The Mike Lange Sounboard App (Android version)...

It's been a long time coming, hasn't it? Back in 2009 we introduced the internets first Mike Lange Soundboard. Given the tremendous feedback we got, we pondered the idea of creating a second version of it with additional Langisms (as you can see from the comments).

Though with the boom of the mobile app industry we decided to take a different route. Today we're happy to announce the MIKE LANGE SOUNBOARD APP!

I know, I know, why isn't it available for iPhone yet. Truth is folks Apple like to take a little more time to scrutinize their mobile apps. It'll be worth the wait, don't worry. It should be available in the next few weeks. In the meantime, enjoy the free version, or you can download the ad-free version for $0.99.


Unlike the online version, we'll be adding new clips to the app on probably a monthly basis. So this baby is only gonna get better!!!

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Make me a Milkshake, Malkin!

by Chris Crowell

What a difference a season makes. One year ago I personally had left Geno for dead after his knee surgery. Yes, I call me the pessimist. Yours truly hinted in the off-season that the Pens would even be better off without his albatross of a contract and less than motivated attitude, to boot.

Now, I am not afraid to admit when I'm wrong, but I'm dead in the water on this one. I once said that Geno has never looked the same since he held the Conn Smythe over his head 3 years ago. But dare I say he's making room in his trophy cabinet for a little more hardware at this rate.

I have a mighty big crow sandwich to get down, but I think I'm going to need a Malkin Milkshake to wash it down if he keeps this up. And I hope the taste never gets stale. 71 hasn't looked this determined in a long while-maybe, since his rookie breakout season. It actually looks like he wants to go through people rather than around them, as evidenced by his many faceoff tricks as of late.

One of the collateral advantages to Geno stepping up is that it seems that the whole team has taken on his likeness at times this season. In short, his play has been contagious. This can only be deemed a blessing for us as Pens fans in more than one way. Without Crosby’s glaring leadership abilities there is such a void.

But we now have what surely can only be an MVP season from Malkin, and with nearly 20 some odd games to go. This has given us new life into what was almost a lost season at one point.. With a little depth on trade deadline day and Sid's return and this will vault the Pens to the top of the heap again.

I don't think it matters where the chips fall in April. As long as we make it in, there can be no doubt where the season took shape and where it all began. I had Fleury as mid season MVP, but I'm a bit of a homer on that one. 7+1=8 and as long as the Pens are in the top 8 it's because of 71 and I'm riding this wave all the way.

So thanks for making me a believer again and every bite I get down of this sandwich will remind me just how lucky we truly are. Let's hope we see more of the same today against Buffalo. Oh, and we can also breathe easier now that his favorite linemate Real Deal is locked up for another 6.

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What's The Buzz? Tell Me What's Happenin'!

Today's buzz: The Power line, Brent Johnson, trade deadline and more!

The Power Line.

A combined 19 points in their past 9 periods of play, 34 in the month of January. Can you say beastmode? 

Brent Johnson.

Let's face it, Brent Johnson hasn't been too hot this season but got a much needed win against the Tampa Bay Lightning this past Sunday. Going to say it again, hey BeeJ...

Trade Deadline.

Nash, Parise, Bobby Ryan. Shero better get dealing. It's fun to speculate what a GM might do at the deadline but talking realistically, we really have no clue. Ray Shero is a known mastermind when it comes to wheeling and dealing, so let's sit back and enjoy the show, eh?

Defense, anyone?

After a 8-5 win over the Jets, fans were asking if the Pens' defense knew there was a game. To say the defense has been a little lack luster lately is an understatement. HC Dan Byslma, more than likely, thinks the same since switching up the defensive pairings. Martin and Michalek, whom were a great shutdown pair last season, have been split up. Wednesday night we saw a mix-match of just about everything. Eventually they will click, right?

 Secondary Second.

The lack of.. It's been a issue and still is. No doubt it's great seeing Geno, Kuni and Nealer rip it up but how long will that last? Jordan Staal has been contributing nicely since returning from injury as well as defenseman Kris Letang but that isn't going to be enough, especially with the post season arriving quickly.

