Pens Points: Giving Giordano some love, Downie, Comeau, Despres playing well too

Tomorrow night's opponent features defenseman Mark Giordano, who might be THE best player that no one really talks about. [Post-Gazette]

Steve Downie gets to show his hockey skills on the first line, instead of his crazy man skills on a bottom six role. [PG]

Penguins coach Mike Johnston thriving with injury riddled lineup. This story has been written for each of the last 5 years, seemingly, just with a search and replace with "Mike Johnston" for "Dan Bylsma" to update it a little. [Tribune Review - Yohe]

Interesting look at how it sucks to be in limbo between the NHL and AHL, as several players find out traveling across PA frequently. [Trib - Mackey]

Simon Despres is making the most of his playing time this season. [Pensblog - Jesse Marshall]

Blake Comeau is leading a new, much improved cast of supporting players. [Hockey Buzz - Ryan Wilson]

Could a "career worst" scoring slump cost Sidney Crosby the scoring title? Crosby is currently one point behind Tyler Seguin, with a game in hand. Hopefully as health and luck return, the "slump" will be a thing of the past. [Puck Daddy]

Always a sucker for military man shows up at sporting event to surprise family stories. [Puck Daddy]

Looks like old Mike Babcock might be close to staying in Detroit after all. [Pro Hockey Talk]

The Wild's Marco Scandella is the latest player to receive a two game suspension. [Pro Hockey Talk]

All the best to Simon Gagne, who has taken a leave of absence from the Bruins to be with his father (recently diagnosed with incurable cancer). [Boston Globe]

The hockey world says goodbye to the great Jean Beliveau, with Mario Lemieux among many other greats in attendance of the funeral of one of their childhood heroes.. [TSN]

The Sabres are "ready" to deal mercurial forward Chris Stewart. Boston and Ottawa are listed as teams that might have interest in the big and talented but inconsistent player. [ESPN - LeBrun]

With 41 saves in a shootout win, James Reimer was pretttyyy good last night. [NHL.com]