Daily Clips – 10/30/13

Josh Yohe’s puckSPEAK: NBC Sports producer Mark Levy says Pens, Crosby to be pushed hard

October 29th, 2013

NBC producer Mark Levy, a 22-time Emmy Award winner, is the man behind the new NBC Sports Network program “NHL Rivals.” He sat down with the Tribune-Review to discuss the new series, Pittsburgh’s role in NBC programming, Sidney Crosby’s interview with Bob Costas and where hockey on television is headed.

Q: How important is Sidney Crosby in your desire to elevate hockey’s profile?

A: Very much. When we came out of the interview (with Bob Costas) and went into the edit room, it was just great. It was great to see Sidney off the ice. I don’t believe his reputation is make-believe. I believe it is genuine. That’s always how he comes across. I enjoyed hearing him talking about athletes he’s admired over the years, and what it was like meeting Michael Jordan at Mario Lemieux’s golf tournament. He’s just so genuine. As elite as he is, he’s so grounded.

Q: Sid isn’t always good for bulletin board quotes. How did it go?

A: He was thoughtful. It’s light in nature. No fly off the cuff responses. He’s heard all the questions you can imagine. As far as specifics, I love listening to him talk about the gold medal game in Vancouver. That moment, that winning goal. It was one of the greatest moments of his life. And in contrast, he talked about how bittersweet it was to be on the bench during Game 7 in Detroit. He wanted to be on that ice.

Q: Having a presence like Bob Costas can only help NBC’s desire to push hockey, correct?

A: Most definitely. This is something Bob wants to do. This isn’t an assignment on a monthly schedule. This is something he loves. He loves sitting down with the characters and the stars of sport, be it present day or former athletes. He loves having conversations with these people. We just did a Bobby Orr interview a few weeks ago. It will be out in November. There aren’t many in the business better than Bob, and I think it shows.

Q: You guys are pushing the rivalry series pretty hard. Why?

A: Our viewers, the real diehard fans, have an appetite for this. I think fans will be very interested to know that there was a Pittsburgh hockey team in the 1920s. They wore black and gold. Then they wore blue after expansion, and then went back to black and gold because of the success had by the Steelers and Pirates. Harry Sinden was very upset by this. There was bad blood. We want people to know about the history of the teams and of the rivalry. When we put this show together, we put on the draft when Mario was drafted. Just to see draft day, and then Mario’s first goal, it’s something every Penguins fan will eat up. NHL fans in general will like this material.

Q: Pittsburgh and Boston are both great sports towns. Are they natural rivals?

A: I think it grows from what takes place in the series and the matchups. Look back at 1991 at the Cam Neely/Ulf Samuelsson moment in Game 3. It happened a number of years ago, but people still look back on it. Some will be introduced to it. Neely, we spoke to. Samuelsson, we didn’t. Many of the players on the ice and on the benches can speak to that rivalry. I don’t necessarily know if it speaks specifically to an attitude in terms of what the towns represent. Boston and Pittsburgh both have a scrappy attitude and I think that’s great in the world of sports. Both teams have a passionate base.

Q: NBC is going to keep pushing hockey hard?

A: It’s part of our hope. We want to provide the destination for the hockey fan to be able to come and stay and enjoy the hockey programming, be it watching a live game, or a show we’ve worked on, or Bob Costas sitting down with Sidney Crosby. We want the viewers to put the remote on the table and enjoy hockey for an extended period of time. We have a history of storytelling. Look at the Olympics, Sunday Night Football, the Triple Crown – We base our productions around telling stories. It’s all about making the viewer care more about the characters involved. That’s what we strive to do.

– Josh Yohe

Former Penguins winger Iginla returns to Pittsburgh with Bruins By Rob Rossi Published: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013, 10:09 p.m. Updated 7 hours ago

Jarome Iginla learned something in Pittsburgh.

“It was an adjustment for me,” Iginla said Tuesday after his Boston Bruins prepared for an Eastern Conference final rematch with the Penguins by practicing at Consol Energy Center.

“You want to fit in. You don't want to make any waves. I'd never been through it. You're trying to help out, not step on any toes.

“I realized later, and you realize partly through it, that they also get you to be who you are and what you do.

“It's a balance there, and I tried to walk that. I learned, and this year it's a little bit different.”

That will seem obvious Wednesday night when Iginla faces his former Penguins teammates for the first time.

Befitting his reputation as an NHL luminary, Iginla offered all the proper words Tuesday about his tenure with the Penguins.

None of those words was as telling as the near admission that he never really brought himself upon arriving from Calgary last March.

He was not a difference-maker. Iginla scored a goal in only three of 15 Stanley Cup playoff games.

He was not a fiery presence. Iginla adopted a fit-in approach while ceding to coach Dan Bylsma and captain Sidney Crosby.

Iginla, playing at the unnatural left-wing position on the second line, joined the Penguins to win that elusive Cup.

He never even played for it before leaving as a free agent without an offer to return.

“It was pretty good up until the last series,” Iginla said, referring to the sweep from the playoffs at the hands of his current club, the Bruins.

“There were a lot of positives as far as winning … it just didn't end well. It was a pretty drastic ending as far as how quick and sudden.”

Iginla, acquired by general manager Ray Shero on March 28 for a couple of prospects and a 2013 first-round pick, equally wowed and befuddled his Penguins teammates.

Defenseman Matt Niskanen expressed disbelief while sharing a dressing room with Iginla before his Penguins debut March 30. Center Evgeni Malkin had taken to begging Iginla to shoot more by end of the Penguins' playoff run in early June.

“That shot,” Bylsma said Tuesday, recalling the 69 days that Iginla spent donning a Penguins jersey.

“He's a consummate professional, an all-around pro. There's that — and his shot. That really left a mark on me.”

Iginla used that shot to win a scoring title, goal title and nearly an MVP — he finished a controversial second to Montreal goalie Jose Theodore — during the 2001-02 season. For most of the next decade, he proved to be a dominant power forward on his way to more than 500 goals.

He was 35 when he joined the Penguins, with neither the hands nor foot speed of the imposing player who became the face of Calgary if not Canadian hockey.

Still, the Penguins believed he was a missing piece to their Cup puzzle — and Iginla won his former teammates' respect with, as Crosby said, “his professionalism.”

Bruins leaders have noticed that, too.

“Just how great of a guy he is,” Bruins center Patrice Bergeron said. “You heard about that, but now being with him, it's even more obvious.

“But he also wants to get better every day. He has this incredible work ethic. You can tell he's still playing for something.”

That something remains the Cup, and 20 minutes on a stationary bicycle after a hard practice was not too great a price to pay for Iginla on Tuesday.

Nor was leaving Calgary, his NHL home for most of 18 seasons, to join the Penguins for a too-short shot at glory last season.

“It was a good experience,” Iginla said.

“I didn't mind trying the other side. There's no excuses or anything like that… uh, you know what I mean?”

Penguins notebook: Bennett likely to practice soon By Rob Rossi Published: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013, 7:54 p.m. Updated 7 hours ago

Not everything is going against the Penguins on the injury front.

Winger Beau Bennett could resume practicing this week, coach Dan Bylsma said Tuesday.

