Pens Points: Bruins Game Day

Finally game day! In today's rivalry edition, the Pens host the Bruins.

David Perron looks to be taking Patric Hornqvist's spot on the top power play unit. [Trib Sports]

Is Brandon Sutter really playing better hockey in 2014-15? Your eyes say yes, your spreadsheet says no. [Hockey Buzz]

Jim Rutherford doesn't see the need for necessarily adding another winger, as the solution could be to play Malkin as Sutter's winger. Maybe as a stop-gap, but I don't think this is a viable longer-term solution. [Trib]

In today's Tribune, Josh Yohe looks at Paul Martin's future — however short or long — in Pittsburgh and notes that his teammates are making a case for him to stay. [Trib Sports]

My favorite read of the day, by Seth Rorabaugh: a story about a kid from Quebec who followed the Pens because of a star player. Except it wasn't Mario Lemieux. David Perron might just be the biggest Alexei Kovalev fan ever. [PPG]

It's not often that a bunch of guys get to play against Sidney Crosby, Claude Giroux, Logan Couture, Scott Hartnell, Nathan MacKinnon and a couple other NHLers and get to skate circles around them. [Sports Illustrated]

An interesting nugget in Elliotte Friedman's 30 Thoughts: Jim Rutherford tried to acquire David Perron for Carolina before the Blues dealt him to Edmonton. [Sportsnet]

Patrik Elias recorded his 1,000th career point in the Devils' win over the Sabres. All that with one team that isn't exactly an offensive powerhouse. In my book, he's a Hall-of-Famer. [The Score]

Attention all armchair hockey business experts: you can now make it official. Calgary's Athabasca University will offer a new executive MBA in the Business of Hockey. It's a Rich Winter-Brian Burke brainchild. [Sportsnet]

AHL announced 2015 All Star Classic rosters, and Tom Kostopoulos, Derrick Pouliot and Jeff Zatkoff were been named to the East All Star team. [Highland Park Hockey]

The Circus Maple Leafs finally canned Randy Carlyle after months of speculation and, of course, the requisite off-season extension. For now they are going with interim coaches, but who will be the full-time replacement? Here are some candidates. [Globe & Mail]

Carlyle's predecessor Ron Wilson was on the radio on Tuesday and boy was it fun. He specifically called out Phil Kessel, deeming him basically uncoachable. [National Post]

Sexy Kessy predictably didn't take things very well. Later on, during a scrum in the dressing room, a pool reporter dared ask him if he thought he was uncoachable. Big mistake. [CBS Sports]

The problem, though, is that Phil Kessel is one of the most productive and consistent players in the league. [CBS Sports]

But what about Dave Nonis? Many thought the first axe needed to fall on him. Will he survive the season? God, who knows. He strongly hinted he'll start trading players. [CBS Sports]

We could go on and on about the Leafs. They are a gift that keeps on giving, but for now this is it. Bruins tonight. Don't forget game starts at 7:308 pm!