Will the Cooke-y Monster make the long road trip? (photo source: Yardbarker.com)

With a suspension to winger Matt Cooke looming, the East’s second-best team embarks on a five-game, 3,601-mile odyssey that will pit the defending Stanley Cup champions against four conference foes in one week.

The road trip opens with Pittsburgh traveling to Raleigh, NC (326 miles) for a Thursday night contest with the Hurricanes. The Pens are 1-1 against Carolina this year, posting a 3-2 victory in their other visit. The Canes are currently 13th in the East but have been making a charge, winning eight of their last 10 and currently standing just eight points out of the playoffs. That is incredible stuff for a team that started so horrifically.

The Pens then travel from Raleigh to Newark, NJ (417 miles) for a Friday tussle with the Atlantic-Division rival Devils, who currently stand five points behind Pittsburgh with two games in hand. A 3-6-1 skid has dropped New Jersey from their lofty post but they must view two games in six days against the Pens as their chance to regroup and reestablish control. The Devils are 4-0 against Pittsburgh so far this year, outscoring the Pens 14-2 and shutting out one of the league’s best offenses each of the last two games. Despite their recent struggles, the Devils are 20-9-1 in the Rock this year.

Saturday is a day-of as the Pens make their way from the Garden State to sunny Tampa (999 miles) for a Sunday contest against Ryan Malone and the Lightning. The two teams have split the season’s first two affairs, with the Bolts capturing a 3-1 win in Tampa on Jan. 2. Tampa Bay is four points out of the playoffs and 18-8-6 at home this season. They are 5-5 in their last 10.

Sidney Crosby and the boys will head home for a little R&R from Floriday (872 miles) before heading back to Jersey (306 miles) for a Wednesday contest against the Devils. I anticipate some angst to be displayed in this game. The Pens will be sick of road games and any time you see the same opponent twice in six days there are bound to be some hard feelings. Especially with a Division title and playoff seeding on the line.

Speaking of hard feelings, the final game of the extended road swing is a Thursday night duel with the Boston Bruins (198 miles). We all hope Cooke is still under suspension for this game because if he is on the ice he will be a moving target. The B’s will probably dress two goons to punish the Cookey monster. The Pens are 2-1-1 against the Bruins this season. Boston currently holds eighth-spot in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of the New York Rangers. Following the game, the black & gold finally head home (483 miles).

The Pens are facing a tough road without question. So far this season they are 19-12-1 away from the Igloo, tied with Washington for the most road wins in the Eastern Conference (San Jose leads the NHL with 21). This road trip is a signature moment of the season, much as last year’s five-game road trip – in which the Pens went 5-0 – served as the catalyst for the championship run.

The Pens won their fourth game in a row Sunday, defeating the visiting Bruins in a close one, 2-1. The Pens, who have earned at least a point in 8 straight games, are now 5 points ahead of New Jersey for the division lead.

However, I have a feeling nobody is going to be talking about Evgeni Malkin’s game-winning goal, Pascal Dupuis’ third goal in four games or Marc-Andre Fleury’s 21-save effort against Boston. Instead, just about everyone will be debating the legality of Matt Cooke’s hit on Marc Savard in the third period.

With around 5:40 left in the game, Cooke delivered a blind-side blow to the head right after Savard took a shot. It was a scary scene with the concussed Bruin on the ice for about 10 minutes before being stretchered off. Amazingly, and fortunately for the Pens, no penalty was called on the play. It could have been a 5-minute major or, at least, a minor penalty. Here’s the hit.

I’m not going to lie. In my opinion, this was a cheap shot, and I hate to see it. The hit itself was high, late and dangerous. I’m not saying Cooke’s a dirty player, but this play sure was. I expect he’ll receive a lengthy suspension. As Pens’ fans are well aware, #24 skates a fine line, and this is the second time he’s crossed it this season. Remember, he already received a 2-game ban for his hit on the Rangers’ Artem Anisimov. Here’s that hit.

The bottom line is this is EXACTLY the type of hit the NHL wants to eliminate. I’m sure video of both of these collisions will be used as evidence in an effort to do so.

After seeing his goal today, it is clear that Alexei Ponikarovsky golfs in the off-season.

Sorry, but just a quick recap from Saturday’s 6-3 victory against Dallas. I almost made a HUGE mistake. So disgusted at 3-1 against, I turned the channel. Thankfully, I got over it and turned back in time to watch an impressive comeback.

Classic tussle between Craig Adams and Steve Ott.  So good in fact, that I had to put video below.

You think this is good, watch below!

Is it just me or are the Penguins starting to resemble the Stanley Cup champions from last year?  They still have lapses but they are beginning to look dominant.  Once they put their foot on the throttle today they blew past the Stars.

Sidney Crosby was electric.  How do you think A P-sky feels watching Crosby and Malkin at work?  Coming from Toronto who barely had an offense to this must be exhilarating.  Plus, if he can keep up the goal-a-game pace his new suitors will be pretty happy with the acquisition as well!  As for the other deadline deal, Jordan Leopold.  Not a bad day, one assist, +3.  Praise Shero!

Marc Andre Fleury was more himself today.  Quite a snuff late in the game on Morrow.

Quick turnaround as the Boston B’s visit tomorrow afternoon.  Check back for my partner’s recap.

No. 1 Star: Sidney Crosby, 2g, 1a.  Exercised his other-worldliness.  Leads the league in goals.

Blew A Tire: Matt Niskanen, game-worst -3.  Do you think he was on the ice with Crosby much?

On the left, cheap Staal. On the right, game-winning Staal.

