Pens Points: The Final Two

Here are your Pens Points for this Thursday morning...

When 36-year-old Jeff Carter was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Los Angeles Kings at the trade deadline last month, many wondered what the experienced forward would bring to the team. Was he too slow? Too old? His shot not good enough anymore? All of those questions have been put to rest. Carter has proved his versatility ten times over. [Trib Live]

The Penguins are already missing the presence of Mike Matheson on the back end. [Pensburgh]

After delivering a very late hit on his former teammate, Mark Friedman, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere was forced to have a hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety yesterday. He was later given a two-game suspension for his actions. [Trib Live]

The Penguins have been awarded the planning commission approval to erect a First National Bank headquarters at the site of the Civic Arena. [Post-Gazette]

Evgeni Malkin and Jason Zucker have not developed the chemistry everyone had hoped for. Now, both forwards have dealt with serious injury spells, but their lack of synergy may be a hindrance on the second line alongside Kasperi Kapanen. What happens if the round peg continues to be put in the square hole? [Post-Gazette]

News and notes from around the NHL...

The New York Rangers’ President of Hockey Operations, John Davidson, and general manager, Jeff Gorton, were both relieved of their duties yesterday evening. [Blueshirt Banter]

Speaking of the Rangers, they met the Washington Capitals last night for the first time since Tom Wilson engaged in his predatory antics and took the hockey world by storm once again. And wouldn't ya know it, both teams began the game with a line brawl. That was just the beginning of what would become a night filled with madness. [Sporting News]

Is the NHL rethinking their stance on fighting in the game after the latest Tom Wilson debacle? [Yahoo Sports]

The NHL’s condensed schedule is catching up to teams. [AP/Bedford Gazette]

Current NBC Sports broadcaster, Kenny Albert, will be the voice of TNT’s hockey coverage, according to a new report. [NY Post]