Pens Points: Another Back-to-Back on Deck

Another off day for the Penguins before they head back to Florida for yet another back-to-back set featuring the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning over the weekend.

Now, here is your daily dose of Pens Points...

October is a busy month for the Penguins with 13 games, including eight of those games being played away from home. Consistency on the road will be key for the Pens all season long if they hope to keep pace in the loaded Metro division. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Ian Cole returned to the lineup on Tuesday in New York but the Pens lost another defenseman in the process. After the game, head coach Mike Sullivan revealed that Matt Hunwick will be sidelined due to a concussion he received in practice on Monday. [CBS Sports]

As mentioned above, defenseman Ian Cole returned to the lineup against the Rangers after missing 10 days recovering from a puck to the face from Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators. Cole is adjusting to missing a few teeth and his new headgear he’ll wear while he continues to heal. [NBC Sports]

Seven games into the new season and the Penguins’ power play has been clicking on all cylinders so far and it’s not just the top unit doing the damage. Their success can be attributed to contributions from all over the roster. [FanRag Sports]

During his team in Pittsburgh, Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey was a key piece in turning the Penguins franchise into a champion. His impact on the franchise is forever etched on the Stanley Cup but it’s time to give him his proper due in the rafters of PPG Paints Arena. [Trib Live]

It is often the people behind the scenes who play the most vital role in any production. For the Pens that man is team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas, who has been labeled as a team MVP of sorts for his care of injured players during his time with the team. [Penguins]

Tuesday night’s game against the Rangers may have been the quintessential Evgeni Malkin performance. Malkin scored the game winning goal in overtime, added two assists in regulation, and engaged Rangers’ defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk in a few fisticuffs during the third period of play. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

News and notes from around the NHL...

Two weeks into the season and the league’s bottom five teams include two you would expect and three who were picked as potential Stanley Cup champions. Just how worried these teams should be depends on several factors. [USA Today]

Several KHL stars have made the leap across the pond to the NHL and seen great success. Vegas Golden Knights center Vadim Shipachyov projects to be the next great star to make the move at the midpoint of his career. [The Hockey News]