No clue what a controlled scrimmage is, but Sid participated it in. There was no contact as Sid is still not cleared for contact. This is still encouraging however, being that Sid has yet to suffer from any concussions symptoms during his limited participation in training camp.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Staal'ed until the 3rd: Pens win 4-1
Last night was cool because it was the first time we saw the Pens skate since April, and the first time we've seen Evgeni Malkin since he suffered his knee injury. Tonight however, was a different story, and the game was basically a snooze-fest, until the third period.
First Period
Absolutely nothing went on in the first period. Both teams look like they are playing a preseason game. Pens failed to convert on a power play when Pittsburgh native Brandon Saad took a two minute minor for boarding at 13:45. The Pens then killed off a Matt Cooke two minute hi-sticking penalty at 16:01. At the end of the period the Pens had the lead in shots 5-3. Lovejoy has been skating well and doing so with confidence. This performance will have him as a favorite for the 5th or 6th spot on the blue-line.
Second Period
The second period started much like the first, both teams clearly in preseason form. Then at 10:32 of the period Michael Frolik beat Brent Johnson to put the Hawks up 1-0.
The Pens did have a power play at 15:34, but again failed to convert. Eric Tangradi did provide some good net presence on the power play, however. The Hawks took the lead into the third. Engelland took six hits into the third. Picard led all Pens players with 17:48 in ice time. Pens led the Hawks 13-10 in shots at the end of the second frame.
Third Period
Scott Monroe gets the go for the start of the third. Pens finally came out with some rhythm and really moved the puck to start the period. Tyler Kennedy ripped a wrist-shot that was deflected by Nick Johnson off the post, and Jordan Staal cleaned up the garbage to tie the game at one goal a piece.
Pens then got a third power play opportunity shortly after the goal, but again failed to convert.
Jordan Staal picked up his game all of a sudden and had a couple of good opportunities. Lovejoy had another strong period, breaking up potential threats around the Pens' net. The tide starting turning towards the Pens as they finally began to pick up their play.
The Pens then took the 2-1 when Matt Cookeelbowed deflected a Craig Adams backhand-shot into the net at 10:42 into the period.
Tyler Kennedy put the Pens up 3-1 at 14:14 of the period when he jammed home a looks puck in front of the Hawks net.
Hawks pulled Ray Emery with a little over a minute left, then put him back in only to be embarrassed by Jordan Staal with eight seconds remaining.
Game. 4-1 Pens.
Notes
Pens outshot the Hawks 27-16. Zbynek Michalek led all Penguins players with 23:03 of ice time. Pens take on the Minnesota Wild Saturday afternoon at the CONSOL Energy Center.
Thoughts
The Pens turned it up in the third period and scored four unanswered goals. Jordan Staal was a beast in the third period and his late goal was a thing of beauty. A health Staal and Malkin and the Pens will be just fine this season. Ben Lovejoy had a great game, as did Deryk Engelland, and Alexandre Picard. Will be a tough decision to see who will get the 5th, 6th, and 7th spots, but I think Lovejoy will be in.
Eric Tangradi did show some promise, but definitely not enough to warrant him a spot on the NHL roster.
POFA's Three Stars
1. Jordan Staal
2. Ben Lovejoy
3. Matt Cooke
Penguins 4 -- Blackhawks 1
First Period
Absolutely nothing went on in the first period. Both teams look like they are playing a preseason game. Pens failed to convert on a power play when Pittsburgh native Brandon Saad took a two minute minor for boarding at 13:45. The Pens then killed off a Matt Cooke two minute hi-sticking penalty at 16:01. At the end of the period the Pens had the lead in shots 5-3. Lovejoy has been skating well and doing so with confidence. This performance will have him as a favorite for the 5th or 6th spot on the blue-line.
Second Period
The second period started much like the first, both teams clearly in preseason form. Then at 10:32 of the period Michael Frolik beat Brent Johnson to put the Hawks up 1-0.
The Pens did have a power play at 15:34, but again failed to convert. Eric Tangradi did provide some good net presence on the power play, however. The Hawks took the lead into the third. Engelland took six hits into the third. Picard led all Pens players with 17:48 in ice time. Pens led the Hawks 13-10 in shots at the end of the second frame.