Wheeling Feeling.

Tonight the Nailers will travel to Johnstown to battle the Elmira Jackals for first place in the Atlantic Division. Unfortunately, the Nailers will be without some of their top players; Zack Torquato and Peter Lenes. Torquote who suffered an injury and Lenes whom was loaned to the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs. Also the Nailers will be without Olivier Dame Malka, Nick Petersen and their captain Paul Crowder, all who have been recalled or loan to the AHL. Wheeling did claim Chase Watson from Elmira off of waivers to fill some void.

Have a subject you thought needed some recognition? Put your buzz in the comment section below!

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Blueline Beat: 2/1/12-2/15/12

Here is my recap of the first handful of games for February.



Pens vs. Leafs 2/1 (L 1-0)
-With Engelland being a bit banged up Lovejoy got the start in this game.
-Brent Johnson got the start in this game and gave a better effort than his previous games, but still unfortunately ended up with a loss. He stopped 23 of 24 shots
-Martin led the defense with three shots on goal.
-Letang and Michalek led the team in blocked shots with five apiece.
-Letang led in ice time with 25:00.




Pens vs. Bruins 2/4 (W 2-1)
-The Pens worked hard for this victory. They played an aggressive, gritty game, much like the Bruins' style of hockey.
-Fleury stopped 28 of 29 shots. He made key saves late in the game that helped the Pens come out with a victory.
-Martin led the defense with two shots on goal.
-Orpik led the team with four blocked shots.
-Letang led in ice time with 25:51.



Pens vs. Devils 2/5 (L 5-2)
-Niskanen scored his third goal of the season on the power play.
-Fleury should not have started this game after playing a tough game the day before in Boston. He stopped 9 out of 12 shots before being pulled in the second period. Johnson came in and stopped 11 out of 12 shots.
-The Pens were just not on their game here and played sloppy, and the Devils took advantage of that.
-Letang led the defense with three shots on goal.
-Michalek led the team with three blocked shots.
-Letang led in ice time with 22:19.



Pens vs. Canadiens 2/7 (OTL 3-2 SO)
-Martin earned his 17th assist on the goal from Neal.
-Again, this was not the best effort we have seen from the Pens, but they managed to hold on through overtime to take the game into a long shootout.
-Fleury stopped 28 out of 30 shots.
-Michalek led the defense with three shots on goal.
-Martin and Orpik led the team with three blocked shots apiece.
-Letang led in ice time with 27:31.




Pens vs. Jets 2/11 (W 8-5)
-Letang earned his 19th assist on the goal from Jeffrey.
-Fleury earned his second assist on the goal from Kunitz.
-Letang then scored his sixth and seventh goals of the season, the seventh being on the power play.
-Orpik also earned his ninth assist on the goal from Park.
-This was a fun game to watch in terms of all the goals scored, but on the other hand it was not a good defensive effort with five goals still being scored on the Pens.
-Orpik delivered seven hits in this game.
-Fleury stopped 20 out of 25 shots.
-Engelland led the team with five shots on goal.
-Orpik led the team with six blocked shots.
-Letang led in ice time with 24:45.



Pens vs. Lightning 2/12 (W 4-2)
-Letang earned his 20th and 21st assists on goals from Malkin and Kunitz, respectively.
-Letang also scored his eighth goal of the season, which made this the second game in a row he scored three points.
-Johnson also earned his first assist of the season on the goal from Kunitz.
-After giving up two goals (the first which he probably should have stopped), Johnson held the fort and earned a much needed victory. He stopped 21 out of 23 shots and made a lot of big saves.
-Bylsma mixed up the bottom two defensive pairings, which ended up with positive results. With Martin not being a physical player, being paired up with Engelland helped provide that physicality. Niskanen is a quick skater with offensive potential, while Michalek is more a defensive defenseman, so they can compliment each other better as well.
-Michalek led the defense with five shots on goal.
-Michalek led the team in blocked shots with five.
-Letang led in ice time with 23:11.



