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Pittsburgh Penguins News

Evgeni Malkin's spin-o-rama goal stirs debate
February 9
Montreal Gazette
 columnist Pat Hickey
"Evgeni Malkin's spin-o-rama goal in the shootout against the Canadiens Tuesday has resurrected the debate over whether such moves are illegal. The general consensus is that they aren't entirely kosher, but the NHL has tolerated them and there's no going back once the precedent has been set. The anti spin-o-rama camp, which includes most goaltenders in the league, bases its opposition on a rule that doesn't exist."
Penguins are going to need some scoring depth down the stretch
February 9
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Statistics and history suggest that the Penguins, as currently constructed — that is, without center Sidney Crosby — simply cannot score enough to win a championship this spring. Even with goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, whose play ranks among the league's best. The exploits of center Evgeni Malkin and right wing James Neal are impressive, but they are being relied upon to carry the scoring load far too much. "Someone else needs to start scoring," center Dustin Jeffrey said. "Soon.""
McDonald's future remains unclear
February 9
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Colin McDonald did not know for sure that the Penguins would be sending him back to Wilkes-Barre, and he certainly did not know when it might happen. But he was all too aware that guys in his position, with one skate planted firmly in the American Hockey League, can have their status change at any time. Occasionally, that means they land a spot in the parent club's lineup. Sometimes, it means a visit to the NHL is over. "Someone in my role, I really need to take it not even one day at a time, but one hour at a time," McDonald said a few days ago."
Pens' roster moves could mean return soon for Staal
February 9
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Penguins have returned forwards Colin McDonald and Jason Williams to their farm team in Wilkes-Barre. Those moves suggest that center Jordan Staal, who is recovering from a knee injury, might be ready to come off injured-reserve and rejoin the lineup this weekend when the Penguins have home games against Winnipeg and Tampa Bay."
Sidney Crosby could reap $20M if injuries force retirement
February 8
Toronto Star
 
"If Sidney Crosby's vexing concussion problems force him to retire, the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar is in line for a $20-million payday, thanks to a permanent disability insurance contract he purchased several years ago. Crosby, 24, is among the many high-profile and highly paid NHL players who have extensive insurance policies to complement their existing playing contracts. NHL players still receive their paychecks if they're forced out of the lineup with injuries sustained during games or practices. But off-ice insurance policies provide a financial cushion for players in case they are injured away from the rink."
Plekanec line shut down Malkin, Cunneyworth says
February 8
Montreal Gazette
 
"Tomas Plekanec scored the winning goal in the shootout, but that wasn't his most important contribution to the Canadiens' 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday night. Plekanec and his linemates, Travis Moen and Mathieu Darche, were charged with checking the Evgeni Malkin line and they threw a blanket over the National Hockey League's scoring leader. "That was a difficult assignment for them, particularly for Moen who was coming back, but they did a good job and they created some chances of their own," said coach Randy Cunneyworth. "It hasn't been just one game for Tomas, he's played well the last couple of games," added Cunneyworth."
Canadiens prevail in lengthy shootout win over Penguins
February 8
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Strange things always seems to happen to the Penguins in Montreal, and Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss was no different. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury gave up a soft goal — something that rarely happens — star defenseman Kris Letang lost track of a forward on another goal, and Fleury actually permitted three goals in a shootout that lasted eight rounds. Of course, something else unusual also occurred. The Penguins were somewhat accepting of earning only one point against the Canadiens. "Obviously, it's a good point," said right wing James Neal, whose 28th goal of the season evened the contest with 12:28 remaining."
Jeffrey looks to hang at center after the Penguins get healthy
February 8
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"When healthy, the Penguins are blessed with the finest collection of centers in hockey. Center Dustin Jeffrey would like to remain in the lineup when centers Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal return, and that might require more offensive punch than what he has produced so far. Jeffrey, who came back too early from ACL surgery in October, is finally healthy. Now, he's waiting for the points to come. Jeffrey has scored two goals and two assists in 18 games, and three of those points came in a Jan. 20 game against the Canadiens. "The legs aren't the issue now," said Jeffrey, who said his knee is 100 percent. "Being able to make plays and protect the puck, those are the things I need to improve."
Long shot spoils Fleury's night / Canadiens 3, Penguins 2
February 8
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Used to be that a bad game would rattle Marc-Andre Fleury, causing him to follow it with one that wasn't much better. Not anymore, though. He proved that again Tuesday night, when he did just about everything possible to earn a victory for the Penguins against Montreal at the Bell Centre. He turned aside 28 of 30 shots in regulation, then five of eight in the shootout that decided the game."