Third Period
Scott Monroe gets the go for the start of the third. Pens finally came out with some rhythm and really moved the puck to start the period. Tyler Kennedy ripped a wrist-shot that was deflected by Nick Johnson off the post, and Jordan Staal cleaned up the garbage to tie the game at one goal a piece.
Pens then got a third power play opportunity shortly after the goal, but again failed to convert.
Jordan Staal picked up his game all of a sudden and had a couple of good opportunities. Lovejoy had another strong period, breaking up potential threats around the Pens' net. The tide starting turning towards the Pens as they finally began to pick up their play.
The Pens then took the 2-1 when Matt Cooke
Tyler Kennedy put the Pens up 3-1 at 14:14 of the period when he jammed home a looks puck in front of the Hawks net.
Hawks pulled Ray Emery with a little over a minute left, then put him back in only to be embarrassed by Jordan Staal with eight seconds remaining.
Game. 4-1 Pens.
Notes
Pens outshot the Hawks 27-16. Zbynek Michalek led all Penguins players with 23:03 of ice time. Pens take on the Minnesota Wild Saturday afternoon at the CONSOL Energy Center.
Thoughts
The Pens turned it up in the third period and scored four unanswered goals. Jordan Staal was a beast in the third period and his late goal was a thing of beauty. A health Staal and Malkin and the Pens will be just fine this season. Ben Lovejoy had a great game, as did Deryk Engelland, and Alexandre Picard. Will be a tough decision to see who will get the 5th, 6th, and 7th spots, but I think Lovejoy will be in.
Eric Tangradi did show some promise, but definitely not enough to warrant him a spot on the NHL roster.
POFA's Three Stars
1. Jordan Staal
2. Ben Lovejoy
3. Matt Cooke
Pens Trim Roster to 42 Players
According the Penguins' website they have trimmed their roster to 42 players by sending 11 players down to AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and two players back to their junior teams.
Players sent down to WBS include forwards, Brandon DeFazio, Brian Gibbons, Ben Street, Paul Thompson and Geoff Walker. Among the defensemen sent to WBS are Simon Despres, Alex Grant, Joey Mormina, Philip Samuelsson, and Carl Sneep. Goaltender Patrick Killeen was also sent down to the Baby Pens as well.
Tom Kuhnhackl and Dominik Uher were sent back down to their junior teams.
The only semi-big shocker is that Despres was sent down to WBS without appearing in any of the Penguins preseason games.
Players sent down to WBS include forwards, Brandon DeFazio, Brian Gibbons, Ben Street, Paul Thompson and Geoff Walker. Among the defensemen sent to WBS are Simon Despres, Alex Grant, Joey Mormina, Philip Samuelsson, and Carl Sneep. Goaltender Patrick Killeen was also sent down to the Baby Pens as well.
Tom Kuhnhackl and Dominik Uher were sent back down to their junior teams.
The only semi-big shocker is that Despres was sent down to WBS without appearing in any of the Penguins preseason games.
NHL.com Picks Pens to Win Eastern Conference
E.J. Hradek and Dan Rosen of the NHL Network have picked the Pittsburgh penguins to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals. You can read the article here, and the video is posted below.
Preseason Game Day #2: Pens vs. Blackhawks
Pittsburgh Penguins (1-0-0) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (0-1-0)
7:00 P.M. CONSOL Energy Center
TV: Root Sports Pittsburgh--NHLN for those outside of the Pittsburgh TV Market
Radio: 105.9 The X--Also streaming on the Pens' website.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Welcome Back Evgeni Malkin: Pens Win 3-2
Yes, tonights game was a preseason. Yes, the score of the game and the Penguins winning means about next to nothing. However you can take away from this game is that Evgeni Malkin is ready to play this season, and he is ready to take his game back to the level that we saw him play at in the 2008-09 season. After the jump, some analysis of tonight's game.
Penguins 3--Red Wings 2
Preseason Game-day #1: Pens vs. Red Wings
Who: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings
When: 7:00 PM
Where: CONSOL Energy Center
TV: Root Sports for you Yinzers. NHL Network for those outside of the Burgh Area
Camp Bylsma is six days old, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are set to take on the Detroit Red Wings in their first preseason game of the 2011-12 season. While these games mean nothing in the long run, they will give fans a chance to watch the Pens' roster come-to-form for the regular season.