Pens vs. Ducks 2/15 (L 2-1)
-The bottom two defensive pairings kept getting switched around in this game, and at times they looked a bit lost.
-The team recorded 20 hits in this game. Orpik had nine of them.
-Fleury stopped 27 out of 29 shots.
-Letang led the defense with four shots on goal.
-Martin led the defense with three blocked shots.
-Orpik led in ice time with 24:39

Best of the Blueline

Naturally...

With the way he has been playing since his return from his injury, Letang has deservedly been turning heads. He is a force in all three zones and just seems to be everywhere on the ice. Offensively he is a key factor, averaging almost one point per game (0.85 points per game, to be exact). Defensively he plays smart, and has more than once in recent times stopped the puck that had slipped behind Fleury from going in the net. He can join in on the rush and is still quick enough to get back when play goes in the opposite direction. His game has become more physical and he can deliver a highlight reel hit. Letang's presence on the power play was sorely missed, whether it be his dangerous shot from the point or down low near the net where he can bang one in. Had he not missed 21 games with his concussion, he would surely be one of the top contenders for the Norris Trophy.

Thanks for reading, and Let's Go Pens!

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Road Trip to Wilkes-Barre.

The wife and I recently traveled to Wilkes-Barre for a weekend away to take in a WBS Pens game at the Mohegan Sun Arena against the Portland Pirates. I've always wanted to go out there and see another part of the cog that is the Penguins machine. Needless to say, we didn't come away disappointed. Just wanted to fill you in on our experience over there.





We had attended the Pens Prospect Camp at the Consol this past summer, so we were familiar with some of the names, along with some guys we've seen get callups. After a slow start and getting down 2-0 (sound familiar?), the Pens battled back to make it 2-1 at the end of the first period. After Portland made it 3-1 going into the third, the Pens started to battle back and were rewarded with a goal to close the gap to 3-2 midway through the period. The momentum really shifted and they tied it up with 2 minutes to go. With all the energy on their side, they ended it quickly, striking 30 seconds into overtime to win the game.

I followed the WBS Pens casually before, now I am definitely a fan.

The atmosphere at the Arena was fun and the place really began to buzz when the Pens were on the Comeback Trail. Just a great energy to the building. Not too many corporate suits and people who just wanna be "cool" cause they're at a game, like the Consol gets many of sometimes. Like any place, it has it's share of yinzers. Like the old man and his wife in front of us, who wanted interference on every play and left midway through the third with the Pens trailing by 2. I laugh at you, and every hockey fan who leaves a close game early.

The food and souveneirs were simple, the "jumbotron" reminded me of the old Civic Arena, but it took me back to a simpler time. We're a little spoiled at the CEC with our huge HD screen, high tech graphics and expensive burger places. It was nice to get back to a simpler hockey experience. Enjoyed it thoroughly.

The mascot, Tux, very entertaining. A little crazy, but entertaining indeed.

After the game, we went to Lucky's for a few drinks and saw Ben Street eating with his family. Hockey players are regular people!!!

Had an opportunity to help a great cause too. The WBS Pens were supporting the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society by selling wristbands and raffle tickets for a signed Mario jersey. The cause hit close to home for them because Chris Kobella, the Season Ticket Sales Executive, is battling the disease himself. Chris dropped the ceremonial puck before the game and was helping to sell the wristbands at intermission. I went to the booth and bought a few off him. I was glad I had the brief opportunity to shake his hand and wish him luck. All the best to Chris.

You can see the Baby Pens follow the same style of play the Pens do. The defenseman pinch up when they see the oppurtunity and they are best when playing a puck possession, offensive game. But they picked up the physical play and hitting when they needed to also.

Hard to say much from a one game sample, but we have a few new favorite WBS Pens players. A few forwards that stood out to me with their hard work were Zach Sill, Paul Thompson, Ryan Craig, Bryan Lerg, Brandon DeFazio, and Geoff Walker. Joey Mormina, Brian Strait, and Alex Grant showed some solid play from the blueline. Unfortunetly, we didn't get to see 2 guys I would have liked to in Simon Despres and Philip Samuelsson who were out due to injury. Now will we see any of the aforementioned guys in the Pittsburgh Penguins uniform someday? Time will tell, like I said, it's hard to say much after one game.