“He skated at length (Tuesday) morning by himself, and looks to be maybe returning to practice later this week — no definitive date on that,” Bylsma said.

Bennett has missed the past seven games because of a lower-body injury. He was injured in a win at Tampa Bay on Oct. 12.

His injury — along with the upper-body limitation for James Neal — has left the Penguins without their two top options for right wing on the second line, which is centered by Evgeni Malkin.

Neal, who aggravated a previous injury in a win against New Jersey on Oct. 3, will miss a 12th consecutive contest when the Penguins welcome Boston to Consol Energy Center on Wednesday night. Neal remains out on a week-to-week basis, Bylsma said.

Malkin has not produced to his usual standard since Bennett was lost as Neal's replacement.

Since Bennett was injured, Malkin has scored two goals and recorded three assists. He is without a goal in the past five games, and without a point in three of the past four contests.

Matt D'Agostini is the latest right winger on the second line. Chuck Kobasew had replaced Bennett, but Kobasew was injured in a win at Carolina on Monday night.

Injuries updated

Kobasew (left foot) will miss 3 to 4 weeks, Bylsma said. Center Brandon Sutter, who hasn't scored a goal, did not practice Tuesday. He was given a day off for rest but is expected to play against Boston.

Defenseman Rob Scuderi (broken left ankle) is out indefinitely. His injury requires surgery.

“That aspect of the injury is not necessarily a bad thing and probably helps the healing process, stabilizes the area of the break … probably shortens the time frame,” Bylsma said. “But I don't have that (recovery prognosis) yet.”

Bylsma said he believes Scuderi's procedure would involve the use of a device, either a pin or plate.

Late start against Bruins

The Penguins' game against Boston is a rematch of the Eastern Conference final, which the Bruins swept by allowing only two goals.

Boston coach Claude Julien reiterated Tuesday that the series was closer than the result.

That series wrapped with two one-goal losses by the Penguins at Boston. The Bruins won Games 1 and 2 on the road, but only the second — a 6-1 victory — was lopsided. The Penguins trailed, 1-0, entering the third period in Game 1.

Penguins notebook: Kobasew likely to miss 3 to 4 weeks

By Shelly Anderson/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Penguins have yet another injured player whose down time likely will be lengthy.

Winger Chuck Kobasew will miss the next three to four weeks, coach Dan Bylsma said Tuesday. Kobasew got an unspecified injury Monday against Carolina when he absorbed a heavy check from Hurricanes defenseman Tim Gleason.

Kobasew earned a roster spot and a contract after attending Penguins training camp on a professional tryout. He has two goals in 12 games and has spent time primarily on the right wing of the second and third lines.

Third-line center Brandon Sutter also appeared to be injured (hand or wrist area) in the 3-1 win at Carolina. He remained in the game but did not practice Tuesday. Bylsma said Sutter had a “maintenance day,” which means he could be available to play tonight when Boston visits Consol Energy Center.

Those injuries came one game after defenseman Rob Scuderi broke his left ankle when he came down awkwardly on his skates after being checked by Toronto’s David Clarkson. Scuderi, a

defensive defenseman, is scheduled for surgery later this week — Bylsma said presumably the break will be stabilized with metal implants.

There is no timetable yet for Scuderi, but it is expected to be weeks before he can return.

Bylsma said James Neal, usually the right winger on the second line with Evgeni Malkin, remains out on a “week-to-week” basis because of an unspecified injury.

The other longer-term absence is to backup goaltender Tomas Vokoun, who is expected to miss at least two more months while he is on blood-thinners after surgery for a blood clot.

One injured player, however, could be nearing a return.

“Beau Bennett skated at length and looks to be maybe returning to practice later this week. No definitive date,” Bylsma said.

Bennett, who has missed the past seven games because of an unspecified injury, skated before practice with conditioning coach Mike Kadar.

Fun times for Megna

Rookie winger Jayson Megna’s penance for losing a recent shootout competition at practice was to wear a black T-shirt with a jack-o-lantern decoration on the front. He wore it under his suit coat on the recent two-game road trip.

“It was a fun thing. It was all in good fun,” Megna said.

The team had another shootout drill Tuesday, so Megna’s time with the T-shirt likely expired — “I don’t know how much longer they’re going to make me wear it,” he said — but he had his first NHL goal and first NHL assist against the Hurricanes.

So will he persuade himself to keep wearing the T-shirt as a good-luck charm? Apparently, superstition is trumped by his lack of fondness for the shirt.

“I’m not that superstitious, but I might have to try it out [today] and see what happens,” Megna said, grinning.

Megna got the pucks from his first assist and first goal and gave them to his mother. He figures she will add them to a display that already contains the puck from his first goal in college at Nebraska-Omaha, the stick he used on his first goal in the junior United States Hockey League and the puck from his first American Hockey League goal.

The two from the NHL landmarks, though, “are probably top shelf,” he said.

Tip-ins

The game today will start at 8:08 p.m., one hour later than the regular faceoff time for home games, to accommodate NBC Sports Network. … The Penguins will participate tonight in Hockey Fights Cancer, including wearing purple jerseys for warmups that will be auctioned to benefit the Mario Lemieux Foundation and the UPMC CancerCenter Patient Assistance Fund.

Penguins, Bruins rivalry to be revisited tonight at Consol Energy Center

The Penguins have plenty to prove as they meet Boston for the first time since being swept in the playoffs in June

By Shelly Anderson / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

There is no pretext, no shrugging off the obvious.

The Penguins, plain and simply, have something to prove tonight at Consol Energy Center when they meet Boston for the first time since the Bruins swept them in four games in the Eastern Conference final in the spring.

"We didn't expect to get beat like that, so we'll play with a little chip on our shoulder for sure," winger Pascal Dupuis said Tuesday after practice.

The Penguins were the highest-scoring team in the NHL last season, averaging 3.38 goals a game. They boasted offensive talents such as past scoring champions Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and, through trades had strengthened the roster late in the season, making them a favorite in many quarters to win the Stanley Cup.

When all was done against the Bruins, though, the Penguins had scored just two goals, with Crosby and Malkin combining for zero points.

"I certainly didn't want to look ahead in any way, shape or form the past week, but we knew we were coming home [from a two-game trip] to play Boston, and it's the first time we're playing them again," coach Dan Bylsma said. "Absolutely, it's a rivalry game."

The teams are among the best in the Eastern Conference through the first four weeks of this season. The Penguins have accumulated 16 points in 12 games; the Bruins, 14 points in 10 games.

There is one player who can see both sides of things before the game. Winger Jarome Iginla, a future Hall of Famer, was one of the Penguins' late-season additions. He then jumped to Boston as a free agent over the summer.

"It's a rivalry that it's cool to be a part of," Iginla said after the Bruins practiced at Consol Energy Center, shortly after the Penguins. "I imagine it's only going to grow, especially the way the playoffs went last year. That animosity between the teams will just get more and more."

The league and its television partners are counting on it. The game has been picked for a regular Wednesday "Rivalry Night" feature on NBC Sports Network.

In fact, the Penguins are part of that weekly game two more times in the next three weeks -- Nov. 13 against Philadelphia and Nov. 20 at Washington.

