Arron Asham

It would seem to be dark days for proponents of fighting in the NHL. Our champions in the media are few and far between and the loudest of them (see: Cherry, Don) appear to be descending further into senility by the minute.

The arena, packed to the rafters with 20,545 rabid fans, pumped with anticipation. Moments before the Lightning took the ice—a 3D video projected on to the ice—firing up the crowd even more and it reached crescendo when their hockey team arrived on scene.

The Pittsburgh Penguins, playoff veterans, have seen this all before. The Lightning, boasting nine playoff newcomers, had not.

Behind 42 saves from goaltender Tim Thomas, and points from 15 of the team's 18 skaters, the Boston Bruins scored an impressive 7-4 comeback victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.

Led by Mark Recchi, who scored a power play goal in the first period and added two assists, the Bruins won their eighth game of the season in a game that saw more ups and downs than a roller coaster.

Every NHL season begins the same way.

Thirty teams, all starting on an even playing field. A handful of them, based on roster alone at the start of the season, look good enough that a Stanley Cup seems very possible.

But like any team, however, there are demons that need to be exorcised to prove that team's worth.

Hockey fans know that it takes more than a good roster to hoist the Cup.

All was quiet on the Pittsburgh front as the lazy summer days of August faded away into another miserable month without hockey.

Ever since the Pittsburgh Penguins faced the stunning defeat against the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010 Stanley Cup semifinals, fans waited anxiously for the NHL Entry Draft, the start of free agency, and the eventual countdown to the start of training camp, the reassurance that the start of the season is just around the corner.

For the second time this offseason, the Pittsburgh Penguins made a signing when signings seemed no longer imminent.

The first signing was former Philadelphia Flyer and Atlantic Division junkie Arron Asham who signed for one year and $700,000. The second signing that occurred late this morning was former Edmonton Oiler Mike Comrie.

That's right, Pens fans, Lizzie McGuire is coming to the city of Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Penguins center Jordan Staal is experiencing setbacks with his foot, injured in game one of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Montreal Canadiens.

Staal was diagnosed with a lacerated tendon after Montreal Canadiens call-up P.K. Subban landed the blade of his skate into Staal's foot.

In 1969, Flyers owner Ed Snider saw his team physically dominated by the St. Louis Blues. It was the second year in a row that the Blues abused and eliminated the Flyers. Ed Snider vowed that his team would never be pushed around again.

Snider's logic flowed down through the Flyers organization for years. The Broad Street Bullies won two consecutive Stanley Cups and intimidated the NHL for years.

Arron Asham has signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers' in-state rival, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The free-agent deal is worth $700,000.

Earlier in the offseason, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren inked Daniel Carcillo to a one-year deal worth $1.075 million. Holmgren also spent $3.3 million on noted fighter Jody Shelley. Shelley's deal is for three years.

Arron Asham was a player that the Flyers used during their entire Stanley Cup run, playing in 23 games and totaling seven points.

Arron Asham (RW) is a very tough guy. Logging 126 penalty minutes (PIM) gives a guy that type of reputation around the league these days. He works hard on the fourth line and can even do some damage on the third line as he does have a scoring touch (72 games, 10 goals, 24 points last year).