Good morning everyone!
It is an even better morning because it’s FRIDAY! I realize that Friday isn’t everyone’s favorite day of the week, but it is certainly mine. Even when I have a busy weekend ahead of me, it is still the weekend!
This weekend will be filled with coverage of two hockey games, one of which is going to put a damper on my Saturday morning sleep time! However, a great rivalry game against the Flyers is always reason enough to get out of bed in the morning!
Who out there is heading to one or both games down at the Igloo this weekend? As I said, I will be covering both, so if you see me around please say hello!
With that let’s get to the topic at hand… your morning skate around the league! Around the Net!
First off today, we start with a piece from the Penguins official site. A handful of the team’s top prospects including Nathan Moon and Simon Despres are kicking off the playoffs with their respective teams and the Penguins’ Jason Seidling tells us all about it.
Sticking with the Penguins official site and Jason Seidling… Geno Malkin accepted his Dapper Dan Sportsman of the year award last night at the Peterson Events Center. Geno stole the show with a great speech that you can view below on PensTV…
Malkin officially named Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year
Geno at the Dapper Dan Awards Ceremony
Dave Molinari breaks down the Penguins final home stand of the season — talking about the importance of their final six home games.
Important Home stand for the Penguins
Here CSN Washington takes a look at the Penguins/Capitals rivalry. The piece points out that the two teams are amongst the most talent saturated in the league. They have depth, skill and youth on their side… it also speaks to each team’s strengths…
Pens and Caps strong in different ways
Sidney Crosby downplays his rivalry with Alex Ovechkin in this notebook from the Edmonton Journal. The Penguins captain feels that it is better to evaluate players after their playing careers, rather than at this early juncture.
Here Craig Custance of the Sporting News talks about the Penguins inconsistencies and the fact that they had better get their ducks in a row soon! Inconsistent play just doesn’t work in the playoffs!
Penguins need more consistency
“The Doctor” James Mirtle takes a look at Leafs for the Globe and Mail. In my opinion, Brian Burke has very quietly built a nice squad that is relishing its role as spoiler over these last weeks of the season.
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Globe and Mail takes a look at an upcoming biopic on Don Cherry. Dowbiggin compares the hockey icon’s life to a hockey “Honeymooners” if you will. It sounds like this could be some must see TV…hopefully it will make it’s way to the States… it will air on CBC this weekend.
Cherry biopic to air on CBC this weekend
The Hurricanes Tuomo Ruutu underwent successful shoulder surgery yesterday and will need at least four months to recover.
The NHLPA has approved the headshot rule for the rest of the season. Here is the update from TSN.
Here is an update on the University of Vermont… the Catamounts will face-off against Wisconsin in the West Regional semi finals in the NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin is coached by former Penguins assistant Mike Eaves. He compares his goaltender to a “smaller Marc Andre Fleury.” Also try to ignore the ham advertisement on the page…it was grossing me out for some reason.
Vermont meets Eaves and Wisconsin
More soon…