Malkin shooting for much higher profile
February 8
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Evgeni Malkin has a Stanley Cup ring, an NHL scoring championship and a playoff MVP award. What he does not have, at least in parts of North America, is a public presence equal to his accomplishments. Fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin got much of the attention in their draft year, and Malkin has been overshadowed by Sidney Crosby much of their time together with the Penguins, but it has gotten pretty tough to overlook Malkin lately. While Ovechkin is having a lackluster season and Crosby has missed all but eight games because of a concussion and neck injury, Malkin entered the Penguins game against Montreal Tuesday night at the Bell Centre as the league's leading scorer. He also has been"
For Sid, misery does love company
February 7
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"He didn't look bad on a line with Steve Sullivan and Cal O'Reilly, even though he was playing out of position. He added a nice dimension to the No. 2 power play, as well, even though the second unit isn't exactly his natural habitat. But being heavily involved in the practice at the Bell Centre didn't mean that Sidney Crosby will be in the lineup when the Penguins face Montreal tonight. He won't."
Staal is out tonight, but return is near
February 7
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Jordan Staal isn't the biggest name on the Penguins' injured list. He isn't even the biggest name center there. But he is the one who figures to be the first to get back in their lineup. Staal, who has missed the past 14 games because of a knee injury, will sit out the game with Montreal tonight at the Bell Centre, but practiced with his teammates Monday and should be back in uniform within "five to 10 days," according to coach Dan Bylsma ."
Sid takes another step, skating with teammates
February 6
NHL.com
 
"Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby took another step in his attempt to return from his latest injury, skating Monday with teammates in Montreal. It's the first time Crosby has skated with teammates since concussion symptoms started following a game against the Boston Bruins on Dec. 5. Last week, the penguins announced that an independent doctor had found that Crosby suffered some soft-tissue damage in his neck area, which may have contributed to some of the concussion-like symptoms. According to the Penguins' website, Crosby skated on a line with Steve Sullivan and Cal O'Reilly during Monday's practice at the Bell Centre. The Penguins play the Canadiens on Tuesday night."
Penguins hoping right winger Kennedy isn't lost to injury
February 6
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The Penguins, showing signs of good health for the first time in months, hope they won't be without right wing Tyler Kennedy when they visit Montreal on Tuesday. Kennedy left Sunday's 5-2 loss in New Jersey with 2:21 remaining in the third period with an apparent foot or ankle injury. He was in considerable pain while leaving the ice, and he required the assistance of trainer Chris Stewart while hobbling to the locker room after leaving the ice. The Penguins were unsure of the nature nor severity of the injury following the game. "I don't know," coach Dan Bylsma said. "I know he's getting evaluated. We'll see.""
Penguins Notebook: Kovalchuk's versatility pays off for Devils
February 6
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"It used to be all about the numbers with Ilya Kovalchuk . Well, some of the numbers, anyway. Mostly, goals. To some extent, assists. Plus-minus? Uh, not really. But Kovalchuk, a New Jersey winger who scored one goal and set up two others in the Devils' 5-2 victory against the Penguins Sunday at Prudential Center, is a different player these days. He still generates some pretty nice offensive statistics -- 22 goals and 28 assists in 47 games -- but Kovalchuk seems to have a genuine appreciation for the value of working all over the ice."
Penguins successful elements disappear in defeat
February 6
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Penguins won't have to conduct an in-depth evaluation to figure out what went wrong in this one. Not when their No. 1 goalie -- the guy who has been so good, for so much of this season -- was out of the game in less than 23 minutes. Not when the members of their No. 1 line -- the group that has terrorized the NHL for the past month -- generated just one point and had a combined plus-minus rating of minus-12. Not when they spotted a three-goal lead to a team that had beaten them three times in a row, and seven times in the previous eight, on its home ice."
Devils pop Pens for fourth straight
February 6
New York Post
 
"Red-hot Ilya Kovalchuk says the results are the message. The Devils did their talking this week by beating the Rangers, Flyers and Penguins, the three Atlantic Division foes above them. "We sent a little message to all the league that we're right there," Kovalchuk said after he recorded his third straight three-point game in the Devils' 5-2 triumph over the Penguins yesterday at Prudential Center, their fourth straight victory since the All-Star break. The day after marking the second anniversary of his trade to the Devils with a Gordie Howe Hat Trick against the Flyers, Kovalchuk kept his hot streak going with a goal and two assists to help subdue Pittsburgh."
