Following a rough west coast road trip, and dropping five straight, the Penguins were looking to stop the bleeding last night against the Flyers. A team they have owned in their previous two meetings.

Rookie scoring leader Evgeni Malkin scored with less than three minutes to play in the third to lift the Penguins over the Flyers 3-2. Malkin now has 9 goals on the season. The scoring was provided by all of Pittsburgh Penguins Young Guns. Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal got the early goals for the Pens. The Flyers fell for the sixth straight game.

During their skid, the Penguins were finding difficulty just taking shots. Sidney Crosby was kept from shooting for three straight games on their West Coast trip. My esteemed colleague Playoff Moustache commented that the Penguins were parading to the penalty box several nights ago, and players like Crosby and Malkin, who aren't penalty killers, were put to limited use during the game. A little discipline is always a good thing, especially when it means keeping your best players on the ice at all times.

Quick Shave:
The NHL announced that they will be honoring Mark Messier with a monthly award given to the player with the best leadership. The Mark Messier Award. This is an amazing honor, if you really think about it. Wayne Gretzky, and Gordie Howe don't have awards....although there is the Gordie Howe Hat Trick (Goal, Assist, Fight), but that is more of a badge of honor. The leadership award named after Messier will be presented tonight at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers play host to the New Jersey Devils, and since no one on the Rangers truly deserves it, I have to assume it's going to Martin Brodeur, who got a couple of shutouts last month. Really, this trophy should be going to Chris Drury of the Buffalo Sabres, Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks, or J.S. Giguere of the Anaheim Ducks.....but if I'm right about Brodeur....I'll take that.

After years of abuse at the hands of Philadelphia Flyers fans, you'd think that if the tables were turned I'd be just as ruthless.....while critical I have been, I almost feel bad for them now. As bad as things have been in Philadelphia, they are equally bad across the border in Ottawa. If not for the situation in Philly, the Ottawa Senators would definitely had come under the microscope sooner. However, the axes have begun to fall early this season. The Columbus Blue Jackets dropped their coach Gerard Gallant yesterday, as they are another team that has begun the season with a horrendous start, and also a team that had much higher expectations. The Montreal Canadiens beat up on the Ottawa Senators last night 6-3, their 7th loss in 8 games and further fanned the rumor flames that change would be coming. My boy Cristobal Huet made 36 saves on the evening....(GUY keep starting this guy!!!). My other boy....Cam Ward, didn't fare as well. Our Game of the Night matchup rematch between the Buffalo Sabres and the Carolina Hurricanes was a blowout, then a tight game, then a blowout again as they dismantled the Canes 7-4. Ryan Smyth scored both goals for the Edmonton Oilers last night to give them the 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Smyth was the recipient of a nasty knee on knee hit from Avs d-man John-Michael Liles late in the third that upended the forward. Smyth who has had knee problems in the past had to be helped to the bench by goalie Dwayne Roloson. No word on his status yet. Los Angeles Kings forward Alexander Frolov lead the scoring for his team with 2 goals and an assist to lift his club to a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks.

Game of the Night:
New Jersey at NY Rangers 7:00 PM
Detroit at Vancouver 10:00 PM

Two fer Tuesday! Ok that was lame. Well we gotta watch the first game which i believe is on VS.....so Messier will on 'In the tent with Clement' to present his new honor tonight. Not a bad hockey game to watch either. The late game looks like a good one too. Wings and Canucks. Nice. Like Beer and Pretzels. 'Cept Canucks are saltier. Enjoy the games my bearded friends!

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh