Congratulations: Fleury and Letang

Good luck to Fleury and Letang who will be representing the Penguins in the NHL All-Star game this weekend. Top vote receiver Sidney Crosby and fellow super-star Evgeni Malkin will miss the activities due to injuries.

This is Fleury's first All-Star game appearance, he was the top vote earner for Goalies. "I'm really excited about it, I've never been (to the All-Star Game), never seen it. So I'm just looking forward to being there and seeing what it's like and having some fun."

This is Letang's (highest vote earner for defense-men) third time to the All-Star activities first time he gets to play in the main game. He played in the NHL YoungStars games his rookie (2008) and sophomore (2009) years.

"It means a lot to me that the fans took the time to vote for me, especially because I was not on the ballot,"Letang said. "We had guys who were supposed to come and they had to take care of some other stuff, so I'm going to try and represent my team the best I can."

Steelers Injury Report: Maurkice Pouncey

It is being reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Maurkice Pouncey has a broken bone along with a High Ankle Sprain.

Rumor: Hines Ward... Retire?

It has been rumored that Hines Ward might Retire if the Steelers win the Super Bowl.

In the spring Ward told a group of school students that if the Steelers win a third Super Bowl with him that he might retire.

Now he isn't sure.

"My mom asked me the other day. I really haven't thought about it, to be honest," Ward told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The precedent that Jerome Bettis set when he retired after Super Bowl XL is on Ward's mind, "I know Jerome went out on top and stuff like that, I really haven't thought about it. I just want to be singly focused on winning this ballgame and figure out what is going to happen after that."

Steelers Injury Report: Maurkice Pouncey

Reported on ESPN today that Pro Bowl Center Maurkice Pouncey has not practiced with a high ankle sprain he suffered in the AFC Championship Game.

The Steelers still list him as questionable for the game. So there is no official word if he has been ruled out or not.

According to Chris Kemoeatu, in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Pouncey will miss the Super Bowl:

"We are definitely sad that he won't be able to be with us in the Super Bowl," left guard Chris Kemoeatu said after Wednesday's practice on the South Side. "Definitely I feel bad for him. We just have to win it for him. It's definitely a huge loss for us."

"We know how big this is for him," Kemoeatu said, "and him not being able to play is definitely motivating for us to go out there and get that ring for him."

Doug Legursky has been filling in at Center for Pouncey.

Pens Beat Islanders:Fleury Earns 18th Career Shut-out

Missing their two biggest stars, Crosby and Malkin, another major star on the Penguins stepped up to help the Pens win: Marc-Andre Fleury.

Craig Adams scored 8:35 into the third and that is all Fleury needed to get the win.

This game was a shooting gallery for both goal tenders. The Islanders had 29 shots and the Penguins had 31. 60 shots and only one went in, it was thrilling to watch the goal tenders at work.

Pirates Invite Five Non-Roster Players to Spring Training

You can read the full post at Piratesprospects.com (here).

The five invitees are:

Catchers: Tony Sanchez and Eric Fryer

Infielders: Chase D'Arnaud and Brian Friday

Outfielder: Andrew Lambo

Malkin Out of All-Star Game

Evgeni Malkin has been ruled out of Sunday's NHL All Star game with a Knee injury and sinus infection. He joins fellow Pens star Sidney Crosby who is also going to miss the All Star game due to concussion symptoms.