THIS YEAR'S MODEL

Refreshing hockey notes: What a way to start the New Year!

*Jordan Staal is this year’s model. Brenden Morrow is last year’s model. In a nutshell, that’s why Canada underachieves in international hockey.

*The Penguins’ power play is much better in its current alignment. The numbers don’t lie: 7-for-32 (21.8 percent) since the change. The increased possession and pressure don’t lie, either. Evgeni Malkin doesn’t touch the puck as much, but three guys can’t play catch. That’s reality. Malkin will have to do more with fewer touches, i.e., SHOOT!

*New Jersey’s trap poses a problem for the Penguins. But a best-of-7 series, where the Penguins can get the rhythm of cracking the trap, will be a different – and short – story, one that has a happy ending for the Pens. The Devils’ skating, however, has troubled the Penguins more than the trap in the four games between the teams, all Devils wins.

*If Malkin takes dumb penalties immediately after committing turnovers any more frequently, college kids will turn it into a drinking game.