Wednesday links: Flyers top Caps, Ruslan Fedotenko still buzzin, Coyotes visit Mellon

by FrankD on Oct 7, 2009 5:15 AM EDT

First off, what a game on Versus last night. Were you able to catch any of it? Whenever the Flyers and Caps play I wish ties still existed. It's kinda like watching two of your most hated enemies meeting on the playground after school. On the surface it's fun to see them smack the hell out of each other - until you realize that ultimately one of them has to win. That team just happened to be the Flyers who sealed it in OT by the score of 6-5 thanks to a Danny Briere goal. Niklas Backstrom picked up three assists (he's really racking them up so far this season), while Mike RIchards picked up a hat trick in the second period. Check out Broad Street Hockey and Japers' Rink to see what the fans are buzzing about.
Ruslan Fedotenko sat out practice on Monday after still feeling the effects of that hit Brendan Witt laid on him on Saturday in Long Island. You may recall he sent himself off to the dressing room (along with Jay McKee who stood up for his new teammate) before returning to the ice to score the game-tying goal. Luckily Feds isn't expected to miss any game time, but let this be evidence to what these guys put themselves through. [Trib-Review]
Tonight the Phoenix Coyotes come to town. In the only meeting last season Sidney Crosby left the ice with one of those "undisclosed injuries" and the Yotes went on to win it 4-1. Here's to hoping the Pens get out of this one relatively pain free, considering they have to follow up tomorrow night with another one in Philadelphia. More on Phoenix later.
Also worth noting in that Trib article regarding Feds, the Penguins will break out the (bad luck?) blue sweaters on October 17 against the Lightning. You may remember last season that the Penguins decided to cash them in early when superstition suggested they weren't fairing too well in the blue. Record in the third jersey? 3-5-2

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I saw the whole Caps Flyers game yesterday… and it really was some awesome hockey… I just couldn’t decide the whole game which of the teams I dislike more:)…

it was crazy, 3rd game of the season and it was played at a near playoff pace (but not playoff defense:)… but very fun to watch… I can’t wait for thursday to see if the Pens will match the energy shown by the Flyers in the first few games… or else we’ll have our hands full…

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Oct 7, 2009 7:26 AM EDT reply actions

In all honesty the score was very much what I expected it to be. Emery played more like a human after all and Varlamov was once again exposed for his weaknesses. Four goals in the second period? Not good. I guess he answered a lot of questions last night with how he played. He does still have potential of course but I think the Caps were right in keeping Theodore the starter and making it his job to lose.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 7, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Like we said in that series last year, young goalies are alot like young pitchers or hitters in baseball. They come in and do a good job initially because of the “unknown” factor, once some tape gets out on you and people analyze your game they find weaknesses and expose them. I think that might be some of the case with Varlamov (who I still think is a great young goalie).

I am Laura Nichols and I like Bacon.

BSD is an addiction, and this is the first step.

by carolinaeasy on Oct 7, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

That Caps -Flyers game was amazing last night. Really bad defense by both teams. Anyone else notice on Briere’s GWG, he looked like he was 6 inches taller than the net? Plus hes on skates! Seriously.

I thought I read (on Empty Netters?) that the Pens were wearing blue tonight. Can anyone confirm they read that on Monday?

by biggoron on Oct 7, 2009 7:53 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Briere was completely untouched on that last goal. The Caps defensemen, Poti and (can’t remember other guy – Erskine?) were just staring at him like, “Oh look, there’s Briere.” I mean, didn’t he fan on the first shot and still have enough time to chip away and put in the second one? A guy his size shouldn’t be able to position down low like that. He should’ve been bullied out of the crease

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 7, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

From todays EN.

I knew I wasnt crazy.

-The Penguins will not wear their blue jerseys tonight as was incorrectly reported earlier. They will debut their dreaded blues Oct. 17 against the Lightning.

by biggoron on Oct 7, 2009 8:01 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I don't mind the blues

I bought my second pens jersey in the blue this past year. I like the mix…although I would like to see the pens develop a more team color oriented third jersey…maybe incorporate the old logo onto a vegas gold and black jersey, or come up with an entirely new third logo..but the blues are alright…

I am Laura Nichols and I like Bacon.

BSD is an addiction, and this is the first step.

by carolinaeasy on Oct 7, 2009 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t mind the blues either. I picked up a blank one last season just for the sake of having it. There was a lot of buzz during the offseason suggesting the Penguins might get the old school black and gold jersey that spells out Pittsburgh as their third jerz. That would be pretty sweet but I guess there’s still a ton of 90’s memories associated with those ones.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 7, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions

I would go for that

only if they incorporated the draw string from the blue…I love the draw string look…

I am Laura Nichols and I like Bacon.

BSD is an addiction, and this is the first step.

by carolinaeasy on Oct 7, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

The Capitals really need to address their defense. It was as mediocre as ever in that game.

That’s not even mentioning their horrid puck management. I lost count of how many times they turned over the puck in the neutral zone, be it from sloppy handling or bad passing.

by SlayerGhaleon on Oct 7, 2009 5:50 PM EDT reply actions