I'd definitely like to go back someday and I absolutely recommend going out to any Pens fans thinking of going.

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What's The Buzz? Tell Me What's Happenin'!

Okay, enough with the rock opera stuff and let's get to hockey. In this column, we will discuss what Pens fans have been buzzing about lately on Twitter, Facebook and even dinner table conversation. (imagine that!)

Sidney Crosby.  

The first and most obvious subject, the Captain. From a broken neck to his mystery press conference to his recent comments about not being symptom free yet; a lot has been swirling around about him and quite frankly, fans are frustrated. Can ya blame them?

I like to think that most Pens fans and general hockey fans want the best for Crosby. He, along with other NHL stars, make the game appealing to fans of all ages and undoubtedly to those who pay good money on tickets.

But there come a time where we as fans must place our fan card on the shelf and look at the situation differently, without our black and vegas gold glasses. Crosby not only has to consider his career but his life beyond hockey.  But until Crosby is 100%, fans will have to deal with conflicting media reports and more vague updates.

Staal and Despres.

As if we are lucky on the injury front, fans received refreshing news that forward Jordan Staal and defenseman Simon Despres are close to returning to the lineup. Staal said, "Not far, I don’t think. It’s feeling really good. It’s just a matter of time."

Evgeni Malkin.

Enough said.

Tyler Kennedy. 

The Ol' boy is the latest player that has been added to the shelf pending his reevaluation today. Even with an injury, TK has managed to cause quite the stir amongst fans. The 25 year old forward, who has a cap hit of 2 million since receiving a new deal this past off season, has managed only 6 goals and 22 points so far. A lot want Kennedy on the platter for the deadline.

Paul Martin.

Speaking of trade deadline, let's put Paul Martin out here, oh wait....errr...NTC. Unless GM Shero has the freak powers of that chick in Wolverine where he places his hand on Martin's shoulder and tells him to walk back to New Jersey and never turn around,  Paul Mart is here to stay BUT stranger things have happened.

Eric Tangradi.

In a sense, you have to feel bad for the guy, right? I mean people talked Tango up to be this awesome big body forward that would put Ryan Malone to shame. With a few good shifts here and there, Tangradi really hasn't lived up to all of the expectations. This brings up the question, is Tangradi still in the plan? .....who honestly know what will happen, but we do know one thing that does happen to him...

 

PK Subban.

Without a doubt Subban is "dangerously tripping" his way up to the top of the jagoff list. The guy is a good player with a craptastic attitude. He's shown he has little to no regard for the safety of his fellow NHLers and as Josh Yohe reported, "I can assure you that Subban is the NHL's most unpopular player in the Penguins' locker room. They don't like the guy, as you just saw."

Habs Fans.

Boooooooooooooooooooooo! "Guys, we just won the game.." "Oh?" ... Booooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Brent Johnson.

Today we'll end the buzz with Brent Johnson. Yes Johnny has been a little iffy lately but we've got faith in BeeJ. So BeeJ our message to you is...

LETS GO PENS!

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Blueline Beat: 1/19/12-1/31/12 and January Stats

After going on a rough losing streak the Pens ended January on a high note with an eight game winning streak. Also boosting the team was the return of Kris Letang to the lineup on January 19 versus the Rangers, and he looked like he didn't miss a beat. Here is my recap of the final games of January and the individual player stats.

Pens vs. Rangers 1/19 (W 4-1)

-Martin earned his 13th assist on the Kunitz goal.

-Engelland earned his ninth assist on the goal from Park.

-Letang earned his 17th assist on the first goal from Malkin.

-While they have not looked the best this season, the Martin/Michalek pairing gave a strong effort here.

-Fleury stopped 30 of 31 shots faced.

-Martin led the team with four blocked shots.

