Brandon Sutter has struggled with consistency on his faceoffs during the postseason, but he isn't overly concerned.
"It's funny, because it's game to game. One game, you'll struggle really bad," he said. "The next game, against the same guys, you'll do really well. It's tough to get that consistency. That's the challenge." Going into Game 4, he flirted with nearly a 60 percent winning percentage in three straight contests. On Wednesday though, he won just 44.44 percent of his draws. Sutter has two points in 10 postseason contests.

Pascal Dupuis tied a franchise record set by Penguins' great Mario Lemieux by scoring his second shorthanded goal of the playoffs on Wednesday night.
Dupuis is tied with Sidney Crosby for the postseason lead at seven goals apiece going into Thursday night's action. He also had an assist in Game 4's 7-3 domination of the Senators.

Sidney Crosby generated a goal and an assist Wednesday night in Game 4 versus Ottawa.
He scored his seventh marker of the playoffs, which ties him for the most in the league with teammate Pascal Dupuis, on a sweet backhand that went top shelf and chased Senators goaltender Craig Anderson near the midway mark of the third period. The score at the time was 6-2 and it ended up as a 7-3 victory for the Penguins.

Joe Vitale didn't play Sunday or Wednesday because of his lack of success on faceoffs and not because of a "health thing."
Vitale said Wednesday he had "a hiccup" to a previous lower-body injury, but that's not the reason why he's currently watching his teammates from the press box. Coach Dan Bylsma has not been pleased with Vitale's work in the faceoff circle in Round 2, as he won only 9 of 21 draws in Games 1 and 2.

Jussi Jokinen contributed a power-play assist and won 60 percent of his faceoffs in his return to the lineup Wednesday night.
He pretty much did exactly what was expected of him after being a healthy scratch for the past five games.

Brenden Morrow appeared to be favoring his left arm when he left practice Tuesday.
He missed Wednesday's contest with an undisclosed ailment and since the Penguins won't talk about injuries or their lineup it leaves us to speculate on what's ailing him. He should be considered questionable to play Friday in Game 5 at this time.

Kris Letang racked up four assists in Pittsburgh's 7-3 blowout win over Ottawa in Game 4.
Two of his helpers came on the man advantage, which ties him with San Jose's Logan Couture for the most power-play points in the playoffs at eight going into Thursday night's action. Letang also leads all NHL defensemen in scoring with 13 points in 10 postseason contests.

Jarome Iginla scored twice as Pittsburgh routed Ottawa 7-3 in Game 4 Wednesday night.
He posted four shots in the contest and finished with a plus-2 rating despite getting a playoff-low 13:56 of ice time. Iginla has 12 points in 10 postseason games for the Penguins.

There are 11 players with a shorthanded goal in the 2013 playoffs, but Pascal Dupuis is the only one with two.
One of his came in Game 4 on Wednesday. Milan Michalek also had one in a serious where PK units have been dangerous enough to encourage caution. Along with Dupuis, Michalek and Daniel Alfredsson (1G, 1A apiece) are tied for the lead in shorthanded points with two.

Tomas Vokoun saved 30 of 33 shots in a 7-3 win in Game 4 on Wednesday.
Since taking over for Marc-Andre Fleury, Vokoun has now won five of six postseason contests. The Penguins decision to acquire him in the summer has proven to be one of their biggest additions and the Penguins are likely to continue to ride him unless he goes cold. Pittsburgh now has a 3-1 series lead with Game 5 scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday.

James Neal scored two goals and registered an assist in Pittsburgh's 7-3 win Wednesday night.
Neal bounced back after recording just three points in his last seven postseason contests. Jarome Iginla netted his third and fourth goals of the playoffs. Sidney Crosby and Pascal Dupuis each had a goal and an assist for Pittsburgh. Chris Kunitz scored a goal, giving him four points in his last four games. Kris Letang registered four assists for the Penguins.

Beau Bennett will play in Game 4 on Wednesday.
Bennett has been a healthy scratch since May 5. He is projected to start the game on Pittsburgh's fourth line.

Jussi Jokinen has been inserted into the Penguins' lineup.
Jokinen is capable of being an offensive force, but he's projected to start the game on Pittsburgh's fourth line. He has two assists in four postseason contests.

Brenden Morrow (undisclosed) will not participate in Wednesday's game.
As previously reported, Morrow wasn't part of the team's pregame warmup. He has a goal and three points in nine playoff contests.

Brenden Morrow isn't on the ice for the pregame warmup.
He should not be expected to play Wednesday night in Game 4.

Brenden Morrow's status is still unknown, but for what it's worth the Ottawa Senators don't expect him to play.
The situation should become clearer after the pregame warmup.

Jussi Jokinen is likely to play in Game 4 Wednesday night at Ottawa.
Coach Dan Bylsma wouldn't confirm his lineup, but he did speak in hypothetical terms in the morning about what Jokinen could bring to the table if he played. "Jussi is a guy who's been out of our lineup and you're sitting on a guy who can make plays, score big goals, he's a faceoff guy," Bylsma said. "He's also a guy who would see time on our second power-play unit, as well." Jokinen practiced on the second unit on Tuesday.

