Melichar at a loss

The rugged 21-year-old Czech defenseman was the only player to appear in all 80 games during the Penguins' inaugural season. The team won just 23 games.

This season, while Melichar was with Pittsburgh, the Penguins put together a 13-game unbeaten streak and soared to the top of the American Hockey League standings with a 15-5-4 record.

Since Melichar's return to the AHL on Dec. 6, however, the Penguins have lost all four games in which he has played.

"Right after the first loss, I said, 'I don't want to be the bad luck,'" Melichar said. "I talked to coach and I talked to the guys and they said, 'You're not. We've been struggling for two weeks.'

"Still, I don't know."

It is merely coincidence that the Penguins' losing streak is taking place with Melichar's arrival. If anything, he is one of the players who can help the team return to its winning ways.

During his stint with Pittsburgh, Melichar played well. He totaled two assists and 15 penalty minutes in 12 games.

His first career point came Oct. 27 in Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. He also recorded an assist Nov. 16 at the St. Louis Blues.

"After my first game, I hung up my gear and was sitting there in the locker room. I said, 'Well, I can complete hockey now, my dream came true,'" Melichar said if playing in the NHL. "I woke up the next morning and said, 'OK, let's play some more.'

"I felt my first nine games, I played good and got more ice time. But after that (9-0) loss to New Jersey (Oct. 28), they changed the lineup a little bit. After that, I played two games, scratch, one game, scratch. Then I didn't play for eight games. So I was waiting for them to send me down."

Melichar welcomed the reassignment to the Penguins and the chance to play again on a regular basis.

"The coaches told me to go down because I need to keep playing. I'm still pretty young," Melichar said. "I was happy to see all the guys and the city again. My wife really liked it here.

"There's nothing you can do about it. You get sent down, so you go. I just want to help the guys get back on the track."

Melichar still plays the same physical defensive style. Since his return, he appears to be jumping into the play on offense a little more than he did last season. He scored a goal in his first game with the Penguins Dec. 7 against Louisville. In Saturday night's game against Norfolk, he had several quality scoring opportunities.

"I don't know if he's doing that more," Penguins coach Glenn Patrick said. "I do know he is playing well right now."

"I'm just trying to do my best," said Melichar, who last season totaled 12 points (3 goals-9 assists). "I don't care about the NHL or points or anything. I just want to help the team. That's it."

SCOTT WALSH covers the Penguins and the American Hockey League for The Tribune. You can contact him on-line at swalsh@timesshamrock.com.

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