-Engelland and Letang led the defense with three shots on goal.

-Letang led in ice time with 24:17 in his first game back.

Pens vs. Canadiens 1/20 (W 5-4 SO)

-Letang scored his fourth goal of the season.

-Michalek earned his fifth assist of the season on the first goal from Jeffrey.

-Letang also earned his 18th assist on the goal from Malkin.

-The Pens gave a much better effort in the third period of this game than the first two periods, which allowed them to tie the game.

-Fleury stopped 25 out of 29 shots and was a key part of the team's victory.

-Martin led the team with four blocked shots.

-Letang led the defense with four shots on goal.

-Letang led in ice time with 28:14.

Pens vs. Capitals 1/22 (W 4-3 OT)

-Letang scored his fifth goal of the season on the power play.

-Orpik earned his eighth assist on the second goal from Neal.

-Martin earned his 14th assist on the overtime goal from Malkin.

-In watching these few games since Letang's return, you could just see the difference he makes on the ice. Not only that, his return helped take some of the pressure and ice time off of the other defensemen.

-Fleury stopped 17 out of 20 shots.

-Letang led the team with four blocked shots.

-Letang led the defense with four shots on goal.

-Letang led in ice time with 27:09.

Pens vs. Blues 1/25 (W 3-2 SO)

-Martin earned his 15th assist on the goal from Neal.

-Engelland earned his 10th assist on the goal from Sullivan.

-Fleury played an outstanding game here. He stopped 32 out of 34 shots in a hard fought game.

-Michalek led the team with four blocked shots.

-Letang and Niskanen led the defense with two shots on goal.

-Martin led in ice time with 25:56.

Pens vs. Leafs 1/31 (W 5-4 SO)

-Martin earned his 16th assist on the goal from Cooke.

-Once again, Fleury played a remarkable game, stopping 35 out of 39 shots. Quite frankly he has probably been the most valuable player on the ice in these times.

-Letang led the team with three blocked shots.

-Engelland, Letang, and Michalek led the defense with two shots on goal.

-Letang led in ice time with 24:21.

January Stats

(leader of each category will be bolded)

Orpik

GP: 12

Points: 0G 3A

SOG: 7

Blocked Shots: 18

Hits: 53

Average Ice Time: 23:40

(+/-) +3

Letang

GP: 5

Points: 2G 2A

SOG: 14

Blocked Shots: 10

Hits: 6

Average Ice Time: 25:45

(+/-) +4

Martin

GP: 11

Points: 0G 7A

SOG: 13

Blocked Shots: 24

Hits: 2

Average Ice Time: 23:50

(+/-) +2

Michalek

GP: 12

Points: 0G 1A

SOG: 16

Blocked Shots: 20

Hits: 13

Average Ice Time: 22:15

(+/-) -3

Engelland

GP: 12

Points: 0G 2A

SOG: 19

Blocked Shots: 4

Hits: 30

Average Ice Time: 15:31

(+/-) even

Niskanen

GP: 12

Points: 0G 1A

SOG: 18

Blocked Shots: 12

Hits: 13

Average Ice Time: 17:23

(+/-) +2

Lovejoy

GP: 5

Points: 1G 0A

SOG: 13

Blocked Shots: 5

Hits: 5

Average Ice Time: 13:51

(+/-) -1

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Blueline Beat: The Road So Far

With this being the All-Star break and being a little over the halfway point of the season, here's my look back at how the defensemen have performed so far.

In the midst of all the injuries to the defensemen, Brooks Orpik has stepped up even more as a team leader this year. He has spoken up when the team was in their slump and will not mince words. He is a monster in terms of physicality: in 41 games played he has racked up 145 hits. He does not provide a lot of offense, but with 10 points so far, he has the potential to beat his total last year (13 points). He is a valuable veteran presence to this defense.