Brenden Morrow didn't participate in Pittsburgh's optional game-day skate, so his status for Game 4 is still up in the air.
Several of the team's prominent players, including Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, didn't take part in the session as well. Coach Dan Bylsma also has a policy for these playoffs where he doesn't discuss injuries or his lineup. Morrow left Tuesday's practice early, but it is believed by some that he will still play Wednesday night. He may have just taken the morning off to get some extra rest.

Paul Martin posted a game-high eight blocked shots in Sunday's double overtime loss to Ottawa.
Martin broke his left hand blocking a shot in March, but that won't stop him from getting in front of chances for the opposition. "You don't think about getting hurt this time of year," Martin said. "You just play your game. You're in a zone. You know these games can come down to one little play. If you don't get a piece of the puck or you don't let [Tomas] Vokoun see it and you end up losing the game, you feel awful. You do everything you can to help the team win." Martin has been great for the Penguins this season and he's carried over that play into the playoffs, where he has nine points and a plus-8 rating in nine games. He is also currently third in the postseason with 26 blocks.

Brenden Morrow is believed to be dealing with an upper-body injury, but it may not prevent him from playing in Game 4 Wednesday.
He left Tuesday's practice early but it's suspected that he'll try to play through it Wednesday night. Morrow has skated on Pittsburgh's third and fourth lines throughout the playoffs and his undisclosed ailment might have something to do with that. He has one goal and two assists in nine postseason contests.

Jussi Jokinen is waiting for another opportunity to play and he may get back into the lineup for Game 4 Wednesday night.
"It's not easy to watch in the press box," he said. "I just want to play to my strengths and help my team win." The versatile forward could help the Penguins on faceoffs and he may join Craig Adams and Tyler Kennedy on the team's fourth line. Jokinen also denied speculation that he had been dealing with an injury, so he's good to go if he gets the chance to return to the lineup.

James Neal has gone five straight playoff games without a goal, but linemate Evgeni Malkin is expecting "something big, soon" from the talented winger.
Neal has one goal and two assists in seven games during the 2013 postseason. "He's had about six scoring chances from the same spot that almost look identical to each other," coach Dan Bylsma said. "Being in the area, having a good look at the net - pretty much in every game, he's had those chances to do that. It's hasn't gone in for him. Those are good looks there. He just needs one of those to go in." He will be looking to cash in on his opportunities in Game 4 on Wednesday night.

Brenden Morrow left practice Tuesday for unspecified reasons and his status for Wednesday's Game 4 is uncertain.
The Penguins were predictably tight-lipped on Morrow. Beat writer Josh Yohe doesn't believe Morrow is seriously hurt, but said he's definitely not 100 percent. This could've been a case of the Penguins giving a veteran some extra time to rest, but we likely won't know anything for sure until tomorrow's morning skate.

Joe Vitale wasn't able to play Sunday because of an undisclosed injury, but coach Dan Bylsma said it is "likely" that Vitale will participate in Tuesday's practice.
Prior to missing Game 3 against Ottawa, Vitale had skated in Pittsburgh's previous four contests. Depending on how Tuesday's skate goes, he might be ready to return for Game 4 on Wednesday night.

It's possible that Jussi Jokinen could return to Pittsburgh's lineup in Game 4 to help his team on faceoffs.
He has been scratched for the past five playoff games, but it's unclear if he is feeling 100 percent healthy. "He's a guy who has played big games," coach Dan Bylsma said Monday. "It's tough having him not in there with our lineup. But we haven't decided on our lineup for Game 4 yet."

Matt Cooke got his first point of the playoffs in Sunday's 2-1 double overtime loss to Ottawa.
He picked up the only assist on Tyler Kennedy's second marker of the postseason. His contributions on offense have obviously been lacking, but his overall game hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates or the coaching staff. "He's pretty unbelievable right now," Kennedy said. "Cookie's always a good player, but he's really getting it done right now. He's a great leader, too." Cooke tied Craig Adams with a team-high six hits in Game 3 and he has racked up a total of 39 in nine playoff outings. He's also played great defensively.

Evgeni Malkin had a game-high 10 shots on goal in Pittsburgh's double overtime loss to Ottawa Sunday night.
He wasn't able to register a point in the contest. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang had a busy night as well with seven shots on goal, but he didn't get onto the scoresheet either as Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson shut the door in a 2-1 victory. They'll try to get Pittsburgh's offense rolling again on Wednesday night in Game 4.

Jarome Iginla has embraced his new role with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"It's not to say I didn't enjoy it back then," he said referring to his leadership role with the Calgary Flames. "I'm just enjoying what comes. Playing. When you're captain, there's more responsibility. You're thinking 'How's this guy feeling?', 'Where's the coach at?' Most of my focus is on just playing now, on myself, on being ready. And, yeah, that is a nice change." He's still thrilled to be back in the playoffs, where he has 10 points in nine games, and said he has no plans to retire in the off-season. Iginla is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this July if an extension isn't reached with the Penguins.

