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I was curious where the Pens stood in this department but will also admit I was too depressingly unmotivated to do the work myself. Not to mention it likely would've changed and changed again by the time I actually pooled together all the information. So we turn to Mr. Mirtle. This is why he gets paid the big bucks.

about 8 hours ago FrankD 2 comments 0 recs

Tales of the Tape: Ottawa Senators, Eric Godard vs. Chris Neil

by JDunman on Nov 20, 2009 8:10 AM EST in Fights Comment 2 comments

There's not much good to say about the Pen's game last night, but I'll do my best to try to raise the sagging spirits of the Pensburgh crowd. Would watching Eric Godard pound on Chris Neil make you feel better? Dry those eyes and take a look.

The fight started with Neil doing the increasingly popular move of grabbing the jersey and jabbing with the same hand, but Godard quickly got Neil's hand away from his face and came out swinging. Neil was switching hands, swinging with whatever he could get free, but Godard stayed dedicated to his right hand, and his right hand stayed dedicated to Neil's face. After blows back and forth with both players stopped and looked as if they were going to await the linesmen. Then Neil took the opportunity to take a cheap swing, and Godard answered with a direct shot to the face (or right in the button, if you're listening to the clip). At this point, Neil's face started bleeding, but he kept at it. The energy was sapped, though, and shortly the linesmen broke the two up.

What a bout from Godard. Neil came out with some quick jabs, but Godard just pounded his face over and over again. This is a solid win for Godard - just look at the blows he connected! By the end of the bout, Neil's left cheek was swollen and bloody, but that can be expected when one gets repeatedly punched in the face. Definitely a good fight - I just wish it had come in a better game.

Next up is Atlanta, who thus far have 9 fights this season (coincidentally, the same number Chris Neil has) - five of which coming from Eric Boulton. You may recall a memorable bout last season in which Ruslan Fedotenko broke his hand on Colby Armstrong's face. Let's hope any fights that we may see have similar results without the unfortunate effects.

(Thanks to GhostWalker40 for the video!)

Poll

Who won the fight?

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Sergei Gonchar and Max Talbot return but it's not enough, Senators smoke Pens 6-2

by FrankD on Nov 19, 2009 10:03 PM EST in Game Recaps Comment 6 comments

Check out Senators coverage over at Silver Seven

Hooks is out of the Pensburgh lineup for the next three to five days, so I'll be standing in for recap action tonight and Saturday. Following the Atlanta game, it is believe he'll be listed as day to day.

The awesomeness that is Lindon Slewidge rocked the anthems before the puck even dropped. The guy's got a set of pipes, that's for sure. Always great to see him during Ottawa games.

Pittsburgh's first goal was fast and pretty thanks to the long reach from Jordan Staal and a great set up on behalf of Pascal Dupuis from Sergei Gonchar. Definitely the sort of thing you wanna see your returning defenseman get involved in right off the bat. And hey, for all the times we've knocked Dupuis, that was one hell of a pass.
Unfortunately the highly anticipated return of Max Talbot was stalled by two minutes when he went to the box for tripping. No worries though, as the PK killed that one off with ease.
With roughly eight minutes to go in the first, Ottawa showed some serious puck control in the Pittsburgh zone. What felt like too long wound up being just that, as Matt Carkner got an angle on Marc-Andre Fleury and sent one home to tie it at one a piece. In 2006-07 Carkner played with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Pens, so his ability to score against Pittsburgh should stand as no surprise to anyone. These things always happen.

The second period and depressing third after the jump

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Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators [Open Thread]

by Lavender on Nov 19, 2009 7:30 PM EST in Game Open Threads Comment 181 comments

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. OTTAWA SENATORS

IN OTTAWA @ 7:30pm ET

RADIO FEED ON WXDX.com

SENATORS BLOG: SILVER SEVEN

So, amidst the injuries, isn't great to get our QB of the PP back, and then Mr. Superstar? I'm interested to see how they take to the ice tonight, tentative out there or not, it's great to see both out there!

With the Penguins having a certain amount electricity jolted to the system when Geno returned, I got to believe this will only be a plus with that. This will be a lot of fun to watch, having them back to the mix.

Cheers, and Let's Go Pens!

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It's official: Sergei Gonchar and Max Talbot return tonight

by FrankD on Nov 19, 2009 12:36 PM EST in 2009-10 injuries Comment 18 comments

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

The PP quarterback returns.

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It figures - mere seconds after I toss up a fanshot that questions whether Gonch is still questionable, the Pens release official word that both Sergei Gonchar AND Max Talbot will return to the lineup tonight.

This, in case you needed me to tell you, is a good thing. However I still have my reservations with Gonch, and that is more or less rooted in the concern that he may be getting rushed back before he's 100% ready to hit the ice. I know, I know, he was cleared for contact last week. So was Max. But I think Gonch was still mentioning some discomfort in his shoulder and wrist last week, so there's a chance he won't be 100% tonight.

But in all honesty I'd love to be proven wrong.

Looks like the Chris Lee call up is a precautionary thing. I haven't read anything that leads me to believe that Mark Eaton is injured - or at least admitting to it. He did miss today's practice but is listed on the defensive pairings that were released this morning.

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Chris Lee called up from WBS

According to WBS beat writer Jonathan Bombulie's Twitter page, the Pens have called up Chris Lee to man the blue line tonight. Don't know if this means Gonchar is a definite 'no' or Lee is considered a 7th d-man, but at this point the WBS bus should just follow behind Pittsburgh's.

1 day ago FrankD 3 comments 0 recs

Let's take a look at the Ottawa Senators

by FrankD on Nov 19, 2009 7:30 AM EST in 2009-10 game previews Comment 19 comments

More photos » by FRED CHARTRAND - AP

Chris Neil. Brutal.

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[SBN Ottawa Senators blog - Silver Seven]

The Penguins kick off a short three-game road trip tonight as they head north of the border to take on the Ottawa Senators. In the last meeting between the two, the Penguins skated away with a 4-1 victory thanks to goals from Bill Guerin, Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy, the latter of whom actually scored two of em.

It goes without question that the recent injury report regarding Jay McKee puts the Pens in an interesting situation, as they now officially find themselves with only one of the starting six defensemen from the first day of the season (Mark Eaton). Martin Skoula, announced earlier in the year as the seventh d-man, looks as if he has his work cut out for him over (at least) the next two to four weeks.

On a positive note, Max Talbot makes his triumphant return to the ice, confirmed yesterday by the Trib-Review.

But enough about the Pens - you know what's going on here. Take the jump and check out what's going on with the Senators.

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Sports Illustrated nominates Sidney Crosby as Sportsman of the Year

Sid's going up against the likes of college football QB Tim Tebow, golfer Tom Watson, NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson, WNBA's Diana Taurasi and former Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy. Personally I'm a bit surprised Geno wasn't nominated.

2 days ago FrankD 4 comments 0 recs