Pesonen Up; Talbot Day 2 Day

The Penguins recalled Janne Pesonen today to replace Maxime Talbot while he is injured.  This could be an exciting opportunity for the Finnish star who has 21 points in 19 games with the Baby Penguins.  We hope to see Max Talbot lacing them back up soon, but for now let's watch Pesonen's ability become realized.

The Pens are just 5 points back from the Rangers and have 4 games at hand.  Hopefully, with continued good play, the Guinos will be sitting atop the Atlantic in no time.

Unfortunately, we have heard no good news about Marc-Andre Fleury.  The Penguins' star netminder continues to be listed as day to day and we hope rumors of 3-6 weeks are shot down.  Although, if he misses another game or 2, we'll be looking at those kinds of numbers anyway.

Watch the Pens take on the Sabres tomorrow night in Buffalo.  Game time is 7:30 PM and will be covered by FSN Pittsburgh and 105.9 The X.

Matt@Penstation

Mr. Natural

For the 2nd time this year, a Penguin player scored a natural hat trick in the third period of a game. First was Jordan Staal, this time it was Evgeni Malkin's turn.

The Penguinos got off to a slow start tonight against the red hot New York Islanders. There was no black and gold offense at all and the first period led to a 2-0 Islander lead. To make matters worse, Max Talbot took a point-blank slap shot to the ankle in the neutral zone--he would not return.

The 2nd period showed a game play improvement on the Penguins side. Unfortunately, it didn't result in a Penguin goal until almost the 3rd period. When Bill Guerin scored to make it a 3-0 game, Michel Therrien pulled Dany Sabourin and gave John Curry his first look at NHL ice. At the 19:41 mark of the 2nd period, Brooks Orpik scored his 2nd of the year. We thought for sure it was Crosby who deflected the puck, but the scorekeeper said otherwise. The goal made it 3-1 Isles and gave the Pens a puncher's chance.

When Sidney Crosby scored a goal had a goal disallowed, we thought it might have demoralized the now full speed Penguins--we were wrong. The Kid came back to score a beautiful goal in the 47th minute of play. After cycling the puck back to Gino at the point who then drove down the boards and toward the net, Crosby slid from behind the net and got open on the far post. It was then that Malks made a beautiful soft-touch backhand pass to Crosby who finished it. 3-2 Islanders. Malkin made a beautiful play to generate the scoring chance and was just getting started.

At this point, I would have broken Malkin and Crosby back up to generate opportunities from 3 lines. I was wrong and a friend just chuckled when Gino and The Kid hooked back up to tie the game. This time it would be Crosby who made a great pass to Malkin. Gino made sure to finish like Crosby as he was falling when he took the shot. If you thought Therrien should break the duo up here, you were more wrong than I was. Crosby found Malkin again to put the Penguins up 4-3. Just like that the Penguins turned the game around and looked to get 2 points out of the night. Malkin jumped on the open-net opportunity to put the Pens up 5-3 and net himself his 3rd hat trick of his career. The cardiac kids did it again.

It was clear to us that the turning point in the game was a period during the 2nd when the Pens were short handed. The Penguins grabbed 2 great scoring chances and looked to keep the Islanders on their heals for the rest of the game. Malkin fired a puck off the post and Jordan Staal just missed on a breakaway opportunity. Although neither player scored, it was the first moment that I felt like the Pens would come back to win this game. Of course, we can not short change Therrien's decision to pull Sabou. A change like that isn't always to pull a tender because you think they are playing poorly. In this case, Sabourin wasn't playing his best hockey, but neither were the Penguins. When coach made the call to bring in Curry, it sent a message to the Penguin players that they were going to need to step up their game--they did.

It is hard to have a 3rd period hat trick overlooked, but tonight goes to the underdog. We feel that Gino gets enough spotlight attention. ;) With the Penguins' win, John Curry recorded his first win in his first NHL experience. The 24 year old had no warning that he would be getting ice time tonight and said "I didn't have time to think. All I could do was just go in and play." (Pens) Congratulations John!

The Penguins have a break tomorrow to eat mashed potatoes. I personally like turkey but feel that mashed potatoes, like John Curry, deserve the spotlight this time around. For a good change, fire them up with some hot sauce and butter instead of the old gravy. I promise, it's good!