Sidney Crosby said his protective shield on his jaw isn't the reason why he's struggled on faceoffs during the playoffs.
"That's me," he said, smiling. "All me. I'd love to be able to say [the protective bar is an issue]. I was trying to figure out why everyone kept asking me about that. Guess I know now." Heading into Game 3 Sunday night, Crosby had won 71 of his 82 draws for a success rate of 46.4 percent. He was better on Sunday though, winning 51.16 of his faceoffs. Crosby said he was told to expect "three or four" more medical procedures once his off-season begins to fix up his jaw and mouth.

Jussi Jokinen hasn't played in Pittsburgh's last five playoff games and it's unclear if he's healthy or not.
He dressed in the first four games of the Penguins' opening-round series against the New York Islanders after taking a leg-on-leg hit in Game 1. The team has a policy for the playoffs where they don't address injuries or lineups, so Jokinen's status is cloudy even though he may just be the odd man out right now.

Mark Eaton was back in Game 3 against Ottawa after sitting out Pittsburgh's past four playoff contests.
He took Deryk Engelland's spot in the lineup and was paired with Doug Murray.

Tanner Glass played 9:56 of ice time in Pittsburgh's double overtime loss to Ottawa in Game 3.
He suited up in four games against the Islanders in the first round, but Sunday's match was his first appearance in the semifinals. He replaced Joe Vitale in the lineup.

The Pittsburgh Penguins went 0-for-6 with the man advantage in Game 3 against Ottawa on Sunday.
The Penguins had been clicking at 32.3 percent rate over their eight previous playoff games. The Senators also scored a shorthanded marker in the final minute of the third period to force overtime and eventually win in the second extra session. Pittsburgh will look to get their special teams back on track in Game 4.

Tyler Kennedy was the lone goal scorer for the Penguins in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Senators in Game Three of their second round playoff series Sunday.
The goal was the second of the postseason for Kennedy, who has played in every game of the second round after dressing for only Games 5 and 6 of the first round after being made a healthy scratch for the first four contests. Matt Cooke picked up his first point of the playoffs with an assist on the goal.

Tomas Vokoun allowed two goals on 48 shots Sunday in a 2-1 double-overtime loss to the Senators.
Despite being saddled with a loss Vokoun was excellent in this contest, a vast improvement over his play in a Game Two victory. The loss is the first blemish against his otherwise perfect record in the playoffs and it will be interesting to see whether coach Dan Bylsma tabs Vokoun for the Game Four start rather than return to Marc-Andre Fleury.

While some might expect Jussi Jokinen to replace Joe Vitale in the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup in Game 3, but it sounds like Tanner Glass will get it instead.
Jokinen certainly has more of a scoring touch, but maybe the Penguins feel like they already have far more firepower than the Ottawa Senators. We'll see how it goes on Sunday.

Joe Vitale isn't available for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Ottawa Senators in Game 3 on Sunday.
It's unclear if he's injured or just a healthy scratch because he didn't participate in the morning skate. Vitale has managed an assist in four games during the 2013 playoffs.

Penguins forward Joe Vitale is working hard to make sure he remains in the Pittsburgh lineup for as long as he can.
Vitale watched the first four games of the postseason from the press box, but has been active ever since, contributing in ways that add value for the team. "I don't think I'm ever solidified," he said. "You look at the depth on this team. There's so much talent from one to four [lines] and the extras. It's kind of having that desperate mentality every time I play [that] any night I could be out again. That's kind of been my motivation since I got back in. It's gone well since then, so I'm hoping to keep it going." Provided he can remain productive centering the fourth line Vitale will continue to dress for the club.

Penguins Matt Niskanen recently found himself on the team's top defensive pairing alongside superstar Kris Letang.
Niskanen, who plays a fairly well-rounded game, understands he must play a more defensive style when paired with the Norris Trophy finalist. "Being aware of when [Letang] is being aggressive up the ice, I've got to be more responsible to let him do what he does," Niskanen said. It's a testament to his versatility that Niskanen can be paired with such an offensive partner after spending time alongside stay-at-home blueliner Doug Murray.

Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury continues to await his chance to get back between the pipes in the postseason.
Fleury was replaced by backup Tomas Vokoun prior to Game Six of the team's first round series win over the Islanders who has yet to concede the role, posting a perfect 4-0 record in the process. Vokoun will be in goal for Game Three of their second round series in Ottawa Sunday, but it's anybody's guess which net minder gets the nod once the Penguins actually lose a game.

Nick D'Agostino has agreed to a two-year, entry-level deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
D'Agostino's contract won't kick in until the 2013-14 campaign. He was originally taken by the Penguins in the seventh round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He had 17 points and 30 penalty minutes in 34 NCAA contests this season.

With an assist in Friday night's game, Paul Martin now has a four-game playoff points streak.
Martin has looked good thus far in the post-season. He is having a nice comeback campaign making him fantasy relevant again.

