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Monday, 16 January 2012 05:39

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

Penguins

-Shelly Anderson's recap from yesterday's game. "Definitely a lot of positives that came from this trip. To get two wins as a result is encouraging." - Forward Richard Park on the Penguins' three-game road swing which saw the team go 2-1-0.

-The Tampa Bay Times' recap. The Lightning lost its seventh consecutive game.

-The Associated press' recap. “I didn’t think about playing a great game … I know we have two points.” - Forward Evgeni Malkin (right) on his five-point game.

-NHL.com's recap. With 51 points, Malkin is now second to Vancouver forward Henrik Sedin (52 points) in the NHL's scoring race.

-Highlights:

-A good look at Malkin's second goal:

-Deryk Engelland versus Pierre-Cedric Labrie:

-According to Lightning coach Guy Boucher, captain Vincent Lecavalier accused Malkin of attempting to injure his knees late in the third period when Malkin ducked a check from Lecavalier.

-"Maybe I made a dangerous play, but it's the game. He didn't like it. He came to me and tried to fight." - Malkin on the skirmish.

-The dust-up in question:

-EN Says: Only in the backwards world of the NHL could anyone consider Malkin at fault here. HE ATTEMPTED TO DODGE A HIT! Yet the Lightning and some critics feel Malkin actually attempted to injure Lecavalier. Really? This is the same type of brain dead macho mindset that feels a concussion isn't a serious injury. Malkin attempted to avoid a hit. But instead of trying to muscle his way through it like a "real" player, he dodged it like a "soft" player. At least that's the same tired script meathead broadcasters like Mike Milbury and Keith Jones will burp out to the masses.

Don't discount the bias some broadcasters have against European players in making this stance. If his name was Eddie McCall insted of Evgeni Malkin and he was from Mississauga instead of Magnitogorsk, he's be "crafty" instead of "soft."

Malkin did the same thing midway through the second period to Tampa Bay's Eric Brewer. The only difference is Brewer didn't throw a hissy fit the way Lecavalier did. If anyone was "soft" on this play, it was Lecavalier. He went on a rampage trying to get revenge on Malkin and essentially killed any chance his team had at winning the game.

Additionally, if we had any faith in this garage league to do the right thing, Lecavalier would be suspended. It was a dangerous punch from behind. Fortunately, it didn't result in an injury. But since Malkin wasn't sent off on a stretcher, this garage league can't be bothered to examine it.

Note: Lecavalier, who did not speak after the game, had a run-in with Malkin during the 2006 Olympics in Turino which resulted in both players being ejected from a game.

-Dan Bylsma speaks:

-Malkin speaks:

-Penguins forward prospect Dominik Uher has 10 points in his last seven games with the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL.

-An overtime goal and an assist by Ben Street gave the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 4-3 win against the St. John's IceCaps. Jason Williams recorded two assists for the Penguins while Scott Munroe made 37 saves in the victory.

-Shootout goals by Matt Lombardi and Chris Barton gave the Wheeling Nailers a 4-3 win against Cincinnati Cyclones. Lombardi and Peter Lenes each had a regulation goal and an assist for the Nailers while teammate Patrick Killeen made 32 saves.

-Highlights:

-Happy 74th birthday to former Penguins forward, coach and scout Lou Angotti. Acquired in the 1968 offseason in a deal which sent Ab McDonald to the Blues, Angotti's playing career with the Penguins amounted to 71 games and 37 points in 1968-69. During the 1969 offseason, Angotti was traded back to the Blues along with a draft pick in exchange for Ron Schock, Craig Cameron and a draft pick. After serving as head coach of the Baltimore Skipjacks, the Penguins' AHL affiliate, Angotti became the Penguins' head coach in 1983-84. In his only season as the Penguins' coach, the team had a dreadful 16-58-6 record for 38 points, a mark which remains a franchise low. He was replaced following the season and served as a scout until 1986. Angotti is one of five men who have played and coached the franchise. The others are Ken Schinkel, Gene Ubriaco, Rick Kehoe, and Ed Olczyk.