Detroit Red Wings Roster
Forwards
11 Dan Cleary
15 Fabian Brunnstrom
17 Patrick Eaves
20 Drew Miller
21 Tomas Tatar
24 Pavel Datsyuk
26 Jiri Hudler
39 Jan Mursak
41 Chris Conner
42 Ryan Johnson
48 Corey Emmerton
96 Tomas Holmstrom
Defense
2 Brendan Smith
3 Garnet Exelby
22 Mike Commodore
23 Brad Stuart
32 Logan Pyett
55 Niklas Kronwall
Goalies
31 Joey MacDonald
35 Jimmy Howard
Pittsburgh Penguins Roster
Forwards
9 Pascal Dupuis
12 Richard park
14 Chris Kunitz
18 James Neal
23 Ryan Craig
38 Colin McDonald
45 Arron Asham
46 Joe Vitale
56 Paul Thompson
57 Brain Gibbons
67 Geoff Walker
71 Evgeni Malkin
Defense
2 Matt Niskanen
7 Paul Martin
55 Phillip Samuelsson
58 Kris Letang
59 Carl Sneep
70 Joseph Morrow
Goalies
29 Marc-Andre Fleury *
39 Brad Thiessen
* MAF will play the first and second periods, and Thiessen will go in the third.
The Pens' lines looked like this at this mornings practice:
Kunitz-Malkin-Neal
Dupuis-Park-Asham
Gibbons-Vitale-McDonald
Thompson-Craig-Walker
Friday, September 16, 2011
Three Questions for the 2011-12 Pittsburgh Penguins
Welcome back Pens Fans! It is time to forget the past and look forward to the future. Get that blown, two-game lead in last years first round of playoffs to the Tampa Bay Lightning out of your head. Forget that the Pens nearly won the division without Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. That is the past, meaning it already happened, and we can't change it. However, there are many more questions entering this season. The Pond will look at three of the most interesting. One of them will not be about Sid's brain because it has been discussed to much at this point, and we know the answer: We don't know when he will be back, but he should be back.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Pens Release 3rd Jersey Schedule
The Penguins released the games in which they will wear their "new"third jersey that they wore in last year's winter classic. The list is below, and you can read the full article here on the Pens' website.
| Oct. 15 | Buffalo |
| Oct. 27 | NY Islanders |
| Nov. 15 | Colorado |
| Nov. 25 | Ottawa |
| Dec. 27 | Carolina |
| Jan. 6 | NY Rangers |
| Jan. 7 | New Jersey |
| Jan. 20 | Montreal |
| Feb. 11 | Winnipeg |
| Feb. 12 | Tampa Bay |
| Mar. 7 | Toronto |
| Mar. 22 | Nashville |
Monday, September 12, 2011
Penguins Evening Links: Season Ticket Delivery, Prospects Tourney Update, Sid's Training camp plans.
Just a few links for your evening reading pleasure.
Today, 14 Penguins players delivered season tickets for the fifth straight year. You can find video of Sidney Crosby delivering tickets here. There are also pictures of the deliveries on the Pens site as well.
The Pens prospects have lost the first two of three games in Oshawa, Ontario. The Pens dropped a game against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, losing 4-0. Then on Saturday, the team lost to the prospects of the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1, after scoring the first goal only 12 seconds into the game. The Pens prospects face-off against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday afternoon.
Also Shelly Anderson, over at the Post-Gazette writes that Sidney Crosby will be evaluated at some point this week, to determine what level of participation he can have in this years training camp.
Today, 14 Penguins players delivered season tickets for the fifth straight year. You can find video of Sidney Crosby delivering tickets here. There are also pictures of the deliveries on the Pens site as well.
The Pens prospects have lost the first two of three games in Oshawa, Ontario. The Pens dropped a game against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, losing 4-0. Then on Saturday, the team lost to the prospects of the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1, after scoring the first goal only 12 seconds into the game. The Pens prospects face-off against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday afternoon.
