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Pittsburgh PI writes...

My take on the Pens

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I’ve seen every Penguins game in the past two years, and most of them over the last 20 years. Soon after Michel Therrien took over last season, real structure began creeping into the Penguins’ game and their work ethic sky-rocketed. By the end of the season I felt they were the hardest working, most disciplined Penguins team I had seen since I became a season ticket ho...
go_leafs_go writes...

March of the Senators

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
A complete one-sided game from start to finish for the Ottawa Senators. Game #1 of the Eastern conference quarterfinals was a brutal one to the Pittsburgh Penguins as the sens came out storming, defeating them by a score of 6-3. The Sens outshot them 37-26 and the Penguins' best period was there worst. One point I have to throw in there was that there were WAY, and i me...
SeanSens writes...

Sens Pens - CBC HD

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Great game by the Senators. Insane amount of penalty calls, some of them completely horrible. That said the Senators dominated the game in all facets. Out shot them, completely out hit them. Great start for the boys. Now for the commentary...We get stuck with arguably the worst duo. Bob Cole(asaurus) and Greg Millen, who is easily the worst ex-goalie color guy. You can'...
[b]THE GOOD[/b] [b]The Sens intensity level[/b] - they came out strong and dictated play throughout. [b]The officiating[/b] - there were a lot of penalties called but the officals seemed to be consistent with their calls. [b]The Sens role players[/b] - good showing by 3rd and 4th line players. [b]Malkin and Staal[/b] - I thought both rookies were able to play a...
Ok that was sarcasm. Every year, I think I forget just how good playoff hockey is. The playoffs are only one day old, and we've already seen a double OT game, followed up by a Quadruple OT game. (I started writing this blog during the second OT assuming the game would end soon.) We watched San Jose lose last years leading goal scorer, and then lose a 2 goal lead in the ...
icedog97 writes...

To Be or Not To Be...

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
I'm laughing at myself as I type that title. How can I put a Shakespeare quote at the top of my hockey blog!!! It's not as if I quote him on a daily basis...or EVER...or that his world and the hockey world have much in common (hell, I had to look up the spelling of his name make sure it was correct!). But it really is the only question that the Penguins need to answer r...
The SRU Campus is about 50 miles North of Pittsburgh, but we are Black and Gold to the core up here. Last semester was my first at SRU and I was amazed to see how far Steeler Country's boundries extended. Every week my fellow students came out with a strong showing of Steeler's gear. Ocassionally I'd spy a Penguins hat or something, but for the most part the black and gold...
(Please read my blog post 'Pens Playoff Fever at Slippery Rock University' first) The jitters. I know I had them after not watching Penguins playoff hockey in six years. I can only imagine what most of the players felt like... Unfortunately, their butterflies showed. I had class until 7:30, so I missed the begining. On the radio during the car ride over to the bar Mi...
The update you have ALL been waiting for...(does anybody even read this thing?). Game 1 was a steam roller of a game for the Sens. There were squashed Pens littering the ice all night long. And yes, this is comming from a LONG TIME Penguins fan. Game 2 presents quite a challenge for our kids...will they be able to respond like we all think they can? [b]THINGS TO LOOK FO...
pensfan17148 writes...

Game 2: Pens 4 Sens 3

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Hey pens fans, The Pens win game 2 and tie the series at one all. The Pens definetly shook their jitters from game one and played a solid game. Fleury was very solid in net. Crosby and Staal bothed played well and did not disappoint. Colby Armstrong was flying today. He was all over the ice and this is one of his strongest performances. Overall, the team played a ve...
icedog97 writes...

19

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
I'm not 19. In fact I am MORE THAN TWICE that age. When I was 19 I was in college. I was trying to learn how to live on my own. Trying to figure out if I had enough money to buy a pizza on a Saturday night. Trying to stay out of trouble and keep my grades up. Trying to decide what I wanted to do with my life. Nobody followed me around with cameras. Nobody as...
What a performance by Fleury. In a game that the Penguins could have easily lost, Marc Andre was the difference. I think his play this afternoon speaks volumes about his maturity as a goaltender. While he may not be seasoned yet, he is definitely mature enough to backstop the Penguins throughout their playoff run. Don't get me wrong, a confident Thibault is good to have in...
Yes the refs were horrible but the pens were as well. I really don't have any idea where Gonchar was in this game. I can honestly say that 3 of the goals may have been his fault. He stood around all night. Also he couldn't keep the puck in the zone on the power play the worst pen all night. Malkin couldn't win a faceoff for his life. Recchi just seems like the game is pass...
pensfan17148 writes...

Game 3: Sens 4 Pens 2

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Hey pens fans, Well, the game started off good with Pens scoring under a minute into the game. Roberts scored and was assisted by Crosby and Armstrong. The Senators came back and scored 4 goals. Late in the third Crosby scored and was assisted by Malkin and Recchi to make it 4-2. Fleury was in goal stopping 21 of 25 shots. Tonight, the Pens were just not with it. They pla...
Now with the Pens in a desperate situation it will be up to Michel Therrien. He has been outstanding leeding his troops all year long, but it is the real time. Right now he needs to do a major shake up in the lines and whos getting scratched and whos not. If i were Michel Therrien i would seriously think about playing Joel Kwiatkowski over a guy like Josef Melichar or Rob ...
indianswild00 writes...

Letdown at the Igloo

Posted Monday | Comments 0
What a shame. A goal 52 seconds into the game, and the Pens just seemed to be going through the motions until about 5 minutes left in the game. What about the 2 periods in between?? If they keep this up, we might be shaving our playoff beards come Thursday. Don't get me wrong, I think the kids can bounce back, but tomorrow nite is all but a do or die situation, since I don...
Sunday's Pens and Senators game was the worst of the series for the Penguins. They gained some momentum in game 2...and it lasted into game 3...for about 5 minutes. Game 3 was so disappointing because the Penguins should feel they have a chance to win this series, but they are not playing like it. They should be past the "wow, we are in the playoffs" feeling, and se...
With the senators in control of this series this is a very important game. If the pens lose today they will be down 3-1 and have no chance to comeback. It is a desperate situation for the pens. It worrys me that during the moring skate the pens looked so relaxed. Maybe it is a tactic that Therrien is using so the pens do not have to think about the pressure they face. The ...
mwiles19 writes...

Pens Must Win Tonight

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I don't like to throw around the phrase "Must Win Game" very often, but I will make an exception for tonight's Game 4 against Ottawa. The Pens have been outplayed in every facet of the game and must right the ship before digging themselves a two game whole. The team must move their feet more to generate more puck possession in the offensive zone and to generate possible ...
Hey pens fans, Tonight, the Pens fell to the Sens in game 4 at the Mellon Arena. The Sens got their firsst goal on a flukey bounce off Jordan Staal's stick. It was just a bad bounce and neither Staal or Fleury can be faulted for it. In the second period, Staal tied the game and was assisted by Roberts and Ouellet. Ottawa went ahead 2-1 in the third. Fleury was in goa...
mwiles19 writes...

Too Little Too Late?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
After watching the Penguins/Senators game tonight one thing was evident. The Penguins had learned what it would take to compete at the level of the Senators, but it wasn't enough as they fell short once again. The Penguins dominated the play for most of the game, and deserved a better fate than a 2-1 loss at home, but that is what played out. This loss is a backbreaker ...
icedog97 writes...

There IS a tomorrow...

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Down 3-1 in the series, the common thought that runs through your mind, as a player or a fan, is "[b]There is NO tomorrow[/b]". That's the kind of thinking that many will argue is needed in order to beat the odds and win game 5 in Ottawa. While I believe the intensity level necessary to win game 5 CAN be obtained from that line of thinking, there is also a tremendous...
pitpanther01 writes...

Its not over just yet

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Now the Penguins are down 3-1 to the Senators. Yea it seems impossible but who knows. This penguins team has done so many unexpected things all year why not. This team wasn't even supposed to make the playoffs but they proved everyone wrong. The Pens may be able to catch the Sens relaxing a bit during game 5. If so look out. If the Pens would manage a way to prevail in gam...
indianswild00 writes...

Game 4 Thoughts

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I was fortunate to go to game 4 last night, and what a difference 2 days made. Even though the Pens couldn't pull it out, I can't see any real reason why fans can be too upset at the team. They gave it their all, and it was very evident and the fans responded accordingly, from the cheers during a fourth line cycle to the fans clapping after the game in the midst of defeat....
The Pens have played better in the last game but are still down 3-1. They are looking for a way to get momentum. Well couldn't it be a huge momentum builder if the pens could pull off a dramatic win in overtime. This type of win could shift all the momentum in a penguins favor and bring the series back to the igloo. I know it may sound far fetched but i believe in the pens...
pensfan17148 writes...

Game 5: Sens 3 Pens 0

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Hey pens fans, Tonight, the Pens lost the series to the Senators. The score was 3-0. The game was not bad, overall. It is just hard to find the good, when the season is over. One thing to gain from this playoff experience is Experience. That is something that most of the team did not have and now they have playoff experience. This will do them a world of good in the...
icedog97 writes...

The Better Team Won

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
When this series started, I truy believed the Penguins could compete with the Senators. The teams played such close games during the regular season that it seemed almost impossible for the series not to go 6 or 7 games. (still trying to get my foot out of my mouth from that prediction...) What happened during the playoffs was plain and simple -- the Senators had an extr...
The 2006-2007 NHL season came to an abrupt end for the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight, as they were eliminated by the Ottawa Senators. The same Senators team, in name only, who the Penguins recently beat three straight times in the regular season. The reason I say in name only, is because the Senators picked it up a notch for the playoffs and simply dominated this young Pen...
[img]C:\Documents and Settings\Greg\Desktop\gregs ringers\staalhattrick.mp3[img:right][img][/img]What do you think was the best moment of the year for the Pengins? Personally i think Staals overtime goal versus toronto that completed the hattrick was best.[img]C:\Documents and Settings\preferred customer\Desktop\evolution.jpg[/img] Can anyone see or hear the pic?
pensfan17148 writes...

Sidney, Sidney, Sidney

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Hey pens fans, So, about a month ago Crosby broke his left foot blocking a shot. He has been playing through it, obviously. He just announced he will miss worlds to let it heal properly. And FYI, if you don't remember him breaking his foot, don't feel bad, neither do I and it was not on the injury reports, i already checked. [url]http://penshockey.blogspot.com[/url]
pensfan17148 writes...

