Pens Vs. Sabres Tonight

Preview - The Sabres will travel to take on the Pens tonight in the Igloo at 7:30. This will be the 4th and final time these teams meet this season with the Pens winning all three previous matchups, 2-0 on 12/29, 2-1 at the Ice Bowl and 4-1 on 2/17. The Sabres are 3-4-3 in their last 10 and are on a bit of a downward spiral as they are watching their playoffs hopes disappear. Ty Conklin is getting the start. He has been spectacular in goal against the Sabres. In three starts he has a .65 GAA and .980 SV% (source - Pittsburgh Tribune Review).

My Prediction - a Penguins win by the score of 3-1.

Injury Update - Talbot re-aggrevated the high ankle sprain that has hobbled him throughout the past few months and Sykora is experienceing back spasms. Both players are listed as day-to-day. Rob Scuderi is getting closer to a return. he was on the ice yesterday morning after having a cast remived from his surgically repaired finger. Look for Roberts to be back by the end of the month as well.

Roster Changes - Connor James and Ryan Stone were recalled from WBS Penguins yesterday to take the place of Petr and Sykora and Max Talbot.

UPDATE - Crosby will not play in tonights game. He experienced pain in his right ankle at this morning's skate and decided to sit this one out.

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.

Trade Deadline Today

Today is the NHL trade deadline and, traditionally, a very active day for player trades. Keep posted for my analysis of any trades made by the Pens.

Noon update: No blockbusters as of yet in the Atlantic but the Lightning sent Brad Richards - F and Johan Holmqvist - G to the Dallas Stars for Mike Smith - G, Jussi Jokinen - F and Jeff Halpern - F.

The Sabres were unable to come to terms with Brian Campbell - F so they sent him to San Jose for Steve Bernier - F and a first round pick.

2pm Update: The Capitals acquired Sergei Federov - F from the Columbus Blue Jackets for prospect Ted Ruth - D. Looks like the Caps are stocking up to win the South. Federov is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. TSN is also reporting that the Caps have acquired Cristobal Huet - G from Montreal for a second round pick in 2009.

3:00 Update: Looks like the Pens are jumping into the fray. They have traded a 2nd round and a 5th round pick to Toronto for veteran defenseman Hal Gill. Rumor has it there is also a trade happening with Atlanta for Marian Hossa which will send Armstrong, Christiansen and Esposito to Atlanta. Will update when this is confirmed.

Update - The Hossa trade has been confirmed by TSN. In addition to Hossa the Pens will get Pascal Dupuis - F.

Analysis - There is quite a bit of concern that dealing Armstrong will have a bad effect on the teams chemistry. Colby ,while being very close to Sid, has a tremendous fan following and the concern could be warrented. Christensen is a go-to guy on the shootout as well. Hossa could very well take his place though so any concern about that is moot. Hossa is an unrestricted free agent after the season so if the Pens are not able to re-sign him to a long term deal then all they will get out of this is a rental forward for the rest of this season and Dupuis and will have given up three quality, young forwards, one of which was a first rounder, and a first round draft pick. Not sure if I like this deal or not but let's see where the chips fall on this one. Shero could be a genius or the goat depending on how deep the Pens manage to go in the playoffs.

Pens 5, Caps 6

The Capitals were able to take the Pens down last night in a shootout at Mellon Arena by the score of 6-5. It was an exciting, intense game which was a pleasure to watch. Pittsburgh goals by Malkin(2), Talbot, Sykora and Malone.

Sabourin started the game in goal but was replaced with Conklin after giving up a fourth goal to the Caps.

The Caps won the shootout 2-1 with only Ruutu scoring for the Pens. Letang and Christensen both were unable to get a puck past Washington goalie Kolzig.

The next 3 games for Pittsburgh are all on the road and two of the three are against division opponents. If they want to stay in the reach of the divison lead, wins against the Flyers and Devils are essential.

Injury Update - the Pens placed center Sidney Crosby on IR yesterday. He is scheduled for an evalution today so we should have a better idea of how much time he will miss.

Next Up - Pens at Philadelphia this Thursday at 7pm.

Streaks - Pittsburgh's streak of consecutive wins against the Capitals ended at 14 games. Prior to last nights game, the alst time the Caps beat the Pens was March 2006.

Roster Changes - The Pens called up from Wilkes-Barre: Chris Minard, Tim Brent and Johnathan Filewich and sent down Ryan Lannon.