Kris Letang had an unfortunate 21-game absence due to a concussion, but upon his return he looks like he hasn't skipped a beat. In his first four games back, he has averaged just over 26 minutes of ice time. It is apparent that his rigorous conditioning has paid off. Letang has a wicked shot that can find his way through traffic. The power play is his to QB and he has shown to be a threat on it either at the point or roaming towards the net. Any mistakes he makes are few and far between. Currently he is averaging about one point per game, which we can continue to expect throughout the rest of the season.

If there was an award for "most improved since last season", that would go to Matt Niskanen. He improved his game because he had to to earn a roster spot on a team rich with defensemen. Niskanen had a strong training camp and has a total of 16 points during the first half of the season, which has already surpassed his total last season. Niskanen really had a chance to stand out while he luckily avoided injury while other players went down. He is making smarter decisions on the ice and is a good skater. However, he has fallen into a bit of a lull in the point department lately, with only one assist in the last 11 games. A little bit more consistency in that regard would be a good thing for him to work on.

Deryk Engelland is another defenseman who has improved his game this season. He has earned 12 points so far this year, surpassing his point total in 63 games played last season. Like Orpik, he is another physical presence on the blueline and is willing to drop the gloves. Engelland has the ability to make a good shot, but we do not get to see it too often. With the effort he puts out though, he is a solid presence on that final pairing on the Pens defense.

Paul Martin has been the topic of many conversations this season, and many of them have had a negative tone. His $5 million salary brings a lot of complaints, especially this season, because he has not had the best run. He found some difficulties in the absence of his partner Michalek and has been a minus the whole season. Many times he is on the ice against difficult top-line opponents where he has struggled. He has the tendency to get caught up ice at times. As of late though, his game has started to pick up. He sits at 16 points this season and his chemistry with Michalek is starting to show again. Bylsma has recently defended his play. While he can make a bad play, just as quickly he can turn around and help set up a goal. Martin can log a lot of minutes without much difficulty. I wouldn't write him off just yet.

Zbynek Michalek is another player who has been plagued with the injury bug this year. In terms of his strengths, he is a great shutdown defenseman who you do not see making many mistakes. He is a key member of the team's penalty kill unit and a great shot blocker. Michalek has a solid shot, but does not use it enough. It seems like when he does, it is right in a spot where the goaltender can make an easy save. With a little bit more variety there, he can be a greater threat offensively. In spite of that, he is a key member of this team's defense.


With a healthy blueline roster, Ben Lovejoy looks to be the one who will end up as the seventh defenseman. However, he seems to take it all in stride. During his stretch of playing time, we have seen that he plays with energy and tenacity. He can move the puck well in most situations. Lovejoy has the tendency to make some mistakes, which is something that experience can fix.

Simon Despres got the oppotunity to show off his skills during a time when he was needed on the blueline in the injury run. He held his own surrounded by top caliber NHL players. Despres is a mobile skater and he has shown he has the ability to produce offensively ( 4 points in 14 games with the Pens). Unfortunately he is now sidelined with a knee injury and will hopefully return to action soon. He is only 20 years old and still needs time to develop his game in the minors, along with developing more physicality. He has the potential to do great things in the NHL.

Alexandre Picard also got a good chunk of time with the Pens, playing 17 games with the team. In his run he scored four points. He was not one you noticed much on the ice, but that does not mean that was a bad thing. He gave a solid effort and did not make mistakes to harm the team. Picard is another reliable call-up from the Baby Pens when his services are needed.

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Forward Progress: 1st Half Grades

As we come to the All-Star Break, the Pens sit at 5th in the East with 33 games left to play. At a little more than halfway through the season, here are my Forward Grades.





Evgeni Malkin: A+
-Had a torrid preseason and started the season strong. Injury woes popped up again early, but he's rebounded and since Sid went down, Geno has elevated his game to levels we have not seen in a couple years. Playing fantastic hockey lately, leading the NHL in scoring with 58 points in only 42 games and hitting on all cylinders with his linemates. Taking over games and carrying the team on his back. If he stays healthy and motivated, expect more huge things from Malkin.