Also Shelly Anderson, over at the Post-Gazette writes that Sidney Crosby will be evaluated at some point this week, to determine what level of participation he can have in this years training camp.
Friday, September 9, 2011
September 11th Tribute Post
Sports in the United States of America are more than just a game. They are more than just a group of individuals passing a ball or puck around a playing surface. Sports in this country act as an escape from reality. They exist as a medium for which individuals can put their hardships aside and support their favorite teams.
We are a nation fueled by rivalries, match-ups, fantasy sports, and winning. We watch sports at night, and then talk about them around the water coolers during the day. In many ways sports and real-life are integrated for many people. Many of us live and die for our sports teams, and a win on any given game-day can improve a person's quality of life at least for some period of time. Sports create a bubble for people to escape from their own lives and for a brief period of time live vicariously through others, with little consequence. Sports are an outlet where we have no control over how our favorite teams will perform, and all we can do is support them to our fullest capabilities. Sports are a time where you can meet with your buddies in a bar, or living room, and share a few beers. It provides three hours where nothing matters but goals, touchdowns, scores and stats.
However, on September 11, 2001, the United States was shaken to its core by the acts of terrorists taking American lives. Sports suddenly took a back-seat to something more real, to something that sports couldn't provide an escape to. We as a nation felt violated, and no amount of goals, home runs, or touchdowns could cure that feeling.
This post is dedicated to those who lost their lives on that infamous day.
We are a nation fueled by rivalries, match-ups, fantasy sports, and winning. We watch sports at night, and then talk about them around the water coolers during the day. In many ways sports and real-life are integrated for many people. Many of us live and die for our sports teams, and a win on any given game-day can improve a person's quality of life at least for some period of time. Sports create a bubble for people to escape from their own lives and for a brief period of time live vicariously through others, with little consequence. Sports are an outlet where we have no control over how our favorite teams will perform, and all we can do is support them to our fullest capabilities. Sports are a time where you can meet with your buddies in a bar, or living room, and share a few beers. It provides three hours where nothing matters but goals, touchdowns, scores and stats.
However, on September 11, 2001, the United States was shaken to its core by the acts of terrorists taking American lives. Sports suddenly took a back-seat to something more real, to something that sports couldn't provide an escape to. We as a nation felt violated, and no amount of goals, home runs, or touchdowns could cure that feeling.
This post is dedicated to those who lost their lives on that infamous day.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Pittsburgh Penguins 2011-12 Training Camp Schedule
The Penguins released their training camp schedule on their website today. The team reports to camp on Friday, September 16. Their first on-ice practice is Saturday, September 17. The practices, which will be held on Saturday the 17th, and Sunday the 18th at the CONSOL Energy Center will be open to the public and free of charge. These practices will run from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and fans can enter at any of the three CONSOL Energy Center gates, which open at 8:45 a.m according the Penguins website. Both practices will include an intra-squad scrimmage beginning at 10 a.m. on both days. Check back at POFA for updates including the rosters of each training camp group.
The Penguins open the season Thursday, October 6 at the Vancouver Canucks with the puck dropping at 10:00 p.m. on Versus.
The Penguins open the season Thursday, October 6 at the Vancouver Canucks with the puck dropping at 10:00 p.m. on Versus.
