Hot Start On Ice

Two games, four points, and the sprint is underway.  You couldn't ask for a better belated opening to the Penguins' 2012-13 season than two divisional wins on the road against rivals both expected to have life come mid May.  After a thrilling 3-1 victory over reigning boogeymen, aka the Philadelphia Flyers, our flightless birds completed the long awaited opening weekend with a drubbing of the New York Rangers, 6-3.  If these first two games are any indication of things to come, the Pens should  instantly be considered favorites for the President's Cup, awarded to the team with the best regular season record.

The measurables are quite impressive in this initial 1/24 of the compressed season.  The Pens have yet to trail in a contest, and they've played with the lead in over 100 of the first 120 logged minutes.  Newcomer Brandon Sutter may not have us forget Jordan Staal just yet, but his play through the first weekend shows that he'll be a great addition in the third center spot. 

The Penguins' roster is displaying an abundance of speed and physicality, and both attributes should come in handy when the grind of the compressed schedule kicks in.  Reserve goalie, Tomas Vocoun, acquired to add a 1A netminder behind Marc Andre Fleury, also looks like money well spent by the front office.  Vocoun could prove critical in reducing MAFs' load throughout the regular season.

QUICK HITTERS:

• Nine goals in two games, with none scored by studs Crosby or Malkin.
• The reduced schedule may present a bit of bittersweet chagrin to winger James Neal, who already looks like a 50+ goal scorer during a full season. 
• Penalty killing looking good so far.
• Despite the endless "Fleury" chants of the moronic Philadelphia natives, MAF looks like his hard drive has purged any residual data from last April.  His third period poise in the opener was vintage Flower.