Pens – Blue Jackets Game 2 Projected Lines: Umberger back for Blue Jackets
GAME 2 PROJECTED LINEUPS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Brian Gibbons Jussi Jokinen – Evgeni Malkin – James Neal Beau Bennett – Brandon Sutter – Lee Stempniak Tanner Glass – Joe Vitale – Craig Adams DEFENSEMEN Brooks Orpik – Paul Martin Rob Scuderi – Kris Letang Olli Maatta – Matt Niskanen GOALTENDERS 1. Marc Andre Fleury 2. Jeff Zatkoff COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS Boone Jenner – Ryan Johansen – Jack Skille Matt Calvert – Brandon Dubinsky – Cam Atkinson R.J. Umberger – Artem Anisimov – Blake Comeau Derek MacKenzie – Mark Letestu – Corey Tropp DEFENSEMEN Fedor Tyutin – Jack Johnson Ryan Murray – James Wisniewski Nikita Nikitin – David Savard GOALTENDERS 1. Sergei Bobrovsky 2. Curtis Mcelhinney
Steelers sign Darrius Heyward-Bey
The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a one year deal with wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. The 27 year old receiver was the Raiders first round pick in 2009, taken 7th overall. Heyward-Bey was cut by the Raiders following four seasons with the club (2009-2012) and spent the 2013 season with the Indianapolis Colts. He had 29 receptions for 309 yards and 1 touchdown in 2013.
Kesler Latest: LeBrun believes Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Detroit are among a group of teams Kesler would go to
CLOCK TICKING ON CANUCKS TO DEAL KESLER Ryan Kesler is going to be traded. It’s just a question of whether it happens before Wednesday’s 3:00 p.m. deadline or not until the summer. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks continue to have dialogue but the word as of Tuesday night was that talks had yet to advance to any stage where the Canucks were ready to move on any proposal from the Penguins. Brandon Sutter and Simon Despres were both in the lineup for the Penguins in a 3-1 win over Nashville and Kesler was also in the lineup tonight for Vancouver. It’s believed a packaged centered around Brandon Sutter doesn’t excite the Canucks enough to move on a deal just
Penguins lineup vs Canadiens: Engelland in over Despres
PENGUINS LINEUP VS CANADIENS Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Brian Gibbons Jussi Jokinen – Evgeni Malkin – James Neal Tanner Glass – Brandon Sutter – Chuck Kobasew Taylor Pyatt – Joe Vitale – Craig Adams DEFENSEMEN Brooks Orpik – Deryk Engelland Olli Maatta – Matt Niskanen Rob Scuderi – Robert Bortuzzo GOALTENDER Marc Andre Fleury Notes: Deryk Engelland is in over Simon Despres tonight which was expected.
Beau Bennett has setback, out another three to four weeks
If the Penguins want to count on Beau Bennett being their first line right winger, good luck to them. Bennett already sidelined for 14 weeks due to wrist surgery, has had a setback and his recovery period is another three to four weeks. The initial diagnosis for Bennett was 8-12 weeks. Bennett has not played since November 22nd and with his type of injury there are doubts that the wrist will be 100% until next season. The good news is if there’s not another setback, Bennett should be able to get a couple weeks of action but not much before the playoffs. Elsewhere on the injury front, Paul Martin is officially out four to six weeks with a broken bone
James Neal among four players under consideration to replace Steven Stamkos on Team Canada
Steven Stamkos who was penciled in to play with Chris Kunitz and Sidney Crosby on the top line for Team Canada, has been ruled out of the Olympics. “After reviewing the CT scan this afternoon, Dr. Gutentag made it clear to me and to Steven that the tibia is not completely healed and therefore he should not be participating in game action at any time in the near future,” Lightning GM Steve Yzerman said in a released announcement. It’s a big blow for Team Canada but the Team Canada brass has been prepared for this possibility. Jeff Carter is a strong candidate to be moved up to Crosby’s right wing but who is the front runner to replace Stamkos on
Seahawks rout Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII
SEAHAWKS ARE SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS It was total domination from the get-go and the Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl XLVIII Champions with a 43-8 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday night. The saying that defense wins championships lives on and the NFL hasn’t seen a defense as fast, big, and physical as the Seahawks in years. Peyton Manning and Denver’s high flying offense saw it first hand. The Seahawks scored on a safety 12 seconds into the game and outscored Denver 36-0 before the Broncos scored their first touchdown of the game at the end of the third quarter. Peyton Manning had just 10 passing yards in the first quarter and threw two first half interceptions including a pick-6.
Scuderi says the Penguins have to quit trying to play hockey like the Harlem Globetrotters
The Pittsburgh Penguins blew a 2-0 lead for the second game in a row and this time around they weren’t so lucky to come out of Edmonton with a victory. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored two goals, including the winner in overtime, and added an assist as the Edmonton Oilers came from behind to beat the Penguins 4-3 on Friday night in OT. Sidney Crosby (25), James Neal (17) and Kris Letang (8) scored for Pittsburgh in the loss. Jeff Zatkoff made 27 saves on 31 shots, losing for the first time since October 25th. While everything looks great for the Penguins in the standings with the fourth most points in the NHL and a seven point lead over the Boston Bruins
Will Chris Kunitz be left off Team Canada?
Team Canada will announce their roster Tuesday morning and there could be some disappointment in Penguins circles. Despite being second in the NHL with 1.42 points per game and having 16 goals in 24 games, all indications are that James Neal has not jumped on Team Canada’s radar for one of their final forward spots. Meanwhile Kris Letang has fallen out of contention for a spot after being looked at as an 8th or 9th defenseman going into the season and Marc Andre Fleury has never been in mix for the third goaltender spot. Chris Kunitz has the best chance of joining Sidney Crosby in Sochi and he’s done just about everything possible to make the team but that might
Saturday’s Practice Buzz: Letang paired with Scuderi, taking top unit power play reps
SATURDAY’S PRACTICE BUZZ The Penguins look to be getting Kris Letang back in the lineup as early as tomorrow afternoon vs the Winnipeg Jets. Letang today was paired with Rob Scuderi and took all first power play reps. The Penguins top power play unit included Letang and Jussi Jokinen at the points with Chris Kunitz, Sidney Crosby and James Neal down low. In 24 games this season, Letang has very inconsistent and his numbers are down significantly with 6 goals and 11 points. The Penguins are 15-9 with Letang in the lineup and 15-4 without Letang in the lineup this season. PRACTICE LINES Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – James Neal Jussi Jokinen – Brandon Sutter – Brian Gibbons Taylor