The Flyers and Capitals have been more recognized rivals of the Penguins in recent years. But, with Boston, there are the relatively fresh emotions from that playoff series the first week of June.

"Just because of the history of a playoff series, that usually means that the teams do have an extra jump," Boston defenseman and captain Zdeno Chara said.

"We should be ready for that. We should expect that."

Chara, though, was reluctant to recount the series and the way the Bruins shut down the Penguins.

Crosby admitted that the Penguins won't be able to escape the memory of that series tonight.

"You try to treat it like another game, but there should be a little extra intensity because of the fact that we did play them in the playoffs," he said.

It remains to be seen whether lingering emotions might flare.

Although it went unnoticed outside of the teams at the time, a video surfaced after the series that showed Chara, with a gloved fist, punching Crosby in his surgically repaired broken jaw during Game 1. There was no penalty, and Crosby was not injured.

Chara wasn't apologizing nearly five months later.

"It's just a battle. We all battle," he said.

"Sid is a player that battles hard and plays hard. I do the same. That's the way it goes in the playoffs. You have battles. You have different conflicts. That's just because everybody wants to win. I want to win for my team; he wants to win for his team."

Crosby isn't expecting his teammates to retaliate tonight.

"Did they come out [and retaliate] after Game 1?" Crosby asked.

"It's in the past. Did I like what he did? No, but it's the playoffs, and guys do different things in the playoffs."

Boston winger Milan Lucic said Crosby's motivation already is apparent -- he has racked up 20 points and led the NHL in scoring before Tuesday.

"Sid's showing that he's still the best player the world by having the start that he's had," Lucic said.

Martin Doing It All for Pens Tuesday, 10.29.2013 / 5:04 PM / Features

By Michelle Crechiolo

If you met Paul Martin randomly on the street and had to guess his profession, NHL hockey player probably wouldn’t be your first choice.

Off the ice, the Minnesota native tends to be quiet, soft-spoken and unassuming. And while his style of play may be similar in that he isn’t especially flashy, make no mistake about his effectiveness and his value to this Penguins team.

The man voted the team’s “Defensive Player of the Year” last year has carried over that season’s fantastic play to the start of this one, continuing to prove his worth as an all-around defenseman who logs important minutes in every situation.

“I think he’s one of those guys where as a fan, if you go watch him once or twice, you might be like oh, what’s the big deal about this guy? But the more you see him, the more you appreciate him,” defensive partner Brooks Orpik said. “He plays every situation and a pretty consistent guy too. So a lot of times that goes under the radar just because he’s kind of opposite of (Kris Letang).

“’Tanger’ is so dynamic. You can watch Tanger for 20 minutes and he jumps right out at you. That’s where those two guys (differ). They’re both really good, but just completely different styles. I think ‘Pauly’ likes it that way. It kind of fits his personality, too. That’s kind of the way he is off the ice.”

Martin currently leads the Penguins with 25:57 minutes per game, is averaging 4:21 minutes a contest on the power play on the team’s top unit, and is also one of the first defensemen over the boards for the penalty kill with Orpik.

“(Looking at) his minutes through the first 12 games and what he’s done for our team, he logs a lot of important situations,” head coach Dan Bylsma said. “Penalty kill, power play, other teams’ top lines or top offensive players with Brooks Orpik for the most part every night. Those are tough minutes and tough situations. … And (what he does is) not real flashy or highlight film, but he’s been huge for us.”

What’s especially notable about his work on special teams is that since Martin practices on the power play at team skates, he doesn’t get any work on the penalty kill. He has to rely on his knowledge of opposing players he’s accrued over his career as well as the coaching staff.

“I think the coaches do a good job of scouting and letting us know what to expect,” he said. “I think being in the league for a while, you know players’ tendencies and what they like to do and for the most part, a lot of it is just the reading and reacting of trying to make a play when it’s there.”

Martin may attend more team meetings and spend more time on the ice more than any other Penguin, but if it’s wearing him down at all, it certainly doesn’t show.

“He’s a guy that a lot of times we laugh on the bench because it looks like he’s not even breaking a sweat,” Orpik said. “He’s just so efficient the way he plays.”

To be honest, Martin said, skating as much as he does has the opposite effect on him.

“I think as a defenseman or as anyone, you take a lot of pride in what you do,” he said. “And to have that accountability from the coaches and know that they put you in there in those situations, you definitely take a lot of pride in that. And almost sometimes the more you play, the better you feel.”

But it’s not just that he’s on the ice a lot. It’s what he does when he’s there. Martin is the type of player that makes incredibly smart and cerebral plays on both ends of the rink that may not always be noticeable in their impact, are very much appreciated by his teammates and coaches.

Take Monday’s game in Carolina, for example. Martin made a brilliant play in the defensive zone that led to the Penguins second goal, and followed that up later by clearing what would have been a sure goal out of the crease if he hadn’t been there.

What his forwards appreciate the most about Martin is the way he handles the puck. Just watch him when he has it in the next game. No matter how much pressure or how little time he has to make a play, he never panics and throws it away.

“He’s pretty calm with the puck,” captain Sidney Crosby said. “It doesn’t matter the situation, he shows a lot of poise back there. He’s really smart; it seems like he makes the right play every time. So I think he just brings that sense of calm to our team and can handle the puck and create a lot of plays for us.”

The Penguins have had to deal with injuries to their back end early, with Letang missing the first nine games and Rob Scuderi now out indefinitely with a broken ankle. Martin is prepared to keep doing as much as the team needs him to do.

“I feel good,” Martin said. “I’ve just been trying to build off last year and how we finished the season. So far it’s been good, they put me in a spot to play minutes. (Playing) with Brooks makes it easy too. And the team’s doing really well, at the top of our division, so that helps.”

Crosby On “Costas Tonight” Tuesday, 10.29.2013 / 10:19 AM / News

Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby will be this week’s special guest on “Costas Tonight,” the cutting-edge interview show featuring broadcaster Bob Costas and airing on NBC Sports Network.

The interview with Crosby will air both Tuesday and Wednesday at 11 p.m. on NBCSN, following NHL hockey.

“Costas Tonight” is a monthly series in which Costas interviews leading newsmakers in sports and entertainment.

NBCSN will carry the Penguins-Bruins game Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Seven up, seven down as Sochi Olympic candidates Tuesday, 10.29.2013 / 3:00 AM / 2014 Olympics

By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer

In a typical October, if Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman shows up in Detroit to catch a game that doesn't include his team, his presence would barely register on the local radar, let alone the national radar.

When he shows up at Joe Louis Arena as he did on Oct. 21 to catch the game between the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks, Yzerman's presence sends a ripple effect through the

NHL as media and fans immediately consider the potential Olympic ramifications of his watching from the press box.

In addition to his role in Tampa, Yzerman is again the executive director of Canada's Olympic team. He's out there scouting when he can, as are the members of his managerial staff, as they prepare for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Nashville Predators general manager David Poile and members of his staff for the United States Olympic team are doing the same. Scouts from other countries are compiling stacks of game credentials as well as they continue to monitor their Olympic team candidates from press boxes across the NHL.

