David Perron and Brian Dumoulin chase a loose puck during a power-play drill Monday. — DEJAN KOVACEVIC
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Sights, sounds and the scene from Consol Energy Center …
• If morning skates meant much of anything, then Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin would be good for a hat trick, a handful of assists and maybe a fight or two in the Penguins’ deadlock-breaking Game 3 tonight against the Rangers.
Both of the franchise’s stars were absolutely flying through the half-hour workout, as well as visibly having fun between and even during drills. And, unlike what was witnessed in New York and other points of the late regular season, this looked anything but forced.
“Look out,” Maxim Lapierre predicted. “When those guys are going like this …”
“Yeah, it’s good right now,” Crosby acknowledged with a small smile. “Winning will do that.”
“Everybody is maybe more relaxed, having fun,” Malkin said.
• Here are Blake Comeau and Patric Hornqvist, on that same spirit:
• Christian Ehrhoff didn’t skate, as he had in New York, and Mike Johnston sure made it sound as if the Penguins won’t be counting on him anytime soon: “He just hasn’t been progressing.” The team still isn’t identifying Ehrhoff’s issue other than ‘upper-body injury,’ but he’s had concussion issues most of the season, and his most recent incident had his head going into the end boards.
• Line rushes and pairings were the same as Game 2, but recent recall Scott Wilson could replace Beau Bennett on the third line. Even though third-line center Brandon Sutter was terrific that night, Bennett was barely visible. Steve Downie would remain the other winger on that line.
• The Rangers’ Carl Hagelin explained this morning that he didn’t mean to hit Crosby in the head when going back to the New York bench in Game 2, an impact that clearly had Crosby dazed for a few moments. “I’m not that kind of player,” Hagelin said. No one on the Penguins’ side is taking issue with the hit, including Crosby, who called it “accidental.”
Not so for Keith Yandle’scross-check to the neck of Comeau, which went uncalled and was highly unpopular, especially since it came as obvious retribution for Comeau hitting Yandle earlier in that sequence as well as in a previous period.
The Penguins are determined to bug Yandle, a key to the Rangers’ breakout. Stay tuned.
• How much fun was the home team having today?
Well, if you watch the above video to the end, you’ll see I added a clip of David Perron skating up ice targeting a certain reporter’s iPhone behind the net.
“Bull’s-eye, too,” Perron would say later. “Right on the money.”
Glad to see the boys are loose and having fun. Win tonight and it will be totally different on the other side of the ice with the Rangers. We owe them from last year, and winning this series would be perfect payback. I know it was only one game, but tat's the way we need to take it. Let's fly tonight boys!
DK, one of my very favorite things about this site is being able to read breaking news and your opinions and thoughts instantly instead of having to wait until the next days paper comes out or it comes on the local TV news. The fact that I agree with your opinion the majority of the time doesn't hurt either. You also bring up things that I hadn't considered which I appreciate.
I mention this because of your column on Antonio Browns possible holdout and this On the Scene feature from CEC. This is worth being a subscriber alone. Thanks DK!
Good to see they're having fun.
Too bad BB is out but not surprising. Perhaps Wilson even less skilled can produce more.
I kinda thought they would sit Downie, not BB, since they're clearly not willing to give him any minutes, and from his history he needs minutes to be effective.
This seems like worst of both, sit BB, give Downie 5 mins, and hope Wilson can do something.
Where do you see the Bennett is out and Wilson is in?
Arriba Wilver
4-20-2015, 4:50 pm
I don't understand your BB love. It must be based just on talent. It can't be based on how he performs when playing.
Sarah
4-20-2015, 7:20 pm
No love. Just regret they did not give him much chance.
He was a high draft pick expected to play Top6 and he got minimal chance there. They stuck him with Adams and then complained he didn't produce.
Add in the media campaign and there you are. Ordinary fans think he sucks.
Not saying he's the next wiz kid, but it would have been nice to find out if he is or isnt. IMO Malkin looks better with him than Kunitz.
Wevs, another potential wasted and likely traded this summer.
Check Despres, Simon for more details.
DK - any word if the NHL reviewed the Yandle cross checks (or if the Pens asked the NHL to review) the game tape on Yandle? Hard to believe it wouldn't warrant a suspemsion---oh, wait. Not hard to believe when you think about it.
The answer is universal: They review everything. No one needs to ask.
tzernick
4-20-2015, 2:09 pm
In the different angle video you could see Hagelin looking at Crosby just prior the trying to take Sid's head off by driving his shoulder pads into Sid's head. If that was Downie doing it to Nash, Downie would be suspended for the rest of the playoffs.
Yep. Accidental, my foot. Reverse angle clearly shows Hagelin looking right at Sid, then aiming his shoulder right at Sid's head.
