Blue Line
Dropping The Gloves
Tyler Kennedy

Scrappy is one of the first words that comes to mind when describing Tyler Kennedy. However, the Pittsburgh winger is not just a surprisingly great fighter for his size. While he struggled without a point for most of December, he is still an integral part of the Penguins third line centered by Jordan Staal, and was one of the best Penguins on the ice in the team's first round series against the Philadelphia Flyers last spring. PSR contributing writer Alex Nseir chatted with TK shortly after the holidays.

AN: Are you looking forward to the first practice of the month, which means you will get to shave your mustache when someone else loses that first shootout?

TK: Yeah. (The mustache) was cool for about three weeks and now it's getting annoying.

AN: One of the few teams you've had problems with this season is the New Jersey Devils. For the remainder of the series you play them in Jersey. Will that help you play a more patient game?

TK: For sure. I think when you're on the road you play a more patient game because you're so fired up at home because of the crowd. You want to do so well, but sometimes it works against you. Now we've played them enough that we know what to expect, we just have to play our game against them.

AN: On the other hand, you've done very well against the Flyers and Rangers this year, at home and on the road. Can you explain your success against those teams this season?

TK: I think we're always prepared when we play. The Flyers are always a big rivalry and we know we have to come to play when we play them and we know New York is a great team too, so we always get fired up for those two teams.

AN: You play the Capitals for the first time in January and all four games against them are in the second half of the season. Are you anxious about those games since they are one of the best teams in the East and have basically been neck and neck with the Penguins in points all year?

TK: We're excited to play them. We know they're a great team and it's going to be a great challenge.

AN: In November, when the Penguins had a rash of injuries and it seemed like the team might start to struggle again like last year.

TK: For sure. I thought our leaders really came through, first when we had a couple guys go down and a lot of guys stepped up and it just shows the maturity of the team.

AN: One characteristic of the Penguins has been resiliency. Why do you think this team always seems to be able to rebound in almost any situation?

TK: I think it's part of our character. We battle at the end no matter what the score is and we always stick to our game and you never know what can happen.

AN: A new decade is coming up. Do you make New Year's resolutions?

TK: I'll probably do one. I'm not sure what it is yet, though.