Penguins Hockey

A trip home may be in order

2010-05-28T13:39:00.000-04:00

Apparently the Penguins will face off against the Capitals on New Years Day at Heinz Field. I don't have the time right now to go searching for the whole story, but I'll get to it....

I'm thinking that a trip back home to catch the game may be in order now....with or without hubby and kids.....lol

Amazing Tribute Video to the Igloo

2010-05-14T14:51:00.000-04:00

I have so many memories of the Igloo. *I've never been able to call it the Mellon Arena, it's always been either the Igloo or the Civic Arena to me*

My memories mainly start in 1990 when I really started to follow hockey. Once I hit high school, I started going to the games and the times were great. Watching that video made me remember all the games and great times I've had there. And not just at hockey games....concerts, the circus....so many events, and I will DEFINITELY miss that building. I really hope they find another use for it instead of just tearing it down.

Video of Thanks from the Penguins

2010-05-14T14:38:00.001-04:00

Wonderful Tribute Video

2010-05-13T07:36:00.001-04:00

Found this over on Benstonium. What a wonderful video.....Go and visit the site, there's quite a few videos there that are worth watching.

Yeah, I'm bummed that the season is over for the Penguins, but ya know what, they had a great run. As the announcers said on Vs last night, the Pens didn't necessarily lose the series, but Montreal just played that damn good! Damn that Halak...at times he was like a freaking wall in that net.

I'll be cheering on Boston in their Game 7 matchup against the hated Flyers. That would make for an interesting Eastern Conference Finals....Boston and Montreal....They hate each other!

Anyway....I guess it's time to say good-bye to the beloved Igloo. I'm still working on my tribute so look for that in the future. Until then.....to the Penguins I say, Good Season. See ya next year!!! Can't wait!

Game 4

2010-05-07T08:34:00.000-04:00

Wow....what a game. First, let me say I was shocked to see that Staal was back on the ice again so soon after having the tendon in his foot surgically fixed. It was great to have him back, but I admit, everytime he got hit or turned quick, I gasped and yelled at the tv, "Be careful for crying out loud!" Like he'd hear me......lol Oh well...I do A LOT of yelling at the tv... I do it during NCIS for crying out loud! lol

Anyway...the outcome was less than I wanted, but it was a great game. Not sure what happened there in the 3rd period. Montreal certainly came out to play that period where as the Pens seemed to have fallen asleep.

Game 5 Saturday night in Pittsburgh. Can't wait!

GO PENS!!!!

2nd Round...

2010-04-29T07:33:00.003-04:00

Oh, this is getting good! Starting tomorrow night, the Penguins face off against the Montreal Canadians. With Montreal winning Game 7 against Washington,

*seriously, how sweet was that? I thought I saw tears in Ovi's eyes!*

it set the second round series in place with Montreal facing off against the Penguins and Boston against Philadelphia.

Talking with my Boston fan husband last night, he made a good point to my wish that the Pens were gonna face Boston in the 2nd round...He said that he'd much rather have it this way so that if both Boston and Pittsburgh beat their respective round two opponents, we would face each other in the Eastern Conference Finals and would at least then definitely have a invested interest in the Stanely Cup Finals.

Although, unlike him, I don't care who's in the final game, I still watch it. I don't have to like either team to watch hockey, the game itself is just that great.

So, here's the schedule for Round 2

Friday, April 30th @ 7:00 PM, Pittsburgh (NBC, CBC, RDS)
Sunday, May 2nd @ 2:00 PM, Pittsburgh (CBC, RDS, VERSUS)
Tuesday, May 4th @ 7:00 PM, Montreal (CBC, RDS, VERSUS)
Thursday, May 6th @ 7:00 PM, Montreal (CBC, RDS, VERSUS)
Saturday, May 8th @ 7:00 PM, Pittsburgh (CBC, RDS, VERSUS)
Monday, May 10th @ 7:00 PM, Montreal (CBC, RDS, VERSUS)*
Wednesday, May 12th @ TBD, Pittsburgh (TBD CBC, RDS, VERSUS)*

*if needed
Go Pens!!!

Question

2010-04-26T08:09:00.000-04:00

Do you think they Penguins won Game 6 or do you think Ottawa lost Game 6?

I'm not sure of this answer myself. Part of me says that Ottawa didn't come out strong enough in OT, but the other part of me says that Pittsburgh just came out playing ten times harder in OT to make sure they got the win.

So what do you think?

Ben and the 6 game suspension

2010-04-23T14:40:00.000-04:00

Sorry, this has been bugging me since the suspension was announced.

6 games??

Seriously Goodell?? Just HOW do you justify giving Ben a 6 game suspension, with a "good behavior" clause of having to only serve four games??

Yes, I know, he violated the leagues personal conduct policy. So did Michael Vick, and he was guilty and served jail time, but he only had to serve 2 of the 6 games you slapped him with.

Ben is the FIRST player to be suspended under the leagues personal conduct policy who hasn't been charged or convicted of a crime. This tells me that you, Mr. Goodell, are using Ben as an example to the rest of the league.

Don't get me wrong, I think the NFL has every right to suspend Ben for his unbecoming conduct, BUT I can't see the justification in this suspension.

6 weeks could make or break a team in the NFL. For crying out loud, there are only 17 weeks of football and only 16 games per team! It's not like hockey, baseball, or basketball where they play over a 100 games a season!

If the Steelers don't deal Ben as has been rumored, then having him missing even four games could potentially be very detrimental to the teams' success this upcoming season.

With the likes of Charlie Batch, Byron Leftwich, and Dennis Dixon as back up QB's, you are putting A LOT in their hands in the beginning of a season, which, I've already pointed out is just plain crazy in my book.

No one knows what the depth chart will look like until training camp gets underway. Yeah, Dixon did pretty well last year when we needed him, but he's YOUNG! I know, so was Ben, but c'mon....

If Goodell can rationalize his reasons for a 6 game suspension, then I'd gladly let this topic go, but until then, I think Ben is being used as an example. And that's not necessarily something Goodell may want to do. Don't these things tend to backfire in a huge way??

Way behind

2010-04-12T07:39:00.000-04:00

I know, I'm so far behind on things...both here and on my family blog. So busy at work I haven't been able to do much. I wanted to do a piece on the Civic "Mellon" Arena...I still will, I promise, I just have to make time to do the proper research and get the post together.

For now, I leave you with the Penguins first round schedule. As you should all know by now, we face Ottawa during the first round and we do have home ice advantage. The schedule is:

Wed 4/14 @ 7 pm
Fri 4/16 @ 7 pm
Sun 4/18 @ 6:30 pm (Ottawa)
Tues 4/20 @ 7 pm (Ottawa)
Thurs 4/22 @ 7 pm *If Needed*
Sat 4/24 @ 7 pm (Ottawa) *If Needed*
Tues 4/27 @ 7 pm *If Needed*

I will say this though, I was shocked to see that the Caps won the conference. I haven't been paying much attention to the actual standings and when I looked at them last night to see the first round match-ups, I was shocked. I don't think I've ever wanted Montreal to win so bad in the playoffs before!

