Pens 3, Rangers 1

Recap - The Pens put the Rangers away yesterday afternoon at Mellon Arena by the score of 3-1. Pens goals were scored by Hossa, Malkin and Talbot. Marc Andre Fleury stopped 26 of 27 shots to continue his phenomenal play since returning from the ankle injury.

The win put Pittsburgh back on top of the Eastern conference with three games remaining, one point ahead of the Canadiens. The Pens have nearly wrapped up first in the Atlantic. They have a 6 point lead over the Devils but New Jersey has a game in hand. If Pittsburgh earns three points or the Devils lose 3 points in any of the remaining games then the Pens will wrap up first place in the division.

Analysis - Hossa and Crosby are playing very well together. They looked like they were started to get used to each other's game throughout yesterday's contest. Crosby assisted on Hossa's goal along with Dupuis. Hossa did not seem to have any adverse effects from the hit to the back of the head. He was solid on his skates and made a number of great plays.

Wathcing this team come together the way it has since Thanksgiving has been nothing short of remarkable. They are definately ready for playoff hockey as evidenced by yesterday's physically solid play against the Rangers. This is the type of game they will have to play if they are going to go deep into the playoffs.

Next Up - Pittsburgh visits the Rangers tonight at Madison Square Garden (Versus, WXDX)

Pens 3, Islanders 1

Recap - Sidney Crosby returns to the line up for the first time in 7games. Marian Hossa plays his first game on a line with Sid. This was supposed to be the start of something very special...and indeed it was: Jarkko Ruutu scores the game winning goal and adds 2 assists and Georges Laraque scores a breakaway goal to seal the vistory. Sometimes things are very strange in the world that is the NHL.

The Pens first goal was scored by Malkin.

It was a tremendously competitive game. The hitting was fierce, the intensity high and the fights were numerous. I've been really impressed with the Islanders the past few games. They have no chance of making the playoffs but they really are playing as if they are fighting for a spot. Hats off to Ted Nolan for instilling the belief that they can win.

Ruutu was a pain in the Islander ass for the entire game. He gets my vote for player of the game. Not only did he score a goal and 2 assists, for a career high 3 points, he drew penalties, threw down the gloves, made a couple of huge hits and was generally a nuisance for the opposition. This is the reason that he is a fan favorite in this town!

Pittsburgh remains in first place in the Atlantic and is also, for the time being, first in the Eastern Conference. New Jersey lost last night so the Pens have a very comfortable 6 point lead over the Devils. If I had to pick a first round matchup right now I would have to say it will be the Flyers.

Hope everyone got their playoff tickets this morning. The first two games went on sale at 10am EDT and sold out within minutes. I was fortunate enough to secure 4 seats in section C1, row G for the second home game and have put 2 of them up on eBay. See listing here if interested:

Go to eBay

Next up - Sunday vs. NY Rangers at Mellon Arena. NBC 12:30pm

Pens vs. Islanders Preview

The Islanders visit the Igloo tonight at 7:30. The Pens lead the season series 4 to 3 with all 7 games, with the exception of the most recent a 4-1 loss, begin very competitive. I do not expect that fact to change tonight but I do think that Pittsburgh will take the Islanders more seriously this time. Even though New York has no chance of making the playoffs, Ted Nolan has this team believing that the games they still have remaining are worth winning, if for nothing more than to play spoilers.

Sidney Crosby is expected to be back in the line up after missing the last 7 games with a recurrence of the ankle injury. Sid and Marian Hossa will be on the same line for the first time so anticipation of this is at a very high level. Expect Sid and Hossa to be a lethal combination throughout the remaining games and playoffs. This should force opposing teams to load up the best defensemen against the top line and allow the Malkin/Malone/Sykora line to have a considerable amount of offensive freedom since they will not have the top tier defense playing against them.

Pens 2, Devils 0...Pens Clinch Playoff Berth!

Recap - With a 2-0 win over the New Jersey Devils last night at the Prucential Center in New Jersey, the Pittsburgh Penguins have insured themselves a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive year. Pens goals were scored by Malone and Hossa put the nail in the coffin with an empty netter in the last minute of the third. Marc Andre fleury was spectacular in goal, posting his fourth shutout of the season. Fleury stopped all 31 shots he faced and made several key saves to preserve the shutout.

Analysis - the Pens beat the Devils at their own game last night. They played solid defense, keeping the Devils away from the front of the net, blocking shots, clogging up the neutral zone and finishing their checks.