Fleury's win streak reaches nine games
February 5
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The Penguins' eight-game winning streak ended in Toronto on Wednesday, but goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's personal streak continues. Fleury has won nine consecutive starts following an outstanding performance in a 2-1 victory over the Bruins on Saturday. Although Boston's offense was silenced most of the game by the Penguins' strong defensive work, there were a few notable lapses late in the game. Fleury was there every time. "Flower was great," right wing Pascal Dupuis said, "especially down the stretch." Fleury stopped 28 of 29 shots."
Crosby's playing style unlikely to change
February 5
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 columnist Dave Molinari
"It would make sense, of course. When a guy's medical records from a 13-month period look like Sidney Crosby's do, making a few adjustments might seem prudent. Might seem, for example, like a good time to spend some more time out on the perimeter. There's more time and space available there, usually, and for good reason: The farther most players get from the net, the less likely they are to be seriously involved in scoring plays. That means opponents have fewer opportunities, and less incentive, to administer the kind of hits -- be they delivered by a shoulder, a stick, an elbow of a forearm -- that can lead to a guy consulting specialists in disciplines he didn't know existed a day"
Penguins notebook: Letang had nice idea, but ...
February 5
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"It seemed, at the time, to be a completely unnecessary penalty. Looked that way in hindsight, too. But Kris Letang saw things a bit differently from ice level Saturday as the middle of the third period in the Penguins' 2-1 victory against Boston at TD Garden approached. He figured he was doing something that might help the Penguins to preserve their one-goal lead. They were up, 2-1, and on a power play when Boston's Daniel Paille tripped Letang in the neutral zone. That could have put the Penguins in position to score an insurance goal on a 25-second two-man advantage, but, as Letang sprawled on the ice, he picked up the puck, then dropped it before shooting it toward the Boston end."
Fleury, Penguins up to Boston challenge, win 2-1
February 5
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"TD Garden is not the most hospitable venue in the NHL. The team that resides there is big, tough and talented, and fans can be pretty hostile at times. Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is aware of all that. Probably more than most. It just doesn't seem to matter to Fleury, who turned aside 28 of 29 Boston shots Saturday afternoon to lead the Penguins to a 2-1 victory against the Bruins."
Crosby skates before Penguins' road trip
February 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Sidney Crosby skated apart from his Penguins teammates for about an hour Friday at Southpointe and later accompanied the club on its road trip to Boston for a game today and New Jersey on Sunday. Coach Dan Bylsma said Crosby, who hasn't played since Dec. 5, also will skate before those games. The Penguins are 13-10 since Crosby went out of the lineup."
Pens' Vitale is on a role
February 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"When the Penguins approached center Joe Vitale about a contract extension last week, he couldn't grab a pen fast enough. "They put something together, and there wasn't too much negotiating," he said. "Both parties wanted to get it done. I know I wanted to get it done, and it worked out." The team announced Friday that Vitale, who would have been a restricted free agent after the season, signed a two-year deal that will pay him an average of $550,000 through 2013-14. It will be a slight bump from this season's salary, when he made $525,000. After practice yesterday at Southpointe, a smile spread across Vitale's face -- even though he knew he probably was buying dinner for some teammates"
Vitale's two-year extension reward for tenacity, hustle
February 4
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins center Joe Vitale maintains a particular perspective when it comes to his place in the NHL. "There's a lot of skill, a lot of talent in this league," he said Friday after practice at Southpointe. "God hasn't given me the most talent as far as that goes, so I feel like I have to work harder to kind of keep up and stand out a little bit. "It's been a good mentality so far. I've got a lot of work ahead of me." The Penguins have rewarded Vitale with a two-year contract extension, through the 2013-14 season. It's a one-way deal with a salary cap-hit of $550,000 per season. He is making $512,500 this season. Vitale, a third- or fourth-liner, has three goals, 10 points in 44 games."
It's no routine weekend trip for Penguins
February 4
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"When the Penguins and Boston last met, Sidney Crosby was in the lineup for the Penguins, the Bruins were on a 13-0-1 roll, and the teams were the class of the Eastern Conference. That was Dec. 5 at Consol Energy Center. The Bruins won, 3-1, to climb to within a point of the first-place Penguins in the East. Today, when the teams meet for a matinee at TD Garden in Boston, the Penguins will have their necks craned. The defending Stanley Cup champion Bruins are second in the East, with 66 points, while the Penguins sit fifth with 62. The Penguins are 3-6 against the four teams ahead of them in the East, with two of those wins coming against Florida. Friday, Penguins winger Matt Cooke called"
Penguins sign Vitale to 2-year deal
February 4
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Penguins have signed Joe Vitale to a two-year contract extension, running through the 2013-14 season, worth $550,000 per season. Vitale, 26, is a hard-working center who made the team out of training camp. He has three goals, 10 points in 44 games."