Despite being the winning goalie in the Penguins' 4-3 victory over the Senators Friday night, Tomas Vokoun did not play particularly well.
Many hold the view that Ottawa's first two goals were soft. Kyle Turris' goal went between Vokoun's legs and Colin Greening beat the Pens' goalie on the short side. Vovoun later rallied to make two outstanding stops on Sens' breakways. It remains to be seen if Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma will give Marc-Andre Fleury an opportunity to play in the second round against the Sens.

Tomas Vokoun made 19 saves in Pittsburgh's 4-3 win against Ottawa in Game 2 of their semifinal series Friday night.
Vokoun made some key saves, but this really was not his finest effort as he looked shaky at times. He allowed a goal in each period. This performance could crack the door open a bit for Marc-Andre Fleury to get another opportunity, though the fact Vokoun has won his four playoff starts should matter more in the big picture. Vokoun has a 1.70 goals-against average and .945 percentage in the postseason. The Penguins take a 2-0 series lead into Ottawa for Game 3 on Sunday night.

Sidney Crosby had a hat trick to lead the Penguins over the Senators 4-3 in Game 2 of their second-round series Friday night.
The Penguins now hold a 2-0 lead in the series. Crosby notched his hat trick by 1:15 of the second period, showcasing his tools with great stick handling and speed, cleverness on the ice and a plus shot. It's not easy to stop the Penguins captain, but the Senators certainly could've done a better job being physical on him. Brenden Morrow potted what is considered the game-winning goal. Paul Martin and Kris Letang picked up two assists apiece. Matt Niskanen finished with a game-high plus-three rating, and he also had a helper. Chris Kunitz, James Neal and Evgeni Malkin also had assists.

Tomas Vokoun will play between the pipes on Friday.
Just in case there was any doubt. Vokoun has a 1.28 GAA and .962 save percentage in three playoff starts. Until he has a bad game, Marc-Andre Fleury isn't likely to get a shot at redemption.

Chris Kunitz was reunited with Sidney Crosby and Pascal Dupuis at Thursday's practice.
"I'm sure [coach Dan Bylsma] is pretty comfortable with us because we've played together for so long," said Crosby. The move sent Jarome Iginla back to the right side with Evgeni Malkin and James Neal. These may be the line combinations that Bylsma chooses to go with in Game 2 versus Ottawa Friday night.

Brenden Morrow wasn't happy with the way he played against the Islanders in Round 1 and he's already gotten off to a decent start versus Ottawa.
"Looking back at that series against the Islanders, I'll be honest, I'm not too happy with how I played," he said. "I was a minus-3. I know I need to be better than that, and I know I can play better than that. I'm not satisfied right now." Morrow had an assist on Paul Martin's power-play goal in Game 1 versus the Senators and their physical style should suit him better than the speedy game that the Isles play. Morrow has been credited with 22 hits in seven postseason matches with the Penguins.

Pascal Dupuis is tied for the playoff lead with six goals entering Thursday night's action and unsurprisingly he doesn't have any on the power play.
He's played one second of man advantage time for the Penguins in the playoffs, which is the lowest on the team, but that isn't anything new for him as he averaged just 48 seconds of power-play time during the regular season. He has scored 20 of his 175 career regular-season goals when his team has been up a man. Oddly enough, he nearly has as many goals when his team is on the penalty kill (15) and he scored a shorthanded marker in Game 1 against Ottawa. The bulk of his goals come while skating five-on-five though. "He's been one of the best even-strength goal-scorers in the league for quite some time now," coach Dan Bylsma said. Of course this raises the question: why doesn't he get more power-play opportunities in the first place? It seems to work for the Penguins though, so don't expect them to change it.

James Neal played a physical game in Pittsburgh's semifinal opener against Ottawa Tuesday night.
He was credited with four hits and picked up six minutes in penalties in the Penguins' Game 1 victory. Neal also added an assist on Evgeni Malkin's game winner. He has two points in five playoff appearances and should produce more if he can stay healthy in Round 2.

Sidney Crosby's teammates feel that his play in the defensive zone is often overlooked.
Evgeni Malkin had a tough time trying to decide who was better between Crosby and Pavel Datsyuk. "Datsyuk has a quicker stick, longer reach. He can take pucks from between your legs, if you have it close," Malkin said. "Sid is so strong. He wins battles in corners. He plays physical. He takes puck from you like that, then goes to try (and) score. Both guys are great at defense." Datsyuk was named as a finalist for the Selke Trophy, along with Chicago's Jonathan Toews and Boston's Patrice Bergeron, on Wednesday. Crosby's teammates credit his work in his own zone with their ability to quickly head out onto the attack offensively.

Simon Despres was a healthy scratch Tuesday.
He played in three games against the New York Islanders in Round 1, but when the semifinals began against the Ottawa Senators he was sent to the press box. Despres sat in favor of Deryk Engelland, who plays a rugged style which matches the Senators' style much more.

