SLAP SHOTS

     I'll be cow-kicked, it's a hockey night in Pittsburgh! Your Pittsburgh Penguins return to action tonight at Consol Energy Center as they faceoff against the Winnipeg Jets. These are your keys for tonight's game. 1)The Pens desperately need to find the win column as they struggled into the All-Star break, going 4-4-3 in their last 10, 4-6-4 in their last 14 and have lost 4 in a row. The Jets have been flying high, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 on the way to winning 5 straight. #6 would not be great. Ground the Jets! 2)As if the Pens injury situation can't get worse, word came that C Evgeni Malkin would be out indefinitely due injury. C Sidney Crosby also missed the All-Star Game due to a lower-body injury. The NHL requires that he miss tonight's game because of his All-Star absence. What kind of ridiculous rule is that? This team needs to pull itself up, strap on the skates and get after it. Score early, score often, score BIG! 3)The Pens are 16-7-3 on home ice this season. Winnipeg is 14-5-5 on the road. The Pens have to take advantage of the home ice advantage and get the home crowd fired up. Crank up the Crue and the Goals, Goals, Goals! Let's Go Pens!!!