Team Report Card Part 2

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Hey pens fans, Sorry this took so long to post, but life has been hellish, as of late. Colby Armstrong He had 34 points this season, which included 12 goals. Colby had a strong season. He played well and is really coming into his own, as a player. I think he will only improve, as time progresses. Grade: B+ Erik Christensen This season he had 33 points. He pla...
pensfan17148 writes...

Team Report Card Part 3

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Hey Pens Fans, Here is the thhird and final segmet of the team report card. Nils Ekman Nils only played in 34 games this injury plagued season. He was -14 and besides a few patches, his play was ineffective. I think we should be able to expect more from him, but this year was a disappointment. Grade: C- Josef Melichar How is he still a Penguin? Every season I ask...
predjoe writes...

Pronger Gone For Game Four

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
(to see a video of this hit go to www.predjoe.wordpress.com) Is there any reason that this kind of thing should happen? I think if you are a Pronger fan you can say that he is taller and Holmstrom had his head down a bit and Pronger just came in where he normally would. However, I think, if you look at the video carefully and without bias you will find this was, wit...
pensfan17148 writes...

Rumor Time

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Hey pens fans, That's right it is back to rumors. So, here's what I have heard. Tom Poti is again being mentioned as a good possibility of coming to Pittsburgh, but we've all heard that one before. Gary Roberts seems to be split between the Pens and the Leafs. I am unsure how this will turn out. Craig Rivet is a longhot, in my opinion, but he is rumored to be a possible P...
Hey pens fans, Crosby has been named the sportsman of the year, by the Sporting News. Rumors - Poti is rumored to have a "good possibility" of being a Penguin next year. Gary Roberts is more than likely going to wind up with Toronto and not return with the Pens, but that still holds a small possibility. I don't care what everyone says Recchi is NOT leaving Pittsburgh a...
Hey pens fans, The Pens have siged Jonathan D’Aversa to a 3 year entry level contract. He is 21 years old and has spent th last 3 years playinig for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. He has had 150 pints in 259 games. His defense partner was Jordan Staal's brother Marc. [url]http://penshockey.blogspot.com[/url]
pensfan17148 writes...

Captain Crosby

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Hey pens fans, Sidney Crosby has been named captain of the Pens. He is the youngest Captain in NHL history if I am not mistaken. This announcemnet solidifies what we alread knew. Crosby is a leader both on the ice and in the lockerroom. It is a quite a statement to his character to be given this honor at his youthful age. For anyone who didn't know, it is now clear w...
doaftheloaf writes...

It's A Joke

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
1 game for Pronger? Does the fact that he's a repeat offender play into this anywhere? I don't care if this is the Finals, that warrants more than one game, especially since Pronger is stupid enough not to learn from the Holmstrom incident. Also, the league says they suspended him because McAmmond was hurt on the play. That shouldn't matter at all. I wonder, if ...
Hey pens fans, Here are a few fast rumors. Gary Roberts may be a Pen next season, but it is more likely he will be in Toronto. Mark Recchi is going to be a Pen. He is not signed, but I am almost certain he will be. Robert Lang - yeah, that name is a blast from the Pen's past - He may be coming back to the Pens, but it is not the stronggest rumor I have hear...
pensfan17148 writes...

Rumors - It's that time

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Hey pens fans, Mark Recchi will most likely return to the Pens this coming season. I cannot see him leaving, though he has drawn outside interest. Gary Roberts has drawn heavy interest from Toronto and he will either be a Leaf or with the Pens and I am not sure how this will go. Tom Poti is drawing lots of interest from all around and the Pens threw their name in...
pensfan17148 writes...

Trade

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Hey pens fans, The Pens traded WBS Center Stephen Dixon to Anaheim for Center Tim Brent. Brent is 23 years olds, 6' and weighs 197. He played in 15 ames for the Ducks last year. [/url]http://penshockey.blogspot.com[url]
FrankD writes...

Can controversy lead to ratings?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
I was doing some searching online for hockey ratings compared to other sports. I remember a friend of mine saying that hockey ratings in the states beat out NBA ratings. And, in a somewhat vague reference to Begga79's blog, the desire to have hockey back is rising. Is it the networks that actually want it back? Or, is it the fans demanding it back? In my online sear...
Last night the late local news in Pittsburgh led off with the Jordan Staal arrest, complete with a picture that appeared to be his "mug shot" (because we all know how much more menacing people look in those pictures!) The lead-in for the story was something along the lines of "A local athlete arrested under multiple charges..." The "lead story" is designed to catch your...
mob_slapman writes...

The All @$%*&@! team

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
K. Lee has been doing an excellent series of blogs regarding the Sens all time team, and a lot of people have followed suit and posted their own all time teams full of the best players. It got me thinking that yeah, a team with Lecavlier, Crosby and Heatley would be nice, but it's been done. Therefore, I've decided to come up with the team that would draw the most pen...
Perhaps this is a sign of things to come. Coming off a 3-0 shutout against the Senators on Sunday night, the Penguins' rookie camp rallied back to win 5-1 to take home the Kitchener Cup. Tally up two goals and an assist for Minnesota native Joe Jensen, scoring both within three minutes of one another. John Curry had a shutout working for him, but with under 10 minut...
I want to take a slightly different look at the recent furor at headshots in the NHL. Do I think they should be minimized? ABSOLUTELY! Do I think they can be completely eradicated? No, I dont, they happen, this is a fast game played by fast men but just because something is a head shot doesnt mean it should automatically be grounds fro a suspension. Hell anytime a big d-ma...
[quote=TheTiny]If you watch the video replay you will see that his feet don't leave the ice untill there is contact. Shoulder contacts the head and then Mcammond's head hits the boards. It is also 0.6 seconds after Mcammond passes the puck, Downey also cannot see that he doesnt have the puck. Mcammons head is looking where he passed and doesn't see Downey coming. By today'...
For all those fans out there who have watched Flyers fans fire back over and over with ludicrous accusations, I apologize. As a Flyers fan, it pains me to see what is currently going on not only with Steve Downie himself, but with other Flyers fans. On one front, I am proud to be a fan of the organization because I can see how the fans here rally together and will defend t...
In the past week we have had a front row seat to see how the current review committee, and Colin Cambell, determine player suspensions. We all saw the hit, the coaches responses, player responses, media input, public outcry, etc, etc etc. Its a long, and flawed, system that in the end determines a punishment which is usually met with and equal amount of approval and displ...
He damn well shouldn't be. That is for sure. I cannot even believe what I saw last night. A fourth line plug, who isn't even really good enough to be called a plug, cross checks a skilled player in the face. Ryan Kesler did not see it coming, there was no reason for it (Boulerice says that Kesler took a run at Randy Jones...ya...ok...), he didn't have the puck, and he ...
sixtyone writes...

It's how you bounce back...

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Last night was what the Leafs needed. Not a blow out win, but a strong game for 60 min. That's what has killed them for the last few years. We saw this last year, games where the Leafs played their game for 60 min, they won without question. It's the games when they decided not to play for the 2nd or 3rd that killed all hope of making the playoffs. Gamache had a big ...
As most of you already know, Jesse Boulerice was suspended for 25 games after his crosscheck to Ryan Kesler's face a couple days ago. The question is, was it enough? By terms of Chris Simon getting the same sentence last year, yes, it's a perfect punishment. But by terms of Steve Downie getting 20 for an unnecessary hit on Dean McAmmond, Boulerice should have gotten...
Yeah, I'd like to see Jesse Boulerice waived and gone from the Flyers. Nothing against the guy personally, but when you attack another player in the manner he did, you have no place in my NHL. However, the Flyers now have a bit of a injury crunch, with Ben Eager and Scottie Upshall hurt, and they needed to recall a winger to fill in. Since Boulerice and the also suspend...
Hurric2 writes...

Tlusty, our saviour!

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Jiri Tlusty, the young prospect drafted 13th overall in the 2006 draft by the Leafs was a burst of energy the Leafs sorely needed. Tlusty recieved a call from JFJ moments after the leafs fell 5-4 to Atlanta. Tlusty had this to say after the second period, "I was nervous before the game, but after the first period my nerves calmed down. After the second period, I felt real ...
http://flyerflies.com/blogs/The_FlyerFly/?p=26 Outrage. Disgust. Disappointment. Pick any other similar adjective and slap it into a description of how alot of hockey fans are feeling toward the Philadelphia Flyers these days. You will probably get alot of people to subscribe to that way of thinking. Why? Of course, it has to do with the recent rash of ugly hit...
I know it may seem like I'm ragging on the Flyers, but it's kind of hard to ignore it when they are [url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=224272&hubname=]getting a suspension handed down every other game[/url]. The newest culprit: Riley Cote for his head-shot on Matt Niskanen of the Dallas Stars two days ago. Now I haven't seen it yet, so I'm not gonna BS my way throug...
[b]A special note to our friends at the Preds and Fox Sports South:[/b] [i]WHY ON EARTH IS TONIGHT'S GAME NOT ON TV?[/i] [b]Seriously? How often do we play in Toronto?[/b] I realize that the Preds TV package doesn’t allow for every game to be shown but there is zero reason why this game is not being shown on TV. Just glancing at the TV schedule I would gladly trade...
This just in, thanks to an Islanders official statement and Newsday.com: Isles owner Charles Wang: "[i]The actions of Chris Simon on Saturday do not reflect what the New York Islanders stand for. They were reckless, potentially dangerous and against out team concept of grit, character, and heart. The Islanders are going to provide some time for Chris away from the te...
Buts16 writes...

Saturday Morning Coffee

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I'm a little Cantankerous today! http://flyerflies.com/blogs/Buts/ I enjoy your feed back.
Last evening, in a Rangers-Thrashers game, Ilya Kovalchuk hit Rangers defenseman Michal Rozsival from behind, into the boards, while leaving his feet. It certainly meets all the criteria Colin Campbell listed when he ruled that Steve Downie's hit on Dean McAmmond was worth a 20 game suspension. To remind us all, Campbell said Downie's hit met the four requirements for a...
arby writes...

Ruutu better not get suspended...