Eastern Conference Matchups:
Capitals vs Montreal
New Jersey vs Philadelphia
Buffalo vs Boston
Pittsburgh vs Ottawa

My Notes:
Like I said, I want Montreal to win so bad. I really despise the Capitals and while it would be nice to knock them out of the playoffs again this year, I suppose we can share the glory of that with someone else this time...lol

NJ vs Philly, boy....who do I root for here? Can't root for NJ cuz they have our number this year. Did we beat them at all? Wanna say no, but don't quote me on it cuz I'm not 100% sure. Philly....I hate 'em...what more can I say? But I guess I'll have to root for Philly since NJ seems to want us served on a silver platter and seems to be able to make that happen.

Buff vs Boston....Who'd have thought that Buffalo would make the playoffs. I sure didn't. Shocked that Carolina didn't do better....And seeing as how I don't care for Buffalo in any sport, I will be rooting for Boston. Which should make my husband happy...lol

Don't think I have to state who I'm rooting for in the Pgh vs Ottawa matchup do I ????

Western Conference Matchups:
San Jose vs Colorado
Chicago vs Nashville
Vancouver vs Los Angeles
Phoenix vs Detroit

My Notes:
I don't pay much attention to the Western Conference teams so I'm unable to make predictions here....well except for that last matchup.

I'm honestly shocked at Detroit's play this year. What the hell happened to them? Did losing to the Penguins last year totally devastate them that bad??? lmao They can't possibly miss Hossa that bad....And he's injured again anyway so maybe the Hawks have a chance at winning something this year. lol

That's bout it from me for now. Like I said, I'll work on the research about the igloo and put together a post about it. While I'm sad to see the old building go, I'm excited about the Consol Energy Center. I just hope they can find something to use the Igloo for instead of tearing it down. There are so many plans out there that they could make happen, like an indoor/outdoor skating rink and shopping center.....that would be a terrific idea I think. Would certainly bring more people down to that area. But either way, the Igloo certainly holds A LOT of memories for so many in Pittsburgh. I'll miss it for sure.

USA vs Canada

2010-03-01T08:08:00.000-05:00

Wow.......

What more can I say???

That was one hell of a game yesterday!!!

And while the United States lost the game, I guess I really can't be that upset....

I mean, c'mon, Sid the Kid scored the game winning goal!!

I was torn on who to root for anyway.....I love Sid and Fleury, but it's U.S.A. How can I root against my home team??? I couldn't in the end and sat glued to my t.v. yesterday. Nothing was pulling me from my game....even kicked the kids off of the Wii so that I could watch the game.

But...I'm happy. No one really expected the U.S. to be able to beat Canada to begin with. Team U.S.A. was a young team....a VERY young team. I can't complain.....a Silver Medal is nothing to sneeze at.

Congrats to Team U.S.A. and to Team Canada....they both definitely deserve a lot of accolades for their outstanding performances.

The Olympics

2010-02-18T07:56:00.001-05:00

I've been watching some of the Olympics every night since they started this week. Last nights Snowboarding Competition had me glued to the tv. For some reason, I was SERIOUSLY interested in seeing if Shaun White could successfully defend his Gold Medal from the 2006 Olympics. And, I wasn't dissappointed.

Watching his qualifying run amazed me. He did so well on his first run that he didn't even need to do a second run because his score immediately qualified him for the Finals.

Well, the same thing happened with his first run in the Finals. He scored so high that it gave him the Gold Medal, but he went and did his second run, I guess just for kicks, and he debuted his new flip/jump/move, whatever he calls it, (just found the name of this new move.....he has dubbed it the "Double McTwist 1260", and it entails flipping twice while completing 3½ revolutions) and holy crap batman!! Shaun walked away from that run with a 48.5 score. Now that may seem low if you think they base it on 100 points, but they don't. The best possible score you can get is a 50.

In short, I think Shaun White is a pretty amazing guy with A TON of guts in that body of his. Or....he's just plain crazy. *grin*

So Congrats to Shaun White on the Gold Medal. Congrats are also in order for Lindsey Vonn, of women's Alpine Downhill Skiing, and Shani Davis in Men's Speedskating for claiming Gold in their respective events.

The U.S. set a record high for medals earned in one day, by winning six medals, including the three Gold. The previous record was 5 medals, 3 Gold earned in 2002 at Salt Lake City.

The U.S. now sits atop the leaderboad with 14 Medals earned so far. Next is Germany with 10. Canada only has 6 medals so far so I'm beginning to wonder if their whole "Own the Podium" idea is starting to crumble.......

New Pens Commercial

2010-02-12T14:31:00.000-05:00

For those of you who don't live in Pittsburgh, like me, and haven't seen the new commercial.....

Pens and Pins 1/22/10

2010-02-12T14:23:00.000-05:00

Consol Energy Center Construction Update

2010-02-12T14:09:00.002-05:00

My 3 Favorite Super Bowl Ads

2010-02-11T07:36:00.001-05:00

First two are ads for Doritos and the other is E*Trade.

So the last one isn't all that funny, but I just love the little girl going "Milk-a-what?" lmao....Yes, I'm easily amused. :)

Max Vs Sid Round 2

2010-01-25T09:30:00.002-05:00

They're Not Leaving.....

2010-01-25T08:52:00.000-05:00

Hilarious Video

2010-01-19T07:53:00.002-05:00

Quick Update

2010-01-12T08:13:00.000-05:00

This has to be a quick recap of the last three games........Busy packing up stuff here at work to move to my new space!! Yay! lol

Ok, so we lost to the Flyers, ugh, last Thursday. I didn't even watch the game, but then again I was pretty out of it after having four teeth removed earlier in the day so....all I know is they lost.

We did beat Toronto on Saturday...again, still recovering from being attacked by the dentist, so I didn't see that game either. *sigh* I hate dentists *grin*

And yup, you guessed it, I missed last nights game as well....a loss to the Minnesota Wild. Who knew!? I had drill last night with the fire department...went down to the County Jail for training on our new radio system....joy.

Hopefully soon, my life will slow down and I'll actually be able to watch more games....that is what I order the NHL Centre Ice package for every year after all.....

In other news.....personal news that is.....in March, hubby and I will be flying into Tampa Bay to take in some Spring Training action. We'll stop by the hated Phillies and Yankees camps first as they are near to Tampa and then shoot down to Port St. Lucie to take in the Mets. If nothing else goes right, we HAVE to at least get Jose Reyes' autograph. Marissa absolutely LOVES Reyes and if we come home without it, well, we might as well not come home at all!!! Yes, the girls WILL be staying home. This is our first vacation alone since we went to Vegas to get married in 04!

There is a pretty good chance we will be back in Pittsburgh in June. My aunt and uncle are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and we'll be making the trip in. As I haven't so much as spoken to them once since my father passed away in 2003, I was shocked to get a Christmas card with info about it. So even if we decide to not even attend the party, we will be in the Burgh....planning on taking the kids to the Zoo...praying the weather will be nice because the girls LOVE animals and they will love the zoo. Haylee wants to see her family members over in the primate section...lol

Ok.....back to packing. Did I mention I hate moving?? No matter where...home or work?

Pens VS Thrashers

2010-01-06T07:51:00.000-05:00

Thanks to some great goaltending by back up goalie Brent Johnson, the Penguins were able to end their losing streak and beat the Thrashers 5-2 last night. Along with great goaltending, Staal had a pretty good game himself. Scoring two of the five goals and getting one assist.

However, Staal and Johnson were by far, not the only guys out there helping the team end that nasty slide.