Penguins GM Shero is happy about O'Reilly acquisition from Coyotes
February 3
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The smile on general manager Ray Shero's face following the first period in Toronto on Wednesday was ample evidence that the acquisition of center Cal O'Reilly isn't just another waiver claim. Shero has liked O'Reilly for a long time. "Cal is a real skilled player," Shero said. "Good vision. Good hockey sense." Shero would know. In 2005, during his final draft while working as the assistant general manager in Nashville, Shero and the Predators selected O'Reilly in the fifth round. Shero saw a player whose skill could translate nicely into the NHL."
Life of center Cal O'Reilly takes big turn
February 3
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Circumstances dictated that it was time to make a move. The general manager had watched his team, studied his depth chart, and concluded he had no choice but to bring in a center. Especially because he had no way of knowing when the gifted young player considered a major piece of the franchise's foundation would make it into the lineup. So, he went out and got Cal O'Reilly -- about three months before the Penguins did the same thing."
Shero, Penguins grab center O'Reilly off waivers from Phoenix
February 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The Penguins claimed center Cal O'Reilly off waivers from Phoenix on Wednesday. General manager Ray Shero was Nashville's assistant general manager when the Predators selected O'Reilly in the fifth round of the 2005 NHL Draft. In 107 NHL games, the 25-year-old O'Reilly has 13 goals and 40 points. O'Reilly was not with the Penguins before Wednesday night's game but was expected to join the team later in the evening. The Penguins like the depth he could provide at center, especially with Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal out of the lineup."
Reader's guide to Crosby saga
February 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 columnist Joe Starkey
"The vague original description still works as good as anything we've heard since: "Upper-body injury." That is how the Penguins labeled Sidney Crosby's condition after he absorbed two head shots in the first week of 2011. Thirteen months, two elaborate news conferences and one brief comeback later, we have no further information. We just know Crosby is hurting."
No miracles left in bag
February 2
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Penguins have been living on the edge lately. A lot. Just about every time they reported for work, really. And when a team spends enough time on the edge -- as the Penguins had done by going to overtime or a shootout in five of their previous six games -- it eventually falls off. Like the Penguins did in a 1-0 loss to Toronto Wednesday night at the Air Canada Centre. While there were a few obvious shortcomings in their performance -- it is pretty tough to win unless you score at least once -- there were no glaring flaws."
O'Reilly will add needed center depth
February 2
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Center is, on paper, the Penguins' deepest position. Fact is, they have the finest collection of centers in the NHL. When it is intact, anyway. It has not been very often over the past two seasons, however, which is why the Penguins claimed Cal O'Reilly from Phoenix on re-entry waivers Wednesday. He is not a threat to knock Evgeni Malkin , Sidney Crosby or Jordan Staal out of a job, but, with the latter two still recovering from long-term injuries, the Penguins hope O'Reilly will provide an infusion of talent and finesse down the middle. "He's got skill, playmaking ability at, really, a high level," coach Dan Bylsma said Wednesday evening. "He can make plays, make great passes, sees the"
Maple Leafs end Penguins winning streak; Reimer records shutout
February 2
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Clarke MacArthur scored late in the third period to give Toronto a 1-0 victory against the Penguins at the Air Canada Centre tonight. The loss snapped the Penguins' eight-game winning streak and dropped their record to 29-18-4. MacArthur broke a 0-0 tie at 13:55 of the third when he took a pass in the right circle, then went to the net and pushed a forehand shot past Penguins goalie Brent Johnson. Johnson was making his first start since Jan. 10, and his goaltending partner, Marc-Andre Fleury, spent the entire evening on the bench for the first time in 24 games. Toronto goalie James Reimer made just his second start in the past 13 games and stopped 25 shots to earn the shutout."