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Here goes my first blog, but I finally have something that needs to be said. I watched the Pens/Thrashers game last night on TSN and saw "the hit". [sarcasm]Oh my god, Ruutu ruined Kovalchuk with a blatant knee-on-knee dirty hit that will obviously end Kovalchuks career and cement Ruutu's legacy as a Samuelsson clone! [/sarcasm] Are you kidding me? Ruutu finished ...
This blog is specified between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins -- two teams that have felt the cold and unfair hand of management stamp down on decisions, exiling the General Managers. It is a [i]proces[/i]s which can end a GM's tenure quite easily. The management sees an opportunity, exploits it whether or not the GM sees fit, and the repercussions always ...
Michel Therrien seems to have more in common with the late Rodney Dangerfield than just a few facial expressions or similar gestures would indicate . It appears, from my point of view, that like Dangerfield, Therrien "Don't Get No Respect" either. I was reading different articles over the past couple of days and there are a number of people that think Therrien needs to ...
Hey. Whatsup? I'm mostly writing this blog as amusment for myself because I am sick today, and my Satelite is broken. I'm going to predict the standings for the rest of the season, for the whole East, using my magically new-developed formula called guessing with prior knowledge. Here we go! Winners in bold OT loser in italics [b]Devils [/b]Avalanche [b]Sa...
In spite of all the negative attention surrounding the Leafs lately, I thought I'd take a different angle and -- god forbid -- take a look to the future of a possible playoff berth. While the Leafs have their work cut out for them, it’s not impossible for them to attain post-season play. While it may seem improbable considering the teams they must leapfrog, the recent pl...
icedog97 writes...

Almost Gutcheck Time

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The regular season has only 5 games remaining. The (expected) playoff birth has been obtained an now it's really just a question of heading into the post season playing good "playoff hockey" and above all...staying healthy. I know the team and the fans would like a division championship...at least...and maybe even first place in the conference. But honestly to me...
My family and I just happened to fall prey to the nasty sickness that has been floating around and not going away in a normal timeframe. This one was abnormally uncomfortable as even my bones and teeth hurt. Nothing like waking in the middle of the night after 15 hours of sleep in a soaking wet sweat, but I am wandering off topic. The bottom line is I missed the "Ne...
icedog97 writes...

The Numbers Don't Lie

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Here are some numbers for you: 05-06 22 46 14 244 316 07-08 47 26 08 247 214 The top numbers represent the first year after the strike...Sidney Crosby's first with the Pens. That year the team won 22 games, lost 46, had OTLs of 14...scored 244 goals and had 314 goals scored against them. The second set of numbers is from the 81 games played THIS year. With 47 win...
Remember last year when the Sens were the favorite...but Brian Murray was playing the underdog card with his team and the media? Well, it worked. He got his guys to play a physical brand of hockey that probably no Sens team had ever played before. And it was good enough to get them to the Finals. A year later and the roles seem to be reversed...with the Sens truly...
icedog97 writes...

BANNED FROM POSTING A REPLY!!!

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
I regulalry read the bloggers blogs. During the playoffs last year and this year, I have paid closer attention to the blogs of our playoff rivals, the Senators. I enjoy getting into the occasional "discussion" about what the blogger said...and during playoff time it usually ends up being a lot more about "fans" of the teams voicing their opinions about how their team wi...
mslepp writes...

Night One Recap...

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Hockey every night for 2 months? My favorite time of the year, and last night didn't disappoint. Sens vs. Pens: Nothing that I didn't completely expect from the Sens OR the Pens in game one, except I guess I expected Crosby would get on the scoresheet. At the end of the CBC broadcast, Garry Galley, who was doing color for the game alongside Jim Hughson said he couldn't...
icedog97 writes...

What are a Fan's Rights?

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Professional athletes make TONS of money. Compared to the average person, they make more money in one year than we will see in a llifetime. Like television, movie, and music stars, they often have personas that are larger than life. We put these people on a pedestal...tell them that they are special...and then tell them that along with being special and making al...
icedog97 writes...

Shhh...Don't Say THAT word...

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
In game 4, to be played Wednesday night in Ottawa, the Penguins will have a chance to close out their first round playoff series with the Senators. A simple look at the math involved and we see...the number of the game being played in the series and the number of games required to win the series are both 4. So the Pens are in position to do something special...someth...
icedog97 writes...

The Hossa Trade - Revisited

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
When the Penguins traded for Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis at the deadline, a lot of people reacted by saying the Penguins gave up too much for players that have no guarantee of being around past this season's playoffs. Even the most optimistic of us, myself included, wondered if losing guys like EC and Colby Armstrong, along with a 1st round draft pick, was really wor...
icedog97 writes...

Take Me Out to the Ballgame?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The Penguins clinched their series with the Ottawa Senators early with a sweep. There hasn't been a Penguins game in an entire week. All this "down" time has me watching the other series wrap up (GO CAPS and FLAMES in your game 7's) and waiting anxiously for our Round 2 opponent! It also gave me a chance to catch up on what the Pittsburgh Pirates doing these day...
Well after an amazing first round I'm back with my predictions for the Conference Semis! First off a recap of my first round predictions: (1) Detroit v (8) Nashville---[b]Nashville in 6-Incorrect.[/b] Nashville seemed on a roll until Arnott couldn't deal with the Radulov hit and the OT loss in Game 5. (2) San Jose v (7) Calgary---[b]Calgary in 7-Close but no cigar...
I can't tell you how many times that came out of my mouth last night... ...rewind to last round...Brooks Laich hits the puck into the net with a high stick (it was extremely apparent that his stick was aboe the crossbar). I suppose there was some doubt in the call...it was reviewed for quite a bit and then they gave the goal to Laich which was completely baffling...a...
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=361796&page=NewsPage&service=page Dear Therrien, You're full of shit and I'm pretty sure Crobsy knows it. Typical taht he has someone ELSE stand up for him, but really you wouldn't deny it so animately if it wasn't true. Questionable penalty, you won. What's the issue? Everyone knows he dove. ~S I mean really...
Sidney Crosby on full display in the Conference Semifinals versus the New York Rangers. For all the talent Crosby shows, I just can't respect him like I respected a Gretzky. He seems to whine after every whistle and his diving should qualify him for the Beijing Olympics. The fans in Pittsburgh cheer Crosby and boo Jagr and I understand why. However, when it comes to ...
...We all know that "clank". It's the last minute of the game. Your team is down by one. They've pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. It's a jumble of players in front of the net when suddenly the puck pops free and right to the stick of you star. He shoots with just seconds left on the clock. It's almost as if everything is moving in slow motion. "CLANK!" ...
chipiii writes...

Predictions 3.0

Posted Monday | Comments 0
1st round I was: 6/8 2nd round: 2/4 (I missed the whole western conference) So far, i'm at 8/12... not bad. [b]Eastern Conference Finals[/b] [u]2.Pittsburgh VS 6.Philadelphia[/u] WOW! This is going to be a series, whether it's a sweep or goes to Game 7. If the Pens manage to win you have to wonder just how badly they're going to be beaten up before the win and if th...
Well now....I've been thinking about this series and reading up on what all the "experts" have been saying and I've made up my mind. I'm pretty sure having the experts vote is the kiss of death anyway...so let them predict away (they are after all, the ones who said Habs in 5). The way I see it, the Pens have really coasted through the playoffs. They haven't been chal...
[b]Pittsburgh Penguins [/b] [u]Draft[/u] 2006 #2 overall pick [b]Jordan Staal[/b] 2005 #1 overall pick [b]Sidney Crosby[/b] 2005 #62 [b]Kris Letang[/b] 2004 #2 overall pick [b]Evgeni Malkin[/b] 2003 #1 overall pick [b]Marc-Andre Fleury[/b] 2002 #5 overall pick [b]Ryan Whitney[/b] 2002 #234 [b]Maxim Talbot[/b] 2000 #18 [b]Brooks Orpik [/b] 1999 #115 [b]Ryan Malo...
phi1671 writes...

Flyers Vs. Pens

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I have a question to all the Pens fans. Instead of sitting here typing about Goalies, Depth, and Scoring touch. I want to know if any Pen Fans believe the Flyers have a chance to win. It will be interesting to read all the responses.
...I'm going to be in Europe from the 9th to the 16th...so i'll be missing the first 4 games of the series. Does anyone know a way I can watch abroad??? Help! I appreciate any ideas.
Well now....I've been thinking about this series and reading up on what all the "experts" have been saying and I've made up my mind. I'm pretty sure having the experts vote is the kiss of death anyway...so let them predict away (they are after all, the ones who said Habs in 5). The way I see it, the Pens have really coasted through the playoffs. They haven't been challe...
I don't [b]think[/b] I am being disrespectful or overly assuming when I say that the odds are that, following a Game 2 loss, the Flyers season will be ending in the very near future. Based on that, I thought it might be a good idea to take a look at a specific move that I feel they can make that will do wonders for their future. Ready? Here goes: [b]GIVE AN OFFER S...
What is the reason that I have not heard one complaint about Mike Ribeiro being fined and not suspended for his slash to Chris Osgood's chest? I thought maybe it was because Osgood has protection on, but then thought about how all players wear shoulder pads for protection. Next, I thought of what Barry Melrose said, talking about how Osgood "started" by butt ending Ribeiro...
phi1671 writes...

Why Not Us!!!

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Why Not Us!!! It’s a great line. Plus, I think its very fitting for this team. From last year to this year one can not argue that its one of the biggest turnarounds in professional sports. Holmgren did a fabulous job revamping the roster and the Flyers for the first time in several years have made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Now, we see our beloved team...
First thank you Erica it was another great night and great adventure. 2nd shout outs to Roseann, Bill, Tina, Theresa, Rad, Brenda, Superfan aka Eric, Kristin and Rob 3rd Shout outs to the texting crew Amanda, #23, Jessica, Joyce, and Julie 4th Thanks to everyone who believed http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2493932398/in/set-72157605086813569/ I left work...
phi1671 writes...

Pens News

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Dave Molinari reports the time is now for the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup, as several players will be free agents this summer and they'll lack the salary cap space to retain them all. The UFAs are "Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone, Jarkko Ruutu, Gary Roberts, Pascal Dupuis, Adam Hall, Georges Laraque, Jeff Taffe and Kris Beech, defensemen Brooks Orpik...
icedog97 writes...

The Red Wings are Scary Good

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I have watched a few of the Western Conference Finals games - including the decisive game 6 - and have come to the conclusion, like many other hockey writers and fans, that the Red Wings are a very tough team to beat. In a conference believed to be the better of the two in the league (by just about everybody), the Wings have managed to dispatch of 3 opponents while losi...
icedog97 writes...

Time is Running Out

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
It's been a great ride for the Penguins in the 2007-2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. These guys have shown a lot of heart and character over the course of the first 3 rounds...and even through two scoreless games of the finals. Even so, you can't help but get the feeling that time is running out on the Pens. Two shutout losses in Detroit have demonstrated how complete a...
I have been to plenty of professional national conventions over the years. Though the usual rubber chicken [i]du jour[/i] at the awards luncheons is not worth remembering, the individual accomplishments of those so honored usually rates a line or two. But how does that work at the NHL? Currently on the NHL website is a headline stating that Mats Sundin received the Ma...
Buts16 writes...

