Pens Points: Hockeyville USA Game Day

HOCKEYVILLE USA GAME

The Pens host the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, PA, in Kraft Hockeyville USA featured game. [PPG]

Cambria County War Memorial Arena and Johnstown were the setting of the famed movie Slap Shot and featured the Carlson brothers (Hanson brothers in the movie), who played for the Johnstown Jets in the mid-1970s. [NHL]

The storied arena has hosted many famous names, among them Mario Lemieux. A nice feature by Michele Crechiolo on capturing the moments. [Pens Inside Scoop]

The game will be televised nationally at 7:30 pm ET on NBC Sports Network and called by Bob Costas. [USA Today]

Besides the much needed funds for the arena renovation and the national spotlight, the big winners in this feel-good story are Johnstown junior hockey players. [NHL]

PENS

Here are the projected lineups for both Tuesday's and Wednesday's games. Crosby won't play in Johnstown, which is too bad. Those fans would have loved to see him play. [PPG]

Last night the veteran-laden Montreal Canadiens handed the mostly minor-league Pens a loss in the new home of the Remparts in Quebec City. [Montreal Gazette]

Here are some post-game notes. Johnston again liked what he saw from Sprong, who's been a breath of fresh air on the forward front. [Mackey]

The lone Pens goal was scored by Beau Bennett, who is taking big strides forward after a productive summer. [Trib]

Derrick Pouliot was paired with Kris Letang and was on the ice for two goals, though a better game than Columbus. He says he hasn't yet played close to his best hockey, and that there re no guarantees he'll be in Pittsburgh when the season opens. [Rorabaugh]

NHL

Lockout protected contracts are the new norm. Brent Seabrook's 8-year extension is the latest to be structured to pay most of the money in a form of signing bonuses and much less as a salary. [Sportsnet]

Here's a pretty crazy story of the former NHLer Jamie Rivers, who went to Europe in search of a better paycheck and ended up with a death certificate issued in his name. Totally not an everyday story and worth a read. [Slapshot Diaries]

Cases of former Kings Jarret Stoll and Mike Richards put spotlight on NHL drug policy. Those are some of the big names we know about, but the whole story is darker and harder. Fantastic article. [LA Times]

The Islanders debut the new Barclay Center goal horn and the fans do not approve one bit. [The Score]

There are bigger problems in Brooklyn, as the Isles and their fans may soon live in a world without Kyle Okposo. [Isles Nation]

The 2015-2016 Hockey Prospectus is here. Pretty much a must-buy for any serious hockey fan. [HP]

Hot off the press is another first-person account that is a really excellent read. Everything you ever wanted to know about being a sniper from James Neal, who dishes on changing sides, Dan Bylsma, Paul Martin, Marc-Andre Fleury, and more. [The Players' Tribune]