RECAP: Jussi That? Pens WIN.

3

2

This was one of the most entertaining games of the season. This game was everything you could ask for out of a regular season game. Both teams were fast and hit anything that moved. This was also probably the best game that Evgeni Malkin played all season.

There wasn't a lot that happened in the first, but the Pens somewhat dominated play. Shots were 13-7 Pittsburgh. Both goalies made a couple of good saves. The period kinda reminded you that the Pens still couldn't score on Tukka. Tanner Glass had 4 hits in the period.

The second started how the first ended, with the Pens dominating play. Lucic got called for interfering on Tanner Glass and it gave the Pens their first powerplay of the game. The Pens had good puck possesion on the PP and eventually got the puck to Crosby who then fed Letang. Letang got a good shot off but Tukka made the save, Kunitz was standing in front and scored backwards between the legs. 1-0 Pens. A little bit later, Kunitz got called for some shit, and while on the PK, Sid and Krug went at it a little and both got called for roughing. MAF was good again and the Pens took a 1-0 lead into the 3rd.

The 3rd started with the Bruins having some momentum and 1:05 into the period, Bergeron tipped a Dennis Seidenberg shot and the Bruins tied it. Good deflection. Not much MAF could do. Right after the goal, the Bruins had an offensive zone faceoff and Jordan Caron decided he wanted to fight Bortuzzo and they both threw a couple punches. Decent fight but we aren't really sure what the purpose was. Then with under 12:00 Shawn Thornton realized he was an idiot and boarded Tanner Glass. Terrible hit, luckily Glass is okay. A minute into the powerplay, Kris Letang got called for the worst dive in the history of diving, luckily Marchand is a dick and got called for slashing to even it up, but both calls were really weak. Right after the powerplay ended, Suttertron had speed down the right side and sniped a shot top corner over Rask. Somewhat like the goal he scored in the comeback game in March of last year. Nasty shot. 2-1 Pens. With just over 2 to play, Jussi J pickpocketed some dude and sniped Rask for another Jussi Goal (Sponsored by the Carolina Hurricanes). 3-1 Pens and the game looked like it was going to go quiet. But the Bruins pulled Rask, Bergeron won an offensive zone faceoff and Jarome Iginla (used in the proper spot on the ice) fired a slap shot past MAF to make it 3-2. Bruins came on strong after that but MAF held the door including making a save similar to the SCF save in Detroit that we all know.

Notes:

- Paul Martin went down awkwardly in the 1st but finished the game.

- Megnatron has been everywhere the last couple of games, good chance he sticks around for awhile.

- Malkin is probably gonna go on a hot streak soon.

- Best in the World finished October with an NHL Leading 21 points and 2 behind the Penguins record for most in October.

- MAF finished October with a 9-2-0 record with a 1.81 GAA and .927 Save %

- Pens look like they could run away with the division.

Next game Friday at home with Columbus.

Go Pens.

PREGAME: Pens vs. Bruins

Consol Energy Center. 8:00. NBCSN. 105.9 The X.

Tonight the Penguins (8-4-0) take on the Boston Bruins (7-3-0) at home, the first meeting of the regular season since the Bruins swept the Pens in the Eastern Conference Final. The Bruins are coming into this game with a perfect 4-0-0 road record, but were just handed a loss by the New Jersey Devils in their last game on Saturday. The Penguins bounced back from a 3-game losing streak on Monday with a win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Tonight will also be "Hockey Fights Cancer" night at CEC and the purple pregame warm up jerseys that the Pens will be wearing will be autographed and auctioned off on NHL.com. The proceeds from the jerseys will go towards the Mario Lemieux Foundation and the UPMC CancerCenter Patient Assistance Fund.

And something something, Jarome Iginla returns to Pittsburgh, something something OMG, HE'S ON RIGHT WING! Something something Dan Bylsma something.