55-16 shot differential. Are you kidding me? Was this Canada vs. Latvia pee-wees? The Penguins fired 39…39!…more shots than their opponent Thursday night, yet it took a Jordan Staal tip-in 3:42 into overtime for the visitors to earn two points in Madison Square Garden against the nasty Rangers.

In case you couldn’t tell from their actions tonight, the New York Rangers will no longer be taken advantage of. They are going to use cheap shots – even from their goalie – to light a fire and erase their former laissez-faire attitude. Thankfully, at least on this night, the end result was the same. The Pens walk out of MSG with puffed-out-pecs having won all three contests in the storied barn this season.

It wasn’t all confetti and champagne on this night however. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a piece on M-A Fleury knocking the rust off this week after serving as an innocent bystander during the Olympics. He needs more time. The Flower allowed a goal on every third shot he saw. That yields a pathetic save percentage (four goals allowed, 12 saves). Not to worry, Brent Johnson “saved” the day making all four stops – that’s right four – in the final 26:56 of the contest.

While Johnson was minding the nets, and trying to stifle yawns, Mike Rupp, Alex Goligoski, and then Staal ripped off three unanswered to rescue the Pens from a 4-2 hole and give them their second consecutive win since the Olympic break.

Rupp’s goal was his first in 19 games. Yikes. Goligoski’s first notch in 39 games. Double Yikes. Malkin, primary assist on Staal’s GWG, now has a 15-game point streak. The gentle giant has awoken. Look out.

After winning the game with his three-point night, Mr. J-Staal does have one more task. The elder needs to set his brother straight after Marc laid a heavy hit on Jordan’s captain. Hey Marc, just five days ago Crosby saved your country’s pride with his gold-medal cinching goal. Have a little patriotic respect.

Congratulations to the Penguins for fighting back and taking over – hopefully permanently – the Atlantic Division lead.

No. 1 Star: Jordan Staal, 2g, 1a, game-winner in OT
Blew A Tire: Marc Staal, rude hit on his countryman, -2 on the night

Well, the dust has settled on trade-deadline day. And I must say, it was one of the lamest 24 hours in recent memory. You know things weren’t very exciting when ex-Pen Ryan Whitney (on his third team in two seasons) was involved in one of the day’s biggest trades. I’m not going to break down every single deal made yesterday, but I will recap what some teams of interest (aka Eastern Conference contenders) accomplished.

Pittsburgh: As you well know, the Pens added defenseman Jordan Leopold and winger Alex Ponikarovsky to their lineup. Now that I’ve had 24-plus hours to process the deals (and some intense criticism from a friend), I’ll now admit that the Pens are a much better team today than they were before the Olympic break. Regardless of what happens from here on out, the acquisition of two players the caliber of Leopold and P-sky, and their potential upsides playing on a good team (and for a contract), in exchange for a second-rounder and Luca Caputi is another job well done by Ray Shero.

Washington: The first-place Caps surprisingly made the most noise out of any Eastern Conference contender. Washington added veteran winger Scott Walker and defenseman Joe Corvo from Carolina and center Eric Belanger from Minnesota. They also re-acquired hulking defenseman Milan Jurcina, who was traded to Columbus earlier this season for Jason Chimera. All they gave up off their current roster was defenseman Brian Pothier. Nothing huge here, but the Caps improved an already strong lineup. Walker adds toughness, Belanger gives them offensive depth, Jurcina’s a strong defensive presence and Corvo is an offensive talent similar to Mike Green. That said, none of these moves scares me as a Pens’ fan. The Caps failed to acquire the veteran shutdown defenseman many thought they needed.

New Jersey: The Devils made their huge move before the Olympic break, acquiring the best offensive player available, Ilya Kovalchuk. This, in my humble opinion, was the best deal by any Eastern Conference contender. The Russian winger substantially upgrades New Jersey’s offense and certainly makes them a team to be reckoned with in the postseason. The Devils added Martin Skoula yesterday to provide depth on the blueline.

Ottawa: The Sens acquired defenseman Andy Sutton, who will provide some solid, physical play. This is a guy some thought the Pens might be interested in. He’s a Hal Gill clone – big body, slow feet. He improves Ottawa’s blueline, but not by much.

Philadelphia: The Flyers are apparently satisfied with their lineup because they made NO deals yesterday. That means Philly will make a go of it with the ever-impressive goaltending tandem of Michael Leighton/Brian Boucher (Ray Emery is out for the season due to injury). I could make a joke or two here about the Flyers’ chronic goaltending woes, but I’ll just let the names Leighton and Boucher serve as the punch line. The Flyers have a very good team, and they could win a playoff series or two, but I just don’t see them winning the conference with Leighton and/or Boucher between the pipes.

Buffalo: The Sabres landed Raffi Torres, another player the Pens were rumored to be interested in. Torres is having a banner year, scoring 19 goals for a bad Columbus team. It’s a good trade for Buffalo, but there’s no way Torres makes them a legitimate contender. He’s not that good.

After all the wheeling-and-dealing, I think the balance of power in the East really hasn’t shifted at all. Washington and New Jersey are the only two teams I see as a real threat to the Pens’ championship reign. The Devils made the most significant upgrade by acquiring an elite offensive talent, while the Caps solidified an already impressive roster.

The Pens, meanwhile, managed to upgrade their roster and address perceived weaknesses without subtracting anything of significance. Depth on the blueline – check. A scoring winger/someone to play alongside Malkin – check. I don’t know about you, but I like the Pens chances to repeat more today than I did last week.