Pens Points: Hockey is Back!

Good morning one and all,

The Pens open their preseason today against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Here are the announced lineups. [PPG]

We'll get a first taste of 3-on-3 overtime today. Well 3-on-3 with real players will be a lot different, I guess. [PPG]

Here are all the notes from Pens Inside Scoop on training camp Day 2 and Day 3.

The Pens got better and arguably much faster up front. Speed kills, and that's one of the key reasons Phil Kessel is a Penguin. [THN]

Everyone expects the Pens power play to be dangerous this year. Let's all hope Rick Tocchet doesn't ruin a good thing. [PPG]

How will personnel be deployed on the PP? Might be some changes, with Crosby in the slot rather than the half-wall. Also a good video in this link. [Chipped Ice]

There will be a lot of competition as left wing, it seems. Let's not overthink this one and let's repeat until it sinks in: David Perron is a left winger. David Perron is a left winger. David Perron is a ... [Trib]

Beau Bennett and Nick Bonino have been attached at the hip so far during camp. Two-thirds of a new third line? [Chipped Ice]

Connor Sheary seems to have made an impression on Mike Johnston so far and may get an inside track to the open spot on the 4th line. [Citizen Voice]

As the NHL fighting trend winds down, where will the Pens punches come from? A good article here. [Trib]

In conjunction with that, here is a good read on what else but the Tocchet Coefficient. [Chipped Ice]

Robert Bortuzzo ended last season with an injury and opened this one with another injury. I guess not our problem any more, but a tough break for Borts. [STLToday]

Ex-NHL enforcer Todd Ewen, who played in over 500 games in the 80/90s, died Saturday at age 49. The police have classified his death a suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Terribly sad. [CBS Sports]

Former Pens defenseman Ryan Whitney announced his retirement yesterday at only 32, saying that people in nursing homes have healthier ankles than his. Happy trails and let's all remember the timeless "brush your hair with a Butterfinger" prank. [YouTube]

PK Subban somehow got the secret keys to Don Cherry's closet and performed a hilarious - probably best-ever - impersonation of the old grump during Rogers media day. We were all rolling on the floor in tears. [YouTube]