Carolina (19-24-4, 10-10-3 Road) at Pens (35-12, 17-6 Home), Consol, 7:38 pm ET
Welcome back Jordan. Thanks for the six great seasons, especially the back-to-back Stanley Cup appearances. We couldn’t have done it without out you.
And oh yeah, thank you for turning down the Penguins’ 10-year, $60-million offer last summer. Thank you for choosing family over anything else. Your loyalty has helped to put the Pens in position to make another deep playoff run after three straight seasons of early exits.
The money you turned down helped Pittsburgh get Brandon Sutter as your replacement. It helped open up cap space, making it possible to even think about stealing away the trade deadline with Brenden Morrow, Doug Murray, Jarome lginla and Jussi Jokinen. You thought Pittsburgh carried the day last summer at the Consol-hosted entry draft? The Boston Bruins, the team’s biggest competitor, might beg to differ after losing Iginla to the Pens.
Well, I see things haven’t gone the way you hoped this season in Carolina. I feel bad for you, I really do. Losing Cam Ward couldn’t have helped very much. It’s good to see you’re doing a bit better lately, with a goal and eight points in your last 10 games. Over the course of an 82-game schedule, that 26-game stretch during which you registered only 11 points would be nothing more than a blip.
It’s good to see you back Jordan. Thought of you yesterday at the Penguins practice at Southpointe. How many times did you stay on the ice long after practice shooting wristers from high in the slot with Tyler Kennedy? Keep your head up. Have a good game Saturday, but not too good.
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The Penguins will welcome James Neal and Paul Martin back into the lineup in the season finale against the Hurricanes. Neal hasn’t played since April 5, when Rangers defenseman, Michael Del Zotto, delivered a cheap shot elbow to the forward, concussing him for three-plus weeks. Martin has missed since March 28 due to surgery to repair a broken hand. He was named the team’s
defensive player of the year despite missing the last month.
Evgeni Malkin (shoulder) has looked re-energized in the two games he’s played most recently. He’s skating with authority, showing creativity, and generally looking like a player on the verge of a breakout -- with one exception. He’s still not shooting. Malkin has taken a total of two shots in two games. Before leaving with his latest shoulder ailment, he registered 14 shots in two games. How much value can Malkin add with a bum shoulder? How much do the Penguins lose with the 2013 version instead of the healthy 2011-12 one?
Jarome Iginla didn’t score against the Devils. That might not stand as news in and of itself, but the former Flames’ forward (say that five times fast), did have goals in four straight prior to Thursday. Iginla has been a slow starter the last several years, and his transition to Pittsburgh was no different than his starts with Calgary. He looks just fine now, though.
Morrow has gone from a questionable acquisition to fan favorite over the course of a couple weeks. The former Dallas captain has 11 points (5G, 6A) in his last 10 contests. There’s never a doubt about where he’ll be in the offensive end of the ice – right in front of the goalie. He’s also shown to be more than capable in the category of stick-to-stick combat. Trading away Joe Morrow for the Morrow was a big risk, but he has filled a valuable role on this Penguins team.
Jussi Jokinen has nine points (5G, 4A) in his last nine games with Pittsburgh. He’s fit in nicely and is signed for a $3 million cap hit in 2013-14. His versatility gives the Penguins another capable component of depth they previously lacked. Jokinen can play on a first line or a fourth, short-handed or on the power play.
Showing my age, Doug Murray reminds me of a
Rock ‘em, Sock ‘em Robot. He doesn’t move very far or very fast, but you don’t want to linger or get in his way because he’ll take you out. Brooks Orpik and Deryk Engelland needed some help moving forwards from in front of the net, and Murray has delivered.
Speaking of Orpik, he didn’t skate Friday at practice. He suffered a lower-body injury in the first period Thursday and hasn’t been seen since. The team has offered little guidance on his injury particulars. We’ll probably hear more Saturday, but losing Orpik for any part of the playoffs would be big.
Last but not least, Sidney Crosby practiced Friday with the team for the first time since late March. While he won't play Saturday, his return is right around the corner. Crosby went so far as to say that he's just waiting for team doctors to clear him -- he's ready to go now.
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Penguins’ Friday Audio
Dan Bylsma
Sidney Crosby
Courtesy of Pittsburgh Penguins
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Poll Results
Question: Which injured/injury prone player can the Penguins most afford to lose for the playoffs and still win the Stanley Cup?
James Neal and Paul Martin, both of whom return Saturday for the Pens, led the voting as players the Pens could win without in the playoffs. Neal captured 43 percent of the vote; Martin, 36 percent. It will be interesting to see if either of two have big postseasons, lining them up for an “I told you so” moment, for those who voted for (against?) them.
Naturally, Malkin (11 percent) and Crosby (six percent) got little of the vote. Perhaps surprisingly, Kris Letang finished as the player the Pens can least afford to lose – even over Malkin and Crosby – getting just one percent of the vote.
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Treasure Life!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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