Evgeni Malkin notched a goal and an assist in Pittsburgh's semifinal opener against Ottawa Tuesday night.
Coach Dan Bylsma was also impressed with the center's acknowledgment after the first round that he needs to be better in the defensive zone. "When he talks about being better, it's because he knows," Bylsma said. "That's very good, and he was very good (Tuesday against the Senators) - in the defensive zone, around the net and with the puck." Malkin is currently tied with Boston's David Krejci for the most points in the postseason (13).

Doug Murray recorded five blocked shots in Tuesday's Game 1 victory over Ottawa.
He also chipped in an assist to give him three points in seven playoff games. Murray was paired with Deryk Engelland in the contest. "It was great," he said afterward. "He's very similar to myself. He plays a physical game, a simple game. We make simple plays. He's an easy guy to read off." His offensive support has been a surprising addition to his arsenal, to go with his typical contributions of 11 hits and 15 blocks, which has helped him to slightly exceed expectations.

Chris Kunitz and Evgeni Malkin generated a goal and an assist each in Pittsburgh's Game 1 victory against Ottawa to open Round 2 of the playoffs.
Kunitz helped set up Malkin's game-winning goal just past the midway point of the first period, prior to netting his third marker of the postseason on a power play late in the second frame. Malkin also earned an assist on a man advantage tally by defenseman Paul Martin. Pascal Dupuis potted a shorthanded goal in the third period to finish Tuesday night's scoring. Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, Doug Murray, Kris Letang and James Neal collected an assist each in the contest. Neal was also assessed three minor penalties in Game 1.

Tomas Vokoun turned aside 35 of the 36 shots he faced in a 4-1 win over Ottawa to begin the second round where he left off against the New York Islanders.
He has won three straight playoff games since taking over as the Penguins' starter goaltender for Marc-Andre Fleury. Vokoun has been very steady in three straight starts, so there's no reason to believe that Fleury will return to game action any time soon. We would expect to see Vokoun back in goal for Pittsburgh when the puck drops for Game 2 on Friday.

Sidney Crosby has been tabbed as a finalist for the Bill Masterton Trophy, which goes annually to the "player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey."
Crosby returned from his past concussion issues in fine form following the lockout. He was racking up points before missing the final month of the season with a broken jaw. Thankfully, he didn't experience any concussion symptoms from that and is back playing in the playoffs. Crosby said that getting back to playing again after missing so much playing time over the previous two seasons was a "big honor in itself" and the nomination for the Masterton "means a lot."

Tyler Kennedy and Joe Vitale will remain in Pittsburgh's lineup when the second round begins Tuesday night versus Ottawa.
Kennedy had a goal and an assist in Games 5 and 6, respectively, after he was reinserted into the lineup from the press box. Joe Vitale has also provided energy since getting into game action and he contributed an assist in Game 6 versus the Islanders. With both of them in, Jussi Jokinen and Beau Bennett will be healthy scratches when Round 2 begins.

It looks like Deryk Engelland will get back into the lineup for Game 1 against Ottawa Tuesday night.
His inclusion makes sense since the Senators played a physical series versus Montreal in Round 1 and he enjoys playing that kind of game. He was paired with Doug Murray in the morning skate after he skated in the team's top-six group in Monday's practice as well. With Engelland likely to play, Simon Despres will head to the press box.

Tomas Vokoun says he is starting Tuesday night against the Senators.
It's the right call. Until Vokoun gives coach Dan Bylsma a reason to change his mind, the Penguins need to stick with him. He is 2-0 with a 1.41 goals-against average and .957 save percentage in the playoffs. Dating back to the regular season, he's also won his last five starts.

Sidney Crosby is nearly back to his pre-injury form.
Crosby has three goals and six helpers, so nobody would've guessed he hasn't felt like himself until now. "Game 2, it was pretty good," he said. "Game 3 was tough. The first game back after that long, you're just on adrenaline. ... To go into overtime the second game back, I definitely felt that second game back a lot. The last two we played, I felt really good. Felt like I could handle the minutes and didn't feel like I was wearing down that much. It was much better."

The Penguins know that it will be a major test for them to contain Erik Karlsson.
Karlsson has a goal and five assists in five games during the playoffs. "I don't think he changes your game plan," Craig Adams said. "It just makes things more difficult when he's out there. His biggest asset is his skating. He carries the puck up the ice, but you can't always count on him playing at the point. He's just so mobile. He's got that ability to jump into the play and the speed to get back."

For those of you wondering, it doesn't look like Sidney Crosby will be removing that protective shield for his lower face and jaw area any time soon.
It will stay on his helmet for an indefinite period, but Crosby said it hasn't hindered his play. "It would be nice to get it off eventually," he said, "but it hasn't been a huge problem, and I got a couple close calls in the Islanders series with the puck anyways, so maybe I should keep it on a little bit longer."

Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma wouldn't discuss his Game 1 lineup for Tuesday's semifinal series against Ottawa, so he wouldn't name a starting goalie.
However, it's probably safe to assume that Tomas Vokoun will be back between the pipes. He provided the team with superb goaltending against an Islanders team that buzzed all over the Penguins in the first round. Vokoun stopped 66 of the 69 shots he faced in a pair of wins to close out the series. It would be a surprising move if Bylsma decided to go back to Marc-Andre Fleury.

