Pens Points: Kessel Loving It In Pittsburgh So Far

Finally, that first, ever-elusive win is here! The Pens made significant lineup changes and inserted some new faces into the battle. It paid off. Scuderi-Nachos were the best pairing of the night. [Trib]

The goal recaps and useful stats and numbers are all here. Yes, it's nice to see the Pens get the memo and wake up to the new season. [Hockey Buzz]

The youngest player in the NHL, little Danny Sprong, our Flying Dutchman, is making a strong case to stay with the Penguins beyond the 9-game tryout. I'm not holding my breath although I would love to see him stay. [Sportsnet]

The first episode of "In the Room" is out. New players, positional battles in camp, it's all there. [Penguins]

The Maple Leafs are coming to town next, and a lot of their higher-paid players know they earned those contracts in part because Kessel's prolific production and timely goals meant points for everybody. [Globe & Mail]

For his part, Phil Kessel is loving life in Pittsburgh so far. Teammates describe him as an underrated jokester and funny guy, keeping things lose. We love having him here as well, to be sure. [SportsNet]

The Oilers have started 0-4 and McDavid is probably putting a lot of their early woes on himself, says coach McLellan. Welcome to the NHL, kiddo. [SportsNet]

It was a high-scoring affair in a 5-3 Stars win against the Lightning, but both teams paid dearly as Hedman was injured on a hit by Benn, and Nesterov was ejected and will face supplemental discipline for a hit on McKenzie. [Dallas Morning News]

Logan Couture sustained a fractured fibula in practice yesterday. He will have surgery and be out 4-6 weeks. Sharks have been doing pretty well so far, and this puts a real dent in that. [Pro Hockey Talk]

JJ scored twice in the Panthers win against the Sabres. He suddenly looks a lot younger than he appeared last season, at least to me. Wonder what's his secret. [Miami Herald]

I felt really awful to hear that Johan Franzen's head injury symptoms have returned and he has been placed on the IR. This may be the end for the ginger Swede, and it would be yet another career ended prematurely due to concussions. [Detroit Free Press]

Senators winger Clarke MacArthur missed the game in Pittsburgh also due to a head injury, his third in 8 months. There is a lot of concern in the organization about this, as it appears serious. [Ottawa Sun]

Carey Price exacted some of his own payback to Chris Kreider with a little body check behind the net. I watched it on the loop about 25 times. [Habs EOTP]

Today's must-read outlines salary cap implications on the LA Kings following the Mike Richards settlement. This is cap circumvention, in plain and simple language, and if the Devils were docked a 1st rounder for the Kovalchuk contract, so should the Kings. [Sportsnet]

You will get your own personal correspondent from Consol Energy Center tomorrow, as your favorite Philadelphians are invading Pittsburgh for the weekend, including the Maple Leafs game. Can't wait!