Everyone have a good Thanksgiving (for the Americans) and we'll see you Friday for the Buffalo Sabres. Don't forget to watch the Pens beat the Sabres in the Winter Classic tomorrow on FSN!

Official score sheet.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Matt@Penstation

On Penguins, Vancouver, On Crosby and Malkin. On Ziggy, On Cook(i)e, On Orpik and ... Whitney??

There were 3 things that we expected to happen when the Pens faced off against the Canucks today:

1. We would see a tight, defensive game.
2. Roberto Luongo would have an effect on the game.
3. Matt Cooke would continue to be a monster.

One

As far as defenses are concerned, the Penguins and the Canucks have both allowed a fair share of shots. Both teams have solid defensive pairings, but there is no question that the goaltending at each end of the ice has been superb.

In Marc-Andre Fleury's absence, Dany Sabourin has stood on his head. Every game that Sabu starts, the Penguins are given a chance to win just as if The Flower was headlining the defense. When tonight's game started, Sabourin was in control of a phenomenal 1.59 GAA with a .940 Save %. With the loss, Sabourin moves to 4-2-1, but ultimately played a solid game allowing 2 tough goals on 18 shots.

Two

On the other side of the ice was Canucks' captain Roberto Luongo. Coming into the game, Luongo led the league with 5 shutouts. Luongo has also faced a league leading 540 shots and has already amassed over 500 saves. With a shutout in every 2.2 games, Luongo was sure to be a game changer.

Little did we know, it would take less than 5 minutes for Captain Rob to change the game. Luongo left the game at the 4:54 mark of the first with a lower body injury. Backup goalies have been an NHL trend this season and it looked like 2 of the better ones would finish out this game.

Curtis Sanford played the remainder of the game and got a big away win for the Canucks. Like Sabourin, Sanford faced 18 shots, but only allowed one goal. The Pens didn't get a ton of amazing scoring opportunities, but when they did, Sanford stood tall.

Three

Matt Cooke has been on a tear and we figured he would show up at 110% against his former team. For one shift, Cooke did just that. Cooke stirred things up the way that only he could and it all happened in a matter of moments. After dumping a Canuck with a perfect hip check, Cookey brushed up against a couple Canucks in the neutral zone. Altercations ensued and ended with 4 fighting majors, 2 game misconducts and a couple of double-minors.

Cooke and Burrows started to square up after some neutral zone contact when Brooks Orpik jumped in to protect his teammate. Cooke, who also had his gloves off, jumped at the opportunity to go with Jannik Hansen. Due to NHL rules, both players were ejected for being involved in a 2nd fight.

Tyler Kennedy and Ryan Kesler also got involved, but only received double-minors. Both players had gloves off and went at it for a while, but it looked like they resorted to pushing and pulling after a warning from the officials. We were kinda hoping to see Teagues shed the elbow pads and throw down light-weight style.

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Overall, the Penguins were outplayed this afternoon in their 3-1 loss to Vancouver. In my opinion, losing Matt Cooke hurt the Penguins in more ways than breaking up Jordan Staal's 3rd line. Michel Therrien was forced into his juggling act and found a hard time keeping lines together for any amount of time.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin found themselves playing together for much of the game and it definitely cut down on the Penguins offensive output. Aside from Mike Zigomanis' goal, most of the Penguin opportunities came from the Malkin-Crosby line.

The Sedin brothers dominated the game and each had a point on all 3 of the Canuck goals to give the brothers 6 spots on the score sheet. Pavel Demitra found twine twice including an empty net goal in the 60th minute of play.

For a complete rundown of penalties and events, be sure to check the official NHL score sheet.

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The Penguins did have good news this weekend. Ryan Whitney practiced with the team for the first time yesterday and is planning on a Christmas return. While the Penguin defense has improved game by game, Whitney provides a veteran defenseman with a scoring touch that could spark the now struggling power play. If Whitney can stay out of the injury box, he has Norris Trophy finalist potential. The surgery he underwent was to fix a chronic foot problem that has plagued Whitney during his time with the Pens. We certainly look forward to his return.

Matt@Penstation

Thrashers Down, Canucks To Go

If you haven't fallen 100% in love with Matt Cooke, you have problems.  This kid is nothing but exciting and is quickly becoming a favorite of this writer.  Aside from Cooke destroying somebody, some Penguins showed up to play a game of hockey.