The season isn't even a month old yet, but Tuesday marks the 100-day countdown to the Olympics and the evaluation process is in full swing. To celebrate the 100-day countdown to the Olympics, here's a list of who's hot and who's not among candidates to play in Sochi come February:

SEVEN UP

Matt Duchene, Canada

Duchene is among the plethora of centers available to Yzerman, but he should be close to the top of the list for the way he's playing so far for the Colorado Avalanche. He entered play Monday third in the NHL with nine goals and tied for 11th with 13 points. He's winning 54 percent of his faceoffs. Duchene is a big reason why Colorado is off to a hot start and leads the Central Division with 20 points. He doesn't have to be a center on the Olympic team. Duchene has played wing in the past and said during the summer he's comfortable there.

Alexander Steen, Sweden

Steen hasn't played in an international tournament for Sweden since 2007, but he's playing his way onto the Olympic team. Steen entered play Monday tied with Alex Ovechkin for the League lead in goals with 10. Second in goals among Swedish forwards this season is Henrik Zetterberg, who has six. Steen has 15 points and is playing more than 20 minutes a game, and in all situations for the St. Louis Blues. His versatility could be a boost to a Swedish team that likely has gold on its mind.

Marcus Johansson, Sweden

Johansson is considered the third wheel on the Washington Capitals' top line, but only because his linemates are Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. However, he's not playing like a third wheel. He's played a big role in Ovechkin's hot start as he has 10 assists in 11 games entering Monday. He's quickly become one of Sweden's top forwards and would be a natural to play with Backstrom at the Olympics.

Semyon Varlamov, Russia

Varlamov was Russia's third goalie at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He is establishing himself as Russia's No. 1 goalie for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Varlamov is 7-1-0 with a 1.76 goals-against average and .945 save percentage for the Avalanche. Sergei Bobrovsky won the Vezina Trophy last season and his numbers so far this season are respectable (2.60 GAA, .917 save percentage), but Varlamov is head of the class right now and an early Vezina Trophy favorite.

Seth Jones, United States

The future has arrived for the United States' blue line because Jones, 19, has been as advertised early in his rookie season. He's 20th among all defensemen and fourth among American defensemen in ice time per game, averaging 24:42 for the Nashville Predators. He has two goals and three assists, but it's his overall play that has earned rave reviews. He makes the smart, simple play and is adept at making the first pass to lead the Predators out of the zone. He's been paired up with Shea Weber, which means he's facing top competition on most nights and is holding his own.

Logan Couture, Canada

Couture entered the season high on Canada's list, but not a lock to be on the team. He should be now. Couture has 14 points in 13 games. The only Canadian forwards who have more points are Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos, and they're obviously locks for the Olympic team. In 5-on-5 situations, Couture has been on the ice for eight goals for and only two against, according to stats compiled by ExtraSkater.com. He's been as effective in the defensive zone as he has been in the offensive zone. He's also winning better than 52 percent of his faceoffs.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Canada

San Jose Sharks assistant coach Larry Robinson vouched for Vlasic in an interview with NHL.com and he made a lot of sense. Robinson said on the larger international ice a team wants players who can move the puck and skate and defend well. Vlasic has all of those qualities. Robinson pointed out Vlasic is a strong one-on-one defender and is excellent at using his stick or his body to break up a play. His skating and stick skills allow him to turn a strong defensive play into a quick offensive chance through transition. He has nine points and is a plus-11 this season.

SEVEN MORE ON THE RISE: Tomas Hertl, Czech Republic; Jonas Gustavsson, Sweden; Matt Niskanen, United States; Justin Braun, United States; Milan Lucic, Canada; Olli Maatta, Finland; Kevin Bieksa, Canada

SEVEN DOWN

Rick Nash, Canada

Nash, a two-time Olympian, would be a lock for Canada if he was healthy. He'd be part of the leadership core of the team, but he's missed seven consecutive games with a concussion and the team hasn't provided any hope for Nash's return to the lineup in the near future. The New York Rangers have not given a positive update on Nash's status over the past week and he has not resumed skating. The longer he remains out, the more in doubt his chances are of making the team despite his Olympic experience.

Nail Yakupov, Russia

Yakupov watched two games from the press box earlier this month as a healthy scratch. He hasn't responded the way the Edmonton Oilers would have hoped. Yakupov has a goal and two assists in seven games since being scratched, but he has been on the ice for six of the past eight 5-on-5 goals the Oilers have allowed, including all four goals in a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals last week. The one goal he scored was on the power play.

Claude Giroux, Canada

Giroux put himself behind during the summer by choosing not to attend Canada's Olympic orientation camp because he was rehabbing from a freak offseason injury to his right index finger. He could have traveled to Calgary and continued his rehab at Hockey Canada's headquarters, but he did not. Couple that with the start of his season, including no goals, five assists and a minus-5 rating in 10 games, and a guy who was once considered a lock to be on the Olympic team now has some ground to make up if he wants to get to Sochi.

Pekka Rinne, Finland

Rinne wasn't a lock to be Finland's No. 1 or even its No. 2 goalie in Sochi before he was forced out of the Predators' lineup with a left hip infection that required arthroscopic surgery. He's expected to miss at least four weeks. Now, though, it's almost a certainty that Rinne will be trailing Antti Niemi and Tuukka Rask on the Olympic depth chart, and there's a chance he may not make it at all because Kari Lehtonen has a chance to take it from him with a solid month for the Dallas Stars.

Jordan Staal, Canada

Canada has too much depth at forward for Staal to even be considered on the radar at this point in the season. He entered play Monday with three points and a minus-2 rating in 11 games. Staal doesn't necessarily have to score a lot to be an effective player in the NHL, but he needs to produce more if he's going to catch the eye of Yzerman and Canada's managerial staff. They won't take Staal just for his defensive prowess.

Brad Marchand, Canada

Marchand is in the same boat as Staal in that he just hasn't been effective enough to be considered on Canada's radar at this point. He has three points in 11 games and his ice time is down to 15 minutes per game. Canada isn't going to take Marchand just because he's an irritating player to play against. He has to be more than that, and so far this season he hasn't been.

Viktor Fasth, Sweden

With a strong start Fasth would have been a top candidate to be Henrik Lundqvist's backup in Sochi, but he wasn't playing well before sustaining an injury that has kept him out of the net since Oct. 16. Fasth has a 3.33 GAA and .877 save percentage in three appearances. Meanwhile, Jonas Gustavsson (four appearances, 2.12 GAA, .937 save percentage), Robin Lehner (three appearances, 2.41 GAA, .940 save percentage) and Jhonas Enroth (four appearances, 2.24 GAA, .932 save percentage) have fared much better.

SEVEN MORE ON THE DECLINE: James Neal, Canada (injured); Taylor Hall, Canada (injured); Ryan Callahan, United States (injured); Braden Holtby, Canada; Evgeni Nabokov, Russia; Derek Stepan, United States; Kyle Palmieri, United States

Megna's immediate success in NHL isn't common By Jonathan Bombulie (Staff Writer)

Published: October 30, 2013

WILKES-BARRE - Jayson Megna was the toast of the town Monday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Playing his second NHL game since being called up from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the first time last Thursday, Megna assisted on Tanner Glass' first-period goal and saw a third-period Sidney Crosby pass bounce in off his shin pad for his first NHL goal in Pittsburgh's 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Both pucks were carefully labeled and presented to Megna as treasured souvenirs of a night he'll never forget.

