led by Evgeni Malkin with 11 points and the more well-rounded skills of Sidney Crosby

bhahaha, explain ‘more well-rounded’ please…

Malkin > Crosby, regular season or playoffs, plain and simple, the numbers don’t lie…

Posted by Observer on 10/21/09 at 10:19 AM ET

You’re funny Observer. I was going to get sucked in and give reasons, but that’s useless. You should watch them both closely over an 8-10 game span.

PuckStopsHere, I really think you should utilize paragraph breaks in your posts.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 10/21/09 at 10:24 AM ET

Yeah Now if the Pens JUST had an ELITE Goalie right Genius !?!?

Why does this inbred have a Blog here ?????

Posted by Evilpens on 10/21/09 at 10:54 AM ET

Nathan, i think he should just take a break from posting.

Posted by moore00 from Columbus, OH/Grand Rapids, MI on 10/21/09 at 10:56 AM ET

Offensively their attack has been led by forward Evgeni Malkin

That would’ve been funny.

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 10/21/09 at 11:10 AM ET

PuckStopsHere, I really think you should utilize paragraph breaks in your posts.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 10/21/09 at 11:24 AM ET

That’s not intellectually stimulating.

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 10/21/09 at 11:14 AM ET

Guilherme, I don’t understand your comment, but I’m very interested to know what you meant.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 10/21/09 at 11:22 AM ET

Nathan, nothing special, I just liked to read “offensively the attack has been led”. I find the repeated attacking references amusing.

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 10/21/09 at 11:36 AM ET

Pittsburgh had a really good start last year - despite injuries to key players - before everything started to fall apart. Comparing the favourable record to the game on the ice revealed (mostly in hindsight) that not everything was as good as it seemed. The sharp downturn proved that concern.

The start this season has been far more promising in terms of team performance. Without going full throttle for sixty minutes the Penguins have been able to control most of the games so far. It has looked far less strained and luck challenging compared to last year. That doesn’t mean we’re immune to periods of bad form or injuries, but it’s a cohesive group that knows each other well and the few additions have fitted in very nicely in the general roster puzzle.

Of course, you can’t win anything in October. However, I’m rather optimistic right now.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 10/21/09 at 12:13 PM ET

[Goligoski]  Just give ‘em the Norris now. 

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 10/21/09 at 12:36 PM ET

[Fleury]  Just give ‘em the Vezina now.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 10/21/09 at 12:45 PM ET

@Guilherme
    I think he may have worked formerly for the Department of Redundancy Department

@Moq
  Good observations; in light of Gonchar’s broken wrist, they are going to be tested again, although last year’s experience and their continued maturation should allow them to better deal with the absence this time.

I understand your Wings are battling injuries as well, yet I fully expect there’s a good chance for ‘round-3’ next spring. And, unfortunately, the ubiquitous message-board verbal-sniping that accompanies the young rivalry.

Posted by Moebius from Penns Woods, 2580 feet above sea-level on 10/21/09 at 12:47 PM ET

It doesn’t matter who puts the puck in the net as long as you win.  That’s what the Flyers, Capitals, and Rangers need to learn.  Top load your offense and they’ll be shut down.  It would be wrong to say crosby has played badly thus far because he hasn’t, maybe he isn’t racking up the points but he’s creating the opportunities for others to do that; he just doesn’t need to carry the team anymore.  That’s not a bad thing.

And for the “Malkin is better” crowd; he can dominate but he’s inconsistent.  Some nights he dominates, others he’s invisible.  They could get him a new winger but why fix what isn’t broken.  The loss of gonchar is bad, but it probably won’t make too much of a difference on how they play (except on the power play).

Posted by stoneman from vegas on 10/21/09 at 12:59 PM ET

It would be wrong to say crosby has played badly thus far because he hasn’t, maybe he isn’t racking up the points…

With a bit of luck he could easily have had 3-4 points against the Blues last night, but they failed to convert on his passes until Goligoski scored. Good passes that doesn’t result in a goals don’t show on the scoreboard.

Fact remains, Pittsburgh doesn’t rely on Malkin and Crosby putting on a show every night to win. That’s an improvement in itself. With the injury to Gonchar they might have to compensate for his offensive contribution. But that remains to be seen before adding unnecessary pessimism.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 10/21/09 at 01:12 PM ET

Oh yeah, give Staal the Selke why you’re at it.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 10/21/09 at 01:39 PM ET

And give Disco Dan the Adams.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 10/21/09 at 01:57 PM ET

Lindas1st , you’re pretty much correct, the only thing I’m worried about is Gonchar’s chances if he misses 14-18 games or whatever.

I haven’t worried whatsoever about the team in the next month, it’s just Gonchar’s personal stats that I hate being affected by this injury.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 10/21/09 at 02:08 PM ET

Oh, you had Goligoski for the Norris, I’m talking Gonchar for the Norris.

I think Letang will have a much better chance than Goligoski by year’s end anyway.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 10/21/09 at 02:10 PM ET

@ Nathan
I was half kidding.
Don’t get your hopes up for awards at this point in the season, it’s way to early.
Besides, the awards for the most part go to players who have won in the past or were contenders in the past. It usually takes a couple of seasons on the radar across the league to finally win a major award.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 10/21/09 at 02:25 PM ET

I was about three quarters joking too, but really, the Gonchar injury bothers me because he has an extremely legitimate shot at the Norris, and I really wanted to see what he can do for the Penguins, the PP, and himself over a full season.

I see Jordan Staal continuing with his offensive numbers this year, and really getting into that Selke picture. Who knows, maybe he makes Team Canada as fourth line centre. He fills a specific role almost prefectly (his faceoffs need to get better, though they have season after season, he needs to be better this year).

I love Marc-Andre Fleury so much.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 10/21/09 at 03:37 PM ET

I agree with you on Staal, though I think he needs more power play time to help boost his offensive numbers a bit. He’s starting to get a little recognition nationally now. If he keeps up his solid checking and improves his numbers ,I think a Selke is definitely in his future.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 10/21/09 at 03:53 PM ET

Selke trophies are for sure in his future. These past three seasons when he’s struggled offensively (which has been often), his defense never faltered one bit. He has such a strong defensive base to his game that no matter how he’s playing offensively, he is contributing in all the other important ways he can.

Much like Kunitz and his forecheck, creating space, offensive zone keeps, backchecks, and support all over the ice.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 10/21/09 at 04:29 PM ET

Oh yeah, the bad dynamic duo…..how did the wonder boys do against Zetterberg and Lidstrom????Huh?  Case closed.

Posted by gunnar from Ada MI on 10/21/09 at 07:36 PM ET

.....how did the wonder boys do against Zetterberg and Lidstrom????Huh? 

They won the CUP.
That’s doin’ pretty good, Huh?

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 10/21/09 at 07:56 PM ET

[bOh yeah, the bad dynamic duo…..how did the wonder boys do against Zetterberg and Lidstrom????Huh?  Case closed. ]

UMMM Forest Gump they won the Cup & Geno won the Conn Smythe !!!!!!!1

Posted by Evilpens on 10/22/09 at 09:47 AM ET