Saturday Morning Coffee

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Enjoy http://flyerflies.com/blogs/Buts/ Have a great weekend.
Yesterday/Early Today, all off us were caught up with the actual game held in real (really long) time. So it is understandable that many of you who participate in fantasy leagues might have missed Monday's good news: The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari for [i]Major League Baseball Advanced Media v. CBC Distribution and Marketing[/i], 07-1099. And even though ...
It was a great game to watch, easily the best game I've watched since the first round of the playoffs... it made the San Jose/Dallas overtime game look like a soccer match. Now, the Pens and their loyal fans and bandwagon fans feel a run coming on, the same improbable run that Anaheim, Dallas, San Jose and Philly all thought their teams had in them... with none of the a...
Buts16 writes...

Saturday Morning Coffee

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Happy Saturday hooligans. http://flyerflies.com/blogs/Buts/ As usual enjoy.
I sit here, nursing a bottle of Stella Artois, watching the Belmont, and realize...I wish I had a hockey game to watch. -A lot of coaching vacancies might be waiting on the approval of the sale of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Rumor pipe says Barry Melrose will be hired for a staggering $2mm a year. If a guy who hasn't coached in almost 13 years can demand that kind of coin...
icedog97 writes...

Ryan Malone

Posted Monday | Comments 0
I play "adult league" hockey with a good friend who I met back in 1998. One day back in early 1999, my friend and I were talking before one of our games and he said that he was interested to see who the Pens would take in the upcomming draft. He told me that Greg Malone lived "next door" and he had been trying to find out what the teams draft plans were. My friend told ...
icedog97 writes...

Ryan Malone - Part 2

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I don't usually do "Part 2" of anything here. I usually try to say it all in "Part 1" and then move on. In reading the recent rumors and apparent "truths" about the Ryan Malone situation, I heard some things that I wanted to comment a little more about (even if nobody else reads this!!!!) The "negotiations" with Malone and the Pens, and I use that term loosely be...
icedog97 writes...

My Fingers are Crossed!!!

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I try to be a realistic person. I also try to be an optimistic person. Sometimes these two things run a head on collision course for one another. When it comes to the Penguins, and their ability to keep their Stanley Cup Finals roster "MOSTLY" in place, this is surely the case. But today I am crossing my fingers. I am holding out hope that some of the recent...
icedog97 writes...

Pens Sign Fleury

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/08185/894617-100.stm
As the days towards the regular season draw closer and closer (three months away I know, I'm just comforting myself) the final rosters of many teams are set to go. When the off-season began, GM's around the league were busy re-shaping their rosters, and with that many teams will impose a bigger threat than last season. I will begin with the [b][i]Eastern Conference[/i][...
Yes, they are. It's a story that won't take long to develop. The emergence of the league's most storied franchise is undeniable and their stacked roster will only strengthen as the year's progress. Right off the bat, let's take a look at the Habs' depth chart: [b]Position[/b] [b]Left Wing[/b]: A. Kostitsyn A. Tanguay S. Kostitsyn T. Kostopoulos [b]Ce...
stromie writes...

Sabres @ Pens --> Live Blog!

Posted Monday | Comments 0
This live blog is brought to you by the top two scorers in the league on the Pens , Malkin and Crosby, and a squeaked out victory against the Bolts. Also by pink lemonade.........I don't care that it is pink and quite possibly the most feminine of all drinks, I likes it and it is delicious. First Period The Sabres are in a tough spot but get a little bit of a break s...
A couple of seasons ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins were a team filled with potential. They had young talented players who were learning the ropes in the NHL. What they lacked in experience they made up for in desire and hard work. Almost every game, you could see them gaining confidence...realizing with each day that they could compete and be successful in the NHL. ...
I have read some reports that the Bruins are looking for a top 4 defenseman. We know the Penguins are looking for a goal scoring winger. It seems to me that the Pens have what the Bruins want and the Bruins have what the Pens want. Would the Bruins be open to a Whitney for Kessel deal? Whitney would get to play professional hockey in his hometown...that would h...
icedog97 writes...

Now That's More Like It

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Last night a loud exhale could be heard across the Penguin Nation. Finally, the Pens played a game with purpose and determination...and won. There is hope that these guys can right the ship in time for the playoffs afterall. The Penguins adopted a more conservative approach to last night's game, using a variation on the neutral zone trap...it really amounts to a 1...
senate666 writes...

Who is the NHLs Best Player?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Jesse Connolly's recent article, entitled "Why Alex Ovechkin Will Never Be the Face of the NHL" really got me pondering this question again, as I have so many times in my life. There has always been a player regarded as the face of the NHL, and that player was generally recognized as the best in the league at that time: Players like Richard, Howe, Orr, Gretzky and Lemieux ...
icedog97 writes...

The Writing is on the Wall

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Part of me is a diehard Pens fan and I will cheer for them until the bitter end. That part won't let me throw in the towel until the final horn sounds. But...the other part...the rational one...tells me that this team is simply not good enough to make the playoffs. Last night's 4-3 loss to the Devils was a crusher. Tonight's loss to the Leafs may have been the na...
icedog97 writes...

Waiting for a Miracle

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Another loss. 2 more points that we can't get back. Another win by the 8th place Panthers, who have 3 more points than us and two games in hand. Oh sure, we play the Panthers 3 more times this year, which means we can make up some of those points head to head, right? At this point, we would have to win all three of those games, just to get 3 points ahead of Flo...
I listen to sports talk shows and read hockey blogs and almost unanimously -- Penguin fans instst we need a scoring winger...or two...to get this team to where it needs to be. There is no agruing the Pens would be a better team with at least one "more proven" goal scorer on the roster. But, if you are like the majority of people that think that's why the Pens are h...
As wild and crazy as this game was today, the Flyers had a chance to win this game. Down 3-1, the Flyers battled back to tie the game at 4, but late in the third period, a costly mistake ended up hurting the Flyers. Marty Biron went out of the net, way out of the net for that matter, and misplayed the puck. Sidney Crosby was there to get the puck and score the game winning...
amerk626 writes...

Atlantic Division Thoughts

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Recently, things have been eventful for the teams in the Atlantic Division on and off the ice. Here are a couple of thoughts I have for each team. I just found out a couple of minutes ago that the New York Rangers have fired Tom Renney. I'm sure most Ranger fans would say the wrong guy got fired, but the way the Rangers have been playing, a change was imminent. Sather h...
icedog97 writes...

Penguins Missing Grit

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
When the Penguins lost Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, and Jarkko Ruutu to free agency last summer, many observers thought that the team had lost too much grit to be successful this season. Personally, when those players left, I wasn't immediately inclined to buy into that belief...I took the "wait and see" approach. Well, I have waited... and now I have seen... [b]thos...
Today's trade of Ryan Whitney for Chris Kunitz and prospect Eric Tangradi may have left some Penguins fans asking the question: [b]This is the scoring winger we are getting to play with Sid?[/b] While the initial reaction might be to assume Shero expects Kunitz to play on Sid's wing, in a role similar to what Marian Hossa's was, the comments from both Shero and coach...
icedog97 writes...

The Biggest Test So Far

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Check out Saturday's scoreboard... Panthers...7-2 losers to the Devils Sabres...2-0 losers to the Islanders Hurricanes...5-3 losers on 4 goals by the Thrashers in the 3rd period Aside from the Rangers crushing a reeling Avalanche team 6-1, just about everything that could go right for the Penguins did go right for the Penguins. Tomorrow the Pens face a Dallas St...
[b][i]It's the final countdown...[/i][/b] [img]http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p26/n0mem0ry/timebomb.jpg[/img] You can almost hear the screaming lyrics from the 1980s, Swedish glam rock, [b]Mega-group[/b], [i][b]Europe[/b][/i] (??) [u]OK...retraction [/u] How about the one hit wonder group, [i]Europe[/i].(better?) [img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/e...
Buts16 writes...

Saturday Morning Coffee

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
The Claude Giroux that everybody has been raving about for 2 years has arrived, enjoy Flyer fans he's special. I don't mean special like Steve Downie either! Did you know that Kari Lehtonen's nickname is "The Hamburgler" he use to eat Mcdonalds before every game in his rookie season. Paul Holmgren please trade for the rights to Josh Harding, he is the answer you s...
Let me introduce myself since this being my first blog here, my name is Tom and I'm a hardcore Flyers fan, even more a hockey fan. I hate the Penguins with a passion, one much great to describe yet I [b]hate[/b] Sidney Crosby even more. That's a quick little intro to me. As it stands right now, my Flyers are standing fourth in the conference - tied with those pansies ...
Last year Philly came into the playoff series against the Penguins with the intention of pounding them into the boards on every shift - and it the process - they hoped to pound the life out of Pittsburgh. The result...Pens won the series in 5 games. A couple of years earlier, in a regular season match-up in Philly, Derrian Hatcher pounded on the face of, then rookie,...
EASTERN CONFERENCE #1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens Boston thoroughly dominated the season series 5-1. Montreal is quite banged up. Top defensemen Alexei Markov is going to miss at least the first 3 games of the series for the Habs and no one knows how much they are going to get out of offensive minded Mathieu Schneider. Boston has some young unproven talen...
As we have moved through the season, I've had an eye toward the playoffs with my Flyers and have noticed a few shortcomings which I felt would prevent them from being able to get out of the conference to challenge for the Stanley Cup to be real contenders; [i]not [/i]pretenders as they are now. Don't get me wrong. Coming off of a season where the home team couldn't eve...
Good God, what is happening to the NHL? Suspensions for "sending a message"? This has been part of the game since the beginning of time. What exactly is "sending a message"? The ultimate purpose of every hockey fight is to "send a message". Will fighting result in automatic suspensions? Don't get me wrong, I believe that players that use their sticks as club weapons in...
I have to admit that when Campbell issued a "warning" to the Flyers last season about injuring players I was pretty pissed. The spent the rest of the season paying for it with penalty after penalty. Pretty brutal to put a team under the microscope a month before playoffs. I thought that they were getting too involved but figured it was a one time thing. Needless to say...
icedog97 writes...

Who Complains More?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Crosby or Flyer Fans? Just for fun, I like to read the opposing team's blog and comments during the playoffs. It helps me to get a true hatred for the other team's fans going! I am kidding of course. I have been alive too long to HATE any other team's fans or even any of the other teams at this point...although as players go...Scott Hartnell is tough to like...whe...
Can the National Hockey League really expect it's teams to take it seriously when it says things like "no message sending" and "no confrontations with fans" when it doesn't even act on most of the dirty things that happen on the ice? Ok, yes, they suspended Daniel Carcillo for his "hit" on Max Talbot (I still question whether or not that was intentional), and Andre Roy ...
MrBigglesworth writes...

