Evgeni Malkin (28) and Matt Cooke (9) scored a goal each and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 28 of 29 shots to secure a 2-1 victory over the second seeded Bruins this after noon.  Orpik added punctuation to a physical game by sending Bruin Daniel Paille flying some 20 feet across center ice with a crushing check late in the second period.  The Penguins simply out physicalled a strugling Boston squad which coming into the game was just 5-4-1 in their last 10 matches.

Pittsburgh did not register the kinds of shot totals they have been, putting just 28 shots on net for the game and Fleury was strong down the stretch with several key saves on scoring chances with the Briuns looking to tie the game late.  James Neal led the way for the Penguins with six shots.  Newcommer Cal O’Reilly had just one shot and a prime scoring chance that he failed to convert on.  Pittsburgh has to do a quick turnaround and face off against New Jersey at 1:00 PM tomorrow.

At the Pens game tonight to once again watch the walking wounded. Good news though is that James Neal is gritting through the pain of a bruise to a bone in his foot originally thought to be broken. He’s a trooper!

Let’s go Pens!

James Neal (3, 4) scored two goals, one with time running down in he third to tie the game, but in the end the Penguins lost last nights match against the Washington Capitals 3-2 in overtime.  Neal has been proving that last year’s poor numbers after being obtained by the Penguins in a trade were perhaps just a fluke.  Neal had been a 20 goal scorer for Dallas but put up only 2 goal in over 20 games for the Penguins last year.  He has four goals in five games to start the 2011-12 campaign.

The Penguins avoided taking a penalty that lead to a Capital’s power play until the overtime frame.  At that time it was Jordan Staal who got caught for tripping which lead to the winning goal for Washington.  The Penguins with 41 shots on net for the game could not get any more than two pucks behind Vokoun.  Then Penguins held the Capitals to just 19 shots and Brent Johnson made 16 saves.

The OT loss pushes the Penguins to 3-0-2 on the season headed into Saturday’s matchup with Buffalo.

It has been just one game. But it was against the defending Western Division champs. It was just one game. But the Penguins scored twice on the power play. It was just one game. But the Penguins got a short handed goal. It was just one game. But Fleury made 33 saves on 36 shots. It was just one game. But James Neal scored a timely first goal after producing anything at all last year. It was just one game. Matt Cooke, the much maligned Matt Cooke mind you, showed what he could do and notched two goals (PPG & SHG). It was just one game. But when it counted Evgeni Maklin scored in the shootout.

That’s not bad for an opening night’s work three hours out of phase on the West Coast. Lots of positives. But it was still just one game.

Jaromir Jagr has signed … with the Flyers! WTF?

As if Pens fans didn’t have enough reasons to think Jagr was a total dick, some justified while others are made up, he goes and hands them a huge new one?

Well, there goes his chance at having his jersey hung in the rafters here in Hockeyburgh. I hope Brooks lines him up into the boards and gives him a couple good reminders during the course of the season as to why playing this sort of silly game that he has apparently been playing was a bad idea.

Jagr is officially dead to Pittsburgh. Fans were willing to give him a chance to make amends. We’ve heard rumors that he had grown up. Now we see is is as childish as ever.

The freaking Flyers? Are you shitting me?

Tyler Kennedy, a seriously underrated player for the Penguins has inked a two year deal worth reportedly $4 million total.

Welcome back TK!