"It's still fun to see the look on every guy's face when he scores that first goal," Crosby told reporters afterwards. "There's nothing you can say that explains it. It's just pure joy."

More often than not, though, AHL call-ups don't meet with that kind of immediate joy. Frequently, they play a few unremarkable games while filling in for an injured player, then return to the minors as soon as that player is healthy.

Why do some players make an immediate impact and others fail to register more than a blip on the NHL radar?

It's hard to say, of course. If coaches or general managers had that answer, they'd only call up players who are destined for success.

But there are a few theories that make some sense. Coach John Hynes has one. Players who have immediate NHL success are the ones who were knocking the door down, not the ones who were promoted to be a warm body in a particular spot in the lineup.

"The players that have been called up and had a lot of success, their game is going well down here and it's, 'We want to give this guy an opportunity strictly based on his performance,'" Hynes said.

It's not 100 percent apt, but Megna's call-up fits that description in certain ways. The parent Penguins were looking for a third-line right wing when they promoted him, but they already had Chris Conner and Harry Zolnierczyk, two players more than capable of playing that position, on the roster at the time. They decided to send them down and call up Megna based on his performance.

"The fact of it is, he had confidence here and he was playing his best hockey," Hynes said. "It was a situation where he deserved to get called up."

Penguins center Andrew Ebbett, a 30-year-old who has played 191 NHL games and 255 AHL games in his career, has been called up more times than he can remember. He too has some ideas about why some call-ups succeed immediately and others don't.

For one thing, the players that manage the butterflies most effectively have the best chance.

"I don't think it ever goes away. I still get nerves the first game up," Ebbett said. "If you can get a shift right away in the first two, three minutes of the game and you get a hit, get a shot in, you can get over it. If you're stuck sitting on the bench for 15 minutes, it's tough."

In that way, Ebbett figures, having success as an NHL call-up is a lot like having success in many facets of life. It's all about timing.

"Sometimes you have a game where it's straight power play pretty much the whole time and it's tough for guys to get in. You're stuck on the bench and you're trying to make an impact and you just can't," Ebbett said. "I think luck and role play a little bit into it."

Your 100 Olympic hockey storylines

From Crosby's heroics to Quick's forecast, plenty to watch as Sochi approaches

Updated: October 29, 2013, 2:46 PM ET

By Scott Burnside | ESPN.com

One hundred days from now the Sochi Olympic Games begin. Here's a look at 100 storylines, questions and thoughts surrounding the Winter Olympics' marquee event: the men's hockey tournament.

1. What will things look like in Sochi? As in, will there will be roofs overhead and floors underfoot? Lots of work yet to be done on facilities, but most pre-Olympic visitors agree the facilities, especially in the so-called "coastal cluster" where the hockey tournament will be held -- many of which offer a view of the Black Sea -- will be spectacular.

2. The big ice. How many times will we hear NHL players, coaches and GMs speak in ominous tones about "the big ice" in Sochi and how it will impact the game vis-a-vis what fans are used to in North America? We put the over/under at 14,576 and take the over.

3. How big is "the big ice"? Well, more wide than big. The standard NHL rink is 200 feet in length by 85 feet wide. The ice surface at both Sochi rinks will be 200-by-100. That's a lot farther to go to get to the corners and the boards.

4. Fans will also notice an extra 2 feet between the goal line and the end boards on the Olympic ice and an extra 8 feet in the neutral zone, while the offensive zones are 4 feet shorter.

5. Can Canada and/or the United States adjust to "the big ice"? Zero medals for the two hockey powers in the past two Olympics held outside North America ('98 Nagano, '06 Torino) suggest just how tough the challenge will be. But we're guessing the Euro medal drought ends in Sochi.

6. Officiating, always different, often controversial at these international events will be a storyline. Here's hoping it doesn't become a distraction, although the presence of the NHL's top referees and linesmen should mitigate the issue.

7. Who will captain Team Canada as they try and defend their 2010 gold medal in Vancouver? Our guess is Sidney Crosby, although Jonathan Toews will also get a long look.

8. Which top Canadian player left off the team would generate the most howls of protest or at least the most arched eyebrows? Our early pick would be Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux.

9. Which top-end U.S. player could suffer the same fate? Tougher call, but at least one top-end netminder isn't going to make the grade. Our guess Cory Schneider and Jimmy Howard.

10. Who will start in goal for Canada? Carey Price looks as if he has the early inside track, but don't count out Mike Smith, whose start to the season has been more up and down.

11. What will the angst level be for Canadians about the uncertain state of their goaltending as the tournament approaches? Hint: DEFCON 4 and keep going.

12. What Canadian goalie won't get a sniff at the starting job, regardless of whether he's won 20 in a row? Sad to say, but Marc-Andre Fleury's playoff performances the past couple of years have made him persona non grata with Team Canada officials. If he didn't get a shot in '10 after winning a Cup, he has no shot now in spite of his strong start to the season.

13. Who will captain the U.S. squad that hopes to avenge a gold-medal-game loss to Canada in Vancouver? Our guess is Dustin Brown, although David Backes and Zach Parise will also get a good look.

14. Is there a nation with better goaltending depth than the Americans? No. OK, maybe the Finns.

15. So who ends up the U.S. starter? It's Jonathan Quick's job to lose, but we still think Ryan Miller ends up having a hand in the final outcome in Sochi.

16. Injuries will play a big role in the final Olympic rosters, and already some players are battling injuries that could have an impact on their inclusion, and in some cases their country's chances of success, including Rick Nash, Max Pacioretty, Pekka Rinne, Loui Eriksson, Ryan Callahan and Dan Boyle.

17. How often will we hear about the pressure facing the Russians heading into this tournament? Our guess is 3,213,467.

18. Does Ilya Kovalchuk, erstwhile New Jersey Devil, have the last laugh by taking a star turn for the host Russians after abandoning millions of dollars in salary, not to mention his Devils teammates to return to the Kontinental Hockey League? Let's put it this way: Kovalchuk is not known for his sense of humor.

19. Do the Russians implode in an ugly spectacle of infighting and grousing, as has been the case at past international events, or do they rise to the occasion and cap off a historic Olympics with a gold medal? Possible. Very possible.

20. Which Russian NHL star makes the biggest impact during the tournament: Pavel Datsyuk, Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Ovechkin? Let's go with the game's most delightful player, Datsyuk.

21. Sergei Bobrovsky or Semyon Varlamov in goal for the Russians? Got to go with the defending Vezina Trophy winner, but Varlamov is going to make things interesting.

22. Which top rookie may make the biggest impact in Sochi? How about Tomas Hertl of San Jose, who will be looking to provide some offensive punch to the Czech squad. And Aleksander Barkov may get a shot to help out the Finns.

23. Does Nashville rookie Seth Jones really have a shot at making the U.S. team? Yes. He really does.

24. Which Canadian not invited to the summer orientation camp has a shot at making the squad? It's not likely to happen, but how about Jamie Benn?

25. How about an American who wasn't invited to the U.S. camp who could end up in Sochi? Likewise don't like the chances of it happening, but Jason Pominville could do it.