Stuff

Posted Monday | Comments 0
I honestly dont think it matters what happens in the East bracket, [b]the Red Wings are unstoppable![/b]... even by Tim Thomas and the Big Bad Bruins. This is not an easy pill to swallow, coming from a guy whos inlaws are from Michigan, and whos wife's cousin married a Michigan State hockey fanatic dubbed simply as "the Angry Guy". Beckster and I go out there ever year...
Kinglove1 writes...

Red Wing Fans....

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
If your interested in tickets for the Wings/Ducks match up in So Cal!!! Go to Stubhub.com. There are thousands of tickets for sale on the site. Most of them are good seats. Looks like a wings home game in So Cal!!! I just sold mine...I'm out of town..Going to Pittsburg.
Jim Balsillie is at it again as he tries once again to bring the NHL to southern Ontario. You have to give him marks for determination, once again making an offer to buy the Phoenix Coyotes. This being the third attempt to buy a team to bring them to Hamilton. I really have nothing against Jim; heck, I do not even know him. Obviously he is a huge hockey fan. He is a ver...
Is anybody really surprised this series is tied at 3 and heading toward a game 7 thriller Wednesday night in DC? I'm not. In fact, through 6 games we have seen just about everything we expected to see. Great offensive playmaking and goals. Great skill and determination by the 3 best forwards in the league. Key contributions from 2nd, 3rd and 4th line players...
[b]The Save[/b] I wrote a couple of days back that Marc Andre Fleury needed to be in #1 star form for the Penguins to advance in the playoffs. That he had to find a way to play his BEST in game 7. Fleury ended up being the #3 star in the game...and as it turns out, he really didn't need to be #1 with the way the rest of his team handled the Capitals on Wednesday night...
FLAMESTR writes...

MY Review of the Last round

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The Chicago Black Hawks made me a believer once again as they passed the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the playoffs. Mr. Patrick Kane showed to the hockey world why he is one of the best players in the world. Particularly, the seventh goal in game 6 was sick. It was terrific back hand. While I am at it, that game six was one of the most entertaining games I ...
The Edmonton Oilers decided to go to with a veteran coach in Pat Quinn, who I think is a great coach. He loves a fluent, offensive game, which fits the Oilers to a tea. Quinn proved himself with the Team Canada. Not only did the Oilers pick a perfect head coach, they found the perfect coach in Tom Renney, who should have never been fired from the Rangers in the first place...
The Montreal Canadians surprised a lot of people with the hiring of Jacques Martin. Can two cooks run the kitchen? Or can two Rosters run the coop if you prefer? Mr. Martin was the General Manager in Florida; can he take orders from Gainey? Can he take get back to coaching? Many questions in Montreal. I really thought they would hire Bob Hartly, I even heard Patrick Roy...
icedog97 writes...

Game 7

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Just saying it or hearing it said, conveys everything you need to know. [i][b]It's do or die.[/b][/i] And in this case...game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals...[i][b]it's the end of the line for BOTH teams.[/b][/i] After tonight, one team will have the summer to enjoy the hardware...and one team will have the summer to ponder "what might have been". The Penguins ar...
icedog97 writes...

Final Thoughts

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I have read a lot of comments lately...many unhappy "non Penguin" fans out there. A lot of them are angry at Sid for the "Handshake Debacle". Honestly...I think Sid should have been at the front of the line and he wasn't. Shame on him for that. He was clearly too caught up in the moment. Do I think he PURPOSEFULLY skipped certain players...NO. I do think he should...
icedog97 writes...

Pronger to Flyers...I Love It!

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
The Flyers mad a big splash today and landed Chris Pronger in a trade. Smart move for the Flyers. Flyer fans will start salivating the moment they hear of this news...visions of Crobsy getting crunched by Pronger along the boards...or Malkin getting hip checked as he tries to cruise through the middle of the ice. Yep...they certainly have reason to think he will m...
Happy August everybody! The 2009 Free Agent Frenzy is a month old today, a month of excitement, frustrations, surprises, and disappointments for the fans of the 30 NHL teams. We haven't watched a live game of hockey since the conclusion of the 2008-2009 season in June, but have been entertained by the Entry Draft, Free Agent Frenzy, and the occasional trade, hiring, or fi...
It is hump day today, and with their 4 and 2 home stand behind them, and a Halloween home tustle against the Leafs ahead of them, Montreal prepares to take on the defending Stanley Cup champions Penguins, in Pittsburgh. After an 11 game segment that has seen some highs and lows, Montreal seems to be hitting their stride. Yes, the only 'real' test they have faced so far...
It's the time of year when you take a minute and reflect upon your life and the things in it that you are thankful for. If you haven't done that already...make sure you do before this holiday is over. With me...first and foremost...it's my family...and the fact that we are all healthy. You can't really enjoy the other things in life the way you should, without that. It'...
Wow, not THAT was an interesting game to watch. As I sit looking outside at this cold, windy Friday morning I am basking in the afterglow of last night's Habs game vs. the Pens. Not basking in a win, mind you, but rather in a 3-2 regulation loss, one in which the Habs probably deserved a better fate. While on the one hand, Montreal got what the deserved, again being outsho...
Sergei Gonchar takes a slapshot...the puck appears to either hit the post then cross bar, or the post then the bar in the back of the net...then bounce away from the Toronto goal. The insuing pass and then chase for the puck results in Alexei Ponikarovsky heading toward the Penguin goal with a breakaway. At the last second, Gonchar gives Poni a hook. Fleury stops th...
Let's face it...Penguins and Flyers fans love TWO things... 1) Their respective teams... and 2) to dislike, dare I say hate, the OTHER team/team's fans But in February, both sides will be put into an akward position as the 2010 Olympics open. Both teams fans, of mostly US origin, will have (most likely) their favorite players on the roster for Team Canada - Mike...
icedog97 writes...

Cooke

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
For the record, I like Matt Cooke. I think he's a player that brings a good combination of grit and skill to the rink on a daily basis. The Penguins are a better team with him in the line-up. That said, Cooke's hit on Marc Savard the other night is unacceptable. Even if Cooke had kept his arm against his body, in what would have been a completely legal play, I still ...
icedog97 writes...

Blindsided

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I have been saying to anyone that will listen (not many)...for some time now...that it's not hits to the head that are the problem in the NHL, it's the blindside hits that create the most potential for injury. I'll get to that more in a second... When it comes to hits to the head, the NHL is in a very difficult spot in terms of making rules that apply specifically to...
icedog97 writes...

A Devil of a Time

Posted Monday | Comments 0
THE FACTS The Penguins currently sit 2 points ahead of the New Jersey Devils for first place in the Atlantic Division. The Devils have a game in hand on the Penguins. Without getting into specific scenarios (and assuming the teams play to the same W/L records the rest of the way), if the Devils win that "game in hand" they will win the division based on the NHL ti...
icedog97 writes...

Two Sides to a Coin

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Last night's 4-3 shootout loss to the league leading Washington Capitals was, oddly enough, a welcomed sight to many Pens fans. Of course, after the "sleepwalking" effort they put forth Monday night against the Red Wings, anything resembling a "conscious" attempt to compete last night would have been a marked improvement. Even so, and without question, last night's g...
Tuesday...Pens and Caps at the Igloo...7:30 The Caps have to play the Bruins tonight...the Pens will be fresh tomorrow, a couple of days after a come from behind win against the Thrashers. The Pens should win easily...ok...kidding... The Capitals have had a GREAT regular season...and they are the President's Trophy winners. They have won 51 games (to date) and wil...
icedog97 writes...

Farewell to the Igloo

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The days of the Penguins playing in the Igloo are numbered. 3 games for sure...1 in the regular season...beyond that, we won't know until we see what kind of playoff team we have this year. Tonight IS the last regular season game in the "old barn". Mellon Arena, formerly, the Civic Arena, has been around since 1961. In 1967 the Penguins started playing there, and ...
Wednesday night...4/14/2010...the alarm sounds at 7pm. The playoffs started for the Penguins and the team woke up from what seems like a season long slumber. Well...for about 10 minutes. That's about how long they "got to their game" on Wednesday. Long enough to bang some bodies...draw a penalty...and score an early power play goal to go up 1-0 in game one. ...
The Canadiens have completed an improbable (some might have said a week ago that it was "impossible" ) comeback from down 3-1 to defeat the Washington Capitals 4 games to 3. In so many ways, it really was a case of David slaying Goliath. To defeat a powerful offensive club like the Capitals takes a lot of hard work and determination. To do it with a team that is m...
icedog97 writes...

Masters of Deception

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The 2009-10 Montreal Canadiens...Masters of Deception? For several games during these playoffs, against the Capitals and now at least once against the Penguins, the Canadiens have shown a...dare I say "magic"?...that is tough to deny. It goes something like this... Let the other team get the majority of the shots and scoring chances...we'll just wait and capitaliz...
icedog97 writes...

Touché

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I took French in high school...but was never very good at speaking it and don't remember much of it (I know, some French Canadien is saying to himself "Stupid American!" ). But I do know what the popular culture translation of "Touché" is... Sometimes, as the saying goes, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em...". While not exactly what the Penguins did on Tuesday night ...
icedog97 writes...

Who Wants It More?

Posted Friday | Comments 0
So now it's a best of 3. After dominating the first two periods of game 4, and leading 2-1 to start the third, the Penguins did the unthinkable: They lost control of the game, and maybe the series, by surrendering 2 goals in the third period to the Canadiens. If you had fallen asleep at the end of the second period and woke up at the end of the game, you might not ha...
icedog97 writes...

Just Like Last Year?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I was going to call this blog..."Just Not As Good As Last Year" when describing what I thought of the Penguins after last night's 4-3 loss in Game 6 to the Canadiens. But then I looked back over the first two rounds from last year again...and realized that sometimes our minds play tricks on us. We remember watching the raising of the Cup in Detroit...and then we kind...
icedog97 writes...

Silver Platter

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
People will point to the downfall of the Penguins against the Canadiens and site numerous different reasons for the failure. Halak stole the show Fleury didn't step up Cammaleri could not be contained Crosby and Malkin couldn't score The Habs took advantage of Penguin mistakes The Penguins couldn't take advantage of the Canadien's mistakes The Habs defense stifled...
I can't believe it, but I am actually...just a little...excited to watch the Flyers play tonight. As a lifelong Pens fan, I have been down the "HATE THE FLYERS WITH A PASSION" road more than a few times. Especially in my younger years. Of course, as we get older (and have finally won a series or two against the Flyers)...we supposedly get wiser...and I have learned t...
icedog97 writes...

