Scary situation in Montreal last night:

Eller sustained a concussion, plus dental and facial fractures. Everything got kicked up a notch when The Ottawa Sun decided to run this cover:

Reader Luiz wondered what a Trib cover what look like:

Well done.

We got more stuff...

Interesting quote from Paul Martin in this Rob Rossi article.

Defenseman Paul Martin opined that Crosby was “ready.” “We're excited to have him back in,” Martin said.

As was noted earlier Thursday, Crosby worked with the top power-play unit and practiced on a line with Dupuis and Kunitz.

Via the Pens:

The Pens are on the ice practicing. Only James Neal was absent. Paul Martin missed the early portion of practice (so he did not skate in rushes). Sidney Crosby skated with his former linesmates Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis. Here were the rushes...

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Bennett-Malkin-Iginla
Morrow-Sutter-Cooke
Glass-Jokinen-Adams
Jeffrey-Vitale-Kennedy

Eaton-Letang
Murray-Niskanen
Orpik-Engelland
Despres-Bortuzzo

It looks like Crosby might be in for game two, but Neal is still hurt. Orpik is there too. No idea why Martin missed the beginning of practice.

James Neal is at the top of the screen getting up. Watch his leg.

It very well could be nothing, but that doesn't look right.

Side view from the TSN feed shows Neal grabbing toward his knee:

Look at Neal's ankle:

Credit goes to @MikeColligan who spotted this.

For all we know, Neal will be fine, but something makes us think he may be out for a while.

EDIT: Looks like the top gif may be null and void, the shitty gif shows his right ankle, so who knows.

Never do these not deliver:

Yikes. This wasn't pretty. It probably won't even be the best game the Pens play in the series. Neal and Jokinen looked to take some shots.

New York Islanders @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Series Tied 0-0

ROOT, NBCSN, MSG Plus, TSN, RDS2 - 7:30 pm/et

Consol Energy Center - Pittsburgh, PA

April 22, 2012. That's the last time the Pittsburgh Penguins suited up for a playoff game. They walked into Philadelphia with their backs against the wall and they proceeded to be slammed face-first into that wall. Repeatedly. It was another Penguins' playoffs that ended on the disappointed side of a handshake line.

That was 374 days ago.

The last NHL playoff game played at the Consol Energy Center took place two days earlier. 376 days ago. 

The NHL lockout officially began at midnight on September 16, 2012. It was 227 days ago. The first regular season games were cancelled 209 days ago, on October 4, 2012. On November 2, the NHL cancelled the Winter Classic. On the 23rd, the NHL cancelled all games through December 14 and the NHL All-Star Game. Then, finally, on January 6, 2013, a tentative deal was reached.

It's been a long time. It's been a tough time. But here we are. Back in the playoffs.

The last time the Penguins played a playoff game in Pittsburgh, we remembered the Igloo. In that gameday post, we said that it was time to make some Consol memories. It was time to build the legacy of the Penguins' current arena. That happened.

Now tonight it's time to remember the Consol of game five.