Sarah
4-20-2015, 7:24 pm
It's silly to keep debating this. It is what it is.
The league won't protect its stars.
Meatheads are glorified over skilled players.
And we've got a horrible product when we could have a really good, thrilling game bringing in new fans and showcasing skill and speed and talent, instead of the Rinaldis of the game.
As for the Pens, well, the bias is pretty clear.
matthew.burg
4-20-2015, 2:11 pm
The one thing that nobody is talking about is the fact that for the first time in years everyone is counting the Penguins out. Maybe the fact that they aren't EXPECTED to win the cup will be just what they need. It sure sounds like they are having fun for the first time in a while. Even if they don't get through New York it iss good to see the boys enjoy the game a bit. When this team has fun they are FUN to watch!
Glad to see the boys enjoying the playoffs for once. For me, it was never that they were losing in the playoffs or getting first round exits.. It was more of HOW they were losing. Giving up a 3-1 series lead.. Getting swept by Boston.. The flyers series.. I don't even care if they make it trough new York. If they continue to play the way they've played and still don't make it through I'll be happy for them. Our blue line has seriously stepped it up and All four forward lines are contributing. And we're doing this all without hoffer, letang olli and pouliot. THATS impressive to me. Gonna be cheering loud tonight for these guys!! Go pens!!
A. Lane
4-20-2015, 4:15 pm
Are diminished expectations a positive?
Michelle
4-20-2015, 4:29 pm
When you don't have an entire city expected you to win a cup like its a piece of cake.. I'd say that's a huge lift of their shoulders. Specially sids.
JJ
4-20-2015, 2:14 pm
Love that they've seemed to just "shut up and play" when they didn't get the calls. Unlike before when they would work themselves up on the injustice of it all.
After 84 games, a preseason that is already too long, and lengthy off season conditioning programs, is a game day (playoff game day at that) skate really necessary?
Do the Steelers come out to the ole gridiron at 9 AM on a Monday and then ask their players to come on back in later that night for the game.
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, born and bred Pittsburgher and professional sports writer since 1990, was named one of the nation's top four columnists by the Associated Press Sports Editors (2011) and National Headliners (2013).
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April 20, 2015
On the scene: Crosby, Malkin flying, having fun
28by Dejan Kovacevic • On the scene • Tags: Penguins
David Perron and Brian Dumoulin chase a loose puck during a power-play drill Monday. — DEJAN KOVACEVIC
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Sights, sounds and the scene from Consol Energy Center …
• If morning skates meant much of anything, then Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin would be good for a hat trick, a handful of assists and maybe a fight or two in the Penguins’ deadlock-breaking Game 3 tonight against the Rangers.
Both of the franchise’s stars were absolutely flying through the half-hour workout, as well as visibly having fun between and even during drills. And, unlike what was witnessed in New York and other points of the late regular season, this looked anything but forced.
“Look out,” Maxim Lapierre predicted. “When those guys are going like this …”
“Yeah, it’s good right now,” Crosby acknowledged with a small smile. “Winning will do that.”
“Everybody is maybe more relaxed, having fun,” Malkin said.
• Here are Blake Comeau and Patric Hornqvist, on that same spirit:
• Christian Ehrhoff didn’t skate, as he had in New York, and Mike Johnston sure made it sound as if the Penguins won’t be counting on him anytime soon: “He just hasn’t been progressing.” The team still isn’t identifying Ehrhoff’s issue other than ‘upper-body injury,’ but he’s had concussion issues most of the season, and his most recent incident had his head going into the end boards.
• Line rushes and pairings were the same as Game 2, but recent recall Scott Wilson could replace Beau Bennett on the third line. Even though third-line center Brandon Sutter was terrific that night, Bennett was barely visible. Steve Downie would remain the other winger on that line.
• The Rangers’ Carl Hagelin explained this morning that he didn’t mean to hit Crosby in the head when going back to the New York bench in Game 2, an impact that clearly had Crosby dazed for a few moments. “I’m not that kind of player,” Hagelin said. No one on the Penguins’ side is taking issue with the hit, including Crosby, who called it “accidental.”
Not so for Keith Yandle’s cross-check to the neck of Comeau, which went uncalled and was highly unpopular, especially since it came as obvious retribution for Comeau hitting Yandle earlier in that sequence as well as in a previous period.
The Penguins are determined to bug Yandle, a key to the Rangers’ breakout. Stay tuned.
• How much fun was the home team having today?
Well, if you watch the above video to the end, you’ll see I added a clip of David Perron skating up ice targeting a certain reporter’s iPhone behind the net.
“Bull’s-eye, too,” Perron would say later. “Right on the money.”
Yeah, yeah. Score a goal, tough guy.
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