LINES:
(Via Daily Faceoff)

 

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Jokinen - Malkin - D'Agostini
Glass - Sutter - Megna
Jeffrey - Vitale - Adams

 

Orpik - Martin
Niskanen - Letang
Maatta - Bortuzzo

 

Fleury

 

 

Lucic - Krejci - Iginla
Marchand - Bergeron - Smith
Soderberg - Kelly - Caron
Paille - Campbell - Thornton

Chara - Boychuk
Seidenberg - Hamilton
Krug - McQuaid

Rask

INJURY REPORT:

• PIT - Vokoun, Scuderi (ankle, out 6-8 weeks), Kobasew (lower body, out 3-4 weeks). Neal and Bennett on IR.
• BOS - Eriksson out indefinitely.

LET'S GO PENS.

RECAP. It Wasn't Pretty. Pens WIN

 3

1

The Pens invaded Carolina last night to take on the Canes.  And honestly.  There really is nothing to say about this game.  It was that boring.  It looked like it was gonna be a fun one early on but things settled down.  Pens got on the board first on a set neutral zone face off play.  The Pens got the puck on goal and Tanner Glass put home a rebound.  Cane tied it on the power play.  Pens went up 2-1 in the 2nd off a sick pass from Best In The World to Kunitz.  Jayson Megna iced it in the 3rd getting his firs career NHL goal.

Worst part of last night was finding out Rob Scuderi is going to be out indefinitely with a broken ankle that requires surgery.  Vomit.  #BuryClarckson

Pens host the Bruin Wednesday night in a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals.  Pens will find a way to score negative goals this time.  Bizarre start time for a home game of  8 p.m.

Go Pens

PREGAME: Pens at Canes

PNC Arena. 7:00. ROOT.

The Pens (7-4-0) conclude their 2-game road trip tonight with their second match-up of the regular season with the Carolina Hurricanes (4-4-3). Both teams are coming into tonight's game with losing streaks (Pens lost 3, Canes 2).

Here's what happened during their last meeting on October 8th:

LINES:

(Based on morning skates)

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis

Jokinen - Malkin - D'Agostini

Glass - Sutter - Kobasew

Jeffrey - Vitale - Adams

Orpik - Martin

Niskanen - Letang

Maatta - Bortuzzo

Fleury

Gerbe - Staal - Semin

Tlusty - Staal - Dwyer

Ruutu - Nash - Lindholm

Bowman - Sutter - Westgarth

Faulk - Sekera

Gleason - Hainsey

Harrison - Murphy

Peters

INJURY REPORT:
PIT - Scuderi (lower-body, being re-evaluated). Neal (upper-body), Bennett (lower-body), Vokoun (blood clot).
CAR - Skinner, Dvorak questionable. Bellemore (lower-body), Dwyer (upper-body).

LET'S GO PENS.

Pregame: Pens at Leafs

Air Canada Centre. 7:00 PM. ROOT

The Pens travel North of the Border for the first time this year for a matchup with the Leafs. The Game starts at 7 so expect it to start at like 7:30 because the Leafs probably have some pre-game ceremony honouring their last cup in 1967 or raising the Bon Jovi banner. Pens have dropped two straight even though they probably outplayed the Avs and Isles. The Leafs lost to #Lumbus last night. Maybe April Reimer and Dion Phaneauf's girlfriend can have another moment like this.

Expected Line Combinations and Notes:

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis

Jokinen - Malkin - Kobasew

Glass - Sutter - Megna

Adams - Vitale - Engellend

Scuderi - Letang

Orpik - Martin

Maatta - Niskanen

Fleury

Van Riemsdyk - Bozak - Kessel

McClement - Bolland - Clarkson

Raymond - Kadri - Ashton

McLaren - Smith - Orr

Gunnerson - Phaneuf

Rielly - Franson

Ranger - Gardiner

Reimer

Joffrey Lupul isn't playing. Can't deny or confirm that Princess Sass will be in attendance with him.

Deryk Engellend v Colton Orr round 92384832 tonight probably. Atleast Engellend will be a forward this time, really only brightside to that.

Dustin Jeffrey is probably sitting in the press box eating some poutine since Engellend scored last night. yay.

No updates on Neal or Bennett.

Go Pens.

