The Staal effect: Malkin's line not producing at even strength

On the Penguins

*The loss of Jordan Staal will effect the Penguins in a number of areas but as Joe Starkey of the Tribune-Review brightly points out in a Sunday column, it should not effect the Penguins run through the Eastern Conference. They still remain heavy favorites to come out of the East. Where Staal would be missed greatly, is if he's not available in the Cup Finals. However, championship teams overcame injuries like this.

What I'm not buying is some talk from the Pittsburgh media that losing Staal is worst than losing Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. That kind of talk is ridiculous. Staal is a tremendous player in the Penguins system but Crosby and Malkin are what drive this team.

Staal creates a number of matchup problems for teams and this is no knock on Staal but his role as a dominant shutdown center is a bit over-rated (minus-8 in playoffs since 2009) and he just doesn't come close to impacting a game at the level that Crosby and Malkin do.

*Although there have been indications that Dan Bylsma maybe leaning towards Craig Adams as the third line center, expect Adams and Max Talbot to play a key role this afternoon in Staal's role.

It's a great opportunity for Talbot who has been a regarded inside the organization as a potential long-term third line center for a while now. Expect Talbot to step up in Staal's absence.

*One of the most under-rated members of the Penguins organization is goaltending coach Gilles Meloche. Meloche does not only work with Marc Andre Fleury on a daily basis but he scouts the oppositions goalie extensively and effectively, showing a strong focus on video instruction.