The Penguins won a close game that ended with a score of 3-2.  Sabourin got another start and we are unsure of Fleury's exact return to the team.  The game was more or less a Sidney Crosby show and he proved why there will always be a spot on Sportscenter for him to shine.  Crosby scored on a beautiful wrist shot while falling backward.  Instead of taking the puck with his body, The Kid shot against the grain and scored left side below the crossbar.  The goal came in the second and gave the Pens a temporary 2-1 lead.

If anyone got a chance to watch the game on TV, you might have noticed the lack of fans in attendance.  As much as I love winning, it would be nice to go back to the days where getting a ticket at the arena was possible.  It feels like yesterday that the Penguins were fighting to put fans in the stands, but that's probably because it almost was.  We at Penstation just wish we could get a game or two.

Official NHL score sheet.

With the Vancouver Canucks coming to town on Saturday, the Pens will be face with another Wild-esque game.  The Canucks moved ahead of the Wild in the Northwest Division and play a similar defense-first game that the Wild do.  We look forward to seeing Jordan Staal putting a puck or two past Captain Luongo.

Check back for more info about Saturday's game.

Let's Go Pens!

Matt@Penstation

Army's Army

Colby Armstrong was a big part of the Penguins organization for the last few years.  Armstrong developed quite the fan following in Pittsburgh and has been missed since being dealt to Atlanta. 

Armstrong played a lot of his games in Pittsburgh alongside Sidney Crosby.  He served as a protector to The Kid and was a best friend and road trip roomie.  People in Pittsburgh will always remember Army as an energetic workhorse that threw the body and found occasional twine.

A common deadline joke around the league is to clear a player's locker and make them believe that they've been traded.  Normally the joke is played on a player that is a big part of the team and is unlikely to be moved.  During last season's deadline, jokester Colby Armstrong was on the receiving end of this joke.  Little did he or the Penguin players know, Armstrong would be part of a blockbuster deal for Marion Hossa.

In tonight's game against Atlanta, someone will be out to prove something.  Whether it is Colby and the struggling Thrashers or the Penguins is yet to be seen.  The Penguins need to bounce back after a tight game that should have been a shut out win.  The game can be seen on FSN Pittsburgh and heard by Mike Lange and the old two-niner on 105.9 the X.

Matt@Penstation

Several Streaks End in Shootout Loss

The Penguins were defeated tonight by the Minnesota Wild in a 2-1 shootout game.  The loss ended the Penguins 6 game winning streak, but they got a point to continue their points streak to 7 straight.  Other losers included Evgeni Malkin (13 game point and assist streaks end), Danny Sabourin (13 straight shootout saves), and the blue jerseys (first modern loss wearing classic blue jerseys).

Mr. Automatic, a.k.a. Mike Zigomanis, was as good as ever from the faceoff dot.  He was so good that he actually won a draw that got past Sabourin in the first.  It was an odd goal awarded to Mikko Koivu to set the Wild up 1-0.  10 seconds later, Matt Cooke scored his second of the season to tie it up.  Cooke now has points in 5 straight and continues to be a big contributor with Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy.  Staal's primary assist on the goal continued his great play over the last several games.

It was good to see Sabourin put up another strong performance in net.  Although the Wild aren't an offensive power house, they moved to 11-4-1 with the win and were a formidable opponent.  Sabourin allowed the first goal of the shootout, but stopped the next 2.  He has now stopped 15 of 17 shootout attempts for the season.

There was a scary moment in the 2nd period when Gino took a puck to the mouth.  It seemed as if he didn't see it coming and couldn't make any adjustment to avoid the rubber.  Luckily, Malks made it back on the ice at the beginning of the 3rd period and appeared to be unaffected.

The Penguins move to 11-4-3 with the loss and are still playing great hockey.  For the complete score sheet, click here.

Matt@Penstation

Fleury Day-to-Day

Netminder Marc-Andre Fleury has been listed as day to day with an undisclosed injury.  He will be inactive for Tuesday night's game against the Wild where Sabourin will get another start.  Game time is 7:00PM on VS. and 105.9 The X.

Matt@Penstation