"The Pittsburgh Penguins have won a hockey game."
Paul Steigerwald's comment at the final buzzer

Wow, don't sound so surprised.  Just kidding, I'm right there with ya Steigy.

I know, it's the Thrashers - but the Penguins needed this one.  This team needed a glimmer of hope in any way, shape or form.  All it took was one strong outing to end a miserable season-low five-game losing streak. 

I'll take it.

Of course it didn't come without some expense.  After dishing a right cross that tested the durability of Colby Armstrong's face, Ruslan Fedotenko skated to the dressing room shaking the needles out of his hand in obvious discomfort.  This came after Paul Steigerwald double-jinxed Fedo by saying he was the team's best player as of late.

Steigy, try this next time: "Jordan Staal is the best player on the ice by far."

Thanks in advance.

Moments after the Pens watched their Russian winger head to the dressing room they also glanced in discomfort as Pascal Dupuis followed in suit.  The Pens best player as of late and one of the best PK guys were gone within minutes.  Great.

No matter though.  Marc-Andre Fleury was a phantom in net.  Minus Ilya Kovalchuk's late third period goal the Thrashers just couldn't beat him.  Save after save kept the Pens in this one.  Too close on too many occasions?  Yeah, you could say that.  But at least he was stopping them tonight.

When Fleury wasn't dancing around the crease Petr Sykora was dishing out goal-scoring lessons to the rest of the Pens early on.  How many times have we sat anxiously on the edge of our seats waiting for Syko to turn a two-goal night into a hat trick?  Well, if you've seen every single one of Sykora's games then 38 - but I was hoping you wouldn't take me literally.  In either case mark it 39 now, but it's hardly something to be ashamed of.

Crosby showed a lot of grit out there on the ice tonight.  He was hitting, jawing, jabbing, pushing and above all scoring.  Sid's three-game scoreless drought ended with a power play goal in the second.

And yes, even the power play came out to play tonight.  Yeah that's right, 2-for-6.  Technically I'd say 2-for-5 since the final PP came with only 48 seconds remaining in the game, but whatever.  Beggars can't be choosers. 

Well done boys, well done.

Continue reading this post »

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (19-17-4) vs ATLANTA THRASHERS (13-22-5)

IN PITTSBURGH @ 7:30

RADIO FEED ON WXDX.COM, for video try channelsurfing.net

Find a video feed here

ATLANTA THRASHERS BLOG: DO THE THRASHERS HAVE LARGE TALONS?

NOTES

Get your SPG picks in for a chance to win a Penguins wall clock courtesy of Carrolls Cove.  The contest ends at the All-Star Break, so now's the time to start making your moves.

Fleury in net for the Pens again.

Lehtonen between the pipes for Atlanta.

Record: 13-22-5

Leading scorers: Ilya Kovalchuk (13G, 26A, 39pts), Vyacheslav Kozlov (16G, 20A, 36pts)

Blogs: DO THE THRASHERS HAVE LARGE TALONS?

Here we go again.  Doesn't it feel like the Penguins just played them?  In any case, this should hopefully be the game that turns it around for the Penguins (I know, I've said it for five straight games already).  Let's take a look at the previous matchups this season:

On paper...er, blog, it would appear this game is in favor of the Pens.  But as we've discovered in other instances this season it's far too sketchy too make those kinds of predictions.

The Thrashers are 1-4-1 in their last six, their only win of 2009 coming against the Lightning in a shootout on January 2 [EDIT: Canucks, thanks HockeyWench].  Kari Lehtonen (4-9-2) is back in net for the Thrash and has yet to really play lights out hockey.  Earlier in the season he was bothered by flu and back symptoms that have subsided enough for him to return to the ice.

Former Pen Colby Armstrong has lit the lamp 10 times this season, bringing him only six short of his career-high 16 during the Penguins' 2005-06 season.  I'd imagine he'll accomplish this feat in 09, barring injury of course.

Unless the Pens are comfortable with losing their sixth straight (I'm sure they're not) then tonight's 7:30 game is a must win.

Injuries after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

It's bad enough the Penguins skated into this game having not won a single game in all of 2009 - but a shutout - well, that just stings even more.

One minute into this game said it all - goal, Rangers.

Not much has changed since the team held their players-only meeting.  The power play is still coming up short (0-for-8 tonight, including two 5-on-3), the offense can't generate anything (see also: the goose egg) and Michel Therrien is starting to show signs of frustration with each and every goal that whizzes past a defenseless Fleury and/or Sabourin..

Yes, not much has changed. 

But if you look beyond the surface it's an entirely different story.  There's a tension, a frustration, a pensive attitude that asks, "what's next?"

