NHL Hockey Sports Fan Blog

Since all eyes will be on Nail Yakupov and who the Edmonton Oilers select in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft Friday June 22nd in Pittsburgh the Columbus Blue Jackets are right behind the Oilers in needed to rebuild their organization. The advantage Edmonton has over Columbus is having the first round picks in three consecutive drafts. With the Blue Jackets coming off of one of the worst seasons they have ever had, the second pick in this years draft is something they need. The Blue Jackets need people in basically every position, a number one goaltender, first line center, more scoring from their second line, and puck moving defensemen. Center Alex Galchenyuk is perfect for the Blue Jackets. He is nearly identical to Ryan Johansen in that they both have similar skill sets. Having Galchenyuk allows the organization to start their rebuild in a positive way. They will probably look for another first round selection, especially considering the heavy defensive depth in the Top 50 picks this year. But look for the teammate of Yakupov to be a Blue Jacket after this years draft.

The Montreal Canadians have the third pick in the draft this year after having one of the worst years in the last decade ending the season with 78 points. The last time they ended the year with similar numbers was in the 2002-2003 season (77 points). The left winger from Sweden Filip Forsberg will go third overall this year. The Canadians, who desperately need a star on offense, need to look no further than Forsberg. Although he does not have the numbers like other players that will be available people have to remember he is only 17 years old. Given time to develop and get bigger and stronger and adapt to playing in the NHL he will be a great NHL player. This years Swedish star, Forsberg has shown his abilities on the World Juniors Championships stage and in his brief stint with Leksands in the Swedish 2nd Division. Once he builds some muscle and hones his

With a wildly offensive second period straight out of the 1980s, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins moved within one victory of advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Crosby had four points, including two of Pittsburgh’s five goals in the second, leading the Penguins to a 7-4 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night and a 3-1 series lead.

Crosby assisted on Evgeni Malkin’s power-play goal 11:50 in, the only score of the first period.

Crosby scored two of Pittsburgh’s three goals in a 2:25 span early in the second. Matt Cooke scored 12 seconds after Crosby’s first goal to make it 3-0, and the Penguins’ 22-year-old captain added his fourth goal of the series at 6:12 to chase Brian Elliott.

“I feel like I’m creating things,” Crosby said. “That’s what I want to do and the puck’s gone in.”

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Even faced with the constant attention of the Ottawa Senators’ top pair of defensemen, Sidney Crosby keeps finding ways to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Crosby had a goal and an assist, Evgeni Malkin scored his third playoff goal, and Pittsburgh beat Ottawa 4-2 on Sunday night to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference series.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 20 saves and Alexei Ponikarovsky and Bill Guerin also scored for the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins, who won their second in a row following a 5-4 loss to the Senators in the series opener.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis sustained an undisclosed facial injury while being rammed face-first into the boards by the Islanders defenseman Andy Sutton with 2:55 remaining in Pittsburgh’s 6-4 victory on Tuesday night.


Dupuis was down on the ice for several minutes, blood dripping off his face, before he got up and walked with assistance to a tunnel leading to the Penguins’ dressing room. He used a towel to cover up an apparent nose injury. Blood stains remained visible on the ice after the game ended.

Sutton drew a boarding penalty and a game misconduct.


Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com