A bit of an update on Jordan Staal. Looks like he suffered from a serious cut to his foot/ankle.

Quote 1
Staal left Mellon Arena on crutches before the conclusion to Game 1 of this second-round playoff series..."When (Staal) got to the bench, I noticed his (right skate boot) laces were cut. Obviously, I was hoping it wasn't too serious."

Quote 2
Staal left the arena on crutches with an injury to his right foot or lower leg -- possibly a bad cut that could keep him out for a significant amount of time.

A Leopold + Kennedy Update

Penguins defenseman Jordan Leopold, who has been out of the lineup since suffering a head injury in Game 2 of the quarterfinals after a collision with Ottawa's Andy Sutton, returned to the ice for the first time.

Forward Tyler Kennedy, who has been sidelined since suffering a lower body injury in Game 4 against the Senators, also skated.

"It's too early to say if and when they might be back," head coach Dan Bylsma said. "They are progressing. They are doing better. They are doing more and more off the ice. We'll take every day and hopefully we'll get more healthy. We'd love to insert those guys into the lineup come Game 1 (of the next round)."

Both players did on-ice work with strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar at Mellon Arena Monday morning.

Pens Recall Ben Lovejoy

The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled defenseman Ben Lovejoy from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

Caught in a trap

The problem with the Penguins is simple, it turns out. It was on display Wednesday vs. Tampa Bay, Saturday against Atlanta and in all six losses to New Jersey.

The Penguins can't beat the trap. The whole league knows it. Now foes trap for 60 minutes, and the Pens do little besides get frustrated. The players don't adjust, the coaches certainly don't, and the Penguins just skate right into the trap's teeth.

Me to one prominent Penguin: "How do you beat the trap?" His response: "I don't know." Me: "What about the forwards coming back farther on the breakout?" His response: "Uh, yeah. That would be a good idea."

And some wonder why I criticize the coaching. Bringing the forwards farther back on the breakout enables them to build speed through the neutral zone while in possession of the puck, making them more difficult to wall off. Another option is to send a forward to the far blue line, backing the trap up and, hopefully, allowing for more skating room through the neutral zone.

The Penguins do neither. That's how they lost six straight to the Devils. It's the boxing equivalent of facing a fighter with a punishing left hook, not preparing for it, and walking into it round after round after round.

But that's OK. In the playoffs, these problems get sorted out quickly. Via elimination. Dan Bylsma won the Stanley Cup as a rookie NHL head coach. About a month from now, that's going to seem like it happened a million years ago.

Written by Mark Madden - link included

Malkin out 3-22-10
The Penguins will not have Evgeni Malkin in the lineup. It was confirmed by Bylsma that Malkin will not play. When asked if Malkin was out for the game, Bylsma responded, "that's the case, yes."

Sources tell TSN deal in place for Ponikarovsky to Pittsburgh for prospect Luca Caputi but Pitt has to move contract for cap reasons first.