Recap: #Penislanders. Pens Lose

3

4

Pens lost on a last second goal by Josh Bailey. Best in the World scored a goal that is like shooting into an empty net for him. The level he is on right now. Deryk Engellend jobbed us and scored a goal as a forward, something about Claude Giroux passing the baton to him or something like that. Big ? regarding Zatkoff as the backup. Pens in Toronto tonight in like 6 minutes.

The Legend Of Harry Zolneircyzk's Last Name

Harry Z in one of the few times he wasn't laying on the ice after falling

During the off season General Manager Ray Shero traded for one Harry Zolniercyzk in exchange for some low level prospect.  Pens fans will mostly remember Zolniercyzk from his time with the Philadelphia Flyers....Or his kiddie porn felony or whatever.  Typing out Zolniercyzk is a very daunting task.  It take time and patience to do.  If you have been following me or Andrew all season we've resorted to calling him Harry Keysmash because that's what his last name looks like.  Something you would type after some big goal in OT or an unreal goal by Best In The World.  What most people don't know is the story behind the last name Zolniercyzk.  But now we here at Heyyyyy Fannnssss have received insider information on the origin of the last name Zolniercyzk from a very very reputable source who would like to remain anonymous. So here you go the legend of the last name Zolniercyzk...

Via very reputable source:  "The last name Zolniercyzk is very bizarre.  It looks like something you would get if you randomly bashed you face off the keyboard.  What would you say if I told you that may be exactly how the name game about?  Well back in the old days when people were being handed out first and last names, yes, that's how it happened, the Zolniercyzk clan was the last clan to receive their names.  They wanted something different.  The didn't want a normal name like "Smith" or "Johnson".  How weird would that sound.  Harry Smith or Harry John....I digress.  Anyways.  Like I said.  They wanted something different.  Something unique.  They came up with the name Zolniercyzk.  Except, that's not how they wanted it spelled.  They originally wanted it to be spelled "Zolnerchek".  The thing was, the idiot that was spelling the names kept spelling it wrong.  He would spell it "Zolnerchuk" then "Zolnirchek" and also "Zolneerchuk".  Every time they kept going back to him saying it was spelled wrong and they didn't like it.  He got so frustrated with the Zolniercyzk clan that he bashed his face off his type writer repeatedly and out came Zolniercyzk.  He gave it to them and said "This is what you get.  Now leave me alone."  They Zolniercyzk clan looked at it and said "This is gonna annoy a lot of people in the future.  Lets roll with it.""

So there lies the truth behind the last name Zolniercyzk.  Remember.  This is all fact from a very reputable source.

This is also what happens when the Pens have 37428765839 days off between games.  People send you information like this.

;)

Pens host the Isles in like 359359504 days.  

Go Pens 

Podcast City

Fist Podcast of the 2013-14 Season

We talk everything Pens.

We gush over our #OlliMaattaMaanCrush some more

We talk about the abomination that is the Metropolitan Division

We trash Claude Giroux for being an idiot

Plus a look ahead to this weekends games.

Listen below

Go Pens

RECAP. 0 for 7. Pens LOSE

 1

0

The title of this recap tells the whole story.  The Pens were 0 for 7 on the power play last night including 0 for 4 in the first period.  J.S. Gigure was lights out last night.  He looked like the J.S. Gigure when he played in Anaheim.  Gabriel Landeskog scored the only goal of the game in the 2nd period on a sick wrist shot.  Avs are gonna be sick in a couple years.

Pens next game is Friday vs the Islanders

First podcast of the season will be up shortly.

Go Pens

Who's Hot and Who's Not

To start this post this week, we're gonna re-visit my 3 predictions for big weeks by 3 players to see how I did.

Sidney Crosby (PIT) - 2 goals 6 assists 8 points

Safe to say this was a pretty good pick.

Alexander Ovechkin (WSH) - 1 goal 2 assists 3 points

Ovechkin had a good game against Edmonton and recorded an assist against Columbus. He had a decent week so it wasn't a terrible pick.

Matt Duchene (COL) - 3 goals 1 assist 4 points

Duchene had a solid week scoring 2 goals against the Stars and a goal and an assist against Buffalo.