Nine different players, including Johnson, found their names on the scoring sheet last night. Letang 1 goal, Staal, 2 goals - 1 assist, Fedotenko, 1 goal - 1 assist, Caputi, 1 goal, Cooke with 1 assist, Kennedy with 2 assists, Goligoski, Malkin, and Johnson, all with one assist.

Placing newly called up Caputi on the line with Malkin and Fedotenko was a great idea. Malkin set Caputi up for an empty net goal 8:32 into the third period. He also saw action on the top power play line.

It's nice to see the guys being able to celebrate after a game again. It's hard to watch them all feel defeated and upset by the losses.

And it's certainly great to see guys other than our "superstars" scoring points.

As long as they can keep their momentum going into tomorrow nights game against the Flyers.

Then it is on the road for the next five games. And I feel like it's an All Canada Road Trip, with a stop in Minnesota to take on the Wild, but hey, they are close enough to Canada aren't they? lol The Penguins will return home on the 19th to face off against the NY Islanders.

Cowher to return to coaching?

2010-01-05T12:39:00.000-05:00

Despite rumors that he was cooling his efforts to return to coaching in 2010, former Steelers coach, Bill Cowher, is doing the exact opposite.

Tampa Bay officials reached out to Cowher late in the season and have made efforts to secure his services.

However, since Tampa has been unwilling to pay above a range of $5-6 million dollars, that deal may be going down the tubes. There are also other concerns about how much money the team will have to spend on players next season. Should some of these issues be resolved or change, things could get interesting.

Cowher has also reportedly been in contact with the Buffalo Bills, who has just released its entire coaching staff.

People close to Bill Cowher state that he is unlikely to head there, however, if Ralph Wilson offers an upper-crust contract to Cowher, he may just head to Buffalo.

Gonchar and Yeo....and Rupp

2010-01-05T11:55:00.000-05:00

While Gonchar skated before the teams morning skate, it is still unclear if he will return to action tonight.

Assistant Coach Mike Yeo remained in a Tampa Bay hospital yesterday after hoping to be released. The team is still operating on the whole hush hush of the medical situation surround Yeo, but he may be available to be on the bench tonight. Some tests were run earlier this morning but no results as of yet.

Rupp left practice 10 minutes early after taking an errant puck to the mouth. All I can say is.....OUCH!!!!

Chris Kunitz to get surgery

2010-01-05T11:30:00.001-05:00

Ok, so this is bad news for Chris, but this may just be what the Penguins need to get jump started again.

Chris Kunitz will undergo surgery to repair a torn muscle in his abdomen on Wednesday. Chris is expected to miss 4-6 weeks of play.

Which, actually, two of those weeks will be during the Olympics so......

It appears that Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguin, Luca Caputi, will be replacing Kunitz for now.

Fans will remember that Caputi was called up last year and on his very first shift, with his first shot, he scored a goal against Montreal on Feb. 3rd. He went scoreless over the next four games and was ultimately returned to the WBS Penguins where he continues to be one of the most consistent performers.

The 6-foot-2, 184-pound forward is currently the leading goal scorer for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with 13 goals, and ranks third on the club in points (26) through 36 contests. He also has a team-high 121 shots on goal.

Hopefully, this will indeed give the parent company the boost they need and also allow Caputi to shine if he's going to in the NHL. While he's not expected to get much power play time, he is expected to provide some punch along the wings. If he's able to do that as well as he has in both Juniors and in the AHL, he may just finally be able to realize his dream of playing in the NHL on a more permanent basis.

Steelers 2010 opponents

2010-01-04T10:23:00.000-05:00

The Steelers may have been eliminated from the Playoffs yesterday, but their opponents for the upcoming season has been released.

At home, the Steelers will face, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, New England, the New York Jets, Atlanta, Carolina and Oakland.

Away, they face, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Buffalo, Miami, New Orleans, Tampa Bay and Tennessee.

Dates and times will be released in April when the NFL releases the finalized schedules.

Steelers

2010-01-04T10:21:00.002-05:00

What else can I say? For the second time (in my existence), don't know about the Super Bowls they won before I was born), the Steelers have managed to NOT make the playoffs following a Super Bowl win.

With their win yesterday over the Miami Dolphins, which they tried hard to lose yet again in the fourth quarter, they were completely "living on a prayer". Since Houston beat the New England Patriots yesterday afternoon, Pittsburgh needed three teams, Baltimore, Denver, and the NY Jets to lose their games in order for them to make the playoffs. While Denver lost surprisingly to Kansas City. Baltimore beat Oakland 21-13 and the Jets just embarassed the hell out of Cincy....37-0

Matchups for the first round of the playoffs:

Baltimore Ravens VS New England Patriots: Sunday 1/10/10 @ 1pm on CBS
With Wes Welker out indefinitely and Tom Brady hurting for the Patriots, the Ravens should have a good showing in New England. I'll be watching this game and rooting on the Ravens. BUT only because I hate the Patriots that much more and I actually like and respect Ray Lewis.

New York Jets VS Cincinnati Bengals: Saturday 1/9/10 @ 4:30 on NBC
AGAIN. The Bengals will look to get revenge on the Jets for Week 17's embarassing loss. Palmer got nothing...One completion out of 11 attempts and no yards and had one interception. He was chased out of the game and was replaced by J.T. O'Sullivan, but he didn't fare much better, going 3 for 8 with 31 yards. The lockdown of Chad OchoCinco was also key and rumor has it that Chad stated that if he was locked down, he'd change his name back to Chad Johnson. We'll see about that one.

Philadelphia Eagles VS Dallas Cowboys: Saturday 1/9/10 @ 8pm on NBC
As much as I hate the Cowboys, I will be rooting for them to take out the Eagles. Yup, I hate the Eagles that much. Actually, I think it's just a Philly thing as I hate all Philly teams. *grins* Note: This is the second game that has the same teams facing each other as in week 17.

Green Bay Packers VS Arizona Cardinals: Sunday 1/10/10 @ 4:40 on FOX
Just think, wouldn't it be something if the Cardinals made it back to the Super Bowl? If they do, I will root for them this year, afterall, they won't be facing the Steelers this year. AND, this is the third game that showcases teams that faced each other in Week 17. Will the Cardinals make a better appearance than they did Sunday? Afterall, they lost to Green Bay 33-7.

The least they could have done was switch up the matchups....lol.....Although, it does make for some interesting games I think. The losers in week 17 will be looking for retribution while the winners will be looking to hold the teams off yet again. Aaaah....I love the playoffs.

Do you have what it takes to interview a Pittsburgh Penguin?

2010-01-04T09:52:00.002-05:00

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Trib Total Media have teamed up to offer the chance of a lifetime to young fans! Selected winners will get the opportunity to become the "Trib Junior Reporter" for a game, interviewing a Penguins player then attending the game during which the interview is shown on the jumbotron! Fans between the ages of 7 and 12 can submit audition videos online and will become eligible to be selected as the "Trib Junior Reporter" for an upcoming game.

The first winner, Tony Dourlain, interviews Penguins goaltender Brent Johnson

Each winner will receive:

A visit to a Penguins practice with his/her family
An interview with a Penguins Player
Official "Trib Junior Reporter" Gear
Four tickets to the game during which interview will be shown
A tour of Press Row during the game

Oh if I only still lived in Pittsburgh, my oldest daughter would love to do this!!!!

For information on how to enter, http://penguins.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=56383

Mike Yeo hospitalized

2010-01-04T09:39:00.001-05:00

Penguins Assistant Coach, Mike Yeo, is expected to return home to Pittsburgh today, after being hospitalized in a Ft. Lauderdale hospital last night.