26. Can Sidney Crosby do the unthinkable and score golden goals in back-to-back Olympics. Um, yes.

27. Yes, there are a lot of very good U.S. goaltenders. Is there a dark horse? How about Ben Bishop of Tampa who struggled at the world championships last spring but has been more than solid for the Lightning. If Tim Thomas could stay healthy for more than a day at a time, we'd throw his name in the hat too.

28. Is it possible Ryan Suter, the NHL's leading workhorse in terms of average ice time, will play 30 minutes a night in Sochi? Frankly, we'll be surprised if he doesn't.

29. Will it matter that U.S. head coach Dan Bylsma has no international coaching experience? Our gut tells us international experience is overrated.

30. So does it mean that Mike Babcock doesn't have an edge having coached Canada to gold in Vancouver? Well, we're not saying that exactly.

31. First-time Canadian Olympian poised for breakout Olympic tournament? How about John Tavares? Or Steven Stamkos?

32. First-time U.S. Olympian who will face significant pressure to produce: center Derek Stepan.

33. Can Jaroslav Halak backstop the talented Slovaks from dark horse to medal contention? If his play in St. Louis this season is any indication, why not?

34. Guy who missed the '10 Olympics we're most pleased to see get a shot at Sochi; Paul Martin, whose broken forearm scuttled what would have been a sure spot on the U.S. team in Vancouver.

35. NHL teams that will worry about having so many players in Sochi: Detroit, Pittsburgh, Chicago.

36. NHL teams that will relax knowing most of their players are sunning themselves during the Olympic break: Buffalo, Edmonton, Toronto.

37. Fans we're most excited to see again? The drum-banging, horn-tooting, flag-waving Latvians.

38. Olympic curiosities we're looking forward to? Members of the "media" from different countries showing up at games, often drinking beer or other alcoholic beverages, attaching flags to their workstations and vigorously cheering for their home country.

39. Or interviewing players from behind long stretches of iron gating in what is called the mixed zone. Moo.

40. Young Canadian defender ready to take the Olympics by storm as Drew Doughty did in Vancouver? Might be Alex Pietrangelo, although don't count out P.K. Subban.

41. American who would be the most popular player in Sochi if he makes the team? Alex Galchenyuk of the Montreal Canadiens, whose father was born in Minsk, Belarus, and played for years for Moscow Dynamo and would become the team's de facto translator.

42. Olympian we will miss in Sochi: Ruslan Salei, the longtime captain of the Belarus national team, who perished along with 43 others in September 2011 when the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team plane crashed shortly after takeoff.

43. Preliminary-round game we're already looking forward to? Canada versus Norway. OK, just kidding. Russia versus the United States on Saturday, Feb. 15.

44. One player not named Henrik Lundqvist who gives the Swedes a real shot at gold? Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

45. Player we most hope makes the Russian roster: Ilya Bryzgalov.

46. All-time Bryzgalov quote from Vancouver Games? After Canada mauled Russia in the quarterfinals Bryzgalov noted, "They came like gorillas coming out of a cage."

47. Is there an easier preliminary grouping than the one in which Canada finds itself with Austria, Finland and Norway? With all due respect to Austria, Finland and Norway, no.

48. Speaking of the Finns, which goalie, Tuukka Rask or Pekka Rinne, who was laid low in late October with a hip infection, has the best shot to start? Too close to call pending Rinne's health. Kari Lehtonen is in the mix too.

49. Here's hoping Teemu Selanne's fifth Olympic turn (we're assuming the Flying Finn will be named to the Finnish squad) goes better than Peter Forsberg's forgettable performance in Vancouver for the Swedes.

50. Team everyone knows not to take lightly: Switzerland.

51. We'll go out on a limb and predict right now that Switzerland will upset either Sweden or the Czech Republic in the preliminary round.

52. If P.K. Subban suits up for Canada, it likely means that Kris Letang, injured to start the season, stays home.

53. Dustin Byfuglien might represent the most difficult of choices for U.S. GM David Poile and his selection committee. Terrific offensive upside and a potential defensive disaster waiting to happen on the big ice.

54. Olympian we will also miss this time around: Canadian defenseman Chris Pronger. No one dominated the media mixed zone like Pronger.

55. Mixed zone event we can do without: Alexander Ovechkin storming through without stopping to speak to the media after another inexplicable Russian meltdown.

56. Canadian goaltender who could shoulder his way into the Sochi discussion? We would have said Cam Ward until he went down with a lower-body injury. How about Jonathan Bernier?

57. Chance Ward makes the team? 100-to-1.

58. Chance that Reimer makes the team? 101-1.

59. Weird dynamic? U.S. assistant coach Peter Laviolette, fired just three games into the regular season by Philadelphia GM Paul Holmgren, who is part of the U.S. Olympic management committee.

60. Coaching matchup we're looking forward to? Mike Babcock of Canada and Dan Bylsma of the U.S. Bylsma played for Babcock in Anaheim and faced him twice in the Stanley Cup finals after becoming head coach in Pittsburgh.

61. Line you will not hear from the U.S. management team: No one gives the Americans a snowball's chance in hell of winning a medal.

62. Estimated number of times then-U.S. GM Brian Burke used that line, or a variation thereof, leading to the Vancouver Games: 5,378.

63. Will a shootout determine a medal at the Sochi Games? We'll say yes. And when it happens, how quickly will someone on the losing side decry the shootout as a terrible way to decide an Olympic medal? Two minutes.

64. One U.S. player you want to have the last shot in the shootout? Patrick Kane.

65. One Canadian player you want to have the last shot in the shootout? Corey Perry.

66. Will Corey Perry make the Canadian team? Touch and go.

67. U.S. player whose health could mean the difference between a gold medal and no medal whatsoever? Ryan Kesler, who is back to elite form for the Vancouver Canucks.

68. Where does Kesler play for Bylsma? He's enjoyed terrific success moving to the wing for John Tortorella in Vancouver, but the U.S. will likely employ him down the middle.

69. Who has a better Olympic tournament, Jaromir Jagr or Teemu Selanne? Tough. Tough. Go with Jagr.

70. Who was the top point-producer at the 2006 Olympics when Finland lost to the Swedes in the gold-medal game? Selanne and teammate Saku Koivu tied with 11 points.

71. With one fewer game in Vancouver, the top scorer was Slovak Pavol Demitra, who also perished in the Lokomotiv crash.

72. The top goal-scorer in the Vancouver tournament was Jarome Iginla, with five goals for Canada. Iginla has almost zero chance of being named to the '14 Canadian team.

73. Who is more likely to be seen smoking a cigar and drinking beer at center ice in Sochi, members of Canada's women's hockey team or Alexander Ovechkin? Ovechkin. Before the tournament starts.

74. Guy who has significant ground to make up in order to secure a return trip to the Olympics for Team USA? Colorado defenseman Erik Johnson. But he's getting there with a very good Avalanche team.

75. Same challenge for Team Canada hopeful? Joe Thornton. But he's going to make life difficult for Steve Yzerman et al with his strong play.

76. Each team will have a 25-man roster in Sochi, which means for each game, one goalie and two skaters who won't dress. But unlike Torino, there is no designated taxi squad (i.e., all players named to the roster are eligible to play).

