkin (of course) and hockey legend Igor Larionov (Alyonka's father). Alyonka will also help out with the show along with Oleg Mejeritski of Sovietsky Sport, but the main host will be Gera (George) Birman who has served as Malkin's interpreter in the past and has been part of the Penguins "front office" for the past 10 years.

“We know there is immense interest in NHL hockey in Russia, and we thought this would be a unique way to take advantage of current technology and create a show devoted to Russian fans,” said Penguins president David Morehouse. “We believe there is a huge Russian fan base that will be interested in staying informed about Russian players and NHL news.”

“The NHL’s Russian-speaking fan base is passionate and growing,” said Gregg Baldinger, director of NHL Radio. “By creating this innovative audio programming, the Penguins are providing greater access for Russian NHL fans to engage with the sport they love.”

Talbot's Return Definite?

The Penguins announced this afternoon that they've re-assigned forward, Mark Letestu to their AHL affiliate in WB / S.

Does this mean Talbot is more certain of his return and is likely to be in the lineup Thursday against the Ottawa Senators? This is a pretty telling sign to me, but we'll just have to wait until Thursday (or until the Pens make another announcement).

Pens
(14-7-0, 28 points)

Pens - 5, Ducks - 2

Anaheim Ducks webpage
RECAP (11/16/2009)

The Orange County Register
Ducks blog
Penguins 5, Ducks 2 (11/16/2009)

Talbot Back for Ottawa?

As quickly as the Penguins lineup has gone down with injuries, it's quickly rebounding with the return of players as well. First, Malkin and now possibly Talbot as early as the Pens next game in Ottawa!!

The Penguins are reporting that Max Talbot is hoping to be back in the lineup when the team travels to Ottawa this Thursday to play the Senators!! YES!!

Talbot will participate in Thursday morning's skate and a decision will be made then, so ...

STAY TUNED!!!

OFFICIAL WORD: Goligoski OUT

The Penguins recently announced that Alex Goligoski will be out of the lineup for 2-3 weeks with a lower body injury.

He is getting an MRI today and according to HC Bylsma, the 2-3 weeks is just an estimate right now.

[UPDATE] Pre-Game Notes (Pittsburgh VS Anaheim)

GOLIGOSKI
Goligoski misses his second practice this morning, so it would appear that he will be out of the lineup for tonight's game (but no official word has been released!); Malkin took his spot at the point on the power play

PENGUINS IN BLUE
the team will be in their alternate blue jerseys for tonight's game

AHL RECALL
the Penguins announced this morning that they recalled defenseman Nate Guenin; does that mean Goligoski is out tonight after missing practice yesterday? I'm sure there will be another announcement sometime soon (so check back)!

[UPDATE] LINE COMBINATIONS (projected)
Fedotenko-Crosby-Malkin
Bourque-Staal-Guerin
Cooke-Letestu-Dupuis
Rupp-Adams-Godard

Skoula-Lovejoy
Eaton-Engelland
Guenin-McKee

Fleury in goal

Anaheim Injury / Lineup Info

• Saku Koivu, F (groin) and Ryan Carter, F (bruised right foot) are day-to-day
• Kyle Calder, F, was recalled from Bakersfield and may get into the Ducks lineup tonight, but it's not certain

UP NEXT: ANAHEIM DUCKS
(6-9-3, 15 points)
In net tonight: Jonas Hiller (projected)
Storyline: Could Goligoski miss tonight's game?

Anaheim Ducks webpage
PREVIEW (11/15/2009)

The Orange County Register
Bad Ducks start testing GM's patience (11/15/2009)
Ducks blog
How they match up: Ducks-Penguins (11/15/2009)

Los Angeles Times
Up next for the Ducks: Monday at Pittsburgh (11/16/2009)

Check back for updates throughout the day!!