Doing So Many Things Right

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Watching the Flyers play the Canadiens in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals has made sick. Every goal that has been scored, every save that has been made, each shift that has been played...has taken me one step closer to wanting to "hurl" on my living room floor. As a lifelong Penguins fan, isn't that the natural reaction you would expect from watc...
Now I know that this would be a long shot for the Penguins to pull off but..........why not attempt to trade Alex Goligoski to the Ducks for Bobby Ryan? It looks like the Ducks are not willing to give Ryan the contract he is looking for (somewhere in the range they are paying Getzlaf). With the subtraction of Pronger last season and the retirement of Scott Niedermayer, t...
icedog97 writes...

Something is Missing

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Losing a 3-2 game...where we had a late lead...and then seemed to fall apart at the seams...is way too familiar when it comes to playng against the Canadiens. And this time...we can't even blame it on Halak. But after watching the Penguins through two games...I can't help but think there is something missing. No...it's not Gonchar...he was there last year when the...
Micheal Aldred writes...

Leafs/Pens Preview

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to visit the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at the Consol Energy Arena. The Penguins have yet to win at home this season and get another opportunity to erase that stat tonight against a Leafs team that is hoping to remain undefeated. [b]A few fun stats regarding tonight's teams:[/b] Phil Kessel: 2GP 2G 1A 3P is on pace for 82 goals and 1...
icedog97 writes...

It's Just Not Working

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
If you have read my previous blogs...and chances are good that you haven't...then you will know that I have recently, and frequently, questioned the Penguins aggressive approach to playing hockey. In a nutshell...the Penguins are supposed to take the game to other team...keep the puck in their end...generate scoring chances...and either score goals or cause the other te...
icedog97 writes...

The Glass...

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
It may seem when things aren't going so well that I am more of a "glass is half empty" than a "glass is half full" kind of guy. Three games into this season...and after watching some mistake filled play...I was already calling for benching Malkin and Crosby...like that was really going to happen. I have a tendency, from years of playing sports..and really hating to l...
icedog97 writes...

Just Plain Ugly

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The third period against the Bruins tonight was exactly that. For a team that was supposed to have improved defensively since last season, the Penguins seem to have all the same exact problems they had last season when it comes to defending. Since beating Nashville on October 21 by a score of 4-3, the Penguins have gone 2-5-1 and have given up 27 goals. The goals...
icedog97 writes...

Finally...A Complete Game?

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
It would be hard to find another game this season that was as well played from start to finish by the Penguins. True, the Lightning played last night...and are missing key guys named Lecavalier, Gagne and Downey...but even so, the Penguins have been in similar situations recently and they have lost games like this...games they should have won. Tonight they got good, ...
projp1 writes...

Pittsburgh vs. Atlanta

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
SO....This is going to my first blog. To get you clued in, I am a girl, live in florida, former northern native and miss it terribly. I love hockey and I am a huge Pittsburgh Penguins fan. The thing I really hate is trying to find hockey fans down here, seriously it sucks. So I found my way here to a blog page and hopefully it will be fun! Since I am a Pens fan, how bo...
icedog97 writes...

Chara...Cooke...Suspensions

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
[b]On Chara[/b] - This is a tough one to call when it comes to intent. The result is obviously disasterous ...BUT...a few more feet up the boards and it likely would have only been a body check that Pacioretty would have gotten up from. The much more important question is... If a player injures another player via a penalty...like a late hit in this case...shouldn't...
leafspensjets writes...

Introduce yourself!

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Hi fellow hockey nuts! my name is will, i am a life long of the great game of hockey as im sure all of you are. i have loved the toronto maple leafs, pittsburgh penguins and the winnipeg jets(not coyotes) for as long as i can remember. i am very opinionated when it comes to the game and have been booted from addicted hockey fans united for being too opinionated. i love am...
hi all, i just have something to get off my chest. facebook.com is supposed to be a place where you are can speak your mind about everything and anything. not so! i was an admin for a page called addicted hockey fans united. as i said in my introduction, i am anti-bettman, always have been and always will be. i spoke my mind about him, the coyotes and hockey in the so...
icedog97 writes...

Theory About Crosby

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Ek wrote a good column about keeping Crosby off the ice for the rest of this season and the playoffs. If we take what we know about Crosby's situation...and assume that his concussion has kept him out of action for this length of time, then Ek's points are well taken and what he recommends is probably the best plan of action...shut Crosby down. I have a theory, which...
With GM meetings underway in Florida this week, the main concern around the league right now is headshots and the growing rate of concussions. My personal opinion on this hot topic is the league should have a no tolerance policy and the player should be handed a heavy fine plus a minimum of 7 game suspension. Along with the player being punishied I believe the team should ...
icedog97 writes...

Matt Cooke: Indefensible

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Those of you that have read my blogs before know that I think Matt Cooke has some skill as a hockey player -- he serves a useful purpose as an agitator/checking forward, is a great penalty killer and also has some offensive skill. You also know that I wrote a blog back when Cooke hit Savard and called for a suspension even though, at the time, Cooke's hit was considered...
icedog97 writes...

Matt Cooke: Will He Change?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Matt Cooke came out with a few statements yesterday saying he needs to change and that he will follow up those words with actions. In fact, he stated a few times that his "future" actions would speak for him. We all know his past actions have too, in ways that were less than flattering. As someone who has watched him play for the past 3 years, I would like to think he c...
[b][i]Watched the Chicago and Detroit game last night[/i][/b]...that was fun. Those teams really went at one another and the result was hockey like it's meant to be played. The points were important to both teams, moreso the Hawks than the Wings, but it never really seemed like either was playing for the point/points. It was more about beating the "rival"...and that's the ...
icedog97 writes...

Playoff Ready?

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Having watched the Penguins "transform" from a team that was likely to beat you 5-4 to one that's more likely to win by a score of 1-0...I find myself asking the question: [b]Is This Team Playoff Ready?[/b] Last year's team headed into the post season, never quite achieving that level of play that many people thought they needed to defend their Stanley Cup championship....
so which of these is worth of a suspension in the "new" NHL? torres on seabrook http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nomG4dU-mTk or Ruutu on erat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPd8LJvIpgI The Torres hit is WAY worse. Elbow to the head. Ruutu doesnt even make contact with Erats head! He goes flying like the was sniped from the rafters. The refs didnt even call a p...
icedog97 writes...

Hope?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The Penguins are [b]TOAST[/b]. I'm as big a fan as anyone...and I desperately want them to win Game 7 on Wednesday night...but my gut tells me this series is [b]OVER[/b]. After watching them get outscored 12-4 and outplayed by almost the same amount in games 5 and 6, there is nothing I see that tells me this team will win game 7. Without Sid and Geno...with a rece...
Let me start by saying... I hope the Pens win tonight...get Crosby back at some point in round 2...and maybe even Malkin...and go on to win their 4th cup. Given everything they have gone through this year, that would be awesome. OK...now that I got that out of the way... Realistically speaking...I don't think all 4 of those things can happen because I think step 1...
icedog97 writes...

Success and Failure

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Most people will look back at the 2010-11 Penguins season and think the season was a success. Given the well documented injuries to Crosby, Malkin and other important players on this team (Staal missing the first ½ of the season) I would have to agree that finishing the regular season with one of the highest point totals in the team’s history was a true success. I do...
Round 1 of the playoffs was pretty exciting. [i][b]Half of the eight series went to game 7[/b].[/i] Two teams faced elimination more than once to win their series. One team came back from 3-0 to force an OT in game 7. One team came back from 3-1 to win. By comparison...so far at least...[b][i]Round 2 is a snooze-fest.[/i][/b] [b]One series is done[/b]...t...
icedog97 writes...

Jaromir Jagr

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Whenever I hear someone mention the name Jaromir Jagr with regard to the Penguins, one of two images pops into my head: Most of the time it's the 1992 Stanley Cup Final game 1 goal he scored against the Chicago Blackhawks. The one where he weaved his way through players from the half wall to the net and scored on Eddie Belfour. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha...
icedog97 writes...

Laich and Jagr

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
For a few weeks now many Penguin fans have been discussing and debating the possible return of Jaromir Jagr to the Penguins. Some people don't see the point in signing a 39 year old who hasn't played in the NHL for 3 seasons to a $3M contract (word on the street). I look at the recent signing of Brooks Laich to a 6 year, $27M contract by the Washington Capitals as mo...
icedog97 writes...

Thanks Max...and Good Luck!

Posted Friday | Comments 0
The start of unrestricted free agency in hockey is a crazy time. It's been less than a month since the Stanley Cup was awarded. Less than a month since one team's dream of a championship was realized. Less than a month since new playoff heroes were born. Now, with those recent memories fresh in mind, NHL GMs, players and fans hope to turn next year's Stanley Cup Cham...
Over the past few days there has been a lot of discussion about the New York Islanders "viewing party" that is planned for the August 19th replay of the fight filled February game they played against the Penguins. Some people think that it's wrong for the Islanders to sponsor such an event, given the game it celebrates was one the league, in a lot of ways, would rather ...
icedog97 writes...

Yahoo! - Same Old Story

Posted Monday | Comments 0
A quick look at the Yahoo! NHL front page shows this as the main article Same Old Story - New and improved Matt Cooke boards a guy [url]http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/New-and-improved-Matt-Cooke-boards-a-guy;_ylt=AijT3EETh3umNq2YGz92hut7vLYF?urn=nhl-wp13351[/url] Those of you that read my blog...(I think 5 now?) know I have spoken out against Cooke...
Last night on the HockeyBuzz Podcast, Leafs writer Mike Augello picked the New York Rangers to win the Atlantic Division. The founder of this site responded in disbelief, comparing such a prediction to picking the Leafs to win the Northeast. But this reaction is unsurprising, if you have read Eklund’s Atlantic Divison preview, in which he questions the Rangers’ chemist...
Despite reports to the contrary Malkin and Crosby will not be in the line up tonight when the Jets host the Pens. Why would they be ? There is absolutely nobody on this planet right now that thinks the Jets will beat the Pens regardless of whether or not the two superstars are in the line up. If you don't need them to win, why not give them another day off. Eve...
Who the heck are these guys ? Wow. So far this season the Jets had yet to show ANY kind of jump. Whatever Claude Noel said to the team appears to have got through. I don't think the Pens registered a shot on goal through the first 10 minutes of that period. Alex Burmistrov was easily the best Jet out there. So slick with the puck. He registered an assist on each...
RickDixon writes...

