Monday Links 'n At, fantasy hockey league update
Links 'n At
Kovacevic: Neal is the real (two-way) deal.
"That's the way we've got to play as a team," Neal said at his stall. "Look, we're going to have chances if we're good in our zone. We have to know that. If we take care of the puck back there, we can jump the other way. It's got to be the first thing we think about. Really does."
Pens score much needed victory over Ottawa.
“We didn‘t want to let any of this keep sliding,” Sidney Crosby said afterward. “It wasn‘t a pretty one, but it‘s good that we won one of those. Sometimes you have to find a way.”
Ex-Pen Gonchar unsure where future will take him.
“He was just so calm, and that kind of wore off on everyone,” Crosby said. “He brought it in the room. He brought it on the ice. He just seemed like he never really panicked. Everything was always calm, cool and collected with him. That carried over.
“He was here my first year. That was the big acquisition for us. The way he treated me — I could not have asked for a better veteran. I was a younger guy, and he was always there to help. You obviously saw that with Geno, but Gonch was that way with all the younger guys. Certainly he was that way with me, and I‘ll never forget it.”
I’m not really advocating the Penguins trade for Gonchar – that’s another story in and of itself – but what’s interesting are the quotes from Crosby and Brooks Orpik about Gonchar.
Matt Niskanen leaves game in first period with injury.
Shelly Anderson initially tweeted that the injury was of the upper-body variety, then lower-body minutes later Sunday evening. Monday’s article doesn’t reveal the nature of the injury, but from watching tape of the play, it appears Niskanen crashed into the left side boards at the 19:05 mark of Period 1. When he tried to get up from the Milan Michalek check, he favored his right leg. Whether it was his knee or ankle is uncertain, but it was obvious he couldn’t put weight on the leg.
If Niskanen needs to go on IR, who takes his place? Simon Despres, a combination of Ben Lovejoy and Deryk Engelland? Remember that Mark Eaton is waiting in the wings at Wilkes-Barre – it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get the nod.
As Ms. Anderson points out, the Penguins play at various start times. In a 10-day period, the team starts at the following times: 8:08, 5:08, 7:38, 7:08, 1:08 and 12:38 (all times Eastern). Is that crazy or what? I don’t know about you, but I could care less if the Penguins ever play another afternoon game.
Penguins’ losing streak ends with 2-1 shootout win at Ottawa.
"I think we needed a good 60-minute game," Marc-Andre Fleury said. "We got a good 65-minute game. Guys were careful defensively. We didn't give up too many back-door [plays] or odd-man rushes."
Madden: Relax, it’s early and Pens’ problems can be solved.
The Penguins’ lack of top four defensemen is glaring. Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik qualify. Paul Martin is holding his own. But past that, zilch. Matt Niskanen is a decent No. 5, no better. General Manager Ray Shero must acquire a top-four defenseman, and soon. Don’t wait until the trade deadline. The No. 1 seed makes life easier. It might have helped last year.
Couldn’t agree more with self-proclaimed “Super Genius.”
Analysis: Pens’ split personality evident early.
Any chance to plug Mr. Metzer is a good thing.
*****
Pens Power Fantasy Hockey League Update
This year the stakes are high. Weekly Wins and Losses are the only thing that matters. It doesn’t matter whether a team wins 9-1, as Bud Ice Penguins did against Letang58 or 6-5, as MEGA MALK’S did to Malkin’s Militia.
9-1, Bud Ice Penguins over Letang58:
Bud Ice Penguins Rode hot starts from the likes of Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane and Erik Karlsson to an easy win. He got a little lucky in the goaltending spots, as Corey Crawford and Craig Anderson outperformed Letang58’s Corey Schneider and Jonathan Quick.
