From Tampabay.com

The league has fined Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Steve Downie $1,000 for taking down Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby during Sunday's game. Downie said he spoke to league disciplinarian Colin Campbell on Tuesday morning. He said there will not be a suspension.

 "He called it a dangerous play," Downie said.

Downie will not be punished any further for the incident.  Downie makes, after bonuses, about $822,000 this season and Sunday's gamecheck for him was about $10,020, so they've essentially fined him 1/10 of a gamecheck for this dangerous play.

Click here to see GhostWalker40's video of the play.

More photos » Keith Srakocic - AP

Browse more photos »

How scary was it to watch last night's game and see Sidney Crosby go down to the ice in obvious pain roughly 40 seconds into the match?  It's that sinking feeling; that same feeling you had in Game 7 against the Red Wings when Sid jammed his knee against the boards.  Or that draining feeling you had when, two seasons ago, he slipped skate-first into the boards and sprained his ankle, missing 20+ games before the playoffs. 

Penguin nation breathed a giant sigh of relief when Sid returned to the ice a shift or two later.  Interestingly enough, he'd lead all Pens in total ice time before all was said and done.  But man, there's no denying he dodged a serious injury when his knee buckled under in an awkward fall and tangle with Lightning thug Steve Downie.  As we'd surmised around these parts, that's the sort of thing that ends a season/cuts a career short/changes a player's career.  Luckily Sid lives to skate another day.

Evgeni Malkin may be a different story though.  Before we get too carried away and assume the injury is serious, let's at least break down the reason for the injury.  In the second period Kris "I can't hit the net" Letang lived up to his middle name and sent a shot off Malkin's leg/skate/ankle/foot.  What area was exactly injured is still unclear, but Malkin left the ice in obvious pain and did not return.

All this time during the Crosby/Malkin era we've been a very lucky fan base.  Whenever one guy gets injured, the other has been able to step up.  When Sid went out with the ankle two seasons ago, Malkin showed up big time.  When Malkin was out with a shoulder issue earlier this season, Crosby took the reigns.  It's a nice, reassuring factor that we have not only one incredibly talented center but two.  However, in less than 60 minutes of play, the Penguins came this close to losing both centers.  One may be a bit sore today but otherwise is just fine. The other, Malkin, is still in question.

Hooks, Justin and myself will keep an eye on whatever news come out surrounding Malkin's prognosis throughout the day.  Here's to hoping it's nothing serious and just a deep bruise.  Anything other than that, especially this deep into the season, may cause a problem of sorts.

More photos » Keith Srakocic - AP

14 days ago: Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cooke (24) plays against the Boston Bruins in the third period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, March 7, 2010. The Penguins won 2-1. Cooke injured Boston Bruins' Marc Savard on a blindside hit in the third period. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Browse more photos »

Earlier in the day, TSN's Bob McKenzie - arguably the most level-headed and well-connected ‘person in the know' -- hinted on his Twitter account not to be surprised if Matt Cooke was NOT suspended for his concussion-causing hit on Boston's Marc Savard.  McKenzie, a very outspoken opponent of headshots, said that the hit wasn't "illegal" by the current rules and since Mike Richards escaped suspension earlier in the season on a similar type of hit, it wouldn't be surprising to see Cooke slide through as well.

Turns out that will be the case, as after a 12:30 conference call with NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell, it's been reported that Cooke will not be punished.  However the legality of this type of hit is likely to change very soon.

NHL General Managers were scheduled to meet this week anyways to talk about rules changes, and with head safety/concussions already a priority, the Cooke/Savard incident put it right in the fore-front.  The GM's passed this wording for a new rule (which still has a couple steps to go before becoming official)

"A lateral, back pressure or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and or the principal point of contact is not permitted.

A violation of the above will result in a minor or major penalty and shall be reviewed for possible supplemental discipline."

In a nutshell, this would outlaw what Cooke did to Savard and what Mike Richards did to David Booth, and set offenders up for a potential suspension.  It's definitely a step in the right direction for the NHL to define what you can and can't do while on the ice.

That's small consolation though to the Boston Bruins and their fans, considering one of their best forwards is really hurting and doesn't have a high standard of life right now, let alone a timetable to return to the ice.  For a team right on the playoff bubble, an absent Savard could tip the scales of their whole season in a negative way, just as Florida losing their leading goal scorer for such a long time hurt their chances for post-season play.  And no matter how long you suspend the hitter, that's something the hitee and their team can't get back.

The Penguins play in Boston on March 18th, and barring injury it's likely Cooke will have to deal with thousands of jeering fans and a group of angry players.  Of Cooke's three fights this season, two are against New York Rangers, including one on the night that Cooke hit Artem Anisimov.  It seems likely on 3/18 that Cooke will have to answer the bell again, and perhaps in whatever small form, it'll be a chance for some small measure of vengeance.

More photos » Keith Srakocic - AP

14 days ago: A team trainer, right, checks on Boston Bruins' Marc Savard as he lies on the ice after a hit in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Sunday, March 7, 2010. Savard was taken from the ice on a stretcher. The Penguins won 2-1. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Browse more photos »

Matt Cooke walks a fine line: his job is to hit, to provide grit and to make it tough on the opponents.  Hockey players are ingrained to "finish your check" from the time you start playing, and Cooke did what he's been taught to do and what keeps him employed; he finished his check.

Unfortunately, this time, Cooke's hit to Marc Savard knocked the Boston player out momentarily and gave him a concussion.  No one ever likes to see a player hurt and knocked out, but is this a suspendable crime or just a hockey play gone bad?