Yeo, 36, felt ill Saturday afternoon near the end of the Penguins' loss at Tampa Bay, Coach Bylsma said on Sunday before a 6-2 loss to the Florida Panthers.

Bylsma said Yeo still felt sick yesterday morning and as a precaution was sent to a hospital, where he passed standard tests from physicians. Yeo insisted on working last night, but Bylsma gave a big no to that request. Good to see that he cares how his staff is healthwise.

Bylsma declined to provide specifics on Yeo's condition and assistant athletic trainer Scott Adams remained in Fort Lauderdale with Yeo.

Team USA

2010-01-04T09:19:00.001-05:00

Team USA was finally announced for the Winter Olympics coming in just a few short weeks.

The surprising list of chosen players was announced during the Winter Classic Game that was played on Friday. (btw...great game and Congrats to Boston, my hubby's favorite team, on the win. Thanks for taking care of those pesky Flyers! *grin*)

I say surprising because guys like Billy Guerin and Mike Modano didn't make it this year. The intent of the USA is kind of obvious...they are "passing the torch" to the younger guys, although I'm not too sure of some of the picks. Heck, I haven't heard of some of these players. Then again, I don't pay much attention to the Rangers games and such....only if they are playing the Penguins. I keep an eye on the standings, but that's it. Hopefully if all goes as planned, these younger guys will fill the shoes of the veterans such as Billy G. and Mike M. After all, these guys won't be around forever...unfortunately.

So with all that in mind....

The lineup is as follows:

Forwards:
Joe Pavelski-San Jose Sharks
Zach Parise-New Jersey Devils
Phil Kessel-Toronto Maple Leafs
Jamie Langenbrunner-New Jersey Devils
Paul Stastny-Atlanta Thrashers
Patrick Kane-Chicago Blackhawks
Dustin Brown-Los Angeles Kings
Bobby Ryan-Anaheim Ducks (almost typed in Mighty Ducks...haha)
Ryan Malone-Tampa Bay Lightning (I miss Ryan)
Ryan Kesler-Vancouver Canucks
Ryan Callahan-New York Rangers
Chris Drury-New York Rangers
David Backes-St. Louis Blues

Defense:
Brian Rafalski-Detroit Red Wings
Ryan Suter-Nashville Predators
Paul Martin-New Jersey Devils
Jack Johnson-Los Angeles Kings
Erik Johnson-St. Louis Blues
Brooks Orpik-Pittsburgh Penguins
Mike Komisarek-Toronto Maple Leafs

Goaltenders:
Ryan Miller-Buffalo Sabres
Tim Thomas-Boston Bruins
Jonathan Quick-Los Angeles Kings

With Orpik representing the US this year in the Olympics, it brings the total of 5 Penguins going to the Olympics. For Canada, Crosby and Fleury, for Russia, Malkin and Gonchar.

Officials for Team USA made personal phone calls to the veteran players that were not chosen this year for the team to let them know their decision and to prevent them from hearing the news from others. That was a classy move.

And something else I've noticed....they have A LOT of Ryan's on the team....hope they don't plan on calling them all by their first names!!! That would get confusing quick!

Sid Vs Max

2009-12-31T07:25:00.000-05:00

Sidney Crosby vs Max Talbot and the infamous dryer.....this commercial is set to air tomorrow during the Winter Classic. This is such a great commercial.

Stuck in the snow?? Just call on the Pittsburgh Penguins!!!

2009-12-30T14:19:00.000-05:00

So last night in Buffalo, the Penguins bus got stuck in the snow. So what did the guys do, but get out and try to help push it. Not only the players, but Coach Bylsma got out and pushed along side his players.

How cool is that? Kind of reminds me of the Musketeers....lol

And on a side note, I am completely jealous that they have all that snow over there in Buffalo while those of us here near Albany have NOTHING!!!! Not even a dusting. *sigh* But....and there's always a but (no, not talking about the thing you sit on either), they are predicting a sizeable storm to hit New Years. *big cheesy grin* Of course, I've heard that before living here in Upstate NY.

"Oh, we get nor'easters like you wouldn't believe!"

Oh really, well gee, since I moved here in 98, we have had not a single nor'easter!! What the hell is going on here NY??? Dammit, I want to be snowed in my house and have to dig my way out and take my kids and throw them in a snow bank! I WANT TO MAKE A SNOW ANGEL!!!! Yes, me, grown woman, wants to lie in the snow and make snow angels with her children. Then, I want a snow ball fight to end all snow ball fights. Is that too much too ask???? Seriously, is it??? *sigh*

Good news and even better news

2009-12-24T07:55:00.000-05:00

So Staal did NOT break his nose! How he managed that, I have no idea, cuz that was a hell of a shot off the face! He did receive 5 stitches and they glued the rest closed. He stated that he felt like his nose was "off", so I suppose it felt worse to him and looked worse to us.

He's got a new nickname on the team....."Warrior". It fits. I'm still amazed that he came back to play in the third period after that....that had to have caused one hell of a headache.

So much for worrying about Malkin and his scoring, or lack there of. Malkin posted three goals last night against the Senators. Also scoring were Guerin with two goals, four points overall, Kunitz, a goal and four points overall, Fedotenko with a goal, Gonchar with a goal and two assists and Crosby with three assists.

What was that about the Penguins rebounding with a big game??? hahaha....I don't know if it could have gotten any bigger last night....well I suppose they could have scored a couple more, but that seems like a bit of overkill....oh who cares....score away boys! lol

Ottawa saw the return of Pascal Leclaire, who missed 15 games with a fractured cheekbone only to have him pulled in the second period after allowing 6 goals. *snickers* Yeah, welcome back Leclaire....lol

Among others returning for Ottawa were winger Chris Neil who missed 14 games with a knee injury and Shean Donovan who missed 17 games, also with a knee injury. Both were held point-less.

Ottawa did lose probably their most important guy though last night after a hit by Craig Adams sent him sprawling on the ice.....I speak of Daniel Alfredsson. Alfredsson had his head down and was battling for the puck in the corner and Adams hit him causing his helmet to fly off and Alfredsson to be on the ice for a few moments. Adams did not receive a penalty, which didn't fly well with Ottawa, but what can you do....hehehe

Overall, I was seriously impressed by the game. The Penguins, true to form, came back from a upsetting loss to the Devils on Monday and kicked some Senators ass.

The Penguins do not play again until Sunday when Toronto visits. Hope all have a wonderful Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate. Be careful and have a safe holiday season.

Mark Eaton and other news.....

2009-12-23T07:41:00.000-05:00

Coach Bylsma states that Mark Eaton's knee injury doesn't appear all that serious. Then again, he hasn't even seen the results from the MRI that was taken on Monday. Bylsma thinks that Eaton may be out a week.

Here we go again with people crying that someone on the Penguin team didn't congratulate someone else....really people??

There are people complaining that Bylsma did not congratulate Martin Brodeur on his record breaking 104th career shutout at Mellon Arena on Monday. Problem is, Bylsma DID congratulate him. After the press conference following the game, Bylsma made the statement "Hats off to their goalie", problem is the cameras and recorders had already been turned off so it wasn't reported apparently.

Staal worked out with the full face shield that he sported in the 3rd period against New Jersey on Monday. Staal missed most of the 2nd period when a deflected shot struck him in the face Monday night.

