The Geno Show and Prospects

Hockey is officially back. The Penguins have won their first two preseason games, first against the Red Wings on Wednesday, 3-2, and last night against the Blackhawks, 4-1.

I was very excited that I was able to be at the game last night against the Blackhawks! I missed the sound of hockey. The acoustics inside the CONSOL Energy Center are incredible! The deafening echo of the “Let’s Go Pens” chant, the sound of sticks scraping the ice and slamming against the puck, guys being checked into the boards ... heaven.

On Wednesday, the Wings got a taste of the Evgeni Malkin that many of us have not seen in over two years. Plagued by injury following winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs, Malkin has returned to the game looking like he is out to destroy lives.

His goal on Wednesday was a seemingly impossible backhanded wrister as he wrapped around the net. Fans were rendered stunned. Many people are already predicting that Malkin will be a top contender for a second Art Ross Trophy this year if he continues to play at this level. I also believe that he may be in position to earn the Rocket Richard Trophy if not at least be in top contention.

First-round draft pick Joe Morrow put on a show of his own on Wednesday, displaying total composure and confidence in his first NHL game. He tallied a point with an assist on Matt Niskanen’s power play goal, which he gave complete credit to Nisky for. Morrow looks NHL-ready. He is among the remaining, as the Pens have already cut 16 players from their training-camp roster, including defenseman Simon Despres, who many believed would see CONSOL quite a bit this season. Despres will spend this season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

If this training camp has been any indication of his talent, Morrow is, at the very least ready, to compete at the AHL level and should not return to juniors this season. He moves the puck, positions himself properly and makes keen decisions.

Last night, Jordan Staal took his turn at putting on a show, scoring two goals. Staal’s first was a beautiful backhanded shot in the second period that put the Pens on the scoreboard. The second came in the last minutes of the third period to scrape a fourth notch in the scoreboard.

Deryk Engelland stood out as well, making clean, hard checks and keeping a strong presence in front of the net. Engelland looks more poised this season, and hopefully, will be more known for his skating ability and puck movement than for busting in people’s faces (even though we hope we see a bit of that as well!).

Tyler Kennedy is also doing his best to show that he deserves his new contract, grabbing a goal, which Engo assisted on.

The biggest disappointment was Eric Tangradi. Tangradi started the season with the Pens last year. We all expected Tangradi to develop his game and make better use of his size this year, but thus far, he has looked a little lost on the ice. This year is most likely his last real chance to make a name for himself in Pittsburgh. Tangradi isn’t capitalizing on his strengths and isn’t fighting for position in front of the net. I suspect he’ll start the season with the Baby Pens across the state.

Gibsonia native Brandon Saad played his second NHL game last night but for Chicago, which drafted him the second round of the draft this year. Pens fans greeted Saad warmly as he was featured on the video board with a “Welcome Home” message.

In other CONSOL news, forward Craig Adams has replaced the cardboard cut-out of Max Talbot at the American Eagle gate. I was pleasantly surprised by this decision. I had figured that Staal or Kris Letang, who may end up franchise players, would have made the photo-op spot.

One other note: If you are a fan of Penguins hockey and sports blogs, please check out The PensNation. The folks there run an online radio show on weeknights at 11 p.m. and have great guests and commentary. The PensNation ran a contest yesterday to win tickets to tomorrow’s preseason game against the Wild, and my son and I were the lucky winners! Please check them out. You won’t be disappointed. The writing staff is brilliant. (Check them out on Twitter @ThePensNation.)

Yes, hockey season is here! Let’s go, Pens!