Standings through 7 PM October 21st

	ATLANTIC	GP	W	L	OT	P	ROW	GF	GA	DIFF	HOME	AWAY	S/O	L10	STREAK
1	DETROIT	9	6	3	0	12	6	24	23	+1	3-1-0	3-2-0	-	6-3-0	LOST 1
2	TORONTO	9	6	3	0	12	5	30	22	+8	3-2-0	3-1-0	1-0	6-3-0	LOST 2
3	BOSTON	7	5	2	0	10	5	20	10	+10	2-2-0	3-0-0	-	5-2-0	WON 2
4	MONTRÉAL	8	5	3	0	10	5	26	15	+11	2-2-0	3-1-0	-	5-3-0	LOST 1
5	TAMPA BAY	8	5	3	0	10	4	26	21	+5	3-2-0	2-1-0	1-0	5-3-0	LOST 1
6	OTTAWA	8	3	3	2	8	3	21	24	-3	1-1-0	2-2-2	0-1	3-3-2	LOST 1
7	FLORIDA	9	3	6	0	6	2	20	32	-12	2-2-0	1-4-0	1-0	3-6-0	WON 1
8	BUFFALO	10	1	8	1	3	0	13	28	-15	0-5-1	1-3-0	1-0	1-8-1	LOST 2

	METROPOLITAN	GP	W	L	OT	P	ROW	GF	GA	DIFF	HOME	AWAY	S/O	L10	STREAK
1	PITTSBURGH	8	7	1	0	14	6	31	19	+12	5-0-0	2-1-0	1-0	7-1-0	WON 4
2	CAROLINA	9	4	2	3	11	4	22	26	-4	1-1-3	3-1-0	0-2	4-2-3	WON 2
3	NY ISLANDERS	8	3	3	2	8	2	25	23	+2	2-1-2	1-2-0	1-2	3-3-2	LOST 1
4	COLUMBUS	8	3	5	0	6	2	19	22	-3	1-2-0	2-3-0	1-0	3-5-0	WON 1
5	WASHINGTON	8	3	5	0	6	2	21	25	-4	3-3-0	0-2-0	1-0	3-5-0	WON 1
6	NEW JERSEY	8	1	4	3	5	1	17	26	-9	1-0-1	0-4-2	0-2	1-4-3	WON 1
7	NY RANGERS	7	2	5	0	4	2	11	29	-18	0-0-0	2-5-0	-	2-5-0	LOST 1
8	PHILADELPHIA	8	1	7	0	2	1	11	24	-13	1-4-0	0-3-0	-	1-7-0	LOST 4

	CENTRAL	GP	W	L	OT	P	ROW	GF	GA	DIFF	HOME	AWAY	S/O	L10	STREAK
1	COLORADO	8	7	1	0	14	7	27	12	+15	3-1-0	4-0-0	-	7-1-0	WON 1
2	CHICAGO	8	5	1	2	12	4	23	19	+4	4-0-2	1-1-0	1-2	5-1-2	WON 1
3	ST. LOUIS	7	5	1	1	11	4	27	19	+8	4-1-0	1-0-1	1-1	5-1-1	OT 1
4	NASHVILLE	9	5	3	1	11	5	19	22	-3	3-1-1	2-2-0	0-1	5-3-1	WON 2
5	MINNESOTA	9	3	3	3	9	3	19	22	-3	2-0-2	1-3-1	0-2	3-3-3	OT 1
6	WINNIPEG	9	4	5	0	8	3	22	25	-3	3-4-0	1-1-0	1-0	4-5-0	LOST 1
7	DALLAS	8	3	5	0	6	2	20	28	-8	2-1-0	1-4-0	1-0	3-5-0	LOST 2

