Dustin Jeffrey... Man of the night. Jordan Staal, Not Suspended for Prust's Dive.

So we all knew last night would be a pretty huge game, and a pretty huge game is what we got to witness for sure. Somehow, even while missing 4 of their centers after Staal was ejected with a match penalty in the 2nd, Aaron Asham going down in the first, the Penguins were able to squeeze a victory. That somehow, was off the hard work of Marc Andre Fleury and the spark of a goal from Dustin Jeffrey.

The first period had some interesting prose to the rest of the game. The Rags came out and scored within the first 4 minutes of the game, a goal by Prust facing a practically empty net. Shortly after that during a face off Cooke and Prust are jawing at each other and jobbing each other before the puck drop. After the drop the two appear to want to fight, Prust definitely wants to but Cookie doesn't go. This was foreshadowing for the second period.

The rest of the period was uneventful except for some choice saves, and an injury to Aaron Asham forcing him out of the game.

In the second the Pens took another blow after a huge save by Fleury within the first minute of the 2nd period. Fleury couldn't stop the next onslaught after a turnover in the Rag's offensive zone leads to an Ansimov rebound goal. The Penguins at this point are pissed. 16:43 left in the period and Engellend decides it's time to take some of the hate out on Prust's face.

Engel definitely woke up the Pens after taking out Prust. At 14:30 left in the 2nd, off a fresh power play, Dustin Jeffrey let's one go from the top of the face off circle and beats King Henrik Stunnedqvist for the first of 3 consecutive goals the Penguins would notch this period. With a little over 9 left in the period Rupp came in to score a deflection, with Kunitz coming but 4 minutes later to tally his 17th goal of the season. It was after this that the foreshadowing comes into play.

With just 4:39 left in the period Prust comes out and blasts Kennedy right in front of the bench. Well Jordan Staal took particular offense to this little hit Prust decided to dole out and gives him a good hard cross check then, from what seems like out of no where, a left cross to Prust's face. Prust goes down, but it looks very suspiciously like a dive. Jordan received a match penalty, ejection from the game, and gave the Rags a 5 minute power play... One they capitalized off of and tied it up in the final seconds of the period.

Thankfully it was reported today that Jordan Staal will not be suspended, and will be in the lineup tonight. Here is the footage of some cerebral Staalsy in action:

The third period for the most part was very conservative hockey. More spectacular saves by Fleury and defense from the Pens took it to OT. More conservative play in the OT leads us to a shootout. 

After an amazing poke by Fleury and 7 rounds later we get this:

All in all, a tough game, a tough 2 points, but Dustin Jeffrey is really proving his need to be on ice full time in the NHL.

Around the league:
The Flyers lost to the Lightning 4-0
The Islanders stomped the Trashers 4-1, they'll play the Penguins tonight at 7pm.
The Capitals lost in a shootout against the Habs. Cary Price does this Lame Vanilla ice pose again to the stands:

Let it be known I officially hate this pose.

Penguins vs Rangers match up 4 Game 51

Okay tonight marks the first game of February, the first game off of the All Star Break, and a hell of a match up right before a snooze fest against the Isles tomorrow at home. Just when the penguins suffer another injury in Mark Letestu, the Rangers are getting their leading scorer back in Dubinsky and a few other pieces will be back to revitalize their team. Good news for Pens fans was that Geno was back on the ice practicing again for the second time since missing three games, he won't be on the ice tonight for the Pens and will miss his 4th straight game but they should have him back soon to help lead the charge to the playoffs. The Penguins did get Eric Goddard back who will be winging on the fourth line.

This is going to be one of those games the Penguins have to win, first of back to back games, against New York clubs no less. First game off the break, first game of the month. Only ahead of the Rangers by 5 points in the standings, so picking up an extra 2 here will not only increase their hold on second place in the division, it will put them to within 3 points of the Flyers (71pts).

The lines are little iffy tonight so I'm not going to post projections. Who knows what Bylsma will do with the lines. Jeffrey could be on the top line, or Staal could man the top line, we'll see tonight when the puck drops.

Marc Andre Fleury in net for the Penguins. No jumping jacks or push-ups during the game though Flower, we do need a hell of an all star performance and a win though!

Lets go Pens!

