I just double checked the start time for the Pens/Devil’s game, and I found out Brooks Orpik will play left wing on the fourth line tonight. Alain Nasreddine was called up to take his spot on the blue line. The FSN announcers always mention how long Orpik has gone without a goal, I won’t bother looking that up now as I’m sure it will be mentioned when the line combination graphic graces the screen before the opening face off, (which is 7pm and not 7:30) if not then, certainly during Orpik’s first shift with Laraque and recent call-up, C, Nathan Smith .

Brooks is due, I know that much.

You know your team has been attacked by the injury walrus when Brooks Orpik is playing left wing, and Kris Beech’s visa problems are a considerable detriment to forward depth.

For more on the injury walrus check the blog history. I keep telling Rich the key to a good blog is a healthy dose of marine mammal metaphors.

If the Pens can gut out a win on the road, against a division opponent, with a roster so depleted by injury that Brooks Orpik is taking his turn as a forward, the phrase “team of destiny” will not come across as a melodramatic description of these 2007-08 Penguins, but rather a somewhat fact-based, logical conclusion of recent events.

Let’s Go Pens.