The win gave the Pens a four point lead over the Devils in the Atlantic. This puts the playoff seeding in their own hands. If they win, they will be at least a two seed. If they lose they will not. They could secure the one seed in the conference but will have to rely on Montreal to lose a couple of games, and with the way the Canadiens have been playing that does not seem likely. It's looking more and more likely as each game goes by that the Pens first round matchup is going to be the hated Flyers. Since the last two games of the season are against Philadelphia it is possible that the two teams will play each other for as many as nine consecutive games. More on the Pens/Flyers playoff matchup will come at a later date if it looks any more likely that this will occur.

Injury Update - Sidney Crosby continues to participate in full practices with the team. He should be back in the line up in the next game or two. Rob Scuderi returned to the line up last night after missing the past three weeks due to a severely broken finger.

Pens 7, Flyers 1

Recap - The Pens dominated the Flyers this afternoon at the Igloo, 7-2. Pittsburgh goals by Malkin(2), Sykora(2), Kennedy, Gill and Hossa with his first in a Penguins uniform. Both Malkin and Sykora added 2 assists to their point totals for 4 each. This brings Malkin within 2 of Alex Ovechkin's NHL lead. Marc Andre Fleury had another great game stopping 24 of 25. The Pens chased Philadelphia's Marty Biron out of goal when they tallied their third of the game four minutes into the second.
Injury Update - Marian Hossa returned to the line-up today and tallied a goal. Crosby was kept out of the game with his sore ankle and is projected to return next Sunday when the Devils visit Pittsburgh.

My Analysis - All in all a very dominant game from the Pens. Philly is still chasing a playoff spot and may have had a very bad hangover after losing to the Bruins in overtime yesterday. This was not a typical performance from the Flyers. Not a whole lot of hits, and no momentum producing shifts. It actually looked as if they had given up on the season and were ready to hit the golf course a bit early.

Pittsburgh still has 2 games left with Philly and, providing they don't hang up the skates entirely, could be very interesting as they are the last two games of the season. I'm very curious to see if they will bounce back from the past two devestating losses and make an effort at securing a playoff spot.

Pens vs. Flyers Today

The Flyers travel to the 'Burgh to take on the Pens at noon on NBC today.

Hossa is in for the game, Crosby is out due to that sore ankle.

Pens 7, Sabres 3

Recap - The Pens trounced the lifeless Sabres last night at Mellon Arena, 7-3. Pens goals by Sykora, Kennedy, Taffe, Malkin, Minard (first NHL goal!), Letang and Gonchar. Pittsburgh was 3 of 6 on power play opportunities after going 0 for the last 18 over the last four games.

Buffalo was flat and lifeless from the opening faceoff. Their season is over and they played as if they were already playing the final game. A lack of offense and several inexperienced defensemen was the primary reason for the downfall last night. The Pens recognized this fact early in the game and took advantage, scoring the first 4 goals of the game before Buffalo managed to get 3 past Conklin in the third. But by then it was too late and Pittsburgh went on to put 3 more in the net.

Last night's win put the Pens in first in the East (for now) and was the first time in NHL history that they had ever swept Buffalo for the season.

Injury Update - Sids sore ankle doesn't apprear to be much of a threat to keep him out of the line-up for an extended period. He is planning to play Sunday against the Flyers, as is Marian Hossa.

Pens 4, Caps 2

Recap - The Pens got the better of the Capitals today, 4-2 in an intense, high energy game. Pens goals were scored by Sykora, Crosby (2) and Staal added an empty netter to close out the game. Crosby's goals were his first since coming back from the ankle injury. His second, the games winner was a bit of a fluke being shot directly into the net by Caps defensemen, Backstrom. Malkin had an outstanding game as well, setting up three of the Pens 4 goals. Fleury had an amazing game stopping 37 of the 39 the Caps threw at him.

The win puts the Pens one point behind Eastern Conference leader, New Jersey.

My Analysis - This was a very important game for the Pens to get a win. They've won only 3 of the last 8 when they could have really put some space between themselves and the rest of the East. Pittsburgh has 12 games remaining in the regular season, of which 10 are against Atlantic Division opponents. Three against the Rangers and Flyers, two against the Islanders and Devils. And the other two games are against Eastern Conference foes as well. This will be quite an opportunity to see how well this team has come together since the bold trade deadline deals that went down two weeks ago. Pittsburgh can probably stay in the top 8 of the conference by winning half of the games through the rest of the season, but will probably need to go 8-4 or better to get home ice advantage in the playoffs.

Injury Update - Hossa is skating and looks to be about ready to return. Roberts is in the same situation.

