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Tuesday, 12 April 2011 00:34

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

Penguins

-"It will be the first playoffs for our players and our fans. It will be the first time we're going to hear the sound in here and have that atmosphere." - Dan Bylsma on playing the first postseason game in Consol Energy Center (above).

-Ben Lovejoy lost one of his assists from Sunday's season finale (PG+).

-Here is the Wheeling Nailers' schedule for the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs:

Game 1 - Thursday Apr. 14 7:35 p.m. Wheeling at Greenville
Game 2 - Friday Apr. 15 7:35 p.m. Wheeling at Greenville
Game 3 - Wednesday Apr. 20 7:05 p.m. Greenville at Wheeling
Game 4 - Friday Apr. 22 7:35 p.m. Greenville at Wheeling
*-Game 5 - Saturday Apr. 23 7:35 p.m. Greenville at Wheeling
*-Game 6 - Tueday Apr. 26 7:35 p.m. Wheeling at Greenville
*-Game 7 - Wednesday Apr. 27 7:35 p.m. Wheeling at Greenville

-Happy 38th birthday to former Penguins forward Krzysztof Oliwa (right). Acquired midway through the 2000-01 season in a deal which sent a draft pick to the Blue Jackets, "The Polish Hammer" spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. He finished 2000-01 by appearing in 26 games for the Penguins and scoring three points while accumulating a massive 131 penalty minutes. In five postseason games that spring, he failed to record a poitn and netted 16 penalty minutes. During 2001-02, he played in 58 games, recorded two assists and accumulated a team-leading 150 penalty minutes. During the 2002 offseason, he was traded to the Rangers in exchange for a draft pick. One of six natives of Poland to play in the NHL, Oliwa appeared in 83 games, scored five points and recorded 281 penalty minutes.

-Happy 40th birthday to former Penguins forward Kent Manderville. Acquired at the 2002 trade deadline in a deal which sent Billy Tibbetts to the Flyers, Manderville spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. He finished 2001-02 by playing in four games for the Penguins and scoring one goal. In 2002-03, Manderville played in all 82 game and scored seven points. He retired following the season. In 86 games for the Penguins, Manderville scored eight points.

Atlantic Division

-By way of Sarah Baicker of CSN Philly, (by way of Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo!), Flyers goaltender Sergei "Bob" Bobrovsky has a new Simpsons-themed lid with Sidshow Bob on the side:

-The last time the Rangers met the Capitals in the playoffs, New York coach John Tortorella was suspended for squirting a fan with a water bottle.

-Islanders captain Doug Weight feels his team is treated unfairly by officials.

-Thinking Out Loud: Having guys like Trevor Gillies, Michael Haley and Zenon Konopka on your roster tend to get the attention of officials.

Northeast Division

-"We're not intimidated. We're excited. It's going to be hard-hitting and fast-paced, everything you want in a playoff series." - Sabres forward Tyler Ennis (right) on playing the physical Flyers in the first round.

Southeast Division

-Lightning forward and former Penguin Ryan Malone is back in the postseason for the first time since Game 6 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final at the Mellon Arena.

-The Capitals signed forward Mike Knuble to a one-year contract extension worth $2 million.

-The Hurricanes demoted forward Drayson Bowman to Charlotte of the AHL.

Central Divison

-The Blackhawks recalled former Penguins forward Jeff Taffe, defensemen Jassen Cullimore, Garnet Exelby and goaltender Hannu Toivonen from Rockford of the AHL.

-Chicago signed defenseman Joe Lavin, a fifth-round pick in 2007, to a two-year entry-level contract.

-The Red Wings recalled goaltenders Thomas McCollum (right), Jordan Pearce, defensemen Travis Ehrhardt, Doug Janik, Brian Lashoff, Derek Meech, Logan Pyett, Brendan Smith, forwards Joakim Andersson, Cory Emmerton, Ilari Filppula, Jan Mursak, Francis Pare, Brent Raedeke and Tomas Tatar from Grand Rapids of the AHL.

-Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel told forward Jakub Voracek to get in shape.

-Blues forward David Perron, who has been sidelined since Nov. 4 due to a head injury, is still experiencing post-concussion symptoms.

Northwest Division

-The Wild fired head coach Todd Richards (right). The former coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Richards went 77-71-16 in two seasons in Minnesota and failed to reach the postseason.

-“I needed to do a better job — simple as that.” - Richards.

-The Canucks recalled forward Cody Hodgson and Victor Oreskovich from Manitoba of the AHL.

Pacific Division

-With Jonas Hiller (vertigo) and Ray Emery ("lower body") each dealing with ailments, it looks like Dan Ellis will be the Ducks' top goaltender heading into the postseason.

-The Sharks recalled forwards Brandon Mashinter (right), Jamie McGinn, Andrew Desjardins and goaltender Thomas Greiss from Worcester of the AHL.

-The Stars demoted forward Tomas Vincour and defenseman Brad Lukowich to Texas of the AHL.

Norris Division

-The NHL's draft lottery will be held tonight at 8 p.m. on Versus.

(Photos: Consol Energy Center-Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press; Oliwa-John Heller/Post-Gazette; Ennis-Rick Stewart/Getty Images;  McCollum-Dave Reginek/Getty Images; Richards-Jamie Sabau/Getty Images; Mashinter-Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Comments (1)

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written by eurydice_krg, April 12, 2011 - 12:25 PM

Signing Knuble was probably the smartest thing that McPhee ever did. He has been the difference maker for the Caps in big games. He should be the Captain of the team. If it weren't for him, Ovechkin would have many points this year.

And they only pay him $2 million a year?

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