Pens Tidbits

[83-Steelers-43]

I'm not crazy at all about the Pens sending Noah Welch down. It's not as if he's the weak link on that defense. Let the kid learn up here. I could think of two others I would have sent down before Welch, but whatever.

SCM, maybe there is a trade coming up in our future or maybe Therrien is simply sending a message? Eitherway I would rather have seen somebody else sent down. He will be back up here in the near future I'm sure. If there is one plus, DuPont is a righthanded defenseman. Veteran Nasreddine has Eaton's style of play on defense and from what I witnessed last season he played solid.

[SteelCityMan786]

A trade DEFINANTLY looks possible. Ray's a no bs guy. Wouldn't surprise me if he tries to clean things up here.

[83-Steelers-43]

Also..........

Ryan Malone and Michel Ouellet have been medically cleared to return from injuries. Hopefully both learned how to score goals in their time off.

[SteelCityMan786]

Alright, Good to see they are READY.

[83-Steelers-43]

Ugh...........

Malone to play tonight

By Karen Price
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, December 5, 2006


Forward Ryan Malone will be in the Penguins lineup against the Florida Panthers for the first time tonight since Oct. 21 when he broke his forearm in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Coach Michel Therrien confirmed after today's morning skate that Malone will play on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Nils Ekman.

"I'm excited to see him back and it's important for us for him to play some solid hockey," Therrien said.

Jordan Staal, meanwhile, will be a healthy scratch tonight for the first time this season.

"It's a development year for him," Therrien said. "We have a plan for him and we're sticking to our plan."

Of the two defensemen recalled on Monday, Therrien said that Alain Nasreddine will play tonight but Micki Dupont will not. Jocelyn Thibault will start in goal.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin continue to run Nos. 1 and 2 among forwards in voting for the Eastern Conference All-Stars starting lineup, Crosby with 401,365 votes and Malkin with 217,146.

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, in first place last week, has slipped behind Buffalo’s Ryan Miller, 253,024-208,492 in the results released today. Voting remains open through Jan. 2.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_482795.html

Benching Jordan Staal for Ryan Malone? Great.

[SteelCityMan786]

ALRIGHT!!!! That means guys are getting healthy.

[83-Steelers-43]

No doubt, guys are getting healthy, I just hope the guys who are now healthy don't hurt those who have been healthy. Said before this season started, if your going to put Jordan on the 4th line or even worse, bench him, you shouldn't have signed him in the first place. I also don't feel Noah Welch has anything to learn down at WBS while players like Melichar and Whitney are not looking any better. Melichar had a nice front seat on that second Panther goal.

For the most part, I'm not crazy about the decisions these last two days.

[83-Steelers-43]

Holy #$&%, Sid just scored a goal (to tie it up at 2-2) that was simply unbelievable. Hopefully I'll start seeing these goals in the near future. I'm starting up this month and to the end of the season with my package.

[83-Steelers-43]

And the Panthers just scored on the PP. Missing Staal on the PK (and Malone blowing chance after chance tonight to score) and shaking up that defense might just have an effect on this team. We are losing to a team who has their two top players out and who have lost their last six games.

[SteelCityMan786]

GRUMBLE GRUMBLE. Another Goal.