Pittsburgh's Ray Shero is a finalist for the General Manager of the Year Award.
Shero loaded up the Penguins with veteran players Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, Doug Murray and Jussi Jokinen for their current playoff drive. He acquired all of them without giving up any roster players. His wheeling and dealing started in the off-season with the trading of Jordan Staal for a capable depth center in Brandon Sutter and bringing in Tomas Vokoun as the Penguins' backup has proven to be a good decision. Shero also added Tanner Glass and Mark Eaton, in much-less heralded moves, but they have been good for the team as well. Pittsburgh played parts of the 2013 campaign without key players the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, James Neal and Kris Letang, but they still finished with the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Despite leading the Penguins in scoring in the first round of the playoffs, Evgeni Malkin isn't satisfied with his start to the NHL's second season.
"I could say it's going good, but (Game 6), like the rest, was probably up and down," Malkin said. "I'm happy to win, but I can do more, play better." He notched nine helpers and 11 points in six contests against the New York Islanders. Malkin's left shoulder may require off-season surgery, so the fact that he's not feeling quite 100 percent may be what's contributing to his negative mindset. He doesn't like the giveaways he's committed either, but fantasy owners are probably pleased with the contributions he's made thus far.

Pittsburgh left winger Chris Kunitz is in the enviable position of being wanted as a linemate by two of the finest centers in NHL history.
Both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin would like Kunitz to be their left winger for the remainder of the playoffs. Kunitz has spent a lot of his Pittsburgh career playing alongside Crosby, including most of this season as Crosby ran up 56 points en route to being a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player. Last season, when Crosby missed a lot of games because of injury, Kunitz played on a line with Malkin, who won the NHL scoring title and Hart Trophy, and right winger James Neal. "It's a good problem to have when you get to play with either one of those guys," Kunitz said of coach Dan Bylsma's decisions on line combinations. "Throughout my years in Pittsburgh, I've had a chance to play with both. They're both such elite talents that they make players around them way better. If you work hard, they're going to reward you with good plays."

Evgeni Malkin reminded folks about why he is one of the premier forwards in the NHL by turning in 11 points in six games during the Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round series against the New York Islanders.
"He's a staple of that when he gets control of the puck, uses his body to create good positioning and lug it around, and other guys get open for him," Pittsburgh defenseman Paul Martin said. "If he's going like that, that's big for us." Malkin ended the series with 11 points in the six games.

Tomas Vokoun made 35 saves in the Penguins' 4-3 overtime victory against the Islanders on Saturday night.
Vokoun was much busier than his counterpart Evgeni Nabokov in this one, and you have to wonder if the result would've been the same had Marc-Andre Fleury been between the pipes because the Islanders were buzzing for much of this game. Vokoun faced 28 shots through the first two periods. We see no reason for Pens coach Dan Bylsma to turn to Fleury in the next series, until Vokoun gives him a reason to. Vokoun has now won his last five starts, including the regular season.

Brooks Orpik potted the game-winning goal in the Penguins' 4-3 overtime win against the Islanders on Saturday night that sends them into the second round.
Yes, Orpik and his 12 career NHL goals (first in the playoffs) gets the decisive goal at 7:49 of overtime on a slapshot. Sure, what counts is that Penguins won the series 4-2, but they were far from consistent in this game (and series). Now it's time to turn the page and forget about their ragged play Paul Martin had a goal and two helpers, while Pascal Dupuis and Jarome Iginla notched the other markers. Matt Niskanen, Joe Vitale, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby had the other assists. Malkin had a rough game in every zone until he fed Martin on the 3-3, game-tying goal with 5:16 left. The Penguins will now face the Senators in Round 2.

Deryk Engelland is a scratch for the Penguins in Game 6 on Saturday night.
Engelland played in Games 1 and 2, registering three hits, four blocked shots and four penalty minutes. Simon Despres, who has gone pointless with a hit and three blocked shots in two games of this series, will draw into the lineup in his place.

Just in case you were wondering, Tomas Vokoun will indeed play for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the New York Islanders in Game 6.
It's not surprising since he won Game 5, but just in case you needed an additional confirmation, that is the case.

It appears that Thomas Vokoun will get the start in Game 6 Saturday against the Islanders.
Nothing has been confirmed and the Pens are still practising Saturday morning so we do not yet know which of Vokoun or Fleury will leave the ice first. We would be surprised if Pens' coach Dan Bylsma went back to Fleury after Vokoun posted a shutout victory. Stay tuned.

Penguins' coach Dan Bylsma's line shuffling in Game 5 was very successful and as a result the teams' forward units could remain the same as they ended up Thursday night.
That would mean Jarome Iginla would play alongside Sidney Crosby and Pascal Dupuis, while Chris Kunitz would line up with Evgeni Malkin and James Neal. Brandon Sutter, Matt Cooke and either Brenden Morrow or Tyler Kennedy will make up the team's third line, while some combination of Jussi Jokinen, Tanner Glass, Joe Vitale and Kennedy will make up the fourth unit. Adjust your rosters accordingly.