OUCH!!!!!! That has got to hurt, makes my eyes cross just thinking about that pain!

And while Malkin has only scored 6 goals in his last 21 games, more alarmingly maybe, is the fact that he has been assessed with 13 minor penalties in his last 8 games.

Sounds as if Malkin is getting more comfortable out there on the ice and just letting it all out! lol

Next up: Ottawa Senators tonight at the Mellon Arena. After losing what could have been the biggest game so far this season, the Pens get a chance at redemption. History shows that the Penguins will perform well.

The team hasn't lost much under Coach Bylsma, but the ones they have, were pretty one sided. The common theme is that during the next game, they come out with guns blazing. The Penguins are a very prideful team. They hate to lose (who doesn't). But like Bylsma's mentality, you can't change the past. Use what has happened to change the future. And that, is what the Penguins do, a lot.

The team's resiliency was never more evident than in last years postseason. Falling behind Washington and Detroit, two games to none, and roaring back to win each series is further proof that the Pens are often at their best after disappointing losses.

Maybe the most notable statistic is the fact that the Penguins have lost no more than two games in a row since Bylsma took his place behind the bench this past February.

AND....I want to congratulate Brodeur on his amazing accomplishment. Unfortunately, you had to blanket the Penguins to get that record breaking shutout. Brodeur has had an amazing career and to me, it seems like he's been around for forever. All I can say is great job and you certainly deserve all the accolades that comes along with it.

Being a goaltender is not an easy task. Not that there are really any easy positions in hockey, well except maybe bench warmer, but there aren't many of those in hockey...lol Between getting run into by your own players, opposing players will hit and push and oftentimes get away with some cheap shots. Then you have the 100+ mph pucks coming at you....I don't think I'd be as brave as to face all those shots. Even with the pads, that's got to hurt and I can only imagine the bruises these guys end up with.

So, congrats to you, Mr. Brodeur. You have well deserved it.

Fun at Practice

2009-12-22T09:45:00.002-05:00

It's good to see the guys having fun at practice. I miss attending the practice sessions and just watching them work on their skills. Fleury is hilarious.

Gotta watch this

2009-12-18T14:23:00.001-05:00

If there was ever any doubt in my mind how wonderful the Pittsburgh Penguins are as men outside of the game, this cures it. Honestly, by the end, I was crying. Nothing grabs my heart more than sick children. Watch the clip of their visit and read the story.

http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=509167

Ben VS Bus

2009-12-18T07:56:00.000-05:00

Ok, I know, I'm making the title to sound like they are fighting, but hey....it's a headline. They are supposed to get people's attention right!?

Anywho.....Apparently Jerome Bettis made a comment on syndicated radio yesterday to the effect that the Steelers season is over after their loss to the Cleveland Browns last week.

"When you lose your spirit, then everything is pretty much gone,'' Bettis said on the Dan Patrick Show. "It tells me the leadership isn't there.''

Ben responded by saying that Bettis is entitled to his opinion, but that since the Bus is no longer on the team or in the locker room, he doesn't know what is going on and is taking on an outside view of the situation much like the media. He also states that he feels that the media should not speak about what is going on since they don't know what is going on.

Um....Ben...it's hard not to know what's going on....it's quite obvious week in and week out. You are playing your worst season ever....including high school and college....5 straight losses....that's not like the Steelers. At least not in my memory it isn't.

But hey, I'm not knocking them. After all, no one is perfect. Certainly not a whole team.

On the bright side of the spectrum....the Steelers have beat the Green Bay Packers the last three times at home. We'll see if they can break this losing streak and keep up their winning streak against the 9-4 Packers on Sunday at 4:15.

I wonder if that game will be aired here in NY. Not sure if it will be a good thing if it is though...I'll try to keep all throwable objects out of my reach.

Penguins take Flyers down......AGAIN!

2009-12-18T07:47:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm grinning! How can I not be? That was one hell of a game last night. Not as physical as I expected though.

Unlike Tuesday's game, the Flyers hung in there and forced OT and then a shootout. Thanks to Letang during the shootout, the Penguins walked away with a 2 pt win.

What I wonder about is the whole "let's chant Crosby Sucks when he scores" thing that the Flyers fans do. I get that they dislike, maybe even despise, Crosby, but to chant that he sucks when he's scoring on your team doesn't make much sense. If he sucked, he wouldn't be scoring now would he?? They should be chanting that their goaltender sucks....lol

And as I expected, Guerin played last night. And got a power play goal at that. Billy has been part of team rivalry's before, as a NJ Devil with the Rangers and as a Flame against the Oilers, but he ranks the Penguins/Flyers rivalry up there at the top. How can you not? It's like that in football too. I'm sure it would be that way with baseball if the Pirates were a better team, but at the moment, I'm not sure we will ever see that happen. Sorry Pirate fans.

Talbot was a healthy scratch from last nights game again and it is reported he may start on Saturday against the Sabres. I know it's nothing against Max that he sits and Go-Go plays, but I miss Max on the ice. I forever have the picture of him shushing the crowd etched into my memory.....that was just so hilarious.

Anywho....since I'm at work, I think I should be doing something work related. lol....Well I got one more post here to do and then I suppose I should actually work.

Tomlin has no excuses for sagging Steelers - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2009-12-16T08:33:00.001-05:00

Tomlin has no excuses for sagging Steelers - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Well I would sure hope he wasn't making excuses for their play. That loss to the Browns was abominable. Embarassing. Horrible. I could go on and on.

But in true holiday spirit fashion, which Pittsburgh teams seem to have a lot of, we have this story:

Wearing a red Santa hat and his trademark grin, Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward brought a bag full of GPS units to the Pittsburgh police Highland Park station Tuesday morning.

Ward and six other players presented the 28 navigational units to the Zone 5 station, which lost three officers in a shooting this year.

"We want to give back to the community and give the police officers something to smile about, because it's been a rough year for them," Ward said.

With him were Charlie Batch, James Farrior, Keyaron Fox, Ramon Foster, Dennis Dixon and Andre Frazier.
Each of the players donated money to help buy the units, said Jack Kearney, Allegheny County Sheriff's lieutenant and chief of security for the Steelers. Ward sponsored a June softball tournament to raise additional money to cover the more than $3,000 cost, Kearney said.

"This will help our officers, because even if you work in the same zone for years, you might not know the name of every little street and alley, and this will help them get to scenes faster," Chief Nate Harper said.

Relatives of Officers Eric G. Kelly, Stephen J. Mayhle and Paul J. Sciullo II were present for the donation. The three were killed responding to a domestic disturbance in Stanton Heights on April 4.

"God bless them for doing this for these officers," said Sciullo's mother, Sue. Mayhle's wife, Shandra, and Kelly's wife, Marena, also were at the ceremony.

"This is an honor for us to do this," Ward said. "It's a very small token of our appreciation."

Heartwarming Story

2009-12-16T08:13:00.003-05:00

This is why I love hockey players. I won't say that other sports players don't do things like this, but you certainly never hear about them.

I know

2009-12-16T07:57:00.000-05:00

I know, I know....I've seriously been lacking on keeping this updated at all. In all fairness, my family blog is suffering almost as much.

Been crazy busy at work and since I've got three kids at home, work hours is the only time I'm really able to get on here to blog.

So to start off here......

