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Penguins notebook: Team reviews rules after faceoff penalty
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Paul Martin hits Marian Gaborik in the second period of Sunday's win against the Rangers. After a scoring change, Martin now will be credited with the season-opening goal Saturday against the Flyers that was originally given to Tyler Kennedy.
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In their meetings Monday before practice at Consol Energy Center, the Penguins revisited a new NHL rule this season. The one that says the centers cannot play the puck with their hand on a faceoff.
The one that Brandon Sutter violated in the first period Sunday when the Penguins already were short-handed, leading to a five-on-three power play for the New York Rangers. They scored on that two-man advantage to tie the score, 1-1.
"We watched the video in our meetings," said coach Dan Bylsma, who seemed understanding of the slip-up that gave Sutter a minor penalty.
After all, the Penguins went on to win, 6-3, and Sutter was a victim of his own mind.
"Part of it is breaking the habit," Bylsma said.
Sutter knew about the rule, knew he couldn't touch the puck with his glove until someone other than the two players taking the draw touched it, but when the puck bounced near his feet, he leaned down and swept it with his hand back to a teammate.
"I was just used to doing it, and as soon as I touched it, I knew right away that it was a penalty," Sutter said.
It's about time
When Pascal Dupuis scored a power-play goal Sunday against the Rangers, it broke something of a streak -- it was Dupuis' first goal on a power play since the 2006-07 season with Atlanta.
"Something new. Yeah, it's been awhile," said Dupuis. "But you know, any way you can help your team win, I guess?"
Dupuis one-timed a feed from Evgeni Malkin that made it 4-1 and drove Henrik Lundqvist from the net.
He never dealt with any good-natured ribbing by his teammates on the bench because, at the time, they didn't know it had been so long.
"Not during the game, because none of us actually knew," said left wing Matt Cooke. "We had no idea until after. One of the reporters reminded him."
Dupuis said he'll take it.
"I guess I'm on [the power play] this year a little bit so [I will] get more opportunities to create stuff offensively," said Dupuis. "At the same time, whatever role they want me to play, I'll jump on the ice and I'll give it 100 percent."
Lost and found
Defenseman Ben Lovejoy didn't play Saturday in the season opener at Philadelphia, but he still has a story to tell about that day.
Lovejoy lost his wedding ring. He figures he sat it down somewhere in his stall in the visiting locker room at Wells Fargo Center.
He will get it back, but said the logistics of the return are still being worked out.
On Sunday, a Lower Merion High School team was using that locker room and a team member found the ring.
In a small-world twist, it turns out Lovejoy's wife, Avery, attended Lower Merion.
Scoring change
The NHL announced a scoring change on the first goal Saturday in the 3-1 win at Philadelphia. The goal now is credited to defenseman Paul Martin.
Martin took a shot from the right point. It deflected in off something for a power-play goal in the first period. Winger Tyler Kennedy, who was in front of the net, was credited with the goal at the time, but replays seemed to show the puck hit the stick of a Flyers player who was covering Kennedy.
The assists on the goal now go to Matt Niskanen and Sutter.
Kennedy scored Sunday in the win against the Rangers -- this one on a rebound and seemingly undisputed -- so his season-opening statistic holds up. He has scored in the first or second game five seasons in a row.
Tip-ins
The Consol Energy Center doors for the home opener Wednesday against Toronto will open earlier than usual, at 5 p.m. ... The Penguins have a scheduled day off today.
First Published January 22, 2013 12:00 am
