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With apologies to Jussi Jokinen, how can Evgeni Malkin have fewer goals (6) than Jokinen (7)? What’s going on with Malkin this year? No Penguins player has a
higher number of shifts starting out in the offensive zone than Malkin (66.2 percent). That number’s even higher than last season’s (65.9), when he won the Hart Trophy and the Art Ross.
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Links ‘N At
Penguins Notebook: Screws must set before Crosby can even skate, the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Doctors treating Penguins center Sidney Crosby will make a determination about his return when they are confident that he has healed enough and that screws that were surgically implanted in his broken jaw are properly set, according to someone with knowledge of his recovery.
There is no timetable for that.
JT’s Take: Crosby has not suffered from any concussion-like symptoms. In the past, however, he has dealt with exercise-induced symptoms. As a result, he’s not totally out of the woods, as Penguins fans would like to believe.
Penguins recall rookie winger Beau Bennett, the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Bennett has three assists in four games since he was assigned to the Penguins' farm club for roster size purposes. In 19 NHL games with the Penguins this season, he has two goals, nine points.
JT’s Take: Bennett provides the kind of rookie energy the Pens need somewhere in their lineup. He’s too new to the scene to understand the pressure that goes along with a team expected to compete for the Cup.
Adams a cool cat killing penalties, the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
"When I'm out there, I don't feel as frantic as [it looks]," the Penguins forward said of working on the penalty-kill. "I'm pretty relaxed, pretty focused.
"Even if it looks really close or they get a good chance, I'm not getting all excited about it -- whereas if I was on the power play, I'd probably be nervous."
Adams smiled at that last thought.
JT’s Take: Adams doesn’t have to worry about being on the Pens’ power play any time soon. He's one of the few players who've come to the Pens without thinking he's magically turned into an offensive threat, just because of the team he plays for -- see
Georges Laraque.
Morrow’s value to Pens should come in playoffs, the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
“That led us to the Morrow deal. His game is not so much about stats and goals, even though I believe he will chip in. He could be that battle-tested guy who comes up big for us in many ways.”
JT’s Take: Morrow has played his best hockey in the last two games. If you can get past the high price tag for him (Joe Morrow), then it’s easier to enjoy his game. Of course, one wonders if the Penguins would have ever traded for Morrow, if they knew they’d eventually end up with Jarome Iginla.
Penguins are going the distance to build winning atmosphere, the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Eaton was the first free agent that general manager Ray Shero signed upon taking over the Penguins in May 2006.
After signing Eaton, Shero instructed a member of his then-smallish hockey operations staff to send flowers and a welcome package to Eaton's wife, a gesture that has become tradition.
“Ray's a first-class GM, and what he's done with this team has been first class,” Eaton said. “And this ownership, with Mario being around, everybody knows about him. You add all of that in with the winning and the world-class players, Crosby and Malkin, and it's just something people want to be part of.”
JT’s Take: I remember fondly the day the Penguins won the NHL lottery to draft Sidney Crosby. That changed everything in Pittsburgh.
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Biggest non-story (in a good way),
Pens clinch playoff spot.
The maximum number of points the second-place New York Rangers can achieve in the Atlantic Division is 62. They have 42 points with 10 games left. The Pens have 58 points and need just four to clinch the division.
Pittsburgh is set to finish no lower than second in the East. Only Montreal or Boston can end up higher in the conference.
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Jordan Staal and the ‘Canes look like they’ll be golfing early. Carolina is in 13th place in the East, eight points out of eighth. The team still has 11 games left, most in the league, but there are a lot of clubs to leap frog.
Speaking of Staal, it’s interesting to note that both his shooting percentage and points per-game numbers are down. Staal has nine goals and 22 points in 37 games, with a team-worst minus-13 rating. His shooting percentage has dropped from 16.8 percent last season, to 9.9 this year. His points have fallen off from 0.81 per game with the Pens in 2011-12, to 0.59 with the ‘Canes. He’s also
seen more time with Jeffrey Skinner than any other Carolina player, playing with a skilled linemate -- as was his desire.
Staal is an amazing player, but his cap space has helped Pittsburgh tremendously. He's helped the Pens more by trading himself off the team than anything he could've done on it.
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It’s fair to say Jarome Iginla has not had the immediate impact many thought possible. He has one point, six hits and two blocks in four games. Granted, the Pens didn’t pick him up for the regular season. His health going into the postseason is more important than any of his counting stats. But there is some good news.
Iginla has shown to be a slow starter in the last several years for Calgary. In 2009-10, he started the season with two goals and two assists in eight games. The next year, he scored two goals in his first 15. In 2011-12, the captain had just four points in his first 10.
He’s had breakouts each year after scuffling about for the first several weeks. That’s good news for Pittsburgh, as he’ll have played 13 times (barring injury) heading into the 2013 playoffs.
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Should the Penguins have practiced Saturday or Sunday? The team has a number of new players acclimating themselves to a system which takes time to understand. Gone are the four-game per week schedules. Pittsburgh plays no more than three games per week the rest of the way.
Starting from Saturday, the team plays but three times in an 11-day span. I think it’s fair to question whether the Pens should’ve been on the ice Saturday or Sunday.
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Tweets ‘O the Day
Pens Inside Scoop @PensInsideScoop
Kunitz & Malkin reunited -SK "@penguins #Pens lines/D-pairs: 14-71-12 10-36-9 24-16-48 15-27-19 44-4 41-5 2-3 58-47"
Pittsburgh Penguins @penguins 28m
Practice underway at Southpointe. Crosby (broken jaw), Martin (broken bone) and Neal are absent #Pens
*There will be an update on James Neal following Monday’s skate.*
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Treasure Life!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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