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Pens Friday: Simon Despres for Devin Setoguchi? |
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Pens win for second time in three matchups with Philly on Thursday
As well as it seems Sidney Crosby has played, scoring 11 goals and 39 points in 24 games, he totaled 37 points (8G, 29A) in 22 contests last year while getting over his concussion and neck woes. There might actually be another level for him to get to in the second half.
Paul Martin returned to the lineup Thursday after a two-game absence, assisting on two goals – for the Flyers. Maybe my 59-point pace tweet yesterday was a bit too soon. At least it was good to get one defenseman back in the lineup.
Much to the chagrin of many Penguins fans and Hockey Buzz readers, Simon Despres continues to see inconsistent time in the lineup. The thinking is that Despres sits against more physical opponents and plays when the team can use his skating ability. I don’t have as big of a problem with the move as do others – I’m just glad the Pens didn’t trade him to Minnesota for Devin Setoguchi.
The trade deadline is less than a month away and one wonders exactly how much dealing will actually get done. From a macro-level, no NHL team is more than seven points out of a playoff spot right now. Last year, teams thought to be sellers, like the Carolina Hurricanes, extended contracts of players supposedly on the market rather than trade them. I’m not so sure this season will be any different, with coaches and GMs looking to keep their jobs instead of thinking long-term for their organization.
One of the biggest things to come out of Thursday has to be the boost of confidence Tomas Vokoun gets after relieving Marc-Andre Fleury for the win. While he wasn’t severely tested in making 14 of 14 stops, there were no fluke goals allowed by Vokoun like the one Jakub Voracek netted for the game-winner on Feb. 20. The Pens have seven games in the next 12 days and will need both netminders.
The regular season is half over and the Penguins hold a 16-8 record. What’s interesting is that the team could end up playing more games in the postseason (28) – four seven-game series – than it’s already done.
I don’t care much for the new realignment plan for 2013-14, but anything’s better than when 16 of 21 teams made the playoffs back in the 1980s. The funny thing, or perhaps the not-so-funny-thing is, that Pittsburgh still rarely qualified.
Watching the Pens light up Braden Holtby a month or so ago, it’s hard to believe that Washington stuck by its young netminder, but it has. The Caps are playing much better hockey as of late and it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see them qualify for the postseason. Of course, that would depend on a collapse or two by Toronto and Ottawa.
*****
Here’s a list of the Penguins’ record whenever these current players are in the lineup
Craig Adams: 16-8
Beau Bennett: 6-3
Robert Bortuzzo: 6-5
Matt Cooke: 16-8
Sidney Crosby: 16-8
Simon Despres: 13-4
Pascal Dupuis: 16-8
Mark Eaton: 3-0
Deryk Engelland: 16-8
Marc-Andre Fleury: 11-5
Tanner Glass: 16-8
Dustin Jeffrey: 7-4
Tyler Kennedy: 16-8
Chris Kunitz: 16-8
Kris Letang: 15-6
Evgeni Malkin: 14-6
Paul Martin: 14-8
James Neal: 16-8
Matt Niskanen: 11-5
Brooks Orpik: 16-8
Brandon Sutter: 16-8
Joe Vitale: 13-7
Tomas Vokoun: 5-3
*****
Treasure Life!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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