77. NHL players taking part in the Olympics will take one of four charters that will depart Feb. 9, three from Newark and one from Chicago.

78. The U.S. and Canada both have ice time reserved for the early evening of Feb. 10 for their first practice.

79. St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock will be making his fourth appearance at the Olympics as an assistant coach for Team Canada, having been part of two gold-medal efforts: '02 in Salt Lake City under Pat Quinn and '10 in Vancouver under Mike Babcock. He was also at 2006 in Torino under Quinn.

80. One of our favorite pre-Olympic stories has been the repeated reports of packs of wild dogs roaming the areas near the coastal cluster of venues.

81. Will the Russian anti-gay policies continue to garner headlines once the Games start? And given the NHL's and NHLPA's strong stance against discrimination based on race, gender or sexual orientation, will the hockey tournament become a focal point for debate/demonstrations, etc.? They should.

82. No NHL players are expected at the opening ceremony on Feb. 7 in Sochi. The NHL schedule runs through Feb. 8. At the Vancouver Games, U.S. defenseman Jack Johnson made an inspired appearance, flying in to march in the ceremony, then flying out of Vancouver moments after to rejoin his then-Los Angeles Kings teammates.

83. Which duo is more likely to appear in Sochi? Brent Seabrook/Duncan Keith or Paul Martin/Brooks Orpik. Our guess is the Pens' defensive pair.

84. Which forward duo is more likely to make the cut? Ryan Getzlaf/Corey Perry or Sidney Crosby/Chris Kunitz. Too close to call right now.

85. Two arenas have been built to accommodate the men's and women's tournaments in Sochi: the 12,000-seat Bolshoy Ice Palace, a design that is supposed to resemble a frozen water drop; and a smaller rink, the Shayba Arena, with a capacity of 7,000. There is also a training rink nearby.

86. The two arenas as well as the athletes' village and other venues in the coastal cluster will be within walking distance of each other, something unique to the Sochi Games and which should reduce or eliminate travel issues for the athletes.

87. In a change from previous Olympic Games involving the NHL fans, we will be able to access more images/video replay from the tournament action, thanks to a new agreement between the IOC, broadcast rights-holders and its hockey partners, the NHL and the NHLPA.

88. The Sochi Games represent a significant test case for a new set of arrangements requested by the NHL and NHLPA. If the promises regarding tickets, access to images and other elements are kept, look for the NHL to continue its relationship with the Olympics beyond 2014. If not, there will be an even stronger push from ownership and the league to end the relationship.

89. Check out the Swedish defense: Niklas Kronwall, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Alexander Edler, Tobias Enstrom, Erik Karlsson, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Jonathan Ericsson, Johnny Oduya and Erik Gustafsson. Canada may be the only team that can match the skill and experience along the blue line that the Swedes are capable of icing.

90. Speaking of the Swedes, we often marvel at Canada's incredible depth down the middle -- with good reason -- but check out the centers the Swedes could roll out in Sochi: Alexander Steen, Henrik Sedin, Nicklas Backstrom, all of whom are averaging better than a point a game at this writing, and with Marcus Johansson just off that pace. Hmmm.

91. Does 39-year-old Sergei Gonchar make the Russian Olympic team? Our gut, and the lack of real NHL depth at the position, suggests yes he does.

92. We say this will all due respect to Jiri Hudler, but if he's the top scorer for your country -- as he was at the time of writing for the Czech Republic -- that's a bit of a red flag.

93. OK, that and the goaltending. Hard to imagine that Ondrej Pavelec or Michal Neuvirth have the goods to deliver a gold. But stranger things have happened: i.e., Ray Bourque taking a penalty shot in the 1998 quarterfinals for Canada against Dominik Hasek.

94. Canadian centers who could find themselves on the wing if they're going to make the team at all: Eric Staal, Jordan Staal, Logan Couture, Steven Stamkos, Matt Duchene, Joe Thornton. Wow.

95. Teams can make changes to their 25-man rosters after they are announced for injury purposes or special circumstances (illness in family, etc.) until two hours before the start of the tournament.

96. Player we're looking forward to watching in person: Evgeny Kuznetsov, the 26th overall draft pick in 2010, who has yet to sign with or appear for the Washington Capitals, but who is, from all reports, a rare talent.

97. And how about Finn Petri Kontiola, Kuznetsov's teammate with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the person who led all players at last year's world championships with 16 points in 10 games?

98. So what time is it in Sochi? Well, as of this writing, it is eight hours ahead of EDT, but it will be nine hours ahead of Eastern time for the Olympics. Sochi does not recognize daylight saving time.

99. Predictions? You want predictions? How about this? Russia takes the bronze with a win over Sweden in overtime on a Datsyuk goal.

100. And we'll take the U.S. to win gold. In a shootout over Canada. Kane with the deciding goal and earning tournament MVP honors.

Playoff carryover spices us Bruins-Penguins rematch

By Amalie Benjamin

October 30, 2013

PITTSBURGH — In some ways, it’s still stunning.

It was just 4½ months ago that the Bruins skated off the ice on the night of June 7, after a highly unexpected sweep of the Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals. They were going to the Stanley Cup Final. Pittsburgh was going home.

The outcome didn’t exactly fit with conventional wisdom — certainly not the sweep and not the total of two goals the Penguins scored in the four games of the series.

Now the Bruins are back in Pittsburgh to face the Penguins for the first time since that final 1-0 victory in the series.

“You should be pretty motivated, especially in our situation, but you try to treat it like another game,” said Penguins star Sidney Crosby. “But there should be a little extra intensity because of the fact that we did play them in the playoffs.”

And the Bruins will be ready.

“They’re going to be very motivated to play us extremely hard and that’s just the way it goes, you know?” Zdeno Chara said. “Usually we play each other hard anyway, but with the history of playoff series, it usually means teams do get an extra jump on the other teams.

“I mean, we should be ready for that. It’s not like we don’t know who we’re playing against.”

Looking back on their loss, the Penguins seem to blame it more on themselves than on the Bruins.

As Crosby said, “We hit posts. We missed open nets. I didn’t think there was really a lack of chances.”

They just didn’t convert, and that allowed the Bruins to take the series.

Now, though, they’re ready to get back a little bit of the lost pride, to prove something — even though a regular-season game in October is a far cry from the Eastern Conference finals. It’s something Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma has seen coming and, for the last week, has tried to ignore.

“I don’t think there’s anything we can do [Wednesday] to get back from last spring,” Bylsma said. “I certainly didn’t want to look ahead in any way, shape, or form the past week or the road trip.

“But we knew we were coming home to play Boston, the first time we’ll be playing them again. Absolutely is a rivalry game.”

That’s how the game is being billed by NBC Sports Network, where it will air as much of the region tunes in to see whether the Red Sox can clinch the World Series in Game 6.

This game certainly qualifies as more of a rivalry than last week’s game against the Sabres, which was billed the same way. (Of course, that was before John Scott took out Loui Eriksson with a dirty hit to the head.)

And it’s not viewed as a rivalry just on the side of the losing team. The Bruins can feel the intensity, too.

