Ultimate Hockey Warrior

The Pittsburgh penguins exceeded everyone’s expectations this year making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. At the beginning of the year everyone was saying that the Senators were a lock. Clearly they weren’t as they were swept by the very same Penguins in the 1st round of the playoffs. The Senators made it to the Stanley Cup Finals last year and lost to the Ducks. Everyone thought that with the same roster and the experience they gained in losing the Stanley Cup that the Sens knew what it takes to win the Stanley Cup. But the Senators never came together as a team and collapsed in the 2nd half of the season.

The Penguins will not win the Stanley Cup this year because they lack the experience that the Senators gained last year, and wasted this year. The Penguins don’t have the experience or the knowledge of what it takes to win the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings do, and they are schooling the Penguins. Sidney Crosby is an incredible player, and while he is doing his best individually to help his team win, his teammates aren’t following his example. The team as a whole needs to understand the sacrifice of your body and your individuality, and they need to taste defeat before they will truly understand what it takes to win. I expect the Penguins will have a great chance of being back in the Finals next year, and next year they will bring forth a more mature team. A team that is willing to sacrifice everything on the ice, and play as a team. Malkin and Crosby are not there yet, but after this playoff series loss, they will be one step closer to understanding.

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Sidney Crosby will miss the Penguins game tonight against the New York Islanders because of his ankle that still hasn’t fully healed.  Crosby’s ankle is feeling a lot better said the superstar, but Crosby says he isn’t in good enough shape to return right now.  Crosby had this to say:

”It’s felt the best it has in months right now, and that’s a good sign.”

Crosby is in no rush to come back to the Pens since they are playing so well and have locked up a playoff spot.  There is no need to risk re-injuring his ankle during the playoffs, so Crosby taking his time to get his ankle healthy and himself rested and in shape is the best decision Crosby could make.

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Marian Hossa returned to the Penguins from his knee injury that has kept Hossa out of all but one game since his trade to the Penguins.  Hossa, who is set to be the largest unrestricted free agent on the market this summer scored a goal and an assist in tonight’s blowout win over the Flyers.  The Penguins 7-1 victory strengthened the Penguin’s position heading into the playoffs and lessened the chances of the Flyers who have a number of teams chasing the final playoff spot.

The star of the game for the Penguins was Evgeni Malkin who scored 4 points on 2 goals and 2 assists.  Malkin has 8 points in his last 2 games and Malkin now has 41 goals on the season and 97 points.  He trails Alexander Ovechkin for the NHL points lead by 2 points, Ovechkin has 99 points on the season.

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Sidney Crosby’s ankle isn’t getting any better and the swelling really hasn’t gone down.  He will miss at least one full week with the ankle injury, keeping Crosby out of 3 games over the week.  Crosby sat out 21 games with the injured ankle, he came back and played in 3, but now will be missing more time for the Penguins.

In other Penguins news, Hossa is expected to play Sunday night for the Penguins returning from a knee injury.

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Sidney Crosby will not be playing tonight for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby has re aggravated the ankle injury that kept him out for more than 20 games. Crosby has only played in 3 games since returning from the ankle injury, and not Penguin’s fans have got to be worried that he came back too early and potentially threatened his effectiveness for the rest of the season.

Crosby and Hossa are going to be playing on a line when they are both healthy, and it is possible that Hossa could return from his knee injury tonight, and if not tonight then by Sunday at the latest according to the Penguin’s website. It is not known how long Sidney Crosby will be out with the ankle injury this time around.

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Sidney Crosby will play tonight in his 1^st game since his high ankle sprain occurred. Oddly enough, the high ankle sprain for Crosby came against the same Lightning team that the Penguins will be playing tonight.

Sidney Crosby has been out injured for 21 games with his injured ankle. Crosby is very exciting to be returning to the lineup for the Penguins.

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Evgeni Malkin carried the Pittsburgh Penguins through the month of February and earned himself play of the month honors.  Malkin had 26 points on 9 goals and 17 assists in just 14 games.  The Penguins went 8-3-3 during February. Malkin is currently the league leader in points with 88 points this season.

Marty Turco was the 2nd star of the month posting a 9-2 record with a 1.90 g.a.a.  Thomas Vanek was the NHL’s 3rd star with 13 goals and 7 assists for 20 points in February.

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Marian Hossa will not return from his knee injury this week more than likely.  It is actually starting to look like Marian Hossa and Sidney Crosby may return from injury right around the same time.  Hossa is scheduled to play on Sidney Crosby’s line when they both return from their injuries.

The Penguins just got back Fleury from injury, and he started and won his first game back.  Once the Penguins get Crosby and Hossa back from injury, the only other hurt player the Pens are waiting to return is Gary Roberts who is out with a broken leg, but expected to be back by the playoffs.

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