Could the Thrashers game pose as Michel Therrien's last stand?  Is Ray Shero at his wits' end, looking for a replacement/promotion/resolution to the team's current dilemma?  Sad to say, but this is all a wait-and-see game.

Let's talk offense.  The Penguins have scored eight goals over the last give games.  That's just a little over 1.5 goals per game.  Definition: miserable.

The chances were there tonight against the Rangers but Henrik Lundqvist wasn't having any of it.  He was solid as can be between the pipes.

Godard dropped the mitts on principle alone.  There was no way to rally the team at that point and it definitely wasn't going to keep Orr off Malkin and Crosby, but at least we can walk away from this one knowing Orr will think twice about punching a helmet next time.

And what of that final Rangers power play? Slick move by head coach Tom Renney. Hey Tom, if you're trying to make a statement by sending out your top power play with under a minute remaining in a 4-0 lead you just did - you're a complete idiot.

Continue reading this post »

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (19-16-4) vs NEW YORK RANGERS (23-14-3)

IN NEW YORK @ 7:05

This one's on VERSUS

RADIO FEED ON WXDX.COM, for video try channelsurfing.net

P2P NHL feed available here

RANGERS BLOGS: BEYOND THE BLUESHIRTS |  NY RANGERS BLOG

NOTES

Get your SPG picks in for a chance to win a Penguins wall clock courtesy of Carrolls Cove.

Fleury will be in net for the Pens.

Lundqvist is expected in net for Rangers after sitting out last game with the flu.

By the look of things in the pregame story, expect Satan to make an appearance on some of the deeper lines.  He's listed here as a fourth line winger.

I've seen weirder questions asked in my day, but so far in 2009 this one takes the cake.

Here's a small excerpt from Dave Molinari's recent Q&A at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  Apparently they feel he's a superior voice on the situation who can give his educated input into such riveting user-involved questions.

Q: Should the Penguins trade Sidney Crosby while they can still get top value for him? It is obvious that his skills are diminishing and his turnovers have cost us many games. This team needs a leader with some grit!

Donny Roy, McKeesport

MOLINARI: Absolutely. Even though Crosby has been pretty ordinary for most of the first half -- no doubt leading teams to conclude that, at age 21, his best years are far, far behind him -- you have to believe Ray Shero still might be able to steal a late-round draft choice for him from some club. Well, a conditional one, anyway. If he acts quickly, that is.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wow, so the guy goes through a little slump (whereby he's still ranked third in the league in scoring) and suddenly he's trade bait?  I'd hate to see what your reaction is when your significant other says, "Sorry, I have a headache."

And for a late-round draft choice no less?  Come on.  This is just ridiculous.

I read this and prayed it was sarcasm.  Both the question and the response.

Please...please...tell me you're kidding and I'll put this ALL behind me.

If not, here's my suggestion: Marc-Andre Fleury has given up a ton of goals lately, Sidney Crosby is playing like crap and Petr Sykora is just 'meh.'  I say we trade all three of them heads up for a box of band-aids (for the rash of injuries), a drum of ice for injuries (afterwards can be melted down for water - double value!) and a dozen game-used sticks (they're more 'broken in').

I don't even know what else to say...

Record:23-14-3

Leading scorers: Nikolai Zherdev (12G, 23A, 35pts), Markus Naslund (14G, 13A, 27pts)

Blogs: NY Rangers Blog | Beyond the Blueshirts

Since the last time these two teams met on December 3, the Rangers have received a reality check by dropping to second in the Atlantic Division.  Following that 3-2 shootout win at Madison Square Garden, the Blueshirts have posted a rather unflattering 5-6-1 record (not that the Pens can talk with a 5-10 record of their own).

Regardless, the Rangers are home tonight at Madison Square Garden after dropping a 2-1 game to the Capitals on Saturday that included a Marc Staal beatdown by a bongo-playing Alexander Semin (video).

Something to look out for: forward Nikolai Zherdev fairs well against the Penguins this season, scoring a goal in each of the meetings. 

In the event the Rangers win remember to switch away ASAP.  That stupid stick raise crap at center ice is worthless.

I think it's safe to say tonight's game isn't so much about beating the Rangers as it is an attempt to try and right the wrongs of the past two weeks.  Here's the Penguins' chance to pick up a few points in the Atlantic and get themselves back into the playoff hunt.  If all else fails, we can at least hope for a Crosby/Semin fight.  That could easily provide some entertainment on the night. [Edit: Um, I'm an idiot.  I meant to say Colton Orr since he bugged the hell out of Sid last time but I was caught up in this whole bongo thing.  Mah bad.]