James Neal: A
-Last year's goal drought is LONG gone. Tied for second in the NHL in goals with 27. Tied for first in power play goals with 13. Leading the league in shots. 47 points in 49 games. All-Star. Terrific chemistry with Malkin. Forechecks like a beast and plays responsible in his own end. Primed for a big second half and the 40 goal mark. My only complaint is he seems to take too many minor penalties.





Chris Kunitz: B+
-Complements Neal and Malkin nicely on the top line. Gritty winger hits anything that moves and provides net front presence on the PP. 14 goals and 18 assists in 49 games. Would like to see him score more goals, but they keep getting called back.





Jordan Staal: B
-Grade would be higher, but he's been plagued with injuries. Out for a few more weeks with a knee injury. When healthy this year, he's been a terrific two way player. 15 goals in the 34 games he's played and strong on the PK and a shorthanded threat. If he can come back from the knee injury and play his type of game, he will be a force and make the Pens an even better team down the stretch.





Pascal Dupuis: B
-Was on a points tear for awhile, but has since cooled considerably. Has 27 points in 49 games. Still strong on the PK. Would like to start seeing him score again and give the Pens that secondary scoring they are going to need.





Matt Cooke: B+
-Much like Dupuis, his scoring has dropped off lately, but I've really been impressed with how he has changed his game and not been that guy that everyone hates. 16 penalty minutes, only 8 minors, in 49 games. Excellent on the PK. Would like to see a little more than his 7 goals and 9 assists for that all important secondary scoring.





Tyler Kennedy: D
-Yes, very disappointed in TK. He's missed some time to injury, but 6 goals in 38 games isn't going to cut it. Stepped up last year but been very one-dimensional and virtually invisible lately. He doesn't kill penalties and gets very little PP time, so he needs to start scoring more at even strength, especially with Sid out of the lineup.





Steve Sullivan: B
-Not doing too bad. Surprisingly hasn't missed a game yet and has potted 9 goals and 14 assists. Has really helped the power play, but the turnovers at the blueline on the power play drive me absolutely crazy though. Would also like to see a little more consistency in scoring.





Dustin Jeffrey: C
-Missed a ton of time with a bad knee, but seems to finally be getting back to his game as evidenced by a recent 2 goal, 3 point game. Gonna need him to step up and help in the scoring department in the second half.





Richard Park: B-
-4 goals and 9 points from someone not even expected to make the team in training camp. Has proved valuable on the third line and the PK. Like many players, more consistency in his game is needed.





Joe Vitale: A-
-I love this guy. He's not here to score, but has 2 goals and 9 points. He's here to win faceoffs and bang bodies and he does it well. Valuable 4th line and PK player.





Craig Adams: B+
-Another guy I love. Doesn't show up on the scoresheet much, but shows up every night to play gritty hockey. Hits, fights, blocks shots, gives it all on the PK. Tough as nails.





Arron Asham: B-
-Was rolling along fine in his role til struck with another concussion. Drops the gloves to protect teammates and plays his fourth line, veteran role with pride.





Eric Tangradi: D
-12 games, 2 fights (???), 2 broken panes of glass, no goals. Needs to step it up and provide secondary scoring and hasn't shown much at the NHL level yet. This is his time to prove himself NHL-worthy. Not that he hasn't been playing hard, it's just not happening. Needs to find a way to get his game going at this level.



Steve Macintyre: D
-Has been back and forth between here and the Baby Pens. Gets only seconds of ice time and has no fights in his 11 games in the NHL this year. Not his fault so much, as it seems the "enforcer" player is becoming expendable and there are less and less guys to fight.


So, everyone likes to play GM and say how they would fill out the lines, so here are my two takes...a healthy roster without Sid, and a healthy roster with Sid.


Healthy Without Sid:
Neal-Malkin-Kunitz
Cooke-Staal-Dupuis
Kennedy-Jeffrey-Sullivan
Adams-Vitale-Park/Asham

Healthy With Sid:
Neal-Malkin-Kunitz
Dupuis-Crosby-Sullivan
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Adams-Vitale-Park/Asham

Without Crosby, I think the Pens can still be very dangerous if they get secondary scoring going from guys like Jeffrey, Cooke, Dupuis, Sullivan, Kennedy to complement scoring machines Malkin and Neal.