Sidney Crosby is among the finalists for the Hart Trophy.
Washington's Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares of the New York Islanders are also up for the NHL's top individual award, which goes annually to the "player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team." Crosby racked up 15 goals and 56 points in 36 games this season despite missing all of April with a broken jaw. His strong play helped the Penguins finish first in the Eastern Conference and capture the Atlantic Division title for the first time since 2007-08. He won the Hart Trophy in 2007.

Kris Letang earned a goal and an assist in Game 5 Thursday night.
Both of his goals this postseason have come on the power play and he has six points in five contests versus the Islanders. Letang is tied with Ottawa's Erik Karlsson for the most points among defensemen in the NHL playoffs heading into Friday night's action.

Doug Murray produced a goal and 12 penalty minutes in Pittsburgh's 4-0 win over the Islanders Thursday night.
That's two goals in five playoff games for the stay-at-home defenseman. Murray tallied one marker in 43 contests during the regular season.

Tyler Kennedy scored in his 2013 playoff debut Thursday night.
He scored the opening goal in Pittsburgh's 4-0 win, so he ended up getting credit for the game winner. Kennedy had been a healthy scratch in the team's first four games of their first-round series against the New York Islanders. He's probably earned himself a spot in the lineup for Game 6 though.

Marc-Andre Fleury wants another chance to play, but he seems to be taking the decision to ride the bench in stride for now.
"It's not that it's hard," he said referring to being told he wouldn't start in Game 5. "It's mostly the games -- losing -- that's what's hard. That's what [stinks]. A lot of goals. It's frustrating. I wish I would have done better. But that's in the past. Looking forward to another shot at it." He seemed understanding when the decision to play Tomas Vokoun was made, but after Vokoun's shutout win in Game 5 Fleury will likely remain as the team's backup on Saturday.

Tomas Vokoun admits he was nervous heading into his start for Game 5.
He looked like he was at ease in the crease though with 31 saves on 31 shots in a 4-0 win for Pittsburgh. "It obviously feels good," said Vokoun after getting the victory in his first playoff appearance since 2007. "I was a little bit nervous the whole day, to be honest. You wouldn't be human if you weren't. It was hard to remember what to expect. I got a couple of fortunate bounces." The Islanders outshout Pittsburgh by a 14-7 margin after the first period, but thanks to Vokoun's efforts the game remained scoreless. The Penguins scored three goals in the second and one in the third to claim a 3-2 series lead.

Tomas Vokoun blocked all 31 shots he faced in a 4-0 win over the Islanders Thursday night.
Stepping in for the ineffective Marc-Andre Fleury, Vokoun answered every challenge in this start and help propel the Penguins to a 3-2 series lead. There's no question Vokoun will be in goal again when the two teams match up for Game Six Saturday.

Sidney Crosby scored a goal and added an assist for the Penguins Thursday as they scored a 4-0 shutout win over the Islanders.
Just another day at the office for Sid the Kid, who scored the Pens third goal of the second period before setting up Kris Letang's marker in the final frame. Tyler Kennedy and Doug Murray also found the back of the net for Pittsburgh as they took a 3-2 lead in the series.

Jussi Jokinen may be a healthy scratch Thursday.
He had just 7:29 of ice time in Tuesday's loss and it appears to be likely that Tyler Kennedy and Joe Vitale will see game action for the first time in the postseason in Game 5. If Kenney and Vitale both play then Jokinen and Tanner Glass will probably sit.

Simon Despres skated alongside Kris Letang at Pittsburgh's morning skate Thursday, which indicates he will play in Game 5.
If he does play then it looks like Mark Eaton will draw out of the lineup. Despres had a minus-2 rating against the New York Islanders in Game 3, which was his only other appearance of the series.

Tyler Kennedy could play in Game 5 Thursday.
He lined up on the fourth line during the team's game-day skate and indicated that he expects to play for the first time in the series. Kennedy had three goals and three assists in six postseason games with the Penguins last year and in 46 games during the 2013 campaign he had 11 points.

Joe Vitale looks like he'll be back in the lineup for Pittsburgh Thursday night.
He hasn't played in the team's previous four playoff games, but could bring some energy to the table if he dresses. Vitale skated on the fourth line at the Penguins' morning skate. In 33 games this season, he had five points and 45 hits.

Jarome Iginla doesn't mind playing left wing anymore.
"Left feels good now," Iginla said. "When I first got here, whatever position you put me at [I] wasn't feeling comfortable. You know, had lots going through my mind and pretty anxious, I guess, when I first got here. Maybe that's why I looked so uncomfortable on the left." He feels more comfortable now in the team's system, so it doesn't matter whether he plays on the right or the left. Iginla has produced a goal and six assists in four games against the Islanders in the postseason.

Sidney Crosby is a strong candidate to win the Ted Lindsay Award.
He was listed as finalist for the trophy, along with Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis and Washington's Alex Ovechkin, on Thursday. Crosby finished tied for third, with Ovechkin, in the NHL scoring race with 56 points, but he did it while appearing in just 36 games. He led the league with a 1.56 points-per-game average and didn't give up the scoring lead until the final week of the regular season despite being sidelined with a broken jaw for Pittsburgh's last 12 contests of the year. Crosby won the award in 2007.