Atlantic Division

-With former Penguins forward Ruslan Fedotenko dealing with a back ailment, the Rangers recalled forward Kris Newbury from Connecticut of the AHL.

-The Devils placed forward Travis Zajac (Achilles tendon) on injured reserve.

Northeast Divison

-Two goals and an assist by Max Pacioretty helped the Canadiens beat the Rangers, 4-1. David Desharnais added a goal and two assists for Montreal while teammate Erik Cole recorded three assists. Peter Budaj made 28 saves in the victory.

-Happy times for Cole (left) and Pacioretty:

-Sabres defenseman Robyn Regehr is dealing with an "upper-body" injury.

-With forward Tyler Bozak on the verge of returning to the lineup from an "upper-body" injury, the Maple Leafs demoted defenseman Jake Gardiner to Toronto of the AHL.

Southeast Division

-Tomas Vokoun made 43 saves for the Capitals in a 2-1 win against the Hurricanes. The win moved the Capitals into first place in the Southeast Division.

-Hit of the Day: Washington captain Alex Ovechkin on Carolina's Tuomo Ruutu:

-Check out this rocket of a goal by Washington's Alexander Semin:

-Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner was activated from injured reserve after missing 16 games due to a concussion.

Central Division

-Victor Stalberg and Jonathan Toews each had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks in a 4-3 win against the Sharks. Corey Crawford made 21 saves in the victory. Torrey Mitchell recorded two assists for San Jose.

-Pass of the Night: Toews setting up Stalberg:

-Save of the Night: San Jose's Antti Niemi on Chicago's Patrick Kane:

-Blue Jackets forward Dane Byers will have a disciplinary hearing with the NHL today in regards to a hit to the head of Sharks forward Andrew Desjardins Saturday.

-The hit in question:

-The Red Wings activated former Penguins forward Chris Minard (concussion) from injured reserve and demoted him to Grand Rapids of the AHL.

-If the Red Wings can beat the Sabres tonight, they will set a franchise record with their 15th consecutive home win.

-With forward Daniel Carcillo sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury, the Blackhawks are relying on forward Andrew Shaw to fill in as the team's agitator.

Northwest Division

-Taylor Hall's overtime goal gave the Oilers a 2-1 win against the Kings. Devan Dubnyk made 20 saves in the victory.

-Hall's goal:

-Wild captain Mikko Koivu is expected to be sidelined at least a month due to a shoulder injury.

-The Flames demoted forward Clay Wilson to Abbottsford of the AHL.

-The Canucks demoted forward Mike Duco to Vancouver of the AHL.

Pacific Division

-Jason Blake had two goals and an assist for the Ducks who beat the Canucks, 4-2. Bobby Ryan added a goal and an assist for Anaheim while Jonas Hiller made 21 saves in the victory.

-Check out the effort by Anaheim's Nick Bonino on this rebound goal:

-Blake's first goal was a real snipe:

-Check out this re-direction goal by Blake:

-Check out this wraparound goal by Vancouver's Mason Raymond:

-Stars forward Jamie Benn will be sidelined 10 to 14 days due to an appendectomy.

-The Stars recalled forward Francis Walthier from Texas of the AHL.

Patrick Division

-Former Devils/Thrashers/Panthers/Predators forward Niclas Bergfors and former Lightning/Blackhawks forward Nikita Alexeyev have joined Severstal Cherepovets of the KHL.

(Photos: Penguins/Lightning-Brian Blanco/Associated Press; Rangers/Canadiens-Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

Comments (2)

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written by gmuny2002, January 16, 2012 - 07:51 AM

Hopefully Geno can keep it up, because that's the level of play he needs to be at if the Penguins are going to do anything this year!

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written by JBM425, January 16, 2012 - 05:17 PM

At least the Penguins won't have Bergfors to kick them around again...unless we start having NHL-KHL interleague play. Then the KHL will have a bidding war for a Penguins Killer.

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