Ruslan Fedotenko

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:10:12 GMT

There was a stoppage in play b/c a piece of plexiglass needed to be replaced. Feds yakked the entire time--to Coach Tony, to Geno, to Sid...

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:55:54 GMT

I'm going to try to post more of my photos from the 11/14 game...

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:05:22 GMT

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:00:40 GMT

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:07:34 GMT

Penguins' Fedotenko is a boost to top line

By Josh Yohe, Daily News Staff Writer
Monday, November 16, 2009

Josh Yohe can be reached via e-mail or at 412-664-9161.

Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin combined for six points in Saturday's 6-5 overtime victory over Boston. While they were working their usual magic, the third member of the team's newly-formed top line was doing a little bit of everything.

Ruslan Fedotenko had two assists and will get another look on the top unit tonight when the Penguins face Anaheim at Mellon Arena.

All parties involved believe Fedotenko is a good fit with the dynamic duo of Crosby and Malkin.

"I felt really good playing with those guys," Fedotenko said. "There is definitely some added responsibility when you're on the ice with them. You know you have to produce, but I think it is fun."

With wingers Chris Kunitz, Tyler Kennedy and Max Talbot out of the lineup, the Penguins have a limited number of experienced wingers to play with Crosby and Malkin. And, make no mistake, it appears having an experienced winger playing with the superstars is what the coaching staff prefers.

"Playing with those guys, you always want to please them," coach Dan Bylsma said. "I think it's tough to be comfortable in that role at times. It's why Billy (Guerin) is a good fit with them, too."

Young players, Bylsma said, are more likely to force the puck to Crosby and Malkin even when they aren't open.

Fedotenko does no such thing.

"With Feds it's pretty simple," Crosby said. "He's going to stay on his wing and forecheck. When he has an open shot, he's going to take it."

The Penguins also were pleased with the room Fedotenko created Saturday. A perfect example is the role Fedotenko played in Mark Eaton's third-period goal. Crosby skated with the puck down the left wing, while Fedotenko made a beeline toward the net.

This opened room in the center of the ice, allowing Crosby to make a perfect pass to Eaton, who buried a shot past Boston goalie Tim Thomas.

"That's the kind of stuff you need to do when you're playing with Sid and Geno," Fedotenko said. "You always have to drive to the net. That's part of my game."

Fedotenko and Malkin are familiar with one another. Those two played together almost exclusively during the 2009 postseason on a line with Talbot.

Fedotenko and Crosby, however, have rarely been on the same unit.

"They are different players, so there was a little bit of an adjustment," Fedotenko said. "But Crosby's a great player, just like Malkin. If you get open, Crosby will find you every time. You just always have to be aware of that when you're on the ice."

Fedotenko, who historically scores more regularly in the postseason, has enough skill and grit in his game to look comfortable on the top line.

His relationship with Malkin helps.

"He goes to dinner with Geno, so there's a comfort level there," Bylsma said. "He's in around the net. He's in the corner winning battles. He brings stability to the line."

It probably isn't a line that will stick together forever. After all, Kunitz, Kennedy and Talbot are expected back in the lineup by early December at the latest, and the Penguins prefer to have their two best players at their natural center position.

Crosby and Malkin, however, enjoy being on the same line and appear to enjoy having Fedotenko as the third wheel.

"Geno and I haven't played on the same line for a long time, and it was a lot of fun," Crosby said. "It didn't take long to adjust. Geno has a way of backing up defenders and creating room. It was great being out there and I think Feds really fit in well."

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:30:43 GMT

Ruslan Fedotenko

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:26:40 GMT

Sweet! thanks Lisa!

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:14:27 GMT

~*~ Lisa ~*~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:00:49 GMT

Debs, just for you (from last night)

~*~ Lisa ~*~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:40:50 GMT

lol

Ruslan Fedotenko

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:26:25 GMT

Fedotenko loses on 'stache day

The last time the Penguns designated their practice-ending shootout competition as a mustache day, defenseman Alex Goligoski lost. He couldn't shave his upper lip until October was over.

Today, the cycle began again. This time, winger Ruslan Fedotenko lost and will have to grow a mustache for the rest of this month. One problem: Judging from his efforts in the postseason, the youthful Fedotenko has a hard time mustering up facial hair, and what he does grow is so blond it's nearly invisible.

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:14 GMT

Nona, nice pix! Thanks for posting them. In a couple weeks I hope to be able to get my own shots of the guys to post!

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:10:34 GMT

Ruslan Fedotenko

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:02:16 GMT

Oh yeah, just got Section A tickets for the November 14th game vs the Bruins....

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:00:33 GMT

Oh yeah, just got Section A tickets for the November 14th game vs the Bruins....