Pens are coming back

Posted Monday | Comments 0
2-1 Jets after 40 minutes. Fantastic chances for both teams in the period. Pavelec has been unbelievable. This must be that goaltender that I heard about in the early part of last season, holy smokes. This could easily be a 5-5 game if the teams had buried the plethora of chances they have gotten. Refs pooched a goalie interference call (or should I say non-call) ...
RickDixon writes...

Jets get first win of year

Posted Monday | Comments 0
So it appears my prediction of a Penguins laugher was somewhat off. You really can't blame me for thinking it would be a cakewalk for the Pens after what the Jets had shown over the course of their first three games. I don't really know if this was the Jets team we can expect to see throughout the rest of the season or if it was just an anomaly. Here are some of the...
During the waning minutes of the Jets game against the Pens last night Pens defenseman Kris Letang hit Jets forward Alex Burmistrov from behind, driving him into the side wall. A two minute penalty was assessed to Letang and the young Russian forward came away from the hit for the most part unscathed. The hit was from behind.....there is no denying that. Some say that B...
So the Penguins best defenseman has been suspended 2 games for his hit on Jets forward Alex Burmistrov during the Pen's 2-1 loss to the Jets. Burmistrov was not injured on the play and Letang received a 2-minute minor for boarding. This was the first suspension under the "Shanahan Regime" that involved a star player. What are your thoughts on the suspension ? Too...
Ben Lovejoy is a likeable guy. That almost sounds like I am trying for a joke...but I'm not. Last night Lovejoy went awkwardly into the boards during a collision with a Sharks player and immediately you could tell something was wrong. The grimace on his face...the reaction of the trainer on the bench while feeling Lovejoy's wrist...the quick exit he made to the t...
by Ian Cunningham [email protected] Three games into November, the Tampa Bay Lightning have managed to secure four of a possible six points, capped off by a thrilling come from behind shootout victory in Florida. Although the Bolts surrendered three points to division rivals Carolina and Florida, the focus at this point in the season is on gathering points, r...
icedog97 writes...

Nobody Asked Me, But...#3

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
- Fighting in hockey isn't going anywhere because too many people who are part of the legislative process of the game want fighting to stay. The question of whether or not it is an integral part of the game is a tough one to answer because as long as it's allowed, it's a part of the game. I would offer that if it was removed from the game, the biggest losers would be play...
Once again, we have witnessed a Boston Bruin escape any external discipline for his violent on ice transgression. I'm not one of these people that are screaming collusion or inequity of discipline. I'm simply looking at events in front of me and trying to make sense of the NHL actions. First, let's travel back in time to March 8, 2011 and the infamous Pacioretty hit. ...
It's being reported in various places today... It will be interesting to see the affect this has on the team and how much he actually plays. While he is known as a workout fanatic and is said to be in great condition...games are a whole different animal. That said...hope he's back to stay.
icedog97 writes...

It's Getting Ugly

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
When a team endures a poor stretch of play...and the subsequent losses that are the result of that play...things can start to unravel in a hurry. Heading into last night's game against the Ottawa Senators, the Penguins were spiraling down the Eastern Conference standings...thanks to a 4 game losing streak...and in desperate need of some positive results. Injuries hav...
The Penguins lost their 6th game in a row last night, this time at the hands of the Washington Capitals by a score of 1-0. It was a physical game filled with lots of hits: 79 to the body, according to the official stats several punches landed between Craig Adams and Matt Hendricks a few pucks off of goal posts one puck that managed to hit the back of either net ...
icedog97 writes...

Turning the Tide?...and a Rant

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Three wins in a row...two in the Sunshine state where we've definitely taken our lumps over the years...and one against the Hurricanes - who also give us fits...has Penguin fans feeling a lot better than a week ago. Without exaggeration...we needed those wins badly. I wouldn't say all of the Penguins ills have been cured...but it is safe to say that they seem to be ...
icedog97 writes...

Tonight's Game is Huge

Posted Friday | Comments 0
When the Penguins face the Sabres tonight (3/30/2012), there's a lot on the line. And due to a couple of stinkers against the Islanders, the Penguins have more at stake in this game than some may realize. For the Sabres, a win keeps them in the 8th playoff spot in the East (at least) and moves them 2 points ahead of the Capitals with both teams having 4 games remaining...
icedog97 writes...

Tortorella is Off the Mark

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I have respect for John Tortorella as a coach. He's a straightforward guy that has taken a team that has underachieved for many years (when you look at how much money they have spent versus victories) and led them to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. There's a lot to like about the way he has handled the Rangers. Of course, Tortorella has a Stanley Cup ring,...
icedog97 writes...

Crossing the Right Line

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Penguins and Flyers are old adversaries. Over the last couple of years, the battle had seemed to simmer down. This season, the rivalry has been renewed. When the Flyers took two players into their fold that have special places in the history of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup winning teams: Jaromir Jagr and Max Talbot – you could almost feel the hand of fate as ...
icedog97 writes...

It's a 60 Minute Game

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The overtime loss the Penguins endured to the Flyers last night is painful to think about. When your team leads 3-0, after one period, you EXPECT them to win. Even after giving the necessary consideration to the way the Flyers have previously battled back from 2-0 deficits to the Penguins this season, the first period lead seemed like something the Penguins couldn’...
The history of NHL playoff series will tell you that being down 1-0 is not as catastrophic as most people on the losing end of the first game feel it is. In fact, when the home team loses the first game of series, their chances of winning the series only drop about 4%. But by the time the second game is concluded, if you haven't earned a tie in the series, your chanc...
icedog97 writes...

The Truth Hurts

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Waking up today and realizing that last night's 8-5 loss to the Flyers was NOT just a bad dream is enough to ruin your morning. Realizing that the loss has your favorite team down 2-0 in the best of 7 series is enough to ruin your day. Understanding that the team needs to win Sunday - or they will be facing an insurmountable 3 games to ZERO series deficit - is enough...
Nascar........... I cold not care even a little but about... but car crashed.... OOOHHH... let let at my PVR. This is a time honoured sentiment. Violence, usually mindless, will get our attention faster than a hole in one, an honest QB sack and even that most exciting play in hockey.... the.... the... what was it again? Penalty Shot? So my point is: How do Ame...
icedog97 writes...

Unraveled

Posted Monday | Comments 0
A Google search for the word ‘unraveled‘ shows definition number two as: Become undone. While the post game interviews from the Penguins locker room had guys talking about commitment to the team and each other, what happened on the ice sure looked a lot more like a team that has ‘become undone’. While it may be surprising to some that this team faces elimina...
icedog97 writes...

Trolling and Assault

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
A TROLL...the online definition looks like this: [b]In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[2] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[3] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[4] [/b] ...
[img]http://cache.deadspin.com/assets/images/11/2011/09/medium_puck_daddy_chats_with_brendan_shanahan_about_making_suspension_videos_colin_campbell_criti.jpg[/img] By Ryan Wilson Follow me on Twitter [b]@gunnerstaal[/b] As each day passes in the playoffs it seems that it also comes with a new disciplinary issue. The one thing that most people who are dire...
icedog97 writes...

Expect the Unexpected?

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Four games into the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals match-up between the Penguins and Flyers -- and [b]just about anybody that thought they had a clue how this series would turn out is simply at a loss for a reasonable explanation to what we have seen so far.[/b] Each game has been it's own little anomaly. Going into Wednesday night's 'do or die game' for the Pengu...
[b]"Big Splash"[/b] So Ek reports today that the Leafs([i]Burke[/i]) are([i]is[/i]) yet again proclaiming to the hockey world that they will be making bold moves this off-season. Not only will they be doing whatever it takes to get Rick Nash out of Columbus but they will also be signing a high end free agent. Haven't we heard this all before? Yes, of course we have ...
[b]For everything hockey 24/7 follow me on TWITTER @DailyNHLGrind[/b] [img]http://athletes-celebrities.tseworld.com/cached/_images/maintainwidth/160x192/3289d6466a2cd8483042263f956c9f7d/shanahan-brendan-160-1933.jpg[/img] Well here’s something each and every single one of us hockey fans have been aware of all season long. Brendan Shanahan—the head disciplinarian o...
This Offseason, the penguins have work to do to get ready for the upcoming season. They've already made some splashes sending Jordan Staal to Carolina for Sutter, Pouliot, and Brian Dumoulin. They signed Tanner Glass who is perfect to fill in for Asham. They traded Michalek and signed some low key guys. . ...
AarifDeen writes...

Offseason Review: Part 4 of 6

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
[u]I apologize for the late submission of part 4. I've been having trouble on this website getting this uploaded. Finally got it to work. Thanks for reading![/u] [b]For everything hockey - 24/7 news updates, scores, humour, blogs, and everything else in between, please follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind. [/b] [b]15. Los Angeles: [/b] Lad...
slickshotsabre writes...

Kaleta got a 5er!

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Im sorry but what?rnrnhow the hell did kaleta get a 5 game suspension for a nudge? that hit was barely a hit, Richards fell more than he was pushed, especially the day before the air jump on lundin was only a 4 gamer. to me this makes no sense
It's that time of the year...Stanley Cup Playoffs. Also a perfect time to write my first blog. I may be a penguins fan but I am going to attack this from a non-biased approach. There are a couple teams this year that I believe have a legitimate chance at winning the cup and also a couple who have little to no shot of getting anywhere close to lord Stanley's cup. So ...
I can’t say that the end of the Buffalo Sabres season has been that painful. To be completely honest, I’m not really looking forward to next season. However, in the mean time, I’ve been enjoying some extremely entertaining hockey in the first round of the 2013 NHL playoffs. Unfortunately, things are getting out of control. It seems like every playoff season, ...
icedog97 writes...

Not Good Enough

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I am an optimistic person at heart. I usually look for the good in a situation and believe all things are possible...with the right determination and effort. I'll keep fighting to the end if the cause is right. But...I am also a realistic person. I can look at a situation and see it for what it is (most of the time). When I watch the Penguins play...playoff ...
The rest of the hockey world is laughing at you, the Pittsburgh Penguins. They say that the ALL STAR team assembled in Pittsburgh, stock full of Hall of Fame like talent is an elite bunch of brats and when crunch time comes, they fold like an old picnic table. After watching the first two games of the series against the Bruins, where it seems like the Penguins are mo...
icedog97 writes...

Nobody Asked Me But...

