Who Wears the "C" in the Pens Family

A lot is being said in fan forums and the blogosphere about the rescinding of the Evgeni Malkin's instigator penalty at the end of Game Two versus the Red Wings. Well, Game Three is tomorrow and I for one don't want to hear another thing about it.

Wings fans see it as another conspiracy against their team to get "The Next One" his cup this year. Penguin fans see as justice for the lack of calls against the Detroit.

Enough, I seem to remember Carolina Hurricane forward Scott Walker being fined but not suspended for bare-handed sucker-punching Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward, an incident much more brutal than Malkin's gloved slaps to Zetterburg.

And I also recall Game Three of their series with the Blackhawks where Detroit spent 25 minutes in the penalty box over Chicago's 10; and if you need reminding, The Wings came back in that game down 3-0 to force overtime but eventually lost 4-3.

So I don't want to hear how the NHL is worried about what the suspension of one of their poster boys would do for ratings, or how the Red Wings deserve penalties for game one infractions not called by refs.

The NHL has a history of inconsistent judgments by the league as well as on-ice officiating. I think we all should consider ourselves lucky that their letting the players play, these are the Stanley Cup finals, where anything less than head-hunting goes.

It goes without saying that the Penguin fans are going to be bitching with their team down 2-0, ask Cavalier fans how they feel. Ultimately all this talk is moot, the Wings are up 2-0 in the series because of their depth, hustle, goal tending and coaching.

Fourth line winger Justin Abdelkader, playing in his first finals, has goals in both games. Linemate Darren Helm, was been skating circles around all opponents since the last series, even scoring the OT goal that sent the Wings to the finals.

Detroit's third and fourth lines are outplaying the Penguin's through pure hustle, beating them to pucks and throwing shots on net in hopes for a lucky bounce.

This has allowed Babcock to dedicate his top two lines to umbrella Crosby and Malkin once they touch the puck. When they have had chances Osgood has bailed his team out, where the same cannot be said for Fluery. When your top two lines don't have to score for you to win, you simply have the better team, PERIOD.

Which brings us to my issue with the end of Game Two. I don't care that there was no suspension, I am not surprised by NHL's decision, its about par for the NHL, which has consistently been the most unorganized professional sport for years now.

My issue with the skirmish at the end of the game is with the league's so-called "Next One", the captain of the Penguins, Sydney Crosby. Where was he while his European assistant captain was attacking the Wings best player; watching near the bench.

Some say the league is in trouble because the North American fan base can't connect to the finesse play of the euros, so why is Malkin showing the passion to send a message for Game Three while Crosby is shying away from the physicality.

Not only is he the Canadian, but he's the captain. I don't care if he's not a fighter, you can't tell me Malkin is sparring with Tie Dome on his off days.

The Red Wings put to rest a 42-year-old championship drought in 1997, and the image that was plastered all over the front pages of the Detroit News and Free Press was of The Captain, Stevie Y, Lord Stanley's cup hoisted over his head with a toothless grin.

He was the youngest player to be named captain of a team when he was drafted, and he was a consistent 50 goal scorer for the team, until winning became more important. So he became a two-way player, the heart and soul of the organization, was given a hall of fame coach to lead him by an organization that devoted itself to drafting for depth.

It would be easy for me to say that for the Pens to win this series that their checking lines and defense need to pick up the intensity, for Fleury to stop the pucks he's suppose to, and for the coach to actually make some adjustments.

But, considering the way the Wings are playing, its going to take more that that, its going to take real leadership and heart. The face of the team is responsible for that inspiration, Crosby is the captain, not Malkin. If he can't be the face, the heart, the soul of the Penguins, how is he suppose to be that for the league?