"Ukrainian Hockey Federation named Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ruslan Fedotenko its Hockey Player of the Year in 2009." Dmitri Chesnokov reported on twitter. Other notable Ukranian NHL'ers include Nikolai Antropov and Alexei Ponikarovsky. [Twitter]
Speaking of Ponikarovsky, are the Pens scouting the impending UFA? [Hockey Indepedent]
A little late, but Pens fans let Ron Cook what we think about him. (NSFW) [The Pensblog]
Sidney Crosby makes it as a first team All-Star here....Only one problem, there is no All-Star game this year. [TSN]
Crosby and Sergei Gonchar are among those named to the 2nd team "All-Decade" squad. Joe Sakic narrowly edged Crosby, but props to Gonchar who beat out Chris Pronger and Zdeno Chara to make it. (Which is total justification for Pronger winning the Hart over a much more deserving Jaromir Jagr in the beginning of the "decade"...Well, almost.) [NHL.com]
Marc-Andre Fleury has a broken left ring finger (glove hand), which may sideline him tonight against the Canucks and Roberto Luongo. Literally a bad break for the keeper that's given up 0 even strength goals (and only 3 total goals) in his past two games. [Post-Gazette]
More on injuries: Brooks Orpik has already been ruled out of tonight's game, but he could be back for action next week against NY Islanders (Tuesday) or Washington (Thursday). Expect "The Reverend" (aka Ben Lovejoy) to be dressed again tonight. [Tribune Review]
Former Penguin fan favorite Chris Bourque thinks he's earning another shot in the NHL. Let's all hope it's the Caps wasting roster space and ice-time on him. [NHL.com]
Crosby's #2, Evgeni Malkin's #3 and Fleury's #7 in jerseys sold this season. Pens fans really need to band together and buy only Sid jerseys for one year, and Geno sweaters the next, just to keep Alex Ovechkin out of the undeserved #1 slot. [Hot off the ice]
Malkin going "lone wolf" won't help the Pens. But when his linemates are Max Talbot (1 goal in 25 games this season) and Fedotenko (4 goals in his last 28 games) where else can he turn? Geno can't/shouldn't rely on himself, but given that he's about the best player on the ice when he takes the ice, why not try to make it happen? ( [The Globe and Mail]
Player perspective on the ref-player relations. [The Hockey News]
Former Penguin Petr Sykora isn't being treated very well by the Minnesota Wild in terms of playing time and his agent Allan Walsh is waging a Twitter war. [Star Tribune]
Remembering Bill Masterton (who died on the ice 40 years ago yesterday) and the inherent risk of playing hockey. [Copper n Blue]
Pavol Demitra (who hasn't played a single game yet all season from shoulder surgery) will return to play the Penguins tonight, and will be on the 3rd line. [Vancouver Sun]