Media Day 2/1/2011

So it's Media Day leading up to the Superbowl now that the teams are in Dallas, and so far it seems like it's all smiles and fun for the Steelers. Troy Polamalu's hair has made several appearances so far. Including a resting place atop Brett Kiesel's beard. Both iconic hair styles beard or normal depending on preference, appear to of gotten their own celebrity followings. Troy's hair thanks to the hilarious Head and Shoulder deal he made, and Kiesel's beard just for being an epic lumberjack beard.

 Then Hines Ward got in on the bandwagon for Troy's hair and donned the hair for this interview:

 

 Ward was said to look like the return of Rick James, change that press desk to a DJ booth and it would look pretty crazy. 

I couldn't find a video to embed but here is Mike Tomlin's first Press Conference at media day courtesy of NFL videos.

There are 5 days until Superbowl 45. I still need all 10 fingers and toes to count down this event because of my excitement for it. Number 7 by Number 7.

Dustin Jeffrey Called Up, Letestu Injured During Practice. Malkin Skates.

Earlier today Dustin Jeffrey was called back up to the NHL, this happened roughly around 11am, unfortunately it wasn't for Letestu. Letestu went down around 11:40am during the morning skate and has been sent back to Pittsburgh with a lower body injury and re-evaluation, he will not be in the line up tonight. It is unknown yet which line Jeffrey will be placed on for the game against the Rangers this evening, so far he is slated to be on the bottom line, but Letestu was going to be on the top line. 

Letestu who was the subject of one of the Penguins most recent contract extensions hopefully will not be missing much time due to this injury, as he is very essential to the beginning of this next 10 game stretch. Eric Goddard, who the Pens have been missing for the past 13 games with an eye injury is back in the lineup tonight for Letestu.He has been practicing with the team since before the All Star Break. The Penguins are left with Jordan Staal, Jeffrey, Talbot, and Kennedy at Center with the injuries to Crosby, Malkin, and Letestu.

Here's hoping Goddard doesn't fight anyone yet, but if he wants to make someone smell his armpit again I'm sure he will. That look on his face is priceless. Looks like Brashear is making out with his pit too.

Good news for the Penguins however was that Geno was back out on the ice practicing again today:

 

The superstar Center still won't be on the ice tonight for the Penguins against the Rangers, missing his 4th straight game.However knowing that he is out practicing is a good sign that the sinus infection and soreness in his knees is getting easier to deal with. Still no Sidney Crosby on the ice during practice, it is unknown when his return will be, he will be missing his 11th consecutive game including the All Star Game.

ESPN and Chris Mortensen, Liars.

So apparently today ESPN's Chris Mortensen decided that he was going to stir up trouble in Pittsburgh insinuating that Dick Lebeau was going to coach Defense for the Arizona Cardinals. First off, who in their right mind, after being inducted to the hall of fame -very emotionally I might add- on his way to a third Superbowl in 6 years, want to up and change teams next season? Secondly, where in the world would Mortensen get this information other than fabricating it in his own mellon? Finally, why in the world does ESPN always feel so inclined to misreport things?

Lebeau shot down the allegations saying to NFL network: "I promise you, if I'm coaching, it will be the Pittsburgh Steelers." Lebeau was also reported by Fox Sports as saying: "With this defense, with this group of men, they'll have to run me out of here." So really, there is the news from the mouth of the man they're trying to pile mud on top of. Steelers or bust for Dick Lebeau.

Isles vs Pens RECAP

So this game started off with fireworks right out the gate.

Within a few seconds of the opening puck drop, this happened:

Why is T.K spazzing his leg out?

Then not but a minute later, Asham decided to say welcome to pain town, population Konopka.

Asham promptly reintroduces him to the inside of his shirt.

Even though this game was an 0-1 shutout the game was still a fun one to watch, surprising because it involved the Islanders. If you get past the fact that the Penguins seem to do particularly poorly against netminders they've never seen before, it was a goalie's dueling dream. Fleury made 30 saves, almost every one of them spectacular. Kevin Poulin was playing out of his mind, standard M.O like any goalie who's faced the Pens for the first time, Bobrovsky on opening day in Consol ring a bell?  In the end though, Craig M.F'ing Adams made the game winning goal in the middle of the third period.