The Pens got a lovely win last night against their rivals, the Flyers. And what a game it started out to be.....Not even 6 minutes had passed in the game and there were 3 fights within a 16 second time period.

Honestly, I thought that the game was going to get out of hand and there would be fight after fight, but they all settled down and behaved like grown ups for the most part, and actually played the game. I say for the most part because a few of the Flyers have seriously brushed up on their acting skills. Man, those guys should be on Broadway!!

And the ever hated Hartnell. Oh how I detest that guy. I think the only other player in the league that I've ever hated that much was, coincidentally or not, Eric Lindros. What is it about the Flyers players? No matter if they were a Flyer in the past, I can't find myself rooting for any one of them. But that's off the subject matter......Hartnell.....the name alone makes me glare at the computer. While he wasn't involved in the 3 fights in 16 seconds scrum, he still managed to be a pest on the ice.....He's one of the guys who brushed up on his acting skills. I believe either late in 2nd or sometime in the 3rd period he got hit and boy....his acting skills have improved A LOT because it caused the Penguins a penalty. HOWEVER, stick your acting skills up your yahoo Hartnell cuz the Penguins scored a short-handed goal..... And to that I have to stick out my tongue and say neener neener neener. Yes, I'm childish like that, deal with it.

As for the heavy weight matches in the first couple minutes....Rupp dropped the gloves and squared off against Aaron Asham at 5:17. Godard, who dressed in place of SCF hero Mad Max Talbot who has only one goal since his return to the ice last month, dropped gloves against Riley Cote six seconds later. And then 10 seconds after that, Craig Adams exchanged blows with Flyers Dan Carcillo.

Apparently, the Penguins are going for a new look of being big hitters. They want to be a team that no one wants to face....currently, they are first in the NHL for hits. WHAT!? Yeah, I know, I was shocked to see that little stat myself. I don't remember a time when they Pens were first in hits category. Not that I ever really pay attention to those stats, but the only person I can remember that liked to hit that much was Darius Kasparitis. Wow...what a name from the past eh? I got his autograph....flipped him off once...but that's another story....lol Oh how I miss those days. :)

So with the whole new "we want to hit" game plan, Thursday's rematch in Philly should prove to be a good game. As a reporter for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review put it, "Round 3 of the Commonwealth Cold War could prove a swinging affair."

Scary things happened in the 3rd period though.....Guerin took a shot off his foot and didn't return after that, but stated that it was just a little stinger. He was limping in the locker room, but I have a feeling that he's not going to miss tomorrow nights game if he has any say in the matter. Also, Staal reported that he was fine after he took a shot from Malkin right in the stomach. I know....ouch! Kind of makes you gasp for air just reading that don't it?

So, tomorrow's game should prove interesting. I'll sure be tuning in you can count on that. And I'm sure, as in typical Flyer form, they will fight dirty.....oh I love me a good fight, I mean hockey game!

More posts to follow updating the happenings of the Penguins and Steelers.....Promise.

Max is back??? And Go-Go is out???

2009-11-17T07:38:00.000-05:00

First, despite all the injuries that Pittsburgh has suffered through so far this season, I have to say that they have done an excellent job at still being able to win games. Now that Geno is back on the ice we have another guy returning as early as this Thursday possibly....That's right....Mad Max is returning!!!

Maybe.

Talbot will skate in Ottawa on Thursday morning and a decision will be made afterward about his return. I am really excited to see Max return. I've missed seeing him in action. And although the season has been pretty exciting so far, I'm sure Max will just add more to it....he's just that type of guy. He seems to bring a special kind of energy to the team.

As for Go-Go, Goligosky, he's out possibly 2-3 weeks with an undisclosed lower body injury. I haven't had time to catch the last few games so I'm not sure what has happened with him. Hopefully it isn't anything to serious.

And I have to add that I'm loving Billy Guerin more and more each day. Watching that game on Saturday night with .4 seconds left....simply AMAZING!!! And great work to Geno for passing the puck at the last second. Who knew!? I certainly did not expect the Penguins to score in those last dying seconds of the game and was resigned to listening to my husband gloat that his team beat mine again.....When Guerin shot that puck into the net, I just started laughing hysterically!!! I knew at that moment that the Penguins would win the game. Whether it was in OT or in a shootout, I just knew they could not lose.

And although I know Guerin didn't come straight from Boston when he signed with us, I'll thank Boston anyway....I liked Billy when he was with the Bruins, now I like him even more. I'm so happy that he resigned with us last year.

Bill Guerin's Accomplishments

2009-11-05T13:29:00.001-05:00

The list of accomplishments for Bill Guerin is a long one since New Jersey drafted him in 1989....

Two Stanley Cups.

A championship with Team USA in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

Five all-star appearances.

And just on Tuesday night, he became the 80th player in the NHL to play in 1200 career hockey games.

“I remember the first game very well,” Guerin said. “You remember a lot of them when you’re young. Everything was so new and exciting. It doesn’t seem like 1200 games ago. It seems like it was yesterday.

“It feels pretty good. It’s a nice accomplishment and a nice milestone. I’m pretty proud of the fact that I’ve been able to stick around for that many games and do what I’ve done. I’m pretty proud of that.”

And Guerin has every reason to be happy with the rebirth of his career since the Penguins signed him last year. In his first game with the Penguins, he scored his 800th career point when he assisted on a Sidney Crosby goal. Five days later, he scored his 400th assist, becoming only the 8th U.S. born hockey player to join the ranks of those who have scored 400 goals and 400 assists.

“I think they actually mean more now,” Guerin said of reaching personal milestones. “Maybe because the games played number is getting up there, so is my age. It’s nice to know that I’m still around.”

So far this season, Guerin has three goals and six assists through the first 15 games playing on a line with Crosby and Chris Kunitz.

What does Guerin enjoy most about the countless memories he has made along the seven stops he has made?

“When I look back I think about how fun the game is to play. When I’m done, the thing I’ll miss the most is game day, coming to the rink for the morning skates, preparing for the games, being ready in the dressing room with the guys. Those are the things I really take with me.”

What Guerin won’t be taking with him when he one day calls it a career are a ton of pucks and sticks commemorating his plethora of accomplishments. He has something better.

“Most of it is in my head. First goal, things like that you have the puck. Last night I didn’t keep anything. I just tried to enjoy the day, enjoy the game and appreciate where you are.”

If he enjoys playing so much, will there be a 1,500th game for Guerin?

“We’ll see. We’ll see.”

Hines Ward dirtiest player in NFL???? WHAT?!

2009-11-05T07:39:00.000-05:00

Yup, you read that right. Sports Illustrated conducted a poll among the NFL players during preseason and Ward was voted dirtiest player, followed by former team mate and current Miami Dolphin, Joey Porter. (damn I miss him!)

Rounding off the top 10.....Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, Cincinnati Bengals safety Roy Williams and Tennessee Titans center Kevin Mawae.
Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan, Rams guard Richie Incognito (you'd think with a last name like that, he'd be more icognito wouldn't he?? lol), Falcons guard Harvey Dahl, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Vikings defensive end Jared Allen.

So is it bad that two players for the Steelers made the Top 10 list??? lmao....

Ward, the all-time leading receiver in Steelers history, was most likely voted dirtiest player due to his "play hard" football attitude. The always-smiling receiver won't hesitate to throw a block on an opponent and is widely known for his bone-crushing (or breaking) hits. (Gee, and I thought that's what football was all about...)

