Pens Points: Anaheim Game Day

Good morning one and all,

After a thrilling 3-2 OT win against Florida the Pens are back in Steel City where they welcome another team that started very poorly poorly but has since rebounded to a respectable place in the standings, the Anaheim Ducks. Here's your game preview. [Fox Sports]

*That means that two recent ex-Pens are coming back to face their old team. David Perron didn't want to elaborate why his tenure in Pittsburgh took a 180-degree turn after a hot start, but he's enjoying his new opportunity. Great interview by Seth Rorabaugh. [Empty Netters]

*This is a really good read that touches on some things that make Perron unique (including his stick choices) and how that's been working for the Ducks, for now at least. [LA Times]

Also welcome back to Simon Despres. Unquestionably talented former Pens 1st-round pick, he's had some injuries in Anaheim but finds himself back in the lineup of late. [PPG]

Carl Hagelin sits on the opposite side - he is set to face his two most recent former teams - Ducks and Rangers - in consecutive games. [PPG]

*This is an excellent article as always by Arik Parnass, who explores the Ducks' logjam at defense, who the keepers are and who might be tradeable assets. [Today's Slapshot]

I thought this was kind of a silly question - who is the NHL's version of Peyton Manning - but I thought the answers were all over the place, especially when Burnside decided that a current Pen is equivalent to Manning. [ESPN]

Sid has been on fire lately - 5 goals and 3 primary assists in 3 games since the All Star break - and has already made the climb into the NHL's top 10 scoring leaderboard. No longer asking what's wrong with him, the new hot Crosby topic is how high he'll finish. [BC Times]

Crosby and Letang are hitting a major stride under Mike Sullivan. 58/3/14/87/72 is a super fun group to watch on ice together. [Trib]

The Pens and the Flyers will play a couple of outdoor games over the next three seasons. Not a Winter Classic, but a Stadium Series game at Heinz Field plus a return date in Philly at some point later. [Trib]

Matt Cullen is not surprised by Jagr's longevity. What I really love is that Cullen, who also turns the big 4-0 later this year, is playing pretty well himself. [Trib]

Those two are pretty rare birds, and this Chris Johnston interview with Joffrey Lupul reflects on the changing NHL, tide turning to young players entirely, and Lupul wondering whether there's even room for him in the NHL as his contract runs out at 34. [Sportsnet]

The incredible Alex Ovechkin joins Gretzky and Gartner as the only players to start their career with 11+ seasons of 30+ goals. [Yahoo Sports Canada]

I had some issues with the order of players on this list, but it's always a fun question for me: list the top 10 Russian players in NHL history. [SI]

And here is the list of the next generation of Russian players to watch in the NHL. [SI]

Ouch. Providence Bruins goalie and PK's little brother Malcolm Subban suffered a fractured larynx during warmups on Saturday prior to an AHL game. He’s in stable condition at MGH. [Sportsnet]

*Recommended reads