Are the Pens even worthy? Also thoughts on Mason, Allen, Mrazek and more …

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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is day-to-day with a foot injury. He had played through it for a couple of games (it was courtesy of an Iginla shot), but missed Saturday’s contest. My gut tells me he’ll miss the final three games, which would impact Benoit Pouliot’s production as well.

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The Penguins are certainly not playing like a Cup contender. In fact, their 0-18-5 record when behind after two periods is… embarrassing. I mean, now they’re entering Toronto Maple Leafs territory with that number. If a team can’t come from behind (as in – never), then how on earth can they win a Cup?

But the Pens have bigger things to worry about than that. They have to worry about getting into the playoffs. In one week, they go from being comfortably in a playoff spot and being considered by some as a favorite – to being in more danger than the Bruins. Equal points to Boston (and Detroit, more on them below), equal games remaining, and facing Ottawa on Tuesday. Can you imagine the Penguins not being in the postseason this year? I’ve grown accustomed to the idea of Boston not making it (I rambled about the possibility back in December), but Pittsburgh – that’s a new one.

That would be a real kick in the teeth for me, a year in which I thought I had a good chance of winning all three of my keeper leagues and two of the playoff championships. It’s looking like I’ll be second in two and fifth in the other – and if the Pens are out, I’ll have far less chances of any playoff trophy. I do have Anderson for Ottawa, but a lot of good that does me if the Hamburgler is the guy who carries the team in.

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If you watched the Penguins – Flyers game Sunday, what did you think of the Chris Kunitz shot at the empty net? In the third period, the Flyers had a one goal lead, delayed penalty to Pittsburgh. To touch the puck for the whistle, Kunitz actually shot it at the empty net. Jakub Voracek races across the ice as if Kunitz just shot his mother, and earns a 10-minute misconduct. Okay, there are unwritten rules in hockey (mostly stupid ones, but alright I get it), and then there’s going overboard with your freak out. Kunitz didn’t hit the puck after the whistle, he just slapped the puck in frustration. The Flyers lost their power play and they lost their top scorer for most of the third period in a tight game, just because Voracek felt the need for a temper tantrum. Here is the incident. Replay of the shot is at 39 seconds:

Pacioretty’s injury could give a boost to the likes of PA Parenteau and possibly Lars Eller.

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Tobias Enstrom has an LBI and is considered day-to-day. But you’ve written him off by now as a fantasy asset, and rightfully so. Just another reason to like Del Zotto’s comeback, as Enstrom is another guy with a sudden drop in production and fantasy value despite his relative youth (30).

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Big win for Jonathan Bernier, who hadn’t won in seven previous tries. He stopped 43 of 45 shots. As much as we want to see the Leafs completely strip this roster down to the bones and build it back up, I think we’ll see both James Reimer and Bernier start next season with them. And the stats in the end will likely be very similar.

But I do think one of Phil Kessel or Dion Phaneuf go, likely near the draft.

Disappointed to still see Tyler Bozak on the top PP unit. Since these games don’t matter, let’s evaluate some of the other players. Let’s see Nazem Kadri run the first PP unit and Peter Holland center the second one. And leave Bozak off the PP altogether. Just to evaluate.

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Austin Wallace has some nice prospect ramblings here. Some great clips and good thoughts for your keeper league.

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Jake Allen has solidified his place as the St. Louis playoff starter in my opinion. His big win Sunday, stopping 38 of 39 shots, was his third win in a row. He’s on a 10-1-2 run right now. Meanwhile Brian Elliott has been a mess, going 1-3 in his last four and allowing 15 goals on just 85 shots! Being so inexperienced, Allen will be on a short leash. But it says here that he’ll be the playoff starter, done deal.

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Today I will be voting for my first NHL Award – the Bill Masterton Trophy (awarded to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication"). I’ve narrowed my candidates down to five players and I’m interested in your thoughts:

Devan Dubnyk

Kris Letang

Pekka Rinne

Kris Russell

Alex Tanguay

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