After the jump, the video, and why the NHL needs to step up and define if a dangerous and high-probability injury play is just an unfortunate occasional byproduct of playing a fast and brutally physical game, or if such hits that end up to the head (whether intended or not) have a place in the game.

Continue reading this post »

More photos » Mark Humphrey - AP

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Jordan Leopold (left) for a 2nd round pick from the Florida Panthers.

Browse more photos »

Per TSN:

The Florida Panthers have traded Jordan Leopold to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a second round pick in 2010, pending a trade call with the NHL.

Leopold is an impending UFA with a salary of $1.75 million.  That number will be prorated for the rest of the season but even then the Penguins must be very near the cap.  If they are going to make another move, a roster player will have to be made or someone will get demoted to the AHL.

Obviously Ray Shero isn't satisfied with the defensive corps -- which was healthy for a while before the Olympics but still having breakdowns.  When all are healthy who will sit, Mark Eaton?  Jay McKee?  That remains to be seen.

Speaking of possible demotions, Leopold gives the Penguins eight defensemen.  Is Martin Skoula soon to be on waivers?  Will "the next shoe" soon drop on another deal?

Buckle up, everybody, it might be about to get a little bumpy.

Want the latest Penguins trades and moves at the deadline?  Follow Pensburgh on Twitter.

Jordan Leopold

#44 / Defenseman / Florida Panthers

Height: 6-1

Weight: 200

Born: Aug 03, 1980

"Thanks for helpin, now get out!"

Ok, maybe that's not exactly what the Pittsburgh Penguins have said to young forwards Chris Conner and Nick Johnson, who've played big roles lately on scoring lines.

The salary cap is counted daily, so there's no reason to carry the extra contracts around.  Johnson has been on a yo-yo of callup's and send backs in between Pittsburgh's games.  One gets the feeling that if guys like Bill Guerin, Max Talbot and now maybe Eric Godard can not play on Thursday, Conner and/or Johnson will return to PIttsburgh.

Until then, young players have to just deal with a lot of impromptu travel plans and keep taking advantage of the opportunity to play in the NHL when it comes up.

More photos » John Ulan - AP

Chomp, chomp? Did the Cookie Monster feast on a finger?

Browse more photos »

Kudos to Puck Daddy's Sean Leahy who got this from Arron Asham's post game comments:

"There was a scrum, I grabbed him. There were two guys on Harts and my glove got tangled in his mouth and he bit me, so I lost it.

It’s not bad, but he’s a gutless guy. I have no respect for him at all. I lined up against him and asked him to fight and he didn’t want to. If you go and bite someone … I just have no use for him.

He does his job well. He’s an agitator. He’s garbage to me and I have no respect for him at all.

You should have a little more honor than that. Usually if you bite somebody you stick up for yourself and you fight the guy. Not this guy, he’s chicken and I have no respect for him. He plays the game hard and I respect him for that, but he yaps, he’s a dirty player. At least a guy like (Sean) Avery fights. This guy is just chicken (bleep) and I hate him.

It would have been better if he dropped the gloves with me, but he’s got no stones."

We all remember the brouhaha from earlier in the season when Philly's Scott Hartnell "allegedly" bit the hand of the Penguins' Kris Letang.

Also for Pittsburgh, it was a good thing that Cooke didn't fight, as he went on to score the game winning goal on the power play later in the third, shortly after the scrum with Asham.

As for the alleged incident, if a bite takes place my stance is the same as when Letang's finger was bleeding: the NHL should investigate and look to take disciplinary measures to send the obvious message that this type of behavior is not tolerated amongst people older than 3 years of age.

Being as the NHL took no action against Hartnell, I would expect likely the same fate for Cooke from the league, but tempers will definitely be flaring again the next time Pittsburgh and Philly meets (which will be March 27th in Pittsburgh).

UPDATE: After the jump, the Youtube video of the incident, from special contributor GhostWalker40.

Continue reading this post »

Screenshot from the latest Tim Hortons Sidney Crosby commercial (he's the one on the right)

Hopefully this doesn't read off as a testimonial of sorts, because I'm not getting paid jack for saying this (but hey, you can make checks payable to FrankD if you'd like, Mr. Tim Hortons executive-type guy). 

I can't help that I'm a sucker for Tim Hortons coffee.  Any time I take a trip north of the border I buy a jug of coffee that often lasts me about two months.  Sure, I'll drink other coffee throughout the day: crummy little Keurig cups, Starbucks or even Dunkin Donuts (not my favorite), but Tim Hortons coffee is the only one that makes me sweat standing still, feel my heartbeat in my eyes (seriously) and wish I could just hook up to an IV and not sleep for three weeks.

In other words, I love it.

So when Derek Zona of Copper N Blue passed along this Sidney Crosby commercial, I had two thoughts go through my mind.  1) Why the hell is he torturing me with this commercial when I have about three good cups of coffee left in the tin on my kitchen counter and 2) I gotta share this with Pens fans.

UPDATE: Here's the embedded vid, courtesy of Ghostwalker40

Unfortunately I can't embed the video (yet), but if you'd like to check out the latest commercial you can do so here.  It shows some clips of Crosby as a kid, scoring a goal with his Timbits team (pic above) and even cutting back to clips from his earlier interviews where he looks like he'll never grow into his head.  I mean that literally in a physical sense - not a figurative/egotistical sort of way.  Every guy goes through that awkward phase at some point.  Some guys never get over it.  Look at Ollie Jokinen.

Check it out for yourself and comment below.