Penguins Team Chart
Insider Chart¬†on the latest player news, injury reports, rumors…..
Sunday’s Practice Report: Lineup changes coming for Monday’s game
The Penguins just concluded their practice around 3:00 p.m. in New York. As expected the mood wasn’t very good after the team’s performance last night. As I mentioned on Thursday the plan this week was for Mathieu Garon to start in goal against the Islanders. Based on practice today that still appears to be the plan. Don’t look into it that the team is benching Marc Andre Fleury for giving up 6 goals Saturday night. My source tells me there will be one lineup change (not counting Garon) and possibly two against the Islanders tomorrow afternoon.
The Latest Penguins Buzz
The Penguins end their four game home stand winning three of four after last night’s 2-1 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks. The Penguins players are calling it a statement game as they are one point out of the #8 seed and only 6 points out of the #4 seed. The Penguins have a great opportunity to climb the standings with two upcoming games against rebuilding teams in Toronto and the New York Islanders. The downside is the Penguins have lost their last two games against the Leafs, 7-3 & 5-4 respectively. The Penguins have to win both games. There has been a lot of talk about whether the Penguins missed out on Brendan Shanahan. Maybe they did, maybe
Around the NHL
Evgeni Malkin leads the NHL with (24 goals – 56 assists – 80 points) and is a +19. Despite leading the NHL in the points, Malkin is not even in the top 3 when it comes to the M.V.P. discussion. For him to get into the top three by the end of the season, he will have to get the Penguins into playoffs and there’s been talk he will have to get into the 40 goal plateau. A lot of experts who have votes look at goals, Ovechkin and Parise are going to easily top 40. Is it right to overlook the assists Malkin is putting up? No it’s not but he’s going to need at least 40-43 goals to
Fedotenko inching closer to return; Dubielewicz to start against Penguins
Forward Ruslan Fedotenko skated on Thursday and is inching closer to a return. Fedotenko has been ruled out for Friday’s game but could return on Sunday at the earliest. At the latest, Fedotenko is expected back by February 11th when the Penguins face-off against the the Sharks. Luca Caputi practiced today and it appears he will be in the lineup tomorrow against the Blue Jackets. Caputi saw limited ice time yesterday because the Penguins were playing back to back games and they don’t want to wear him out. He should see increased ice time against Columbus Only about a dozen players skated today. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are expected to be separated for tomorrow’s game. Both players did not
Lineup News: Source: Gill, Boucher out
Penguins (24-22-5-53) at Canadiens (28-16-6-62) updated: 4:34 p.m. – A source tells me defensemen Hal Gill and Philippe Boucher will be healthy scratches in tonight’s game. Boucher will be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game. Brooks Orpik – Ryan Whitney, Rob Scuderi – Kris Letang, Mark Eaton – Alex Goligoski will be the Penguins D-Pairs. 2:08 p.m. – Luca Caputi the organization’s top prospect will appear in his first NHL game tonight. In today’s morning skate Caputi skated with Bill Thomas and Eric Godard. It appears he will begin the game on the fourth line and as planned the Penguins will use him in a structured role Max Talbot who has been a disappointment this season centered Pascal
Lineup News: Orpik in; Gill out
Quick update from today’s morning skate Brooks Orpik appears in and it looks like Hal Gill will be a healthy scratch. Gill and Goligoski will be the Penguins two scratches on the blueline. Pittsburgh Penguins (24-21-4-52) Lineup Dupuis – Crosby – Malkin Minard – Staal – Sykora Satan – Talbot – Kennedy Bissonnette – Thomas – Godard Defensemen Scuderi – Whitney Eaton – Letang Orpik – Boucher Marc Andre Fleury will start in goal Scratches: D Hal Gill, D Alex Goligoski More to come
Penguins fall to Avalanche 5-3
The Penguins woes continue as they lost to the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 Saturday afternoon at the Pepsi Center. Today’s loss is the Penguins seventh in eight games and the team fell to 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Florida beat the Atlanta Thrashers 8-4 this afternoon to move two points ahead of the Penguins for 9th place in the East. Head coach Michel Therrien tried to jump start the Penguins offensive attack today, reuniting Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the same line. The move paid off as Crosby and Malkin each had a goals and assist but the Penguins struggled in their defensive zone again and Dany Sabourin didn’t do enough to give the Penguins a chance to win.
NHL: Letang due back by end of week
Sources tell Inside Pittsburgh Sports that defenseman Kris Letang will return by the end of the week with a likely target date of playing Saturday afternoon against the Florida Panthers. Letang could practice tomorrow before the Penguins depart for Boston. Letang has been out with a foot injury. How will this effect the Penguins blueline? Read more for the latest
The Latest Penguins Buzz
Alexei Kovalev’s numbers (8goals – 19 assists – 27 pts) are down a bit this season but he leads the Canadiens in scoring and indications are Kovalev believes he still has three more good years left in him. Kovalev 35, a unrestricted free agent at season’s end has an interest in resigning with the Canadiens but in all likely hood Kovalev will hit the open market. Sources tell me Kovalev would welcome a return to Pittsburgh with the chance to play with Evgeni Malkin. It remains to be seen how interested the Penguins front office will be in pursuing Kovalev this summer. Petr Sykora may have to settle for a two year deal if he wants to resign with Pittsburgh.