“You always remember the team that beat you at the end of the year last year, and I’m sure there’s a little bit extra for them going into this game, but there’s also a little bit extra for us because of that series,” Milan Lucic said. “Even though it was a four-game series, it was a pretty emotional series and I think it’s going to make for a fun game.”

Lucic remembers well the first game between the Bruins and Canucks after Boston won the Stanley Cup in 2011. He was issued a (later rescinded) game misconduct for leaving the bench during a fight. That also was the game that featured Brad Marchand’s hit on Sami Salo that later resulted in a suspension — a hit that still has reverberations in the winger’s game.

“I think there is definitely that carryover on both sides heading into this game,” Lucic said. “I think it’ll be an emotional game from start to finish.”

The bitter feelings stem not just from the scores, but from extra shoves and hard hits, from plays just on one side or another of the legal line. Like that much-discussed punch from Chara on Crosby.

Both players declined to discuss that incident on Tuesday, with Chara saying simply “No,” as he anticipated the question from a reporter and Crosby saying “I’m not going to start. It’s in the past. It’s the playoffs and guys do different things in the playoffs.”

So, yes, there are plenty of reasons why this won’t be just another game.

And then there’s the Jarome Iginla factor.

Iginla was a motivator for the Bruins last season, having spurned them for the Penguins when the Calgary Flames traded away their franchise player. Now, he’s on the other side.

“It’s obviously a rivalry that it’s cool to be a part of, and I imagine it’s only growing the way the playoffs went last year,” Iginla said. “I imagine that animosity between the two teams will just get more and more.”

B’s sweep into Pitt for rematch

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Steve Conroy

PITTSBURGH — Note to Red Sox fans who also like their pucks: During those interminable breaks in the baseball game, you may want to switch over to the Bruins-Penguins occasionally tonight. There could be something interesting brewing at the Consol Energy Center.

In an unfortunate bit of scheduling, two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference will go head-to-head against Game 6 of the World Series at Fenway Park. The B’s will take on the Pens for the first time since they swept the talent-laden favorites out of the Eastern Conference finals in June.

The series against the Penguins did not have the same back-and-forth quality of the B’s seven-game Stanley Cup-winning series vs. Vancouver in 2011. But just because it was a sweep doesn’t mean the series didn’t have some intensity and nastiness. Remember, the first regular-season game against the Canucks the following year was one of the more intense midseason contests you’ll ever see.

Does tonight’s game feel anything like that Canucks game?

“Yeah, I think so,” said Milan Lucic, who got the early gate in that Vancouver game. “It was such a highly talked about series and so much anticipation heading into the series. I think there’s definitely that carryover for both teams heading into this game. And Sid’s showing he’s still the best player in the world with the start that he’s had. And for us, we’ve had a pretty good start as well as a team. That carryover will be there. I think it will be an emotional game from start to finish.”

Sid, of course, is Sidney Crosby. who has been on fire this year. He leads the NHL in scoring with eight goals and 12 assists.

And if any Penguin is motivated for tonight’s game, it should be their captain. Not only was Crosby blanked on the scoresheet in the four-game rollover, he let it be known that he didn’t care for a punch from Zdeno Chara that caught him squarely on his just-healed jaw in Game 1.

Crosby did not want to further that story line yesterday — at least not too much.

“It’s in the past,” he said. “Did I like what he did? No. But it’s the playoffs and guys do different things in the playoffs. That’s just all part of it.”

Chara shrugged it off yesterday.

“It’s just a battle. We all battle,” he said after practice. “Sid is obviously a player that battles hard and I do the same. That’s the way it goes in the playoffs. In the playoffs there are different conflicts, but that’s just because everybody wants to win. I want to win for my team and he wants to win for his team and that’s just the way it goes. A lot of things are happening on the ice during the playoffs and in a long series, that’s just a part of the sport.”

Crosby did not dwell on the goose eggs he and some of his other Penguins stars put up in the series, either.

“We didn’t get the big plays when we needed them in tight games, and that’s the playoffs. You have to find ways to get those big plays,” said Crosby, adding that the opportunities were there. “We hit posts. We missed open nets. I don’t think there was really a lack of chances. I thought we had number of chances. I’d say you just have to find a way to get it in the net, no matter how you do it.”

As for Tuukka Rask and the two goals he allowed in the series, Crosby said the Bruins goalie was both good and lucky.

“He made some saves and he got some bounces, too. That’s what you need to move on in the playoffs,” Crosby said. “But he was really good, too. You have to give him credit. He made some big saves when he needed to. We did have opportunities and we missed them or we didn’t get the bounces.”

One thing the Pens have going for them now is a hot goalie. So far it looks like Marc-Andre Fleury, with a 1.79 goals-against average and .928 save percentage, has rediscovered his game.

The only thing detracting from the matchup tonight is that neither team will be at full strength. The B’s are missing Loui Eriksson (concussion), while the Pens’ injury list is longer — James Neal (upper body), Rob Scuderi (broken ankle) and Chuck Kobasew (undisclosed).

But there’s still Crosby, there’s still Evgeni Malkin. And there’s still Chara, Lucic, Rask and the rest of the Bruins.

“I’m sure there’s a little extra for them, but there’s also a little extra from us,” Lucic said. “Even though it was a four-game series, it was a pretty emotional series and I think it’s going to be a fun game.”

Bruins prep for Penguins

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Steve Conroy

PITTSBURGH--Th Bruins arrived a day early for tomorrow night's rematch with the Pittsburgh Penguins, whom they bounced from the Eastern Conference Finals last spring. The B's held a practice at Consul Energy Center that lasted a little over an hour, with the power-play and odd-man rushes being a couple of areas they worked on.

The lines and defense pairs remained the same as they were in Saturday's loss to New Jersey

For a game that's being played on October 30, it should be a pretty emoitonal game considering the last time these two teams met.

"I don't think that there's anything we can do tomorrow that we can get back from last spring," said Penguins' coach Dan Bylsma, whose team snapped a three-game losing streak in Carolina on Monday. "But I didn't want to look ahead in any way on the last road trip, but we knew we were coming home to play Boston. It'll be the first time we're playing them again and it absolutely is a rivalry game."

Though it was a four-game sweep, there was plenty of intensity and a little bit of bad blood left over from last year's series. Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby was not happy with a punch he received from Bruins' captain Zdeno Chara that landed on his just healed broken jaw, though he tried to downplay it today.

“It's in the past,” said Crosby, whose team practiced before the B's. “Did I like what he did? No. But it's the playoffs and guys do different things in the playoffs. That's just all part of it.”

Chara shrugged off the incident as overblown yesterday.

“It's just a battle. We all battle,” said Chara after the B's practice here. “Sid is obviously a player that battles hard and I do the same. That's the way it goes in the playoffs. In the playoffs there are different conflicts, but that's just because everybody wants to win. I want to win for my team and he wants to win for his team and that's just the way it goes. A lot of things are happening on the ice during the playoffs and in a long series, that's just a part of the sport.”

Neither team will be at full strength tomorrow night. The B's are missing Loui Eriksson (concussion) while the Pens' injury list is even longer – James Neal (upper body), Rob Scuderi (broken ankle) and now Chuck Kobasew (undisclosed).