	PACIFIC	GP	W	L	OT	P	ROW	GF	GA	DIFF	HOME	AWAY	S/O	L10	STREAK
1	SAN JOSE	8	7	0	1	15	7	39	16	+23	5-0-0	2-0-1	0-1	7-0-1	WON 1
2	ANAHEIM	8	7	1	0	14	6	30	19	+11	5-0-0	2-1-0	1-0	7-1-0	WON 7
3	PHOENIX	9	5	2	2	12	5	27	26	+1	2-0-1	3-2-1	0-1	5-2-2	WON 1
4	LOS ANGELES	9	6	3	0	12	3	24	22	+2	2-1-0	4-2-0	3-0	6-3-0	WON 2
5	VANCOUVER	10	5	4	1	11	5	27	29	-2	2-2-0	3-2-1	0-1	5-4-1	LOST 1
6	CALGARY	7	3	2	2	8	3	23	26	-3	2-0-1	1-2-1	0-1	3-2-2	LOST 2
7	EDMONTON	9	2	6	1	5	1	26	36	-10	1-2-0	1-4-1	1-0	2-6-1	WON 1

My Three Stars of the Week

Mike Smith - Phoenix Coyotes : 1-0-2, 8 goals allowed on 104 shots and 1 goal scored. (4-2-2, .916 save percentage, 2.83 GAA)

Smith played solid against Ottawa even though he lost in Overtime and lost in a shootout against Anaheim. Smith let in two goals early vs the Red Wings and then shut the door in part of a comeback win for the Coyotes, oh he also scored a goal (yes he SCORED) at the end of the Detroit game. Here's proof.

With this goal, he now has more goals than the former best player in the world, Claude Giroux and a few other NHL players.

Tukka Rask - Boston Bruins : 2-0-0, 2 goals allowed on 52 shots (5-2-0, .954 save percentage, 1.29 GAA)

Rask recorded wins against Florida and Tampa Bay and the win in Tampa was his 1st shutout of the season. The Bruins seem to be quiet right now for a team that is 5-2-0 and sitting in 3rd place in the Atlantic Division. Rask is continuing from where he left off in the playoffs last year and has been a reason to why the Bruins have had success.

Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins : 3 games played, 2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points (8 games played, 7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points)

As if there was any question who the first star would be. Crosby is off to probably one of the best starts of his career. He's averaging over 2 PPG and is on pace for 174 points this season. He also has a 5 point lead over Joe Pavelski and Henrik Sedin for the NHL points lead and is tied with Marleau, Steen, Ovechkin and Hertl for the lead in goals currently.

And this post wouldn't be complete without our Three Duds

Dud #3 : Claude Giroux - Philadelphia Flyers : 2 games played, 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points (8 games played, 0 goals, 3 assists, 3 points)

Giroux has virtually been invisible for a Flyers team who can't score. The Flyers haven't scored more than 2 goals in a game yet this year. The Flyers have 6 days off so we'll see if Giroux makes this list for the 4th straight week next week.

Dud #2 : Jarome Iginla - Boston Bruins : 2 games played, 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point (7 games played, 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points)

Iginla seems to just starting to get comfy in Boston but he hasn't been off to the start that the Bruins had hoped to. Iginla probably won't make this list very often but a goal scorer like him without any goals can't go unnoticed.

Dud #1 : Nail Yakupov - Edmonton Oilers : 3 games played, 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point (7 games played, 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point)

Yakupov was a healthy scratch in Washington on Monday because of some comment. He really hasn't done anything to start the year after finishing his rookie season last year strong. The Oilers did win their last game against the Senators and Yakupov had an assist so we'll see if that gets him going.

3 Predictions for a big week

1. James Van Riemsdyk - Toronto Maple Leafs (ANA, @ CBJ, PIT)

JVR quietly has 5 goals this year for the Leafs and he always seems to score some goal against the Pens. The Blue Jackets aren't off to a great start so he probably has a big game against them, look for him to score 2 or 3 goals this week and maybe an assist or two.

2. Anze Kopitar - Los Angeles Kings (CGY, PHX, EDM)

Kopitar has 8 assists so far this season and 0 goals, but games with the two teams from Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton) should change that. All of the Kings games this week are at home so I think Kopitar has a pretty big week.

3. Patrick Kane - Chicago Blackhawks (@ FLA, @ TB, MIN)

Kane has 4 goals and an assist so far for the defending champs, and games against the Florida teams should increase that. The Wild and Blackhawks seem to always play good games against each other but I think that Kane has a good week.

We'll see how good my predictions are this week.

In the meantime

Go hockey.

Go Pens.