Experts torn on Penguins captain Crosby's injury
February 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Concussion and spine experts said Wednesday they did not know what to make of Penguins center Sidney Crosby's "soft tissue" neck injury. "It is not typical for a prolonged post-concussion syndrome case to have a neck injury as the cause," said Dr. Julian Bailes, chair of the NorthShore University HealthSystem department of neurology in Chicago. "That just doesn't make sense." Bailes described the soft-tissue diagnosis as a "loose, vague term." Crosby was diagnosed with a concussion Jan. 6, 2011. His brief return to NHL action Nov. 21 lasted eight games, and he has not played since Dec. 5. A Philadelphia-based orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Alexander Vaccaro, diagnosed Crosby with a soft-tissue"
Crosby diagnosed with tissue injury to upper neck
February 1
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Sidney Crosby was reluctant to share stories with his teammates about his weekend. While they had several days off or played in the NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa, the Penguins captain was again addressing the health issues that have troubled him the past 13 months. "Basically, my break was spent in doctors' offices and MRI machines, stuff like that," Mr. Crosby said Tuesday. "I didn't have an exciting break, but some of the guys did, so it was more talking about that." Mr. Crosby had news to share, though, potentially important news. After consulting with spinal trauma expert Alexander Vaccaro and others in his growing medical team, he learned that he has a soft-tissue injury in his upper"
Patriots quarterback Brady lauds Crosby's physical therapist
February 1
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"If Tom Brady is living proof, then Sidney Crosby is in good hands. Brady, the New England Patriots' quarterback, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Tuesday that he indirectly recommended Alex Guerrero, his Utah-based physical therapist, to the Penguins' ailing captain. And that he did so with full confidence. "It was through a mutual friend of mine who knows him," Brady said, referring to Crosby. Guerrero helped Brady recover from knee surgery three years ago, with those two often engaging in four sessions a day."
Team captain Crosby says there is 'no' rift with Penguins
February 1
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Sidney Crosby's neck is not broken, and neither is his relationship with the Penguins or their medical staff. "There (are) not a lot of answers with this stuff, and (the organization) has been more than encouraging when it came to seeking out other opinions," Crosby said Tuesday during a news conference before the Penguins played the Toronto Maple Leafs at Consol Energy Center. Crosby is dealing with a soft-tissue injury in the neck and recently received an injection to alleviate swelling between his two uppermost vertebrae. He has not played since Dec. 5, though he resumed on-ice workouts Jan. 13. There remains no timetable for his return, general manager Ray Shero said."
Pens' Brent Johnson's long wait likely to end tonight
February 1
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"At least one thing did not change over the NHL's All-Star break: Goalie Brent Johnson was in his usual position at the end of the Penguins bench Tuesday when their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs began at Consol Energy Center. Marc-Andre Fleury made his 23rd consecutive appearance -- all but two of them as a starter -- to extend the longest such streak of his career. Johnson, though, appears to be a good candidate to get his first start since Jan. 10 when the Penguins visit Toronto tonight in a rematch."
Malkin sparks Penguins to comeback and 5-4 victory in shootout
February 1
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Down. Yes. Out? Not quite. The Penguins returned from the All-Star break and pulled off a wild comeback Tuesday night, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-4, in a shootout after trailing by three goals in the third period. Evgeni Malkin scored the winner, clanking one off the post to beat goalie Jonas Gustavsson on his stick side, as the only one of six shooters to score in the shootout. The win pushed the Penguins winning streak to eight games."
Doctor on Crosby: No broken neck, rather a 'treatable' tissue injury
February 1
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby did not and does not have a broken neck, a specialist in Philadelphia reported to the team. He does have a soft tissue injury that is treatable and could be causing his recurring problems with motion and balance. Crosby had been attributing those symptoms to a concussion he had last year. When those symptoms are gone, Crosby will be cleared to return to the lineup. The specialist is Alexander Vaccaro, a spinal trauma expert at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and co-director of the Spinal Cord Center at Thomas Jefferson University. He is past president of the American Spinal Injury Association."
Penguins say captain Crosby's diagnosis is promising
January 31
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Sidney Crosby did sustain a neck injury, maybe this latest diagnosis will be the key to his recovery, Penguins teammates said Monday. "It's great to know, when something is wrong, to know what's going on," defenseman Kris Letang said. "Now he can really focus on getting back and treat whatever is wrong." Crosby skated yesterday at Consol Energy Center, two days after the team confirmed that a Los Angeles-based spine specialist diagnosed Crosby as having "suffered a neck injury in addition to a concussion." The injury was "fully healed," the team said."
