TIOPS NHL ALL – Star Selections
There are a few more weeks before the NHL selects the Eastern Conference All-Star team but here are my selections to this point. Starting Lineup WAS Alexander Ovechkin – PIT Sidney Crosby – PIT Evgeni Malkin MON Andrei Markov – BOS Zdeno Chara BOS Tim Thomas Forward Lineup WAS Ovechkin ( 40pts) – PIT Crosby (44pts) – PIT Malkin (49pts) Insiders Take:Doesn’t get any better than this dream line. Crosby gets the two best players in the league as his wingers. Hopefully Ovechkin wouldn’t try to take out Malkin at every opportunity. BUF Vanek (24 goals) – BOS Savard (26 assists) – PHI Carter (21 goals) Insiders Take: Marc Savard is one the game’s best playmakers and Carter/Vanek are two
Tuesday’s Practice Report
The Latest from Tuesday mornings practice. Did Max Talbot and Mike Zigomanis return to practice? Was there a shakeup on Malkin’s line? Is Ruslan Fedotenko the Penguins next forward to go on the shelf?
Players donate over $6,000 worth of toys
Pittsburgh Penguins players made a surprise visit to patients at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Monday afternoon and delivered over $6,000 worth of toys. The visit was initiated by several members of the team who wanted to make the holidays a little brighter for children who were faced with spending time away from home. Penguins players donated the money that was used to purchase the toys. Toys were given to dozens of patients throughout the hospital, with a special emphasis placed on children in the oncology and transplant units. Several items, including two Wii video gaming systems and accessories, were donated to the playrooms at the facility for groups of children to enjoy. “We are so fortunate to have the opportunity
Monday’s Practice Report
The Arena Naming rights became offical today when CONSOL Energy Inc and the Pittsburgh Penguins announced today a 21-year deal for naming rights to the new Pittsburgh multi-purpose arena. Practice Report The Penguins held a optional practice today. Forwards Sidney Crosby, Pascal Dupuis , Tim Wallace, Evgeni Malkin and Eric Godard skated. Defensemen Kris Letang, Alex Goligoski, and Ryan Whitney also skated A lot of the other players were in the facility working out. Ryan Whitney is slowing improving every day. His skating is still not 100% but he is close. Marc Andre Fleury was wearing new Reebok goalie pads Petr Sykora named second star of the week: Sykora recorded eight points (three goals, five assists) in four games. Bruins forward
The Latest Penguins Buzz
The Philadelphia Flyers may have the most depth at the forward position in the National Hockey League. They don’t have a Malkin or Crosby but top to bottom they are much deeper than the Penguins. Sources tell me the Rangers are inching closer to signing Mats Sundin. Rangers GM Glen Sather is aggressively trying to move Petr Prucha who has a cap hit of $1.6 million. Sundin is open to signing for $3.5 – $4 million per season. Vancouver is Sundin’s fall back option. According to a source, now that Penguins General Manager Ray Shero got a decent look at the top WBS players, he is developing a plan to make some personnel moves/trades. There is some concern in the
NHL: Penguins re-assign Jeff Taffe and Connor James
Following today’s game, the Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned forwards Jeff Taffe and Connor James to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL)
Penguins call up Connor James
The Pittsburgh Penguins have called up forward Connor James from Wilkes Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. James will be available to play today when the Penguins face off against the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday afternoon. James has 4 goals in his last 6 games and has recorded 17 points in 26 games for the WBS Penguins. Forward Max Talbot has been ruled out for Saturday’s game. Following practice on Friday, Mike Zigomanis was hopeful he would be able to play against the Flyers. Zigomanis has been sidelined with an arm injury and did practice on Friday.
NHL: Talbot out, Zigomanis to return?
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Maxime Talbot did not practice Friday and will not play in Philadelphia Saturday afternoon. Talbot left Thursday’s game with a injury in the third period. Forward Mike Zigomanis is hopeful that he will be able to play against Philadelphia. Zigomanis is expected to center Jeff Taffe and Eric Godard who has been a healthy scratch for the past two games
Penguins re-assign Minard and Curry
Following this mornings practice the Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned goaltender John Curry and forward Chris Minard to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL). Goaltender Marc Andre Fleury will be active for Saturday afternoon’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Penguins rout Islanders 9-2
Petr Sykora scored a hat trick for the first time in his career, ending the longest streak in NHL history without a hat trick by a player who had at least two goals in a game and Pascal Dupuis also netted a hat trick as the Penguins beat the New York Islanders 9-2 Thursday night at Mellon Arena. Pittsburgh 8-2 in its last ten games against the New York Islanders, halted a three game losing straight as they head into a divisional showdown Saturday afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers. Evgeni Malkin, Philippe Boucher, and Miroslav Satan also scored for the Penguins. Malkin the NHL’s leading scorer with 48 points had a goal and an assist. Sidney Crosby had three assists.