Nick Johnson and Dustin Jeffrey sent back down, Pascal Dupuis and Max Talbot may be ready for Flyers

by FrankD on Jan 22, 2010 12:54 PM EST

Although the Pens didn't get the win last night, you can't argue that Nick Johnson didn't have a productive game. After all, how many call ups can say they scored a goal in their first NHL game? For right now he'll have to keep that on hold as a motivator, as the Pens announced today that both he and fellow call up Dustin Jeffrey will return to Wilkes-Barre today.

Probably the best news to come out of this is the fact that Pascal Dupuis will likely return to action Sunday against the Flyers after taking a pretty devastating hit into the boards Tuesday night. I know a lot of us were wondering when we'd hear something about Dupuis over the past few days, but I guess the old saying no news is good news really applies to him here. He may have a bruise or two to show for it, but let's just be glad it's not more serious.

Also a probable return to the lineup Sunday is Philly fan favorite Max Talbot. Max has, without a doubt, been struggling this season. The reason for Talbot's scratch from the lineup remains "undisclosed," but between recovering from shoulder surgery and (a rumored) foot/ankle injury, luck hasn't been on his side much.

While on the topic of the Flyers, I guess now would be a good time to address a bit of controversy that stemmed from last night's Flyers/Rangers game in which four fights broke out, one including Daniel Carcillo on New York's Marian Gaborik. I'll break it down after the jump.

To keep it short, the whole thing is really turning into a fun little media run right now for a few reasons. For starters, John Tortorella was rightfully not happy with the fact that Daniel Carcillo beat down his fragile, high-scoring forward. But that's not even my favorite part of the debacle because frankly I kind of agree with Torts' opinion on the matter.

Instead, my favorite part took place after the game, when Tortorella fielded some questions from the media. One writer in particular, Larry Brooks of the NY Post, really got under the coach's skin:

Brooks isn't exactly the most loved writer in the New York circuit for a lot of reasons. As Tortorella hints in the cross banter, Brooks just has a way about him that suggests some content is fabricated. True or not, readers of the New York Post know it's an entertain-first, inform-later tabloid. That's kind of the selling point behind the paper.

I could go on describing Brooks, but there's really no need to. Today's article says all you need to know about the guy.

Example:

John Tortorella's sense of honor, an amorphous concept to begin with, was offended last night when Flyers' thug Daniel Carcillo dropped his gloves to throw punches at the Rangers' elegant pacifist, Marian Gaborik, at 5:43 of the second period of the Flyers' 2-0 victory

He's that kind of writer.

I bring all this up for the sheer fact that the Pens and Flyers are due for a rematch this Sunday on NBC. The Brooks/Tort stuff is just some added fun. But if a guy like Carcillo is going to go after a team's top winger on New York, what's he going to do this Sunday against Pittsburgh?

Tweet Comment 9 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I went over to Blueshirt Banter to see what they had to say about last nights game. It’s funny how many times Crosby is brought up in the comments for being a sissy. In fact at one point they even hugged it out agreed that Flyers fans and Rangers fans will always have their hate for Crosby. Then they talk about Hartnell and Avery being fighters. Sure they both fight more than Crosby. But, I bet they both turtle more than him as well.

by PensFan024 on Jan 22, 2010 1:45 PM EST reply actions

It really is incredible at times. And yet Sid has fought three times. Ovie almost had his first, al beit against Steve Downie, but even still someone had to come in and save him. I don’t blame Bradley for doing it (in fact I applaud him), but Crosby is hardly the sissy of the league.

But hey, the enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that crap…

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

by FrankD on Jan 22, 2010 1:49 PM EST up reply actions

As a Hockey fan I did not like what I saw Carcillo do, he made a V line and skated about 20 feet towards Gaborik, while play was stopped, and started beating up on Gaborik. I think Tort’s comments are right on the money. There’s no honor. believe me I don’t know which team I hate the most between the Rangers and the Flyers, but Carcillo was clearly sent with some sort of mission from the bench. I would not put it pass Laviolette, who use to send his goons after Mario years ago. I don’t like that and the fans that are guided by their hatred towards the Rangers, supporting this kind of stuff are going to regret it. Carcillo as we all know is an idiot as a hockey player, I don’t know him off the ice. He is the kind of guy who would do stuff like that , which 80% of the time results on a loss for the Flyers (remember the one with Max).
Also if he wants to pick a fight don’t be chicken s—— and pick somebody who fights. Absolutely embarrasing, but the again is the Flyers, and the morons at the Spectrum, who like that kind of thing. Too bad the Rangers are heartless, otherwise I would love to see Laviolette at the post game conference discussing his poster boy (Carcillo).

by Outcast on Jan 22, 2010 3:30 PM EST up reply actions

no reason to worry for us Pens fans!

As FrankD mentioned Sid is not shy of a fight neither is Malkin and this gives our other guys more energy and enthusiasm to protect them! The fliers team reflects its fans. Dirty fans, dirty team.

by nut1976 on Jan 22, 2010 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

Completely agree, years ago I went to the Spectrum to watch a Pens/Flyers game. I’ll never go to Philly again, those fans are dirty worse that their players , they were yelling for somebody to “kill” Mario, every time he touched the puck. I was with a friend ( big Pens fan) and my son who was 12 at the time but was very much into hockey, this people had filthy language, chew tobacco and were spitting it all over. Thankfully I talked my son out of wearing a Pens shirt or else I don’t know what could ‘ve happened. As you said a dirty team, for dirty fans in a dirty city, makes sense right. On the other hand this style is not goiing to take them anywhere, although they are still living in the past, like when the beat the Russian team after they broke the leg of there best player, and the only thing the Rusky’s wanted to do is get out of there.

by Outcast on Jan 22, 2010 6:44 PM EST up reply actions

well, I heard another one. It is a friend of friend story but the friend is my best friend and former roommate and I believe him. Anyways, his friend goes to a flyers-pens game at philly. At the end of the game he is leaving the plave and someone puhed from behind on the steps at the flyers arena and he was badly hospitalized. just shows how dirty the flyers fans are. there is only one team I truly hate and that is flyers.

by nut1976 on Jan 23, 2010 1:22 AM EST up reply actions

I’ve had mixed experiences in Philly, both good and bad. I don’t think it’s unlike many other arenas around the country, but the heated rivalry between the two teams just really enhances the overall feel of Wachovia. I’ve been to Wachovia in a Mario, Sid and Winter Classic Pens jersey and I’ve gotten heckled, but I can’t say I didn’t expect it. If you’re vocal right back at them they normally mellow out.

I remember one kid, probably about 15/16, thought that he could trash talk me. He was like, “Where’s Malone? In the locker room blowing Sidney?”

Not even two minutes later, Malone launches a shot and scored and I turned to the kid and said, “oooo Malone just shit in your mouth.” The entire section cracked up. It’s all in fun. You gotta dish back.

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

by FrankD on Jan 23, 2010 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

My wife and I saw a game at the then F/U center a few years ago where the teams faced off in a 6 on 6 brawl (Barnaby, Boughner, et al). I was wearing my Jagr jersey and after the on-ice brawl, I was high-fived by everyone around me, all of which were Flyers fans. The flyers won so there was no bad blood after the game. A few heckles, nothing more.

I have been to enough live sporting events to know that there are idiots everywhere. Like Frank said, if you keep the banter light, you will be fine. Its the drunks you need to watch out for and they are usually at football games.

by Ulf Murphy on Jan 23, 2010 2:36 PM EST up reply actions