Letang58 – You need to make some roster moves during the week. I might be wrong, but having two IR players, Brooks Laich and Ryan Kesler, on your active roster all week long isn’t going to get it done. Neither is your right winger named –empty—
6-5, MEGA MALK’S over Malkin’s Militia:
Malkin’s Militia won five of eight skater categories but got swept in the four goaltending counting numbers (neither team recorded a shutout). Steven Stamkos, Curtis Glencross, Martin Erat, Ray Whitney and Brian Campbell led MALK’S in points. We’ll see if those guys keep it up. Loui Eriksson and Jarome Iginla should provide nice support.
Patrick Sharp, Andrew Ladd, Henrik Sedin and Alexander Edler helped the Militia. Someone’s going to have to help make up shots on goal with Patric Hornqvist out for 3-4 weeks. Phil Kessel was quiet and Roberto Luongo needs traded to reach his full fantasy value.
8-4, FrolikMy Balls over Magnificent Bastards:
Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Malone and Ryan Callahan helped Ryan to victory. Chris Stewart had four goals and David Clarkson was a beast. Losing Scott Hartnell won’t help the Balls, as he’s a multi-category stud.
The Bastards have a strong roster, but his big guns didn’t have particularly good weeks – Evgeni Malkin and Tyler Seguin, to note. That said, Joe Pavelski and Dany Heatley had very nice showings.
9-2, 5 hole special over Pittsburgh Force
5 hole got some unexpectedly big numbers from Patrick Berglund, Michael Grabner and Kyle Turris. Marian Gaborik did his thing and Tobias Enstrom pocketed six assists.Jimmy Howard and Carey Price got plenty of time in the nets, too.
Pittsburgh Force has Sidney Crosby, Pavel Datsyuk, Teddy Purcell and Saku Koivu with big weeks. Jamie Benn coming back should help going forward. Ilya Bryzgalov got the Force it’s only goalie win.
7-3, Don’t Toews Me Bro over The Donkey Punchers
The Punchers won Goals, Assists, Plus-Minus and nothing else. Toews Me didn’t get Toews, but he did get strong showings from Eric Staal, Dustin Byfuglien, Radim Vrbata. Henrik Lundqvist should help him in the net.
The Donkey Punchers dot plenty of talent.Claude Giroux, Logan Couture, T.J. Oshie and Kris Letang, among others, should make this a strong team. Scott Clemmensen, Jonas Hiller and Mike Smith figure to show their ups after having a down week.
8-4, Errey Otters over WhoseLineIsItEberle?
The Otters won half of the eight skater categories and shut the Eberle’s out of all goalie categories. Anders Lindback and Martin Brodeur got the job done for Errey. Ilya Kovalchuk, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Zetterberg, Teemu Selanne and rookie sensation, Vladimir Tarasenko, make this squad a tough one.
Jordan Eberle led the Eberle’s, along with Brad Richards, Wayne Simmonds and Matt Martin. The Flower got him two wins, Jose Theodore picked up a third, but the Errey Otter’s six wins likely led all teams for the period.
9-3, Malkin in the Middle over GinoSidShow:
This Malkin used James Neal (not surprisingly), Jason Spezza, and Alex Pietrangelo to help carry the win. Damien Brunner and Raphael Diaz also provided good numbers. GinoSid has a formidable lineup including Jonathan Toews, Rick Nash, Taylor Hall, Jeff Skinner and Mike Ribeiro. Joe Corvo and Tyler Kennedy are also on GinoSid but apparently aren’t good enough to crack the active roster as they both finished with zero’s for the period.
7-5, Grumpy Trolls over Schock Jacques
I got Trolled, losing four goalie categories by the slimmest of margins. Antti Niemi, who I have on at least two or three other teams, got four wins for the Trolls. Zach Parise, Thomas Vanek and Martin St. Louis also chipped in with big numbers.
Patrick Marleau’s record-breaking nine goals go for naught on the Schock Jacques, as does Ryan Clowe’s 35 PIM outburst Sunday. Not even the surprising little Cory Conacher could help the Jacques.
*****
Treasure Life!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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