Bon jour tout le monde,
Check out some great pics from day 1 at West Point. It was all about team bonding. Both Pens' remaining practices at Tate Rink (Saturday and Sunday at 10 am) will be open to the public. Friday's practice didn't include Derrick Pouliot (supposedly they only wanted 8 defensemen in practice so he was the odd man out) and injured Matt D'Agostini and Brooks Orpik, who are both listed as day-to-day.
Obviously Tomas Vokoun's blood clot episode that landed him in a hospital was a source of worry for the health of one of the best guys in hockey. TV was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday and his agent Tom Walsh says he is not contemplating retirement. He didn't accompany the team on the trip to West Point and instead remained in Pittsburgh while being cleared for workouts. The timetable for his return is as of yet undetermined.
Several preseason games were on tap last night, and probably the most entertaining match-up was the one between the Capitals and the Flyers. Caps won 6-3 and Zach Rinaldo earned himself a major for elbowing and a game misconduct for hitting Capitals forward Mikhail Grabovski in the head. Grabo looked no worse for the wear, thankfully, and remained in the game. Rinaldo is not expected to face further discipline from the league, as this was far from his best work. For a full summary of the Flyers offseason, Pens Nation has you covered.
Oilers lost Steve MacIntyre, possibly for a while, in last night's lopsided loss to Dallas Stars. Mac left the game in which nothing was going Edmonton's way and is expected to start the season on injured reserve and be out a while. Tough break for the big guy.
The Hockey Writers predict the winners of all the major NHL awards for the 2013-14 season. By all means everyone should do as many predictions as possible because later, as they undoubtedly fizzle, we have more things to joke about, like when Meesh picked Guy Boucher for Jack Adams last year, which is something I plan to be throwing back at him for the rest of his life.
In the latest NHL Volatility Index, Down Goes Brown gives us a preview of the most important explosive story lines shaping themselves for the upcoming season: Torts in Vancouver, Lundqvist looking toward the exit sign, and more.
I just read this article about one of my all-time favorite players Joe Mullen coinciding with his coaching gig at the All-American prospects game that took place Thursday night at the Consol Energy Center. I have a confession to make: I've never seen Miracle on Ice and never plan to, so I can't tell you whether the scene they refer to was accurately portrayed in the movie or not. I genuinely love many of the American players and coaches who were involved in that game, but that appreciation came a bit later in life. At the time that game was played, I was a heartbroken 10-year-old girl.
Have a great weekend you guys!