Forget streak, break provides much-needed rest for Penguins
January 31
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"There is, players will tell you, no bad time for a break in the NHL schedule. Not if a team has lost four or five or six games in a row, certainly. And not even when it has won seven consecutive games, as the Penguins did before the NHL shut down for the better part of a week. The schedule is simply too demanding, the games too grueling, to complain about any chance to recuperate and rejuvenate, they say. And so the Penguins -- whose current winning streak is their longest since they ran off 12 in a row Nov. 17-Dec. 11, 2010 -- enter their game tonight against Toronto at Consol Energy Center with no misgivings about being idle since a 3-2 shootout victory last Tuesday in St. Louis."
Crosby joins Despres and Staal on ice
January 31
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Sidney Crosby skated with a couple of injured teammates Monday afternoon at Consol Energy Center. When he's on the ice there in a game might hinge on the findings of what coach Dan Bylsma described as an "independent physician" who is evaluating Crosby's medical situation, including a newly discovered neck injury. Bylsma said that, as of Monday evening, the team had not received that report and that "until that time, there won't be an update on his condition""
Pens' Crosby takes the ice with injured Staal, Despres
January 30
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins center Sidney Crosby has joined center Jordan Staal and defenseman Simon Despres, both of whom are on injured reserve because of knee injuries, on the ice with conditioning coach Mike Kadar at Consol Energy Center. There still is no word on the findings of follow-up examinations Crosby was to have undergone on his neck. A team official said today the Penguins had not been given a timetable for when those results will be given to the team."
Back to the real NHL games
January 30
Ottawa Sun
 columnist Chris Stevenson
"The days at the beach, as tweeted by Capitals defenceman Mike Green from the Cayman Islands, are over. The neon tans from Las Vegas will now start to fade. The NHL's feel-good weekend here — a resounding success which revolved around the emotional outpouring between Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson and Senators fans — now becomes a fond memory. Ahead is a 30-game sausage grinder that is the rest of the NHL season. "You need the break whether you're here or somewhere else doing something different. This is a part of the season the guys really look forward to, just to recharge the battery," said Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul. "When you get back from this break, you're re-energized and you"
Penguins' stars shine bright at NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa
January 30
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Fittingly, as the capper to a four-day stretch over which he constantly unveiled a personality worthy of attention, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin delivered a wicked one-liner about his own teammate after the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday. Of course, defenseman Kris Letang was not a teammate of Malkin's at Scotiabank Place. "Kris plays sometimes in (the) offensive zone, not defensive zone," Malkin said, referring to his set-up of Calgary Flames right winger Jarome Iginla's goal with Letang unsuccessfully defending on the sequence. "(Letang) gives me a chance to score, you know — so I say thank you to him.""
How do you miss a broken neck?
January 30
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 columnist Dejan Kovacevic
"One can choose to study the Sidney Crosby injury saga through the maddening prism of its particulars. One could dissect every detail of every visit to every doctor to what now might be every state in our union, and that's to say nothing of possible paddle-boat excursions to see medicine men in the jungles of Brazil and Burundi. Just wait till those hit the Canadian tabloids. But, honestly, I'm as weary of all the minutiae as most Pittsburghers. It's becoming increasingly difficult to make sense of the big-picture perspective."
More glitter on Malkin's horizon
January 30
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"At the 2008 NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta, Evgeni Malkin could not be persuaded to speak to reporters after picking up a couple of assists -- not by local media members he knew, not by Penguins staff members, not even by then-teammate and friend Sergei Gonchar. What a difference over the weekend at the 2012 confluence of star power. Malkin smiled, held court with media members, had fun with his temporary set of teammates. All without hesitation, without coaxing, without a Russian translator. "I feel awesome," he said a few minutes after the game at Scotiabank Place. He had a goal and an assist Sunday to help Team Zdeno Chara beat Team Daniel Alfredsson, 12-9."
Chara's stars beat hometown hero Alfredsson
January 30
Ottawa Sun
 
"On his big day, Daniel Alfredsson surrounded himself with Swedes. But it was a bunch of Slovak buddies, led by New York Rangers winger Marian Gaborik, who drove Team Chara to a 12-9 victory over Team Alfredsson in front of 20,510 in the 57th NHL all-star game Sunday at Scotiabank Place. While former Senators defenceman Zdeno Chara scored the third-period winner, it was Gaborik, voted the game MVP, who led his club to victory with a hat trick and four-point effort as Team Chara walked away with the bragging rights. "You could see the guys wanted to win," said Chara when asked if he gave his team any instructions with the score tied 6-6 going into the third period. "I didn't have to say a"