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The Pens practiced this morning before getting ready to fly to Ottawa for tomorrow's game against the Senators. The practice was apparently optional and because so many players were absent it was difficult to draw too many conclusions about who will or won't be playing. Looks like Glass is nearest to a return and will be a game-time decision tomorrow. Scuderi and Orpik's practice status seems to be indicating a Friday return against the Canes.
A couple interesting tidbits from this weekend. The second episode of HBO's 24/7: Road to the NHL Winter Classic aired last night following the Wings-Leafs game in Toronto, which was tied 4-4 after regulation and OT and won by Detroit on this incredible Datsyuk top-shelf backhander in the shootout.
The two teams gave a lot of pushback to HBO crews on dressing room access, so there was more trainer room and on-ice footage, especially interesting to us because the Pens played both teams during that week. That Crosby-Phaneuf conference with the refs, during which Sid didn't mince any words, was brilliant. Dummy and a joke. Exactly what Nazem Kadri is.
Remember we discussed that Kadri missed attempt to throw an elbow at Sid's head, which didn't sit well with him and caused him to retaliate and take a penalty? I couldn't find a good video then, but thanks to HBO I was able to make a gif of the whole altercation.
A week ago Sergei Butov and Slava Malamud from Russia's Sport-Express had an excellent interview with Geno, who candidly talked about Sid's captaincy and character, Ovechkin and the tuck rule, and whether he was going to lobby the Russians to find a spot on the Olympic team for his former Metallurg linemate and current KHL scoring leader Sergei Mozyakin (which they apparently and idiotically don't plan to do). Geno said that if he were to lobby for anyone, it would be for James Neal to get a Russian passport, change his name to Nealov (or Nealkin) and play with him in the Olympics.
Jaromir Jagr is plowing through the list of top ten goal scorers, equaling Mark Messier for seventh all-time with 694 goals.
And lastly, quite a few teams have done holiday videos, including the Pens, except none of those ideas can hold a candle to what the Chicago Blackhawks did with theirs. Kane as Anakin Skywalker, Toews as Wolverine, Keith as William Wallace, and more. Great stuff.