The Devils, The Bruins, The Capitals ... Oh My

It's good that the Boys Of Winter have a few days off right now, because there's much to talk about surrounding the team between games.

First, as the Penguins get ready for their final crack at beating the New Jersey Devils for the first time this season tomorrow night in New Jersey, they know first place in the Atlantic Division will be at stake again, thanks to the Devils' 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins last night.

The Devils are now 2 points back of Pittsburgh.

I still can't stop ruminating about how the standings would look right now if the Pens' had beaten the Devils just twice this year. Pittsburgh would be up 6 points in the division, if that were the case.

As it is, the Penguins have to worry about being swept by New Jersey. The Penguins don't want to have lost every game to the Devils this year and then have that mental albatross to deal with if they happen to meet their rivals in the post-season.

Speaking of Wednesday's matchup, there's no word yet whether Pens' center Evgeni Malkin will be in the lineup for the game, but there is at least good word that Geno didn't break a bone in his foot after being hit by a shot from teammate Kris Letang late in the second period of Pittsburgh's 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. His x-ray yesterday was negative, and he's currently day-to-day with what's being described as a bone bruise.

For as big as the Penguins' game against New Jersey tomorrow night is, I actually think that their game the next night -- on the road in Boston against the Bruins -- is getting more press.

Of course, everyone in Bruin nation is looking to that game for revenge against Pens' LW Matt Cooke, who by now everyone knows knocked Bruins' star center Marc Savard probably out for the season with a grade 2 concussion on a shoulder-to-head -- but legal -- hit in their game last week in Pittsburgh.

Everyone will be watching that game to see what happens, and that includes League Vice-President and head disciplinarian Colin Campbell, who will be there in person after deciding not to suspend Cooke for his hit on Savard because it was currently legal under the rules.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Gary Bettman in the stands as well. If his presence and Campbell's presence might help keep another incident like the one that happened involving Todd Bertuzzi earlier this decade from happening, it will be worth it.

But the question remains -- will something like that happen anyway?

Former ESPN NHL announcer and current Bruins' TV play-by-play man Jack Edwards embarrased himself and his team when he came out publicly after Campbell's decision to not suspend Cooke and said that the Bruins should extract revenge by retaliating against the face of the NHL, Sidney Crosby, and "take out 9 of his teeth".

While I don't think that will happen, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the Bruins go after Cooke in the game right away. After all, the Bruins have long planned to recongize several of their 'Big, Bad Bruin' legends before that very game. That should have their team and fans going.

On top of that, their General Manager, Peter Chiarelli, publicly questioned after the game last week why his team failed to respond to the hit. He said he intended to discuss it with his players, and when a GM essentially questions the togetherness of his team -- publicly or in private -- you can pretty much be sure that something is going to be done about it.

So, with that, and with common public sentiment being that Campbell missed the boat in suspending Cooke -- see, for example: http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/32127-The-Straight-Edge-Campbell-needed-to-step-up-and-punish-Cooke.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=thn_daily_20100313 -- I think it's pretty logical to believe that the Bruins will take matters into their own hands at some point on Thursday night.

Assuming they do, I expect Cooke to answer the bell and drop the gloves, if necessary. Cooke has been around long enough and he knows the code in the league. He's aware that he'll have to back up his actions in this circumstance -- whether the hit was legal or not, right or wrong. And I think he will.

And, he'll probably hope it happens early, just to settle the matter and reduce the chance of one of the Bruin players taking a run at one of his star teammates.

After the Pens' finish with the Devils and Bruins, they'll return home to play the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon, then head back to the road for two marquee matchups next week -- first on Monday in Detroit for the 2nd Stanley Cup Final rematch this year against the Red Wings, then on Wednesday in Washington against their arch-rivals, the Capitals.

One thing was settled about that game yesterday -- Alexander Ovehckin will be available to play in it.

Ovechkin was suspended yesterday for 2 games as a result of his boarding major and game misconduct incurred on Sunday afternoon against the Chicago Blackhawks when he again showed questionable judgment in shoving Hawks' defenseman Brian Campbell from behind into the boards at high speed, resulting in a broken clavicle, ribs and a concussion for the D-man.

Not surprisingly, Ovechkin and the Capitals organization spoke out publicly against the suspension, saying they felt the hit was legal and just like a lot of contact that occurs out there every game.

AO clearly either hasn't learned that sometimes he needs to peel back, or he simply doesn't want to.

While I'm talking about the Capitals, I'll end with this. Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported on Sunday that Pittsburgh has become a front runner to host the 2010 Winter Classic featuring the Pens and Caps either at PNC Park or Heinz Field.

His piece can be found here:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_671580.html

That's all for now.

More later.