The Fifth Liners

This weeks question, comes from one of our devoted fans in the UK, ' James Neal is the first NHL player to be booked for diving. Will this put off other potential floppers or will it deter players who've been genuinely fouled from falling to ground?' IheartModano - Darn good question fellow European reader, let's take a closer look at this. Officially Neal is the first ever NHL player to be named and shamed for diving and has been fined $2,000 for his offense- pocket change really to these guys. On November 13th, Neal was given a warning for the same offense after a game against St Louis, but it appears he didn't think to tune in for that weeks episode. Cue exactly a month later against, San Jose, he then decided to try the very same act again! But what will be the result of this whole thing? Hockey is a tough and physical game, but there are times when you wonder how many others are flopping the getting away it? The punishments that have been set out are n...

Among the numerous surprises in the Nashville Predators brilliant start to this season, has been the unexpected form of 20 year old Swedish winger, Filip Forsberg . This young gun is no stranger in the NHL, but so far this season he is sure making an impression with 9 goals and 22 points already! Baring no relation at all to Avalanche legend Peter Forsberg, Filip has shown his true qualities this year and this is marking him as a possible candidate for the Calder Trophy. Originally drafted 11th overall by the Washington Capitals back in 2012, Forsberg spent the majority of his first season playing back in Sweden for his old side Leksands IF. But a blow came when he was unexpected traded to the Predators in 2013. His progress there to start with was slow and last season he notched up only 5 points from a mere 13 NHL games (4 of which were assists). For development he was assigned to the team's AHL affiliate the Milwaukee Admirals where he fared better scoring 34 points in 47 gam...

After last nights 7-2 steamroller over the Colorado Avalanche , it would appear that the Chicago Blackhawks are the public's favourite to retain their Stanley Cup crown this year! If they do succeed in taking back to back titles, it will make them the first team to achieve this since the 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings and will already make them one of the big successes of this decade alone! After their up and down start to their title defense, the Red Express has got back on the rails and it ain't going to stop any time soon! But as always with winning, things are never straight forward because across from our brothers in Illinois are another team who are equally hungry and have a burning desire not to repeat last years play-off nightmare in the shape of the Pittsburgh Penguins ! Both sides have an equally strong case as they possess offensive units to die for- Chicago this season have been led by free scoring winger Patrick Kane, whose 21 goals have pushed them to the top of the...

After kneeing Brad Marchand in the head while he lay prone on the ice, Pittsburgh's James Neal now has a five game suspension to think about what he's done. Whether he meant it or not, only Neal knows. But in a busy week for the Dept of Player Safety, the decision was made that Neal had time to avoid Marchand. Although Marchand wasn't injured, it was decided that Neal would be assessed five games because of his history. That's the CBA at work again. More time for Neal to get that last minute Christmas shopping done.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger James Neal is due to have a hearing today with the Department of Player Safety after appearing to knee Bruins player Brad Marchand in the head! The incident took play at 11.06 of the first period when Neal struck Marchand as he lay on the ice. A two minute minor was assessed and both players remained in the games. Meanwhile, Boston Bruins player Shawn Thornton is set to have an in person hearing after an ugly incident that occurred during their 3-2 win against the Penguins! Thornton in the midst of a scrum pushed defenseman Brooks Orpik to the ice and threw several punches which resulted in a match penalty being assessed. If you guilty, Thornton faces a potential ban of up to five games!

The Boston Bruins won a dramatic late 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden last night in real end to end game which included two goals in the last 90 seconds. The Penguins started out very much on top with Chris Kunitz continuing his excellent run of form to put Pittsburgh ahead when his shot deflected off Dennis Seidenberg and crept underneath Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask on 6.33! But Reilly Smith tied the game only four minutes later. However the game soured when Pens D-Man Brooks Orpik had to leave the game after being hit whilst down on the ice by Shawn Thornton after a scrap broke out, resulting in a match penalty for Thornton! Bruons forward Loui Eriksson also had to leave the fame after suffering a concussion. James Neal then put the Penguins back in front on 13 minutes, when after being released from the penalty box, he deflected in Matt Niskanen's speculative blue line shot. In the second period, the Penguons failed to capitalize on several chances to ex...