Pens 2, Lightning 0

Recap - Marc Andre Fleury earned his third shutout of the season last night blanking the Lightning, 2-0. He stopped all 35 shots Tampa Bay threw at him and was voted the #1 star of the game. Sid Crosby was brilliant in his return, earning an assist on Talbots goal at 17:13 of the third. Malkin tossed in an empty netter a few mintutes later to put the game out of reach.

With the win the Pens have taken over sole possession of first place in the East!

Next Up - Thursday night at Florida Panthers, 7:30

Injury Update - As well as Sid coming back, Ryan Whitney made his first start in a couple of weeks. Jordan Staal went on the Injury List with bruised ribs. He is listed as day-to-day. Marian Hossa is expected to return to the line-up on Sunday against Washington.

Roster Moves - To make room on the roster for Sid and Ryan, Connor James and Alex Goligoski were returned to WBS Penguins.

Weekend Recap

Recap - The Pens moved into sole possession of first in the Atlantic and second in the East with a 3-2 shootout win over the Atlanta Thrashers yesterday afternoon at the Igloo. Pens goals were scored by Malone and Talbot. The winner in the shootout was scored by Kris Letang with Sykora punching one past Thrashers goalie Lehtonen as well.

Saturday's game did not turn out as well for the Pens. They dropped a disappointing one to the Ottawa Senators, 5-4. Pittsburgh goals by Malone (2), Sykora and Malkin. Pittsburgh D Sergei Conchar took a double minor late in the second and Ottawa capitalized on the opportunity by scoring goals in each power play. The Pens were unable to comeback from that 2 goal deficit.

Next up - Tuesday at Tampa Lightning.

Analysis - Malkin has kept his pace up throughout the past 16 games and continues to lead the NHL in scoring. His name is now being tossed about as a Hart Trophy candidate. Malone has dramatically stepped up his game in the past few weeks. He is not afraid to plant himself in front of the net and take the hits that will come with that. This should really help the Pens down the playoff stretch if he can keep up this pace. Petr Sykora has become quite the asset as well lately. He is lethal on the power play and continues to rack up points on the man advantage.

Injury Update - All signs are pointing to a Sydney Crosby return this Sunday against the Capitals. Possibly a Hossa return as well which would lend a bit of intrigue to the game. This game will be broadcast nationwide on NBC and a Crosby/Hossa return, first game together would provide some good TV ratings. Looking forward to how this comes together. Gary Roberts continues getting closer to his return as well. The team has stated that he should be back in the line-up by the end of March.

News of note - Marc Andre Fluery had his first start in net since December in the Atlanta game. He turned in a very solid performance stopping 31 of 33 and only allowing one by him in the shootout. Conklin was a bit disappointing in the Ottawa game allowing a couple of soft ones by. It will be interesting to see who claims the starting spot the next couple of weeks.

Pens 4, Islanders 2

Ty Conklin was the Number One Star last night, stopping 50 of 52 pucks, as the Pens doubled up the Islanders 4-2. Pittsburgh goals were scored by Malkin, Taffe, Stall and Connor James scored his first NHL goal after joining the team as an emergency recall from WBS Penguins during the second period. James and WBS teammate Nathan Smith drove from Wilkes Barre to Long Island yesterday afternoon after the Hossa trade was completed.

Next Up - tomorrow night at Boston.

Trade Reaction - There is plenty of talk around town after yesterday's blockbuster trade about the pros and cons and how things will turn out. First of all, it is too soon to say. The impact of the trade will not be known for at least the next 10 or 12 games, if even then. Many folks are claiming that all Shero did was pick up a rental player that will only stick with the team until 7/1 when the free agency period begins. I do not think Shero would have made this decision unless he thought there was a good chance he could sign Hossa to a long term deal. And even if he is unable to sign Hossa, he has clearly sent his team a message that his expectations are to win, and to do so now.

He also sent the message that he is not timid about modifying the teams chemistry. Armstrong was a high energy, locker room kind of guy and he will be missed. However, he was not a superstar on the ice nor will he ever be. I personally liked the guy but such is life in the NHL. Christensen was great on shootouts and did an good job in the defensive zone, and on the penalty kill. So is Dupuis. Seems like that part was a straight up trade. So was getting Hossa fair for giving up Armstrong, a low first round pick and an unproven prospect? You bet your ass it was! And it will pay dividends the rest of the season and hopefully a few years into the future.

Injury Update - Sid is continuing to improve his ankle and all speculation points to his return next week. Gary Roberts is also continuing to rehab his injured ankle and looks like he will return to the line-up towards the end of March.

UPDATE - Hossa, Dupuis and Gill are on their way to meet up with the Penguins in Boston for tomorrow nights game. All should be in the line-up barring any unforeseen circumstances.