The Hits Keep Coming
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Defenseman Robert Bortuzzo is suffering from concussion-like symptoms, according to coach Dan Bylsma. He will evaluated when the Pens return to Pittsburgh, according to the
Penguins’ Web site.
Bylsma said that either Philip Samuelsson or Carl Sneep would be recalled if Deryk Engelland cannot come back for Saturday’s game.
“Sneep and Samuelsson are possibilities,” the Pens coach said. “They’ve been logging a lot of minutes down there and have progressed really nicely. They’re playing some good hockey for them. They both would be possibilities.”
Engelland returned to practice, but the team was missing six players: Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal, Matt Cooke, Arron Asham, Richard Park and Bortuzzo.
Bylsma offered no update on Crosby’s status after the team’s practice.
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2010 no. 1 draft pick, Beau Bennett, will undergo wrist surgery and miss the next two months or so, according to the
University of Denver Web site.
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RINK LINKS
No specific hit caused Crosby’s headache, the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Bylsma said it was "not a one-time incident in the game" that caused his problem. "He took a couple of hits in the game and didn't feel 100 percent after the game."
It doesn’t really matter if Crosby was clunked by one big hit or a couple hits. All concussions are different and it’s no better to be hit several times by “lesser” hits than a one-time incident.
It’s almost as if Bylsma is trying to minimize worry of Crosby because he wasn’t socked by one big hit. That just shows a lack of understanding about concussions.
Penguins say Crosby doesn’t have a concussion, according to the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
"Dr. Collins said there is no indication of a concussion at this point in time," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said following the team's morning skating in Philadelphia.
"After practice, he had a slight headache. He knows his body well. As a precaution, he's taking tonight's game off and the weekend."
Can we really believe this? Didn’t the team say Kris Letang passed the impact test? Didn’t the Pens say Malkin was okay before he missed the team’s next six games?
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Random Notes From Thursday’s First Two Periods
Dupuis playing point on top power play unit. Matt Niskanen on the other point with Jordan Staal, Chris Kunitz and Tyler Kennedy while Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Matt Cooke, Paul Martin and Brooks Orpik at points rest. Both units get about a minute of time. Malkin hits post short-side.
Briere scores from above the left faceoff circle after his shot pings off both Robert Bortuzzo and Brooks Orpik.
Jagr goes right down the slot on rush. Doesn’t score but shows he’s not scared off Penguins in a high traffic area. Hartnell misses layup from Giroux.
Martin misses net from right point.
Martin’s outlet clear passes directly to Voracek good save by Flower.
11:04 to 9:38 Flyers keep puck in Pens end as Martin fails to clear. Flower using broken goalie stick but Philly can’t convert.
Giroux clear stolen by Malkin – he’s not perfect.
Jagr goes down slot again, draws penalty.
Hartnell cheap shots Staal behind Philly net during Staal short-handed effort. Hartnell frustrated after missing at least two golden scoring opportunities. Hartnell hovers over Staal like he “rules the roost,” according to ROOT’s Bob Errey but Matt Cooke comes over and says that’s not okay to do. Hartnell’s penalty labeled “Cheap Trip.”
OH no, a Penguins’ 5-on-3 looms after Vitale is sticked by Giroux for the two-minute call.
Errey goes crazy on Pens allowing a 2-on-1 and a doorstep chance by Max Talbot.
Did you ever hear the joke about the Pens’ 5-on-3 where an opponent breaks a stick to give Pittsburgh a 5-on 2 ½ and yet still doesn’t score? Nah, that could never happen.
Kennedy and Niskanen re-enact the Crosby-Kunitz collision, only this time they’re skating twice as fast. Fortunately, the two avoid a direct hit.
Fleury flips four pancakes before tapping the puck from his goalie stick to his glove. I don’t think that counts as an additional four saves but it was cool. It would’ve been better if his eyes hadn’t darted so quickly to look at his work on the Jumbotron, but that’s alright. At least he drew some boo’s from the Philly faithful, who thought he was show-boating.
Van Riemsdyk shoots on his on goal 36 seconds into the second period in what might be the Pens’ best opportunity to score thus far. Assistant coach Craig Berube gives JVR an incredulous look.
Sullivan, Malkin and Neal come back 3-on-2 with Sullivan carrying the puck over the blue line. Predictably he drops it off to Malkin in the middle and then Geno dishes hard to Neal. Neal gets off a hard shot that’s saved. A nice rush but so predictable. Did anyone in the house think Sullivan would do anything other than pass? With defenders hugging Malkin, Neal was sure to shoot and he did. A good opportunity, but so predictable and easy to defend.
Martin makes another blatant clearing-pass right to a Flyer, this time on his backhand.
Hey, a MacIntyre sighting. That was fun. He looked like the Goodyear blimp that just hovered right into the Philly crease, almost daring anyone to challenge his presence. Nobody did.
Then we get to see coach Bylsma make several interesting facial contortions with his arms crossed on the bench. Not a good non-verbal sign if you’re one of the players. Bylsma is not a happy camper.
A replay shows Simon Despres getting the skate up and across the back of Zac Rinaldo after a check. Fortunately for Rinaldo he did not get cut.
Big Mac draws a holding the stick penalty on a Kevin Marshall. Way to go MacIntyre!
Penguins power play. The problem with Martin and Sullivan at the point is that teams fear neither one’s shot. In other words, teams can cheat by looking for just three of the five Penguin skaters on the ice.
Dupuis whiffs on a pass in his own end, costing team 10-plus seconds on man advantage and then ends power play with wild slapper that goes around behind net and out of the zone. I can see why Bylsma is boiling.
Giroux blindly throws pass to his point but no one was home on a delayed penalty. The puck went the whole way back up ice and narrowly missed going into the vacated Philly net.
So far Briere’s trick shot stands as the game’s only goal eight minutes into period two.
Power-play dunk by Wayne Simmonds gives Philly a 2-0 lead. Staal, Dupuis, Bortuzzo and Niskanen on ice for Flyers’ goal.
Love the Dec. 8, 1988 “This Day in Penguins History” graphic of a Pens-Flyers box score showing 281 combined penalty minutes. Mike Bullard gone to the Flyers, Zarley Zalapski, Mario, Tim Kerr, Tocchet with Philly, those were crazy games.
Goalies are so up-and-down from year to year that sometimes the Flower and his reasonable contract gets unnoticed. Bryzgalov is making what, $50 million for seven years? Fleury is making the same amount as Paul Martin, $5 million per year – now that’s a bargain.
Steiggy says Jagr won five Art Ross Trophys as Penguin and no Flyer has ever won it. Jagr and Philly’s Eric Lindros tied one season but Jagr had more goals that 88 and technically won the scoring award.
Sullivan gets called for holding Braydon Coburn’s stick, a terrible call if you’re a Pens fan and a sneaky good play from the Flyers end.
Errey continues on about Jagr’s toe curve blade. Maybe Pens should ask refs to check and make sure it’s legal.
Despres intercepts pass by Carle and helps kill Philly power play. Sullivan overskates puck in offensive end, leads to a Flyers rush and Hartnell scores to make it 3-0. Neal and Martin lose their man on rush. Bylsma really has to be mad right now.
Pretty pass from Geno to Neal, who roofs shot past Ilya B. for his eighth power-play goal and 15th overall.
Jordan Staal’s name hasn’t been called too frequently in this game. I’m wondering how he’s feeling since taking a puck to his face for eight stitches. Probably not too good.
Fleury drops easy floater with his glove – he’s got to catch that puck, especially during a Philly power play. Jagr misses open net less than 10 seconds later.
Kunitz blisters one off goal post after Malkin end-to-end rush that featured putting puck between legs of Flyer.
Tyler Kennedy wins fighting decision over Henry Zolnierczyk. The TK takedown was impressive. It was nice to see both players taking their respective helmets off, too, rather than punching with helmets on.
Niskanen loses his balance and footing as Hartnell blows past him for point-blank chance on Fleury. Niskanen cross checks his way into penalty box immediately thereafter.
Fleury makes another big save and Staal hurts hand or wrist in last 10 seconds of period.
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Treasure life!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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