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
-- The Boston Bruins are making the Chicago Blackhawks look a lot like the Penguins did in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 4 is huge for the Hawks (says Captain Obvious) but it will be even more difficult to win if Marian Hossa is out of the line-up again. Either way, it will be interesting to see if Chicago can make any adjustments to help them out of the sleeper hold...
The Penguins have made some changes in their coaching staff during this off season and based on last years sweep by the Bruins, we expect to see some of those changes reflected in how they play the game on the ice. I think it's pretty clear the hiring of Jacques Martin is a sign that Ray Shero wants his team to be able to respond better in situations where their origina...
Many users have already written about the Scott/Kessel ordeal, here are some of the most important facts to keep in mind before stating your opinion on the matter: - Scott was on the ice already during the Tropp fight and stayed on the ice - Carlyle put Kessel out on the ice, knowing Scott was already out there - Scott was going to fight whoever was put n...
tylercastro writes...

Clarkson Out for Two Games

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Well last night I thought Maple Leafs right wing, David Clarkson, would get 5+ games for his hit to the head on Blues forward Vladimir Sobotka. I did feel wrong after I let that post out. I brought my thinking down to more like 3 games tops. Clarkson luckily for him and his team only received two games. But that doesn't take away the fact that Clarkson is now going to miss...
Brayton writes...

Welcome to the NHLol

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Welcome to the National Hockey League! Where our inconsistencies make our league a laughing stock in sports! The NHL are up to their usual antics of throwing random suspensions at players for their illegal actions during hockey games. It has been a reoccurring event for the NHL to be doing this ever since the Department of Player Safety was created. The latest string...
As the hockey world awaits the fate of Matt Cooke for his knee-on-knee hit on Colorado's Tyson Barrie, it is perhaps worth taking a minute to think about the legacy that Cooke's career has shaped over the past decade or so. Upon doing so, one may discern certain obvious patterns - the object of this post. Think for a minute about what that word 'pattern' really means, for ...
A 4-2 series victory over the Blue Jackets in round 1. It's about what I expected. Sure, like a lot of Penguin fans I would have loved to see a 4-0 series sweep...with dominating performances by our top guys and stellar goaltending by MAF. But...this is the NHL. Two quality teams play each other and rarely does one dominate the other (no...I am not forgetting the...
icedog97 writes...

Crosby

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Lets say, because he said it, that Sidney Crosby does not have an injury. Let's also say, for all intents and purposes, he doesn't feel tired (although I kind of think he was worn out and won't admit it). Why did the guy that a lot of people consider to be one of the most competitive guys in hockey...look so defeated throughout most of the playoffs? Why did he not...
"In a new General Managers first press conference, we want to hear his 5-year plan, - not that he sees his time here as short term."rnrn"I wanted a young, new, fresh general manager, not this old guy."rnrn"The Hurricanes haven't made the playoffs in five years, how is this an improvement for the Penguins?" rnrnThese, among others, are the complaints I've heard about new Pe...
"In a new General Managers first press conference, we want to hear his 5-year plan, - not that he sees his time here as short term." "I wanted a young, new, fresh general manager, not this old guy." "The Hurricanes haven't made the playoffs in five years, how is this an improvement for the Penguins?" These, among others, are the complaints I've heard about new Penguins Gen...
"In a new General Managers first press conference, we want to hear his 5-year plan, - not that he sees his time here as short term." "I wanted a young, new, fresh general manager, not this old guy." "The Hurricanes haven't made the playoffs in five years, how is this an improvement for the Penguins?" These, among others, are the complaints I've heard about new Penguins Gen...
"In a new General Managers first press conference, we want to hear his 5-year plan, - not that he sees his time here as short term." "I wanted a young, new, fresh general manager, not this old guy." "The Hurricanes haven't made the playoffs in five years, how is this an improvement for the Penguins?" These, among others, are the complaints I've heard about new Penguins Gen...
"In a new General Managers first press conference, we want to hear his 5-year plan, - not that he sees his time here as short term." "I wanted a young, new, fresh general manager, not this old guy." "The Hurricanes haven't made the playoffs in five years, how is this an improvement for the Penguins?" These, among others, are the complaints I've heard about new Penguins Gen...
"In a new General Managers first press conference, we want to hear his 5-year plan, - not that he sees his time here as short term." "I wanted a young, new, fresh general manager, not this old guy." "The Hurricanes haven't made the playoffs in five years, how is this an improvement for the Penguins?" These, among others, are the complaints I've heard about new Penguins Gen...
"In a new General Managers first press conference, we want to hear his 5-year plan, - not that he sees his time here as short term." "I wanted a young, new, fresh general manager, not this old guy." "The Hurricanes haven't made the playoffs in five years, how is this an improvement for the Penguins?" These, among others, are the complaints I've heard about new ...
"In a new General Managers first press conference, we want to hear his 5-year plan, - not that he sees his time here as short term." "I wanted a young, new, fresh general manager, not this old guy." "The Hurricanes haven't made the playoffs in five years, how is this an improvement for the Penguins?" These, among others, are the complaints I've heard about new ...
http://nhlpenguins.sportsblog.com/posts/665899/penguins_realistic_free_agency_idea.html
http://nhlpenguins.sportsblog.com/posts/665899/penguins_realistic_free_agency_idea.html
For NHL GM's the real challenge is, and always will be, getting your money's worth (or more) for your team. The complex problem they face is this - who do you pay a 'premium' salary and who gets the 'average' salary? Since Pascal Dupuis is a common target on the Penguins Hockeybuzz forum...I'll use him as an example. For this comparison I will use simple statistics f...
[b]Follow me on Twitter @DailyNHLGRIND[/b] [b]A Glance Back[/b] I don’t think anybody could have predicted the outcome of the brutally nicknamed metro-terrible division last season. Columbus impressed while the Capitals faltered. The Penguins took a dip in the playoffs while the Rangers surprised many after a rough start. Other teams sort of slotted right into thei...
hockeylife writes...

Downie up

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
When I first heard that the Pittsburgh Penguins had acquired Steve Downie I was excited because he is a guy who can play in a bottom 6 role and even help put some pucks in the net. I still think he can put pucks in the net, however I am getting tired of him playing in the penalty box. He has a league high 78 PIMs which is not helping the Penguins at all. His selfish pen...
icedog97 writes...

Thanksgiving (2009)

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Quite a bit has changed for me personally in the past 5 years (separation/divorce)...death of family members and my sister's life threatening cancer...but when I read this blog again today...I knew it STILL applies. From 2009 --- It's the time of year when you take a minute and reflect upon your life and the things in it that you are thankful for. If you haven't done...
[b]FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind[/b] The Avs lost their second consecutive game in overtime Thursday night after Blake Comeau scored the only goal of the game 2:24 into the overtime period. Calvin Pickard faced 48 shots and saved all but one in front of a rowdy crowd in Pittsburgh. The Avs fought valiantly through 40 minutes exchanging shots...
Florida Panthers’ defenseman Dmitry Kulikov injured Stars’ forward Tyler Seguin on Friday, February 13th. Kulikov was given a major penalty for clipping Seguin in the third period of the game. Seguin may be out 3-6 weeks with his injury. He was both the Stars’ leading point and goal scorer. It was announced earlier today by the NHL department of safety that Kulikov w...
I know what you're thinking. Madness! Insanity! The Penguins have the world's best player in Sidney Crosby. But hear me out before you start chartering my bus to the looney bin. People often praise Oakland Athletics' GM Billy Beane for being a trailblazer in the name of building a team outside the box. Pittsburgh Penguins' GM Jim Rutherford has an opportunity to c...
Zygiella writes...

A call to suspend Subban

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
By now, in the myriad of news articles and videos; we can all see the damage done and we'll all fall on one side of the fence or another. Here's an idea: Suspend Subban - not the league, but the team. Sure, it's a little bit of a wild notion but it might help clear the air, focus on hockey and show the Senators just how strong the Habs are. 1) The Habs are very...
In this article, I will outline which teams I believe will ice the top special team's index's this upcoming season. For those who are unsure what a special team index is; It is a number developed by adding both the PK% and the PP% of a specific team. As a reference point, last season the St. Louis Blues had the best index at 106, while the Sabres posted the worst index a...
In Pittsburgh, there was an incident in the second period between Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Blue Jackets alternate captain Brandon Dubinsky. During the incident, Dubinsky and Crosby were in front of the Penguins goalie. Dubinsky was playing the man and was trying to create space for himself to score a goal, and Crosby was putting pressure on him. Dubin...
Prior to the NHL All Star Weekend, Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman hit a referee from behind. The ref got up and seemed to be okay after the collision. Prior to the hit, Wideman was hit from behind by Nashville Predators winger Miikka Salomaki. Wideman appeared to be dazed, and immediately went to the bench holding his arm, but claimed he had a concussion. Her...
In last night's contest between Columbus and Philadelphia, winger Jared Boll interfered with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and got a 5 minute major for interference and a game misconduct. The question is whether or not the league will suspend him. Since this is not a face to face meeting, it will be less than five games. Boll was suspended almost a year ago today for an illegal...
The 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs have been intense and physical thus far. There are multiple series that are three games to one, followed up with pushing, shoving, name-calling, and fist-flying. However, this blog will discuss the dominating issues in the game that have been trending over the past several days. The major issue has come from the Chicago Blackhawks - St...
Over the past couple of years, there have troubles around NHL players and law enforcement and court systems. Seymon Varlamov. Slava Voynov. Clayton Stoner. Sean Avery. Ian White. Aaron Ward. Dan LaCouture. Jack Johnson. Linden Vey. Mike Richards. Jarrett Stoll. Alex Galchenyuk. Devante Smith-Pelly. Garett Ross. Patrick Kane. Evander Kane. And the list continues to grow. ...
Over the past couple of years, there have troubles around NHL players and law enforcement and court systems. Seymon Varlamov. Slava Voynov. Clayton Stoner. Sean Avery. Ian White. Aaron Ward. Dan LaCouture. Jack Johnson. Linden Vey. Mike Richards. Jarrett Stoll. Alex Galchenyuk. Devante Smith-Pelly. Garett Ross. Patrick Kane. Evander Kane. And the list continues to grow. ...
Over the past couple of years, there have troubles around NHL players and law enforcement and court systems. Seymon Varlamov. Slava Voynov. Clayton Stoner. Sean Avery. Ian White. Aaron Ward. Dan LaCouture. Jack Johnson. Linden Vey. Mike Richards. Jarrett Stoll. Alex Galchenyuk. Devante Smith-Pelly. Garett Ross. Patrick Kane. Evander Kane. And the list continues to grow. ...

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