Led by snipers Evgeni Malkin and James Neal, the red-hot Penguins have won six games in a row. Both players scored their 26th goals of the season Sunday in a thrilling overtime victory over Washington. Pittsburgh’s offense, ranked sixth in the league, is still potent, despite the absence of Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal, both on IR with concussion and knee problems respectively. The Pens have always provided the Blues with a formidable opponent and tonight’s game will be yet another barn burner as both teams vie for two important points. Expect a knock-down, rough, tough 200-foot game for a complete 60 minutes. A consistent effort will be necessary and required from all the players on both clubs. And, of course, everyone hopes that consistency will be also provided by the referees and linesmen.  

NHL officiating, both on and off the ice, remains terribly inconsistent as fans around the league shake their heads in bewilderment. In Pittsburgh, spectators could not help but wonder why the Capitals Alex Ovechkin escaped on-ice punishment for smashing defenseman Zbynek Michalek’s head into the glass. Ovechkin was suspended for three games yesterday by the NHL. So, a third-time offender who recklessly left his feet to deliver a deliberate head-shot gets the same as Ian Cole, a first-time offender with no intent to head shot. Fans in Columbus saw Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg push Nikita Nikitin as the Blue Jacket defenseman lost an edge and tumbled into the boards. Despite being assessed a major for boarding and a game misconduct, Zetterberg (who later admitted to NHL.com correspondent Brian Hedger, “The rule is the rule, I made contact and he went down… I don’t think I pushed him hard.”) was not suspended because he did not intend to injure Nikitin. Of course, Ian Cole and Chris Stewart of the Blues did not intend to cause injury to the Red Wings players they hit, as noted by Brendan Shanahan in his ruling on Cole, yet nevertheless each received three game suspensions, even for a first offense. And that’s the problem. Shanahan contradicts himself with just about each new video explaining his rulings. One unintentional hit is worth 3 games, another is worth no suspension at all. In one case, intent is taken into consideration; yet in another, intent is discounted. Some first offenses get more punishment than some repeat offenders. And if the ultimate purpose is to eliminate head shots, then how can fighting be tolerated, especially in cases in which there is no actual fight, yet blows to the head occur, as in the skirmish in which Detroit’s Jimmy Howard attacked the Blues David Perron? And so the beat goes on as the one consistent factor concerning NHL officiating is total inconsistency.

Both the Blues and Penguins came out of the NHL expansion womb in 1967. While the St. Louis franchise was granted conditionally, the Pittsburgh bid was guaranteed even before the NHL decided to double in size that year. In the spring of 1965, Pennsylvania state Senator Jack McGregor began lobbying some of his campaign contributors to bring an NHL franchise back to Pittsburgh. Previously, the Pittsburgh Pirates had played in the NHL from 1925 to 1930. The group of local investors included H.J. Heinz III, heir to the food company fortune, Steelers owner Art Rooney and Richard Mellon Scaife, billionaire newspaper publisher. With the help and influence of Chicago Blackhawks owner James Norris and brother Bruce Norris, owner of the Detroit Red Wings, the bid was quickly approved. Of course, the Red Wings received an undisclosed indemnification payment since they had sponsored the AHL Hornets as their farm club. And McGregor became president and chief executive officer of the Penguins as well as a Governor on the NHL Board. It was very nice how all that worked out, eh?

Since the six expansion franchises were hampered by restrictive rules that kept most of the major talent with the Original Six clubs, the first Penguin team was made up of minor leaguers with the exception of aging star forwards Andy Bathgate, Ab McDonald and Earl Ingarfield and defenseman Leo Boivin. The Pens would finish out of the playoffs with the third worst record in the league. The Blues, on the other hand, finished third, a mere three points behind Western Division leading Philadelphia and went to the Stanley Cup Finals, only to lose four straight to the Montreal Canadiens. However, the first-year Blues could take solace and pride in being in every game, losing each by a single goal, two in overtime.

The Blues have had an incredibly amazing run on home ice, winning 14 out of the last 15 games, including wins over the Red Wings, Sharks, Rangers and Predators. In those 14 games, the Note outscored the opposing teams 46-21. Well-rested All-Star Brian Elliott is expected to continue his excellent play this season and stifle the Penguin sharp shooters. With extended road trips coming up after the All-Star Game, the Blues need every possible point.