Quick Hits....

I am running around this morning/afternoon getting ready to attend a wedding, plus fighting off what feels like the plague! Ok, so it isn't quite the plague, but it seems like the worst chest congestion that I have had in a while......anyway, here are a couple quick hits to get us ready for tonight's game against the Blue Jackets.

I am fairly disappointed that I will not be able to attend tonight's game, I always appreciate an opportunity to watch the Jacket's young stars: Nash, Zherdev, Brule, and LeClaire....not to mention the stable that we boast here in Pittsburgh, but alas, duty calls. Plus my we have already decided to spend most of our evening in the bar area of the "Stone Mansion" watching as much as we can!

• After beating the New York Islanders last Thursday night, Sidney Crosby is being called a diver and whiner again. These charges are insane, considering how well he has been controlling himself this season. Crosby was punched, jammed head first into the boards and pretty much abused throughout the game, all the while collecting 3 assists. Ted Nolan and Mike Dunham made themselves sound like poor loser more than anything else. Bottom line, Sid wasn't out of line in the Isles game....
• The Pittsburgh Penguins have received formal notice of the lawsuit filed by Evgeni Malkin's Russian Super League team, but consider it an NHL matter. Malkin is expected to be in the line-up tonight. The young Russian has tallied 2 g 1 a in his two games this season, and has been impressive on most shifts.
• Marc Andre Fleury is expected to make his 7th start of the season. He has been a workhorse and they are going to continue riding him. Fleury has been great this season, and head coach, Michel Therrien, looks like he is going to continue riding the hot hand.
• It is starting to look like the Penguins will call Noah Welch up after Kris LeTang's 9 game look. LeTang, though impressive, has had his ice time reduced game by game. Welch has been groomed for this role for a long time, and just may get his shot in the NHL in the next week or so.