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Should the NHL fine or suspend Nystrom for Letang hit?

March 1, 2012, 1:18 PM ET [224 Comments]
John Toperzer
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Kris Letang's absence could put dent in power-play productivity

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Question of the Day:

Will the NHL fine and/or suspender Dallas defender, Eric Nystrom, for his check of Kris Letang on Wednesday? How much/how long?

I couldn’t find any previous Eric Nystrom suspensions. He did break the leg of Edmonton defender, Taylor Fedun, taking out his skate on an icing call in the preseason.

The Pens went 10-11 without Letang in the lineup after the Max Pacioretty Rule 48 hit.



What was with the high school basketball TV camera angles at the game last night? Even I got tired of the usher asking the guy in the long-sleeved blue shirt with the beer in his hand to sit down. Don’t get me wrong, high school basketball is great to watch in person.



Love the fact that Arron Asham challenged Steve Ott, but I’m glad for Asham that he didn’t have to go. Give him a little more time to recovery from his “upper-body” injury. These guys live a tough hockey life.


Matt Niskanen played only one more shift that Deryk Engelland, 23 to 22, but saw nearly six minutes more total ice time, 21:29 to 15:56. That’s what six minutes and 40 seconds of power-play ice time will do for you, I suppose. After going pointless again Wednesday, Niskanen has but three points in 25 games since December. That has to change if Letang misses time.


Craig Adams received prop from the NBC broadcast booth for his hitting ability. Doc Emrick asked rhetorically “Harvard guys aren’t supposed to be that rough, are they?” In near unison both Eddie Olczyk and Pierre McGuire chime in with “he is” responses.


It’s nice having a national broadcaster, Emrick, as a fan of the Penguins. It’s almost like watching ROOT. Wait, did I just say that?


From the things I didn’t know department: “Natalie Lemieux is a nationally-ranked paddle tennis player,” according to McGuire.

From the worst call of the night dept: “This guy likes to go backhand roof,” McGuire says before Pascal Dupuis’ shootout attempt. Dupuis decided the game with a stick-side forehand.


Would you have named Evgeni Malkin one of the game’s three stars? I’m not sure I would have. He had noticeable troubles in his own end that could’ve cost Pittsburgh the game.


Other random notes from Wednesday

Arron Asham “low bridged” Mark Fistric three minutes into the game and the only mention of it came from Emrick, who said “nice duck.”

The Pens went 0-for-5 on the power play after netting six goals in their previous 13 tries.
Fleury misplayed Jamie Benn’s shot after nearly letting in a goal from the neutral zone moments before.

Malkin made one lazy backhand clearing attempt up the middle of the ice. Fortunately, no Stars player was there to take advantage.

Pens had a great response to the aggressive Dallas forechecking one the team was forced to play with only five blueliners.

Letang is the obvious loss, but losing Sullivan would hurt the power play, too.

The facility where the Pens practice sometimes, Southpointe, is on the market for $11 million. It was built in 1995. I remember taking skating lessons there in the late 90s and the instructor said my skates weren’t even good enough for Canonsburg Lake. I think he actually said I should throw them in the lake. Details of the sale can be found here.

The incredulous look on Stephane Robidas’ face after he took a hooking call on Malkin made me laugh out loud.

*****


Treasure life!
JT
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