He didn't do it on his own though, off a Dustin Jeffrey faceoff win, which is dished over to Lovejoy who rockets it to the net, Asham catches the rebound, somehow it gets to Adams and he puts that bastard in the twine. The Islanders still fought down to the wire though shooting pucks on net right up until the buzzer, keeping MAF on his toes all game. But, Marc Andre Fleury is a certified BAMF, so MAF, BAMF'd all over the Islanders efforts, to take home his second shutout of the year.

Pens win a much needed 2 points before the break and now get to go spend time with their families. Except for Letestu, Lovejoy and Talbot going to Florida to beat the winter cold. Craig Adams deciding that last night was his Superbowl, says that he too is going to Florida and he's taking the family to Disney World.

Rest up easy Penguins, you earned it.

Islanders vs Penguins rematch against the streak eaters. Game 50.

Tonight the Penguins will host the Islanders at Consol for the final game in the month of January. The penguins are 4-1-0 in the past 5 games, including a 4 game winning streak by Marc Andre Fleury. The Penguins are 10-1 at home, including a 9 game streak, since the lockout against the Isles and 16-4-2 overall since then. Last time these two teams met on Dec 29th, the Islanders ended Sid's 25 game point streak. Fortunately for the Islanders, the Penguins are still without Sid and Geno for this game, and it was announced today that Geno will also miss the All Star Game. The Penguins will be depending on good defense, penalty killing (88.4% 1st in the league) and the All Star goaltending of Fleury in the pipes to come away with a victory this time.

The Islanders aren't without their own woes in the press however, with recent attempted acquisition of Evgeni Nabokov off of waivers, after he signed a 1 year agreement with the Redwings. Nabby says he won't report, and has hung up on their GM Garth Snow on two separate occasions. "He had his heart set on going to Detroit, obviously." Snow said Sunday, "I told him I respect that, but he's a New York Islander now and we'd love to have him part of our group." Nabokov said he would play for any team so long as he's a starter, I guess that didn't include the Islanders. With the Isles recent injury woes at Goalie including Nathan Lawson's MCL injury, he would probably start. However Nabby feels like he needs to be on a playoff contender and not a bottom of the barrel pretender.

 Still, despite their record, the Islanders are always a tough match up for the Penguins; "It seems like we always have close games with them." said budding D'man Alex Goligoski this morning, "They’re a young team and they’re good. They work hard, and it’s always a tough game against them. That’s what we expect tonight." Goligoski scored the overtime winner in the first match up against the Islanders, which was also the first home win at Consol Energy Center. In addition to all of that goaltender *Rick DiPietro will be starting again for the Islanders, who held strong even through a shootout to rob the Penguins in December, denying the extra point in the win column and any points for Crosby.
*DiPietro will not be starting in this game, the Isles apparently have given the nod to Kevin Poulin, in what I would guess is some attempt to throw off the Pens shooters.


There was some concern as Matt Cooke wasn't on the ice this morning for practice, however it was only due to family reasons and Cooke will be in the line up tonight. Eric Goddard got some practice time in in place of Cookie today however, which is a good sign that our brawling lineman is coming back into action soon.

Projected lineups for the game:
Kunitz-Letestu-Dupuis
Kennedy-Staal-Cooke
Rupp-Talbot-Conner
Adams-Jeffrey-Asham

Marc Andre Fleury will be between the pipes for the Penguins tonight.

Fleury recorded his 22nd victory of the year against the Cane's on the... 22nd of January.

Interesting notes about the Penguins penalty killing play recently, the Pens are 20-20 on the PK in the past 5 games, and over the last 10 games the Penguins have killed off  35 of 37 penalties for 94.6% PK. The Penguins have also tallied 8 shorthanded goals this year after Pascal Dupuis's game winning shortie against Carolina on the 22nd. Matt Cooke is tied for the NHL lead on shorthanded points with 5 (2G 3A.)

In other news around the league, Ovechkin takes a page out of "Crosby's Dive School" manual and took a huge dive against the Rangers last night. So if anyone says something about Crosby taking a dive, show them this gif. Another of their young netminders, Holtby, also got embarrassed 3 out of 4 shots against the Rangers in the shootout. Thought I'd have some footage of just the shootout but no, just game highlights, you'd have to check them out to see the embarrassment.

Lets go Pens!