There are a lot of idiots out there who think they know things about hockey. A lot of them came out of the woodwork after the Penguins and Islanders last met in what was a disgusting display of thuggery endorsed, clearly, by the Islanders organization. During that game everyone expected the “code” to be upheld and someone had to fight to avenge what Johnson did to DiPietro in the previous matchup (breaking his face in a fight and all). No one expected the debacle that occurred though.

Mario Lemieux, normally withdrawn from league matters, had some harsh words for the league after the league pathetically suspended Islander goon Trevor Gillies for a mere nine games after he deliberately hunted down Eric Tangradi, knocked him silly and then pounded on him while he was on the ice.

Here is a video of all all the “action” that night on the Island in case you forgot. At about 6:10 is where you see Gillies skate all the way across the ice to hunt down Tangradi:

During this scrum, the Islanders’ Haley then skates down the ice to confront Penguin’s goalie Brent Johnson to which Eric Goddard reacts by jumping off the bench to defend his netminder. Out of this entire incident THIS is what Islanders fans emailed me the most about and griped over; about how Goddard is such a “goon” that he came off the bench to defend his goalie against a player that skated all the way down the ice to seek him out.

Of course the fighting was not over. But it was enough for anyone that knows anything about hockey, which I will not accuse your typical Islanders fan of being such a person, that the behavior of the team from New York was pathetic.

Goddard, for jumping off the bench and defending his goalie got an automatic ten games suspension. The league decided that Gillies only warranted a nine game suspension for his actions. Islanders fans justified this whole sham of a game as revenge for what Johnson did to DiPietro, a man who as of right now gets hurt just looking at a hockey rink it seems.

Well then what is the excuse for Gillies last night then? Yes, fresh off his suspension for beating Tangradi in the back of the head, Gillies was back to head hunting against Minnesota’s Cal Clutterbuck? There wasn’t a Penguin to be found anywhere near the rink. Matt Cooke wasn’t even in the same state. But here is Gillies acting like a thug again.

What’s the excuse this time I ask again? Did Clutterbuck lace his skates in a way that drove Gillies into a fit of rage?

Fifty games. That was Gillies deserves. We’re not talking about a “repeat offender” here who plays on the edge and throws a questionable hit every 15 or 20 games. We are talking about a goon who, fresh off a nine game suspension for gooning it up on the ice, rushes back out on to the ice in his first game back to do it all over again. And while we’re at it, maybe the league should fine Garth Snow a cool million too since it is clear he is the mastermind behind this latest pathetic performance on Long Island.

How do you like your new team New York?

Twenty-one games into the season Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are pacing the Penguins in scoring. Sidney Crosby is on top with 33 points (14 G & 19 A) and a +4. Evgeni Malkin, who has struggled at times, is second with 20 points (7 G & 13 A) but is a -3. Kris Letang is taking over Sergei Gonchar’s spot on the scoring list at number three with 18 points (3 G & 15 A) and is an impressive +9 as well.

There is one distinct disappoint however beyond Malkin’s spotty play until lately. Zbynek Michalek who was touted as a shut down defenseman is a -5 on the season. It is hard to see him not finishing the season with much better numbers but his performance does bear watching.

Have you seen me?

In 2008-09 Eric Goddard played 71 games for the Penguins. In 2009-10 Goddard played in 45 games during the season. This year Goddard has played in just 6 games. He is a +2. If this trend continues, the Penguins enforcer is on pace to appear in just under 25 games this year. His diminishing role can be attributed to the accession of other players willing to drop the gloves. In particular Deryk Engelland who has proven himself a serviceable sixth defenseman and who has appeared in 19 games. Engelland has shown the ability to take on the opposition’s tough guys and stand up for his teammates. All this points to Goddard’s days with the Penguins pretty much ending unless something catastrophic happens such a injuries.

After getting trounced by the Penguins on Saturday night, the Rangers wanted a little revenge. Pittsburgh put the previous game away with a third period explosion that New York just could not match and the Rangers got a little antsy, taking all sorts of foolish penalties trying to settle scores. Monday night however was their chance.

The Rangers strategy early seemed simple; shoot the puck from any angle on Fleury who was up to the task. But the Penguins had other plans along the lines of not letting the Rangers get even.

After a scoreless back and forth first period in which both Lundqvist and Fleury were on top of their games, the contest moved to the second frame where Marion Gaborik (20) scored early to put the Rangers up. But before the jubilation of the players and their home town fans ended Sidney Crosby (16) answered with a backhand shot and goal just ten seconds later.

Even though the second period ended in a tie with Rupp (6) scoring for the Penguins and Gaborik (21) notching another for the Rangers on a power play, you could see the blood in the water. In the third Pittsburgh needed only eight shots to notch another three goals and put the game away. One of those goals was by His Sidness (17) but the other two were all Michael Rupp (7, 8). It was Rupp’s first career hat trick in the NHL thanks to the empty net.

Rupp has long been known for his physical play and has been used in that role for years. But what is becoming apparent to everyone is that he has a keep nose for the puck and how to score too. He is quickly becoming a utility man for the Penguins playing everywhere and with anyone at various times throughout games.

While he and his fellow fourth liners, Adams and Goddard, have been turning heads with their aggressive play and almost scoring a number of goals making teams play them like they would a #2 or #3 line, Rupp has emerged as the current hot hand and versatile enough to do whatever the Penguins want of him.

The Rangers have struggled this season despite the addition of Gaborik and the loss dumped them to .500 on the season at 13-13-1. The Penguins however improved to 19-9-0 to keep pace with the Washington Capitals in the East. Thursday the Penguins return home to host the Colorado Avalanche who are 15-8-5 and in second place in the Northwest Division (4^th overall in the West).