But seriously, how does the league vote a player who is known for crying after winning (or losing) big games the dirtiest player? Maybe it has something to do with the monster, season-ending hit Ward delivered on Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers, which resulted in a broken jaw last year.

Following the season, the NFL instituted a rule dubbed the "Hines Ward Rule," which states that the initial force of a blindside block can't be delivered by a helmet, forearm or shoulder to an opponent's head or neck. (I want a rule named after me too!!!)

An illegal blindside block will bring a 15-yard penalty.

Sid Gets it on.....fight style that is...

2009-11-02T12:54:00.000-05:00

Don't see this happen often, but when you do, it makes it so much more entertaining to watch. I love watching the "superstars" of hockey fight. You know it takes A LOT to get these guys pissed off and when they do......

I have to say though....I think Sid won this one. He effectively tied Zidlicky (is it me or does that sound like something a little kid would call another kid...lol) up quickly and the officials stepped in before it could get too ugly....

It's Polamalu....

2009-10-30T11:11:00.000-04:00

Ok, I know this is outdated, but it's still my favorite. Probably since Polamalu is my favorite Steeler. This video just never gets old...lol

Found this on YouTube

2009-10-30T11:06:00.000-04:00

I found this on YouTube and thought this was pretty well done....

Bob Errey's Artwork

2009-10-29T07:26:00.002-04:00

Bob Errey's Artwork during last night's game vs the Canadians.

Hoping I don't have to explain this one....lol

A bit of interesting news

2009-10-28T07:27:00.000-04:00

It's been announced that Sidney Crosby will partake in the relay of the Olympic Torch in his home province of Nova Scotia.

How awesome is that?! That is quite an honor. At least to me and Crosby it is anyway...

Crosby had this to say:

“I am honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame in my home province of Nova Scotia,” said Crosby. “The torch relay will pass through so many communities and hands on the way to Vancouver and I’m privileged to be part of that special group as the Olympic Flame makes its way to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Games.”

The torch was lit in Greece on October 22, 2009 and is making it's way to Canada. It is scheduled to arrive in Victoria, BC on October 30th, and Crosby's leg of the journey is to begin November 18th.

Fleury as Kermit...UPDATED!!!

2009-10-27T07:34:00.002-04:00

The Penguins had their Halloween Party on Sunday and Fleury was dressed as Kermit D. Frog....why, oh why, does this not surprise me??? lol Apparently this is what prompted Godard to wear his Care Bear's head to practice also. Unfortunately, no pics were made available that I am aware of, but Kris Letang dressed up as Doofy the cop from Scary Movie and Ruslan Fedotenko dressed up as David Letterman. If I find pictures, I'll post them.

Update: I found out that Jay McKee dressed up as The Joker and won an award for best costume and also that Jordan Staal dressed up as, oddly enough, a yellow peanut M&M. I wonder if there is some hidden meaning behind that costume.....

Off Day Practice

2009-10-26T13:11:00.000-04:00

Ever the prankster, Eric Godard showed up at the rink sporting a blue Care Bear's head....after a few good laughs, he finally revealed who was underneath the big head....

Looks like he was Grumpy Bear for a while...if I remember my Care Bear's correctly!!

Versus Commercial

2009-10-26T08:21:00.001-04:00

Versus Commercial with Crosby in it...I first saw this on tv and laughed hysterically.

New Collectibles

2009-10-22T08:29:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine, Ken, announced today that a company he has joined has released some pretty cool new collectibles for the NFL.

I checked out the site, MVPcollection.com, myself, and I have to say, these are great! I've already let him know that I want one of the Polamalu figures.

Go ahead, head on over to the site and check them out yourself. So far, only a handful of players are available. They have just started this endeavor this year and due to all of the detail that are in the making of these, it takes a lot of time to do each and every one. You can vote on which player you would like to be produced next right on the website.

Mad Max Returns to Practice

2009-10-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Marching along through a six-game winning streak and a 8-1 overall record, the mood has been pretty jovial for the Penguins through the early part of the season. However, in case they needed another reason to enjoy coming to the rink, Max Talbot provided one for them.

As usual, Talbot’s presence placed smiles on the faces of his teammates and coaches.

Bill Guerin probably says it best, I had to laugh when I read his quote.

“It’s great,” added teammate Bill Guerin, “The entertainment value of practice just went up. A lot more cameras were around. I’m sure he put them there. It’s great because Max is a big part of our team on the ice and off the ice. It’s always good to have him around as often as we can. We missed him.”

Max seems to be the team's "Class Clown"...providing entertainment both the players and the coaching staff.

Talbot’s red jersey reminded everyone that he was off limits for physical contact. He took part in all individual drills – those emphasizing skating, passing and stickhandling – but sat out team drills where action is more intense, and by nature sees more players bumping into one another.

I'm figuring that having to sit out is driving Max nuts. I don't picture him as the sit and do nothing kind of guy...

Boy were those guys ready to welcome back a player they have watched undergo intense rehabilitation in an effort to return to the lineup as soon as possible.

It has to be great for Talbot to hear his teammates happy to see the player they call ‘Superstar’ back on the ice because those moments of bonding with them are something he has missed the most.

“You miss the boys, that’s what you miss the most,” Talbot said. “You miss being there in the room getting dressed, getting ready. Being out there and joking around when you miss a shot – guys laughing at you. That’s definitely the hardest part – being on the sideline and watching the guys.”

As he was nearing the end of his interview scrum, Talbot was then asked a second time if he could offer any timeline as to when fans can expect to see the crowd favorite in the lineup.

“Let’s aim for mid-December. Then if I come back sooner it will be a surprise for (everybody).”

Penguins Hockey Fights Cancer

2009-10-22T07:45:00.000-04:00

**From the Penguins site:**

Tuesday, Oct. 20th, the Penguins hosted the Penguins’ Hockey Fights Cancer game when all facets of the organization and its partners worked together for hockey’s most important fight.

The event began as the gates opened to the public and fans received special Hockey Fights Cancer rally towels sponsored by UPMC Cancer Centers. Fans entering the arena were greeted by the Penguins players’ and coaches’ wives and girlfriends, who passed out pink carnations and cancer awareness pins. The ladies were dressed in their team jerseys and wore commemorative Hockey Fights Cancer scarves. Some of the wives also assisted with an in-game public service announcement to promote the evening’s festivities and encourage fans to take part.

Pens Patrol members wore special purple t-shirts and accepted monetary donations for the Hockey Fights Cancer program as fans entered the arena. Booster Club members also accepted donations at select locations on the arena concourse. A $5,000 donation from the Penguins organization and fans combined, together with a pledge from American Eagle of $1,000 for each Penguins goal equaled a single night total of $10,000 for the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer program.

UPMC Cancer Centers and the American Cancer Society hosted display tables on the concourse with information on cancer awareness, detection and treatment. NHL Hockey Fights Cancer brochures were available at the Penguins’ Customer Service Booths and special public service announcements provided by the NHL and the American Cancer Society aired on the JumboTron to promote cancer awareness.

Cancer patients and their families from the Children’s Home of Pittsburgh and the Lemieux Family Center attended the game as special guests in Sidney Crosby’s charity suite.