2011 Preseason Schedule
| Wednesday, Sept. 21 | DETROIT | 7 p.m. |
| Thursday, Sept 22. | CHICAGO | 7 p.m. |
| Saturday, Sept. 24 | MINNESOTA | 3 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Sept. 27 | vs Los Angeles^ | 8 p.m. |
| Friday, Sept. 30 | at Chicago | 8 p.m. |
| Sunday, Oct. 2 | at Detroit | 5 p.m. |
| ^ In Kansas City | ||
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 2011 TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE | ||
Friday, Sept. 16 | 7:30-11am | Medicals/Testing at CONSOL Energy Center |
*Saturday, Sept. 17 | 9-9:45 a.m. | Practice – group A (CONSOL Energy Center) |
10-10:45 a.m. | Scrimmage groups A & B | |
11-11:45 a.m. | Practice – group B | |
12-1:30 p.m. | Practice – group C | |
*Sunday, Sept. 18 | 9-9:45 a.m. | Practice – group B (CONSOL Energy Center) |
10-10:45 a.m. | Scrimmage groups B & C | |
11-11:45 a.m. | Practice – group C | |
12-1:30 p.m. | Practice – group A | |
Monday, Sept. 19 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Practice – Team Black (CONSOL Energy Center) |
10:30-11:30 a.m. | Practice – Team Gold | |
11:30-1:30 p.m. | Non-game group practice | |
7 p.m. | Black vs. Gold Game (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) | |
Tuesday, Sept. 20 | 9-9:45 a.m. | Practice – group C (CONSOL Energy Center) |
10-10:45 a.m. | Scrimmage groups C & A | |
11-11:45 a.m. | Practice – group A | |
12-1:30 p.m. | Practice – group B | |
Wednesday, Sept. 21 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Practice – game group |
11:15-1:30 p.m. | Practice – non-game group | |
7 p.m. | Game vs. Detroit | |
Thursday, Sept. 22 | 11-12 p.m. | Practice – game group (CONSOL Energy Center) |
7 p.m. | Game vs. Chicago | |
Friday, Sept. 23 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Practice – group 1 (Southpointe) |
11:30-1:30 p.m. | Practice – group 2 | |
Saturday, Sept. 24 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Practice – non-game group (CONSOL Energy Center) |
3 p.m. | Game vs. Minnesota | |
Sunday, Sept. 25 | 10-11 a.m. | Practice group 1 (CONSOL Energy Center) |
11-11:20 a.m. | Scrimmage groups 1 & 2 | |
11:45-1 p.m. | Practice group 2 | |
Monday, Sept. 26 | 10-11 a.m. | Practice group 2 (CONSOL Energy Center) |
11-11:20 a.m. | Scrimmage groups 1 & 2 | |
11:45-1:00 p.m. | Practice group 1 | |
Tuesday, Sept. 27 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Practice – game group (CONSOL Energy Center) |
11:30-1:30 p.m. | Practice – non-game group | |
7 p.m. | Game vs. Los Angeles (in Kansas City) | |
Wednesday, Sept. 28 | DAY OFF | |
Thursday, Sept. 29 | 11-1 p.m. | Practice (CONSOL Energy Center) |
Friday, Sept. 30 | 10-11 a.m. | Practice – game group (CONSOL Energy Center) |
11:15-1 p.m. | Practice non-game group | |
7 p.m. | Game at Chicago | |
Saturday, Oct. 1 | 2-4 p.m. | Practice @ Joe Louis Arena |
Sunday, Oct. 2 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Practice – non-game group |
5 p.m. | Game at Detroit | |
Monday, Oct. 3 | 11 a.m. | Practice (CONSOL Energy Center) |
Penguins Sign Richard Park--1yr, $550,000
Ray Shero added some more depth to his roster by signing Richard Park to a one year two-way deal which will pay him $550,000 for the upcoming season.
Park who started his career with the Penguins, saw time with the Ducks, Flyers, Wild, Canucks, and Islanders. Last year Park played over in Switzerland.
Not sure if there is room for Park to crack the lineup, but he does add some depth, especially to the penalty killing unit.
Here is the full press-release from the Penguins website.
Park who started his career with the Penguins, saw time with the Ducks, Flyers, Wild, Canucks, and Islanders. Last year Park played over in Switzerland.
Not sure if there is room for Park to crack the lineup, but he does add some depth, especially to the penalty killing unit.
Here is the full press-release from the Penguins website.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Sidney Crosby Press Conference: Crosby is a Ferrari
We began today waiting to hear from Sidney Crosby and his doctors regarding Sid's prognosis for the upcoming season. What came out of the press conference seemed to be more positive than negative. What the press conference did was end all of the speculation that surfaced throughout the summer. Sid was flanked by his doctors and General Manager Ray Shero. We heard words such as "full recovery," and "long career" thrown around quite liberally. We learned that doctors were basically in constant contact with Sid throughout the offseason. We most importantly learned what the status of Sid's concussion is, and has been since he attempted to come back in April. Of course there is no timeline to when he will be fully recovered, but we do know that it is likely Sid will be in uniform this season.
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