Wednesday Practice Update
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Staal, Malkin and Martin are the only 3 guys missing from practice who aren't on IR, according to the
Penguins’ Web site.
Rookie Simon Despres sees his street clothes dangling above ice in a funny scene.
Pens-Hawks Tuesday Review
We learned the Penguins hired a new defenseman in a minute into Tuesday’s game named Brooks “Orpeck,” thanks to a Pierre McGuire pronunciation. Chicago coach Joel Quenneville getting Toews out there against Ben Lovejoy and Alexandre Picard on short changes instead of Matt Niskanen and Orpeck.
HOFer Mike Lange comically joked about how the start of the game was delayed until the refs received the official OK to drop the opening faceoff puck from the Versus television people. The radio episode lasted for no more than a minute, but Lange gave it to ‘em good.
Lovejoy with a huge cross check at center ice that not only bowls over Andrew Brunette but knocks down the Pens’ Jason Williams to complete the spare.
The first time Versus announcer Dock Emrick allows dead air time will means that he’s actually dead.
Deryk Engelland got crushed into his own boards by Bryan Bickell, perhaps foretelling the story of Engelland’s actions later in the night.
Emrick says that Tyler Kennedy is “swaggering away with the puck.” Interesting phrase.
Weak Nick Leddy interference call drawn by Matt Cooke, but refs use it as a makeup call after Cooke gets blatantly tripped with no whistle moments earlier.
Steve Sullivan sitting on 699 career points for two straight games with no luck.
Jonathan Toews see a lot of penalty killing time for a superstar or anyone for that matter. Only Duncan Keith (7:21) and Brent Seabrook (6:39) saw more short-handed time than did Toews (5:04). No wonder he’s always in the running for the Selke.
The 6-foot-2 Engelland hits 5-foot-11 Marcus Kruger with a high forearm on a leaning player already engaged with Pascal Dupuis sending him to the boards. Engelland powers through his check and leaves his feet just upon impact. We’ll see if the Penguins lose another defenseman, this one by possible suspension.
James Neal makes Marian Hossa look like Marian Gaborik playing defense during the Pens’ second power-play, blowing by the flat-footed defender at center ice.
Evgeni Malkin sends Chris Kunitz in on goal with a stretch pass and Kunitz beats goalie Ray Emery. Rookie defenseman Nick Leddy looks like a rookie on the play.
Kunitz’s power-play goal comes off the rush, not a set play. The Pens would go 1-for-7 on the man advantage for the night.
Brooks Orpik continues with problems in his own end. Patrick Kane comes down the right wing on a 2-on-1 and Orpik gives Kane way too much room. Orpik, I mean Orpeck, could still be dealing with the effects of sports hernia surgery. Whatever the reason, his gap control is off and the Pens are paying the price.
If I’m Chicago I find a way to get Viktor Stalberg on the ice more than 13:33 TOI. Nine shots? A goal and an assist? Quenneville needed to get Stalberg on the ice.
Michael Frolik is flaming out with the Hawks after a decent showing in 2010-11.
Pittsburgh’s Jason Williams misses an open net chance and then takes two minutes for tripping.
Incidentally, that’s the worst fight I can remember Engelland engaging in. Perhaps he was still feeling it after flying through the air on the Kruger check. John Scott is big, but I’ve never seen Engelland get dominated before.
Staal hurts himself on a late first-period 2-on-1 break. Looks like his undisclosed injury is a groin.
Chicago needed a better scouting report on Marc-Andre Fleury. Too many shots right into his body and not enough glove side.
Neal wrists the second goal far side like Mark Messier and Mark Recchi did so many times before him. Malkin dominates the ice for a half minute before that, with the puck seemingly following him around on a string.
I clocked the goalie horn blow for 22.12 seconds with a quick break at the 12-second mark. Too long. Chicago was big on the horn, now every team does it. I liked it better when it was a Chicago thing. Enough of my Andy Rooney side. RIP.
Versus trying to rival ROOT Sports, shows a Chicago 2-on-1 instead of Kane hooking call on Geno leading to another Pittsburgh power-play chance.
Pascal Dupuis went pointless and has three points in nine December contests.
I don’t know which was more surprising. Malkin (16-8) and Staal (16-7) succeeding on faceoffs or Joe Vitale winning only two of 10 draws.
Hossa gets booed every time he touches puck, but fans simply clearing their throats in preparation for the return of Jaromir Jagr on Dec. 29.
Emrick regales viewers with his knowledge of the bench, saying if you only see 13 players on the bench (other than in Montreal) then you know the team is down a player. Didn’t New Jersey dress 16 guys against the Pens early in 2010-11? Didn’t Emrick broadcast Devils games?
Prior to Tuesday, Malkin led the team drawing penalties, with 12. James Neal and Joe Vitale drew 11 apiece and Matt Cooke had 10.
Matt Niskanen now has nine points (1, 8) in the last eight games. It’s hard to say whether he’ll maintain his high level of play for the rest of the season, but who cares? He’s coming through when the team needs him most.
Geno might have a difficult time eating
Russian pierogies for Christmas after Bryan Bickell’s high stick. Kris Letang likes Russian pierogies, too.
Has James Neal taken over the mantle of designated penalty receivee from Matt Cooke?
Seems like whenever the refs want to even things up Neal gets a call. He’s got to be careful not get a label the way Malkin did a couple seasons ago or the way Cooke used to. Neal took three minors Tuesday, and oh yeah, he scored his 19th goal of the season, too.
Nice to see Tyler Kennedy with an easy wrister into an open net for his first goal since Nov.
25. Let’s hope that gets him going.
Hawks use Philly’s old tried and true method of taking so many potential penalties that the refs simply swallow whistles on some. Toews trips up Malkin in the Chicago end, leading to a rush up ice in which the Chicago captain scores off of Niskanen’s stick.
Pens beat a team that was undefeated (7-0-1) in the month of December.
Wednesday’s outdoor Penguins practice cancelled due to 60 degrees and rain.
Former Pirates reliever and current ROOT Sports analyst, Ken Tekulve, gets face time at CONSOL while eating popcorn or something. Teke shakes the kernels off his shirt the way he shook off Steve Nicosia and the Otter.
The Hawks’ Patrick Sharp led all Chicago forwards in ice time (23:24) but he had a very quiet game. Only mention that because he’s 11th in the league in scoring.
Chicago recalled Brandon Pirri from AHL Rockford on Wednesday. Fantasy players in deep leagues take note. Brandon Saad, btw, has 10 goals and 22 points in 14 OHL games. If anyone knows the specifics on Saad’s season, please post in comments.
The last 10 minutes of the third period had to be the longest 10 minutes of the season, if that makes any sense.
John Scott tracked down Arron Asham on a third-period break but Scott had the skating angle.
Could’ve used a Staal breakaway goal moments after the Asham break.
After watching
video of Mario Lemieux playing pickup hockey, I’m not going to dream of his return to the Pens’ power play. When Jay Caufield is the clear-cut best player among alumni … I don’t know if younger Pens know this, but in case they don’t, Caufield was a total scrub on the ice when he played and couldn’t keep his balance whenever he fought.
When Neal was flagged for his final penalty with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, the Hawks basically had a two-man advantage with Emery pulled. At the same time, the penalty allowed Pittsburgh to clear the puck with no threat of icing. I think the NHL should institute a rule whereby short-handed teams should be whistled for icing the last five minutes of the game and overtime.
Matt Cooke talks about using the Hawks as a measuring stick, with a certain “swagger.” Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor is probably looking for a fee every time a pro athlete or announcer mentions swag.
*****
Treasure life!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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