Pittsburgh Penguins news and notes

The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Boston Bruins tonight in a crucial Eastern Conference match-up.
These are the projected lines for tonight via PittsburghPenguins.com
Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Rupp-Letestu-Kennedy
Cooke-Malkin-Asham
Talbot-Adams-Godard
Comrie-Conner-(Tom Fitzgerald - filling in)

I'm sure you are also shocked to see Evgeni Malkin on centering Aaron Asham and Matt Cooke on the 3rd line. Then again this could finally be a message being sent by Dan Bylsma to Malkin.

Malkin makes the same amount of money (8.7 million a year) as Sidney Crosby and is on pace to have another year below the standards that he is capable of having. Since the Pens have 17.4 million a year tied up on two players, they have to expect Geno and Crosby to be carrying this team. Sid is in the top 5 in goals and points, and is still doing well in face-offs.

Malkin on the other hand isn't even in the top 30 in points in the entire NHL. This has to change. Malkin has to step his game a.s.a.p. Here's a very good article about this very subject on bleacherreport.com


It also looks like Brent Johnson will be starting it net tonight and even though I am a Marc-Andre Fleury fan and supporter I think it's the right move. Fleury is struggling and Johnson is not. I don't think that this is a permanent move or that the Pens should give up on Fleury but until he plays better the Pens have to go with Johnson.