Tomas Vokoun will play between the pipes on Thursday.
"We brought Tomas Vokoun in to play big games for us," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. Well, they brought him in to take some of the pressure off of Marc-Andre Fluery and replace Fluery should he falter - which he has. Fluery looked abysmal by the end of Game 4 and basically forced the Penguins to go to their Plan B. Vokoun had a 0.90 GAA and .970 save percentage in four games against the Islanders in the regular season, so there is reason for Penguins' fans to be optimistic about this news.

Brandon Sutter started Game 4 on the fourth line.
He skated there for the latter part of Game 3 on Sunday as well. Sutter scored his first goal since April 17 in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Islanders after he was reunited with Matt Cooke and Brenden Morrow on the third line. Cooke and Morrow picked up assists on Sutter's first point of the playoffs.

Beau Bennett was a healthy scratch in Game 4 Tuesday night.
He had played in Pittsburgh's previous three meetings versus the Islanders prior to sitting out Tuesday's contest. Bennett has one goal on four shots in the postseason.

James Neal scored his first goal of the playoffs in Tuesday's Game 4 loss to the Islanders.
He hadn't played since Game 1 due to a lower-body injury. Neal skated for 16:19 of ice time alongside Evgeni Malkin and Jarome Iginla in the contest.

Coach Dan Bylsma wouldn't commit to naming a starter for Game 5 on Thursday, but Pittsburgh-Tribune Review columnist Dejan Kovacevic believes it's time for the Penguins to turn to Tomas Vokoun.
Marc-Andre Fluery has allowed 14 goals on 102 shots over his past three games against the New York Islanders and he's permitted a whopping 40 goals in his last 10 playoff appearances. Vokoun was brought on board by the Penguins to ease Fleury's workload in the regular season, but his secondary purpose according to Kovacevic was to serve as a "Plan B" option in the playoffs. Bylsma appears to be considering a change and he spoke highly of Vokoun after Tuesday's 6-4 loss, where Fleury looked particularly shaky on some plays. "Certainly, Tomas Vokoun is a guy that can step in and play and has had success and won hockey games against this team, was successful this year," said Bylsma. "We're going to come out for Game 5 with a refocus." This doesn't confirm a change in goal, but there are probably many people who wouldn't be surprised if it happens.

Brooks Orpik didn't want to acknowledge any similarities to this series against the Islanders and last year's early playoff exit against Philadelphia.
"It's a different group of guys, a different series," Orpik said. "I don't let that stuff hang over my head. You learn from it, you move in, but I don't think you go back to it." The Penguins have suffered some of the same bad defensive lapses and some shaky goaltending, which plagued them versus the Flyers. Orpik returned to Pittsburgh's lineup in Game 4 from a lower-body injury. He had a minus-1 rating, one hit, two blocks and two penalty minutes during his 18:44 of ice time.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 18 saves and allowed six goals in a 6-4 loss to the Islanders Tuesday.
The defeat evened the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. After beginning the series with a shutout it has been downhill for Fleury ever since. He has surrendered 14 goals against in his past three games and it is starting to look like the player who struggled in the playoffs last year versus Philadelphia. Coach Dan Bylsma will probably face questions regarding his starter heading into Game 5, as the Penguins have a very capable backup in Tomas Vokoun waiting for an opportunity to play.

Evgeni Malkin notched a goal and an assist in Pittsburgh's 6-4 loss to the New York Islanders in Game 4 Tuesday night.
He has accounted for two points in each of the first four games of the series. James Neal scored in his return to the lineup, while Brandon Sutter and Pascal Dupuis also found the back of the net in the contest. Jarome Iginla collected two assists in the loss. Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz, Brenden Morrow and Matt Cooke got on the board with a helper apiece.

Brooks Orpik will return from his lower-body injury Tuesday night.
Game 4 will mark his 2013 playoff debut. Orpik hasn't played since April 23, but his presence on the back end should help bring some stability to Pittsburgh.

James Neal will be back in Pittsburgh's lineup Tuesday night for Game 4.
He has missed the past two games with a lower-body injury. Neal will be looking to record his first point of the series against the Islanders.

James Neal (lower body) and Brooks Orpik (lower body) both took part in pregame warmups and appear likely to return for Tuesday's Game 4 against the New York Islanders.
Both players practiced Monday and Tuesday but wouldn't commit to returning tonight. Neal has missed the last two games while Orpik hasn't played since April 23. Neal is expected to skate on Evgeni Malkin's wing and Orpik should play with Paul Martin to start.

Brooks Orpik (lower body) practiced Tuesday but wouldn't commit to playing in Game 4 tonight.
Orpik has been sidelined since April 23 but has been skating of late. The Penguins really miss his physical presence in the lineup, especially against Islanders forwards John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. We'll have to wait until pregame warmups to see if Orpik will return tonight.