Pens Points: After Hot Start, Is Fleury Regressing?

Good morning one and all,

The Pens are in western Canada and we are frozen in PA. Off we go with the morning links.

Marc-Andre Fleury's EVSV% is sliding in the wrong direction, and currently stands at .919. Cause for alarm? Is he playing too much? [Hockey Buzz]

For once Sidney Crosby won't be at the center of attention in Edmonton, as former Oiler David Perron returns with his new team. [Trib]

For his part, Perron insists he is very happy with a change of scenery, and hopes Aberta native Rob Klinkhammer is also benefiting from the trade. [PPG]

Funny how things go sometimes. Klinkhammer scored the shootout winner last night in the 13th round to sink the Sharks. [Sportsnet]

Recommended read of the day: How has James Neal's production changed without Evgeni Malkin as his center? [CBS Sports]

NHL trade deadline: Who's being coveted one month out? [USA Today]

NHL Power Rankings: Blues take top billing; Canadiens rise. (Plus, nachos for a Price.) [The Score]

NHL players have reservations about a potential move to use three-on-three play in OT next season to decrease the number of games decided by shootouts. [USA Today]

Tampa Bay Lightning waive Nabokov, recall Vasilevskiy to back up Ben Bishop. Nabokov cleared waivers and was granted some time to ponder his future. This might be time to hang 'em up for Nabby. [Tampa Tribune]

The LA Kings went to the White House yesterday to hang with the Prez. Because they already gave him a jersey two years ago, this time they brought a silver hockey stick. Somehow, though, Gary Bettman's shoes stole the show. [CBS Sports]

Bob McKenzie has a nice piece on Stan Mikita and Al Arbour, who are both suffering from dementia, wondering if it has to do with any injuries sustained during their careers. [TSN]

Not only is the NHL embracing analytics by expanding stat coverage on its website, but those advanced metrics will now also be admissible in arbitration hearings. [Sportsnet]

The Canadian dollar plunge continues into the 70s and some firms predict it may drop as low as 60c of the US dollar. Some argue that tying the NHL salary cap to the loonie is unfair. Never hurts to see a variety of opinions. [NY Post]

Tim Peel, NHL referee since 1999, was reportedly suspended following a bar meet-and-dish with Puck Daddy's Greg Wyshynski (though he's scheduled to work a game tonight so...) [Sporting News]

And for the end, 20 types of depressed sports fans. [Grantland]

Stay warm everyone.