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:10:05 GMT

Geno fans are retardeed!

Ruslan Fedotenko

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:26:56 GMT

OK, so I came here to complain that the friggen old chicks on the Geno Forum just.don't.get.it. They are so obsessed with Geno and their delirium day dreams about him that they don't even want to hear when people actually DO meet him. I mean, what the hell are they thinking? That he will magically appear in front of them saying how much he loves their stupidity with their gushing nonsense??? He is nto the type of guy/player who will even come to the fence and sign anything and yet these very fans are the fans who are putting him in his fancy Porsches and his Range Rovers not to mention his house on Blackburn Road. Feds signs for the fans and is more than willing to come over and do that. he is grateful for the fans. Is Geno? um. NO.

Sorry to vent but they also do nto need to say anything about Geno's lack of good wingers. On here, I should say that Ruslan and Dupers lack a centre who can make plays for them instead of just playing skate fairy. The announcers and analysts do nto say anything negative about the team so I don't know where THAT is coming from. All I know is that they were so annoyed that some anon rookie spoiled their whole dream filled morning by posting the truth. Wah wah wah. Let them cry all over their AARP cards.

Ruslan Fedotenko

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:00:22 GMT

Thanks for posting that here, Lisa!

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:08:48 GMT

I don't normally post here, I stay on Geno's board mainly - but I had to come share this one....it's from the Pens calendar giveaway last night.

~*~ Lisa ~*~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:55:21 GMT

Nona, nice pix, thanks! Are they screen caps?

Ruslan Fedotenko

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:09:59 GMT

From Blues game

Ruslan Fedotenko

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:20:40 GMT

Some nice words from Coach Bylsma...

12:28 PM:
Gonchar's absence on the Penguins' power play has caused a ripple effect for the team's two units. With Kris Letang elevated to the top power-play unit, taking his spot on the point for the second power play is.....Ruslan Fedotenko.

"I think (Fedotenko) has a certain amount of skill and reading of the play," head coach Dan Bylsma said. "He has shooting ability, definitely. I think on a lot of the teams that I have coached, both as an assistant coach and a head coach, we have looked to put a forward back there and offer a bit more skill than just working your way down the defensive core to put a guy back there. He played a little bit in the preseason in anticipation that he would probably get some time back there during the year. He shot the puck six times in the game he got back there and handled the puck well and handled the pressure. That is great to see."

Bylsma even hinted at the chance that Fedotenko will see action on the top power-play unit, rotating with Letang and Alex Goligoski.

"That is why we put him back there in the preseason because we anticipated (injuries) would come at some point during the year," Bylsma said. "It adds a little more skill and puck-moving play back there on the blue line. I anticipate him seeing time with the first group of guys. We kind of had a three-man rotation there with (Sergei) Gonchar there and now with Fedotenko, I would still anticipate him being not the fourth guy we use but a part of the three-man rotation."

And the rotation will be dictated upon how the opposing team executes its penalty killing scheme.

"Penalty kills would dictate that a lot," Byslma said. "When we face pressure units we may keep guys on their strong sides. If there is a more passive penalty-kill unit we would use them on their off-side. It’s easier to break pressure when you are on your strong side so that would be dictated by the penalty kill we would see. I expect to move them around a little bit, more than when Gonchar was there."
_____________________________________________

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:17:16 GMT

I have to find the source for this, but a friend posted notes fromthe locker room, and thought people might find this interesting. Also, the Post Gazette says Feds may play on the second PP unit.

1:09 PM:
Here are a couple of interesting notes from Thursday's practice, which went for about an 1 1/2 hours:

<> Winger Ruslan Fedotenko took a few shifts at the point on Pittsburgh's power play. He logged some minutes in that spot during the preseason as well.

Ruslan Fedotenko
On possibly playing the point:
I don’t know if I will be. I was just practicing just in case a couple times. I was taking one-on-one drills to get used to it. It is different. You definitely need to skate backwards a little more. If we have some injuries and I need to fill in there I will be there. If not, it is not a big deal I will just play in my regular spot. It’s up to the coaches if it happens.
On being comfortable there:
Yeah. I played in training camp a little bit there so if I have to fill in that’s not a problem.
On his backwards skating:
It definitely can improve a little bit, especially when you try to take somebody like Sid one-on-one.

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~

Ruslan Fedotenko

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:27:49 GMT

Rob Rossi and his picks. I like what he writes, but I don't like watching him or listening to him b/c he's such a know-it-all...

http://blog.triblive.com/chipped-ice/2009/10/20/pens-blues-postgame-feeling-out-flower/

~~when I arrive, I bring the fire...~~