With Crosby, the Pens can finally get back to throwing three dangerous lines with three great centers at opponents. Look. Out.

Either way, I'm excited for this second half of the season and can't wait to see what kind of a ride the boys take us on.

LETS GO PENS!

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5 questions at the All-Star break

The Pittsburgh Penguins have reached the All-Star break riding a wave of victories. After dropping six straight, the boys had some fun with Duct Tape and put together a seven game winning streak. Isn't Duct Tape amazing?

With half a season to go and the Penguins sitting in 5th place in the Eastern Conference (as of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning), many questions remain with the team and how the rest of the season could play out.

5. Does Ray Shero make a trade before the deadline?

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Malkin and Neal have both had incredible seasons thus far. 71, 18 or both players have had at least a point during this seven game winning streak. It looked like a no brainer Shero would shake things up during the six game losing streak. Things may look peachy now, but you know Shero is always keeping an eye on the market. I think the Pens need another player they can count on to put pucks in the net besides two guys on the same line. Names like Zach Parise and Ales Hemsky have been thrown around the trade rumor mill recently. My gut tells me Shero pulls the trigger again for a scorer before all is said and done.

4. Can Geno win the scoring title?

AP

I must break you. Drago, aka Evgeni Malkin, is destroying it right now. Leading the scoring race with 58 points and just 26 goals, Malkin averages 1.38 points/night. Before Crosby got injured last season, he was making it rain points averaging 1.61 points/night. Very comparable between the two. However, much like the team he plays for, Malkin struggles against Atlantic Division teams. At the break, Malkin only has 12 points against teams in the Penguins' division. Geno and the Pens as a team need to start winning divisional games. I think the Pens will do just that with Malkin winning the scoring title.

3. Can Flower carry the load?

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The Pens have won seven straight, and so has Marc-Andre Fleury. With a record of 26-12-2, Flower ranks in the top 10 among NHL goaltenders in six different categories (games player: 5th place with 42, wins: 3rd place with 26, goals against: 10th place with 93, goals against average: 9th place at 2.25, minutes played: 7th place with 2,484...and yes penalty minutes he ranks 10th with 2 PIM). The problem I see is Flower is on pace for a career-high in starts. Back-up Brent Johnson hasn't been as sharp lately, forcing Bylsma's hand in keeping MAF between the pipes. He's hot now, but how quick will that glove hand and kick save be down the stretch? It will be interesting to see how his body holds up.

2. When will 87 return to the lineup?

AP

I posed the question this way as opposed to "can" Sidney Crosby return. He already did once, and we all feel like can again. The team rallied behind him with the Duct Tape which kicked off this current winning streak, and he's been back to the specialists to get treatment. The Pens are 7-0-0 since he spoke to the media. Maybe that's it. Leave him off the ice and when the Pens finally lose again, just stick Sid in front of the microphones again. When will Sidney Crosby return? Only he will know the answer to that question.

1. Will the Penguins win the Stanley Cup?

AP

My prediction at the start of this season was Pens vs. Kings in the Stanley Cup finals, with the Pens winning their fourth Cup. The previous four questions above are major concerns of mine whether this team can make it to the finals now, let alone the playoffs. Two weeks ago, this team wasn't even in the playoffs. It looks, however, things have turned for the better...for now. Teams get hot. Teams get cold. The same goes for players. It's all about consistency. The Penguins lost that earlier this month, and haven't found it at all within their division. I hope like all fans that the Penguins raise another banner at CONSOL Energy Center, and not a pointless banner to fill the rafters and make a team look accomplished like the Washington Capitals. But I need to see more from this team. Yes, more. This is just seven games folks. It doesn't erase the previous six games. It doesn't change the fact the Penguins are a mediocre .500 against Atlantic Division teams, with three of them in a playoff spot. It should remain fresh in all of our minds this season just how quick things can turn south. Show me consistency over the remainder of the season and the Pens still stand a shot.

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