The Pittsburgh Penguins won a titantic back and forth battle against the Toronto Maple Leafs last night for a 6-5 shootout win at the Consol Energy Center! From the very outset, things were far from straight foward and despite Chris Connor putting the Penguins ahead after 1.57 of the first period, James Van Riemsdyk soon made thing a tie game after he scored on the powerplay after 5 minutes. From there things got very tricky for the home team as Nazem Kadri gave Toronto the lead after 11 minutes. Less than 43 seconds into the next period- the Leafs hit Pittsburgh with a double blow as a crucial mistake by Marc-Andre Fleury as he attempted to pass the puck behind his net to Jayson Megna let in Van Riemsdyk for his second goal after only 13 seconds! Thirty seconds later Phil Kessel would score to put Toronto 4-1 in front and add to the home fans frustrations! Powerplay goals by Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang midway through help raise spirits- but when Tyler Bozak popped up to score...

The Pittsburgh Penguins have successfully seen off the Ottawa Senators to advance to the Eastern Conference final. Game three saw the only dip in the Pen's performance when Ottawa thoroughly outplayed Pittsburgh to take their first win of the series but Dan Bylsma was able to inspire his team to take two convincing wins. The first was on Wednesday when the Penguins came out of the game with the win after James Neal , Chris Kunitz, Jarome Iginla, Pascal Dupuis and Sidney Crosby all found the net. Milan Michalek , Kyle Turris and Daniel Alfredsson netted for the Senators but it was wasn't enough. The Pens finished the game winning 7-3. Last night the action shifted back to the Consul Energy Center for game five. Pittsburgh controlled the game with Brendan Morrow 's controversial goal opening the game. James Neal and Kris Letang then put the game at 3-0. Milan Michalek was on hand to grab a goal for the Sens but Evgeni Malkin and James Neal responded with ...

There are certain things you expect to see in the playoffs. Alex has already written about how the  Canucks fell to the Sharks  but did anyone actually predict a four-nil series whitewash? I didn't. I thought it was going to be much closer. After all, the Canucks had a decent season and the Sharks lost a few key players through trades. Who would have expected the Canadiens - Senators games to be so controversial? Competitive yes, but when the allegations of diving came out, things got nasty. Unfortunately for the Habs, too many big name injuries became the team's undoing. The biggest cupset that almost happened was in the Penguins - Islanders series. Although the series was sealed last night with a 4-3 overtime win for the Pens, the Iles were able to win two of the games in the series and quite often had the Pens on the back foot. The Pens, who firmly broadcast their intentions to win the Stanley Cup at all costs by making some big trades should have won this ...

The New York Islanders haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1983 and when they finished 8th in the conference, I doubt any Isles fan was happy about being drawn against the Pittsburgh Penguins . Expecting a quick end to their playoff campaign. I know I did. But those plucky Islanders are determined to cost me money (I bet on the Pens winning the series) and staged a mighty comeback to draw the series again. The Islanders netted 6 times with Brian Strait , Mark Streit , Kyle Okposo , John Tavares and Casey Cizikas all lighting the lamp. 3 of the goals came in the last 16 minutes of the game. James Neal , Evgeni Malkin , Brandon Sutter and Pascal Dupuis all scored for the Penguins. Playmaker Sidney Crosby managed a single assist for his team. Is this a resurgence from the 4 time cup winning Islanders? Can the Pens' new high profile trades make the difference and fight back? Watch this space.

The Pittsburgh Penguins ' injury woes continue, according the  Trib's sport page . James Neal is out indefinitely after his head to elbow interface with New York Rangers' Michael Del Zotto left him with concussion. This is in addition to Sidney Crosby who is still out with a broken jaw.  To shore up the main line, Evgeni Malkin and Jussi Jokinen have traded places, with the Finn taking the center position on the 2nd line. Malkin will partner Chris Kunitz and the Pens' other big trade Jarome Iginla up front.  The positive news is that both Crosby and Neal are doing well, but it is not currently known if either player will be back in time for the playoffs. 

By Alex Watson The Pittsburgh Penguins are a team with a remarkable history, with three Stanley cup wins, near bankruptcy in 1998 to finally the acquisition of the brightest modern Hockey star in Sidney Crosby! But ever since their last cup glory is 2009, their recent follow ups haven’t quite lived up to expectations at the Consol Energy Centre and last season they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference quarter finals by the Flyers in six games. Arguably it could be said that their season had been interrupted by Captain Crosby’s persistent absence from the ice owning to the effect of post concussion syndrome. But it did leave the door open to Evgeni Malkin’s Hart Trophy winning performances where he led the team in scoring and was joined by breakout star James Neal and Jordan Staal. But even with all promise in Sid the Kid’s absence, their weak play-off performance left a sour taste in the mouth. However this season, Coach Dan Byisma has learned from last season’s m...