Endicott plays; Gonchar on IR
Center Shane Endicott played his first game of the season -- and his first in the NHL since 2001-02 -- on Saturday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Endicott, who suffered a high ankle sprain the first week of training camp, started on the wing with Maxime Talbot in the middle and Ryan VandenBussche on the wing. Coach Eddie Olczyk said he planned to periodically move Endicott up in place of Konstantin Koltsov on a line with Mario Lemieux and John LeClair. Mario Lemieux, who missed Wednesday's game against the Flyers with a stomach virus, and Sebastien Caron, who was on injured reserve with a pulled quadriceps muscle, also returned to the lineup.
To make room for Endicott and Caron on the 23-man roster, the Penguins placed defenseman Sergei Gonchar on injured reserve with a strained groin. Caron backed up starter Jocelyn Thibault.
Umberger makes Pittsburgh debut
Plum native R.J. Umberger, who played in his first career NHL game with the Flyers on Oct. 30 against the Ottawa Senators, made his hometown debut last night. In nine games going into last night, Umberger had three assists and was averaging 11:41 per game.
Hatcher gets Jagr treatment Hatcher gets Jagr treatment
Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher, who roughed Sidney Crosby up on Wednesday night with a couple of high sticks that chipped the rookie's teeth and split his lip, was booed by the crowd if 17,132 at Mellon Arena every time he touched the puck last night.
Franchise rivalry
Center Erik Christensen played the Flyers for just the second time in his career last night, but he's familiar of the AHL version of the rivalry after spending last year with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
"We probably played the Phantoms eight times last year then met them in the playoffs in the second round and had a pretty tough loss," Christensen said. "I don't know what it is about the rivalry, but it's probably just a state thing. I'm from Edmonton, and every time the Oilers play the Flames it's a big deal, no matter what year it is or how the teams are doing. It seems like it's the same way here."
Slap shots
Center Lasse Pirjeta has cleared waivers but will stay with the Penguins for now. "That's the plan right now is that he's going to be with us," Olczyk said. "There was the strong possibility he was going to play (Saturday) just depending on how Mario was feeling." ... Pirjeta, defenseman Rob Scuderi and forward Rico Fata were scratched last night. ... Pirates star Jason Bay was at the game last night. ... The Edzo Show will return on FSN Pittsburgh beginning on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The first episode will feature Crosby.
Quotable
"Obviously, it's going to be emotional because it's Philly. But I don't think Hatcher meant to high-stick Sid. Would everyone love to see us run Hatcher? Yeah. But we have to win the game, that's the most important thing. It seems like (the media is) blowing it up a little more than it is, which is alright I guess. But we have to go out there and just battle hard."
Endicott, who suffered a high ankle sprain the first week of training camp, started on the wing with Maxime Talbot in the middle and Ryan VandenBussche on the wing. Coach Eddie Olczyk said he planned to periodically move Endicott up in place of Konstantin Koltsov on a line with Mario Lemieux and John LeClair. Mario Lemieux, who missed Wednesday's game against the Flyers with a stomach virus, and Sebastien Caron, who was on injured reserve with a pulled quadriceps muscle, also returned to the lineup.
To make room for Endicott and Caron on the 23-man roster, the Penguins placed defenseman Sergei Gonchar on injured reserve with a strained groin. Caron backed up starter Jocelyn Thibault.
Umberger makes Pittsburgh debut
Plum native R.J. Umberger, who played in his first career NHL game with the Flyers on Oct. 30 against the Ottawa Senators, made his hometown debut last night. In nine games going into last night, Umberger had three assists and was averaging 11:41 per game.
Hatcher gets Jagr treatment Hatcher gets Jagr treatment
Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher, who roughed Sidney Crosby up on Wednesday night with a couple of high sticks that chipped the rookie's teeth and split his lip, was booed by the crowd if 17,132 at Mellon Arena every time he touched the puck last night.
Franchise rivalry
Center Erik Christensen played the Flyers for just the second time in his career last night, but he's familiar of the AHL version of the rivalry after spending last year with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
"We probably played the Phantoms eight times last year then met them in the playoffs in the second round and had a pretty tough loss," Christensen said. "I don't know what it is about the rivalry, but it's probably just a state thing. I'm from Edmonton, and every time the Oilers play the Flames it's a big deal, no matter what year it is or how the teams are doing. It seems like it's the same way here."
Slap shots
Center Lasse Pirjeta has cleared waivers but will stay with the Penguins for now. "That's the plan right now is that he's going to be with us," Olczyk said. "There was the strong possibility he was going to play (Saturday) just depending on how Mario was feeling." ... Pirjeta, defenseman Rob Scuderi and forward Rico Fata were scratched last night. ... Pirates star Jason Bay was at the game last night. ... The Edzo Show will return on FSN Pittsburgh beginning on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The first episode will feature Crosby.
Quotable
"Obviously, it's going to be emotional because it's Philly. But I don't think Hatcher meant to high-stick Sid. Would everyone love to see us run Hatcher? Yeah. But we have to win the game, that's the most important thing. It seems like (the media is) blowing it up a little more than it is, which is alright I guess. But we have to go out there and just battle hard."
posted by lfurnham at 8:17 AM
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