During the game, fans may have noticed that network broadcasters and Penguins coaches, management and staff were decked out in commemorative Hockey Fights Cancer items – ties or scarves and NHL Hockey Fights Cancer pins. Penguins’ Co-Owner and Chairman, Mario Lemieux, also showed his commitment to this great cause by wearing the HFC tie. On the ice, the players sported Hockey Fights Cancer decals on their helmets and wore Hockey Fights Cancer hats during interviews.

For more information on the league-wide “Hockey Fights Cancer” program, please visit www.nhl.com.

Fans can continue to help support the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative by purchasing specially designed ties, scarves or hats linked below. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Hockey Fights Cancer organization.

I think this is a great cause. I wish more sports would get so involved in something like this. I think for the Penguins, this event probably means just a bit more with having Mario, who survived Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, in the ownership box. But how cool was it that family's fighting cancer locally were able to attend the game in Sid's box!?

These events mean a lot to me since cancer stole my father from me nearly 7 years ago. And since then, that horrible, dispicable disease has touched my family in other ways. I hate that word....

The Season so far.....

2009-10-22T07:36:00.000-04:00

So now that we are a few weeks into the new hockey season, I'll have to say, the Penguins are looking like the Champs they are. I feared they would suffer the whole Stanley Cup Hangover and not be as dominating as they were last year, but honestly, I think they are even better this year than they were last year.

They are kicking ass and taking names.

Unfortunately, we've lost Gonchar for 4-6 weeks with a broken wrist. He was injured when he landed awkwardly after St. Louis forward David Backes finished off a clean check on Gonchar as he followed through on a shot. Poor Gonch...the guy can't seem to get a break! Oh ok, well yeah, he did get a break, just not the kind I'm talking about!!! lol Thankfully, it was a clean break and will not require surgery.

Veteran Martin Skoula will be Gonch's replacement and makes his debut with the Penguins tomorrow night against the Florida Panthers.

So overall, I'm more than happy with the way the season is going so far. I mean, who can be unhappy with an 8-1 record???

Superstitions Commercial....too funny

2009-10-22T07:17:00.000-04:00

Ahhh....such a wonderful sight!!!

2009-10-05T07:40:00.002-04:00

2009-10-02T14:25:00.000-04:00

The Dynasty Begins

2009-10-01T10:21:00.002-04:00

Someone did a GREAT job with this video

Three days and counting

2009-09-29T07:50:00.001-04:00

If you are like me, you are counting down the days, hours, minutes, seconds until the Offical Home Opener at Mellon Arena on Friday night. Tonight, I'm going home and ordering the Center Ice package from cable so that I get to watch the Pens all year long, but especially on Friday night.

The sweet thing, the Penguins have announced that they are bringing back the big screen television and setting it up outside the arena for fans to view the game as well as watch the Banner raising ceremony before the game. I hope and pray that they show that ceremony on tv. If they don't, I'm going to be one very pissed off woman.

Starting Wednesday night, the Penguins will start showing playoff run highlights from the Stanley Cup Championship DVD on the big screen outside of Gate 3.

This is the time of year I love. Hockey starting, football is in full swing. So what if the Steelers are 1-2. I'm holding out hope that they go back to the Super Bowl this year. Heck, they won Super Bowl XL as the underdogs, they can do it again if they have to.

Blood Drive

2009-09-25T09:48:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure if any of the Penguins will be there, but there will be a blood drive held at the West Lounge of Mellon Arena this Monday, 9/28, from 11 am to 7 pm.

As one of my favorite sayings go...."Give blood, play hockey".

Doubt you'll play hockey, but hey, go down and donate some blood if you are able. The blood banks are always in need.

Follow the Cup

2009-09-25T09:28:00.001-04:00

Want to see where the Cup was this summer?? How bout visiting this Page and taking a peek. I think it's pretty cool that the Penguins documented the player's time with the Cup, I don't remember if they did it back in the early 90's or not....

Steelers/Penguins 2009-2010

2009-08-31T15:07:00.001-04:00

I'm sure I don't really need to do anything to get all of you pumped up for the upcoming Steelers and Penguins seasons, but watch this video. This is a great one!

Gotta watch this!!!

2009-07-30T13:09:00.000-04:00

Cabbie's Journey To The Cup from cabbie richards on Vimeo.

2009 NHL Hall of Fame Inductees

2009-07-29T12:42:00.002-04:00

Former Penguins Tom Barasso and John LeClair will be inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame as part of the 2009 roster of inductees.

Barasso is best known for his wins in the net during the 1990-1991 and 1991-1992 Stanley Cup Championships for the Penguins. For me, Tom was one of those guys you loved to hate. And while I wasn't a big fan of his, he did earn my respect by helping the team win back to back Stanley Cups.

John LeClair...while he spent more time with the Flyers, he redeemed himself by signing with the Penguins for a short stint. ha! Great player and he certainly deserves this honor.

Pens Prospects play Paintball

2009-07-27T15:35:00.001-04:00

This is pretty funny....

Awesome Commercial

2009-07-20T09:28:00.003-04:00

New Renderings of the Consol Energy Center

2009-07-15T14:36:00.001-04:00

Here are some new renderings of the Penguins new home. To view the slide show, click below.

http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=MediaGalleryPlayer&galleryId=11678

To view some recent (taken yesterday) photos of the construction:

http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=MediaGalleryPlayer&galleryId=11955

Season Schedule and Guerin

2009-07-15T13:41:00.006-04:00

Ok everyone. The season schedule is reported to be released today at 3 pm. I can't wait....soon as I get a hold of it, I'm printing it out so that I have it here at work. Also, that way I can hopefully plan a few trips back to the Burgh to catch a game or two....or at least over to Boston.....I refuse to go to NYC to see them play the Rangers. I will not support the Rangers in any form!!!! lol

And now, for your viewing pleasure.

Bill Guerin is one hell of a guy. He took the Stanley Cup SHOPPING!!!!! How great is that?! CORRECTION: It was not Guerin with the cup in the super market, it was Penguins Senior Director of Team Operations and Communications Frank Buonomo.

And this second picture was taken by a motorist who happened to be driving next to Guerin.....I'd so fist bump with the guy.

Pittsburgh #3 in Fan Relations

2009-07-06T11:51:00.002-04:00

Found this on the Penguins site.....Interesting info I think.....

The Pittsburgh Penguins rank No. 3 out of 122 professional sports teams in fan relations and No. 4 in ownership, according to an annual survey conducted by ESPN The Magazine.

“Fan relations” is described by the ESPN criteria as “Openness and consideration toward fans by players, coaches and management.”

The “ownership” criteria is “Honesty and loyalty to core players and local community.”

ESPN The Magazine’s annual “Ultimate Standings” surveys fans to rate all 122 teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL in eight categories. In addition to fan relations and ownership, they are affordability, stadium experience, players, coaching, title track and bang for the buck.

The Penguins finished No. 8 in the overall standings, up from No. 24 last year.

“We are honored to be selected as one of the premier franchises in sports by fans in ESPN The Magazine’s Ultimate Standings,” team president David Morehouse said. “It is a tribute to all the work done by our ownership, players, coaches and staff, and to the tremendous fan base we have here in Pittsburgh.”

The Penguins also were No. 8 in “Bang for The Buck” (Wins during the past three years per revenues directly from fans, adjusted for league schedules) and No. 9 in “Players” (Effort on the field and likeability off it).

The Penguins’ lowest ranking was No. 103 in “Stadium experience,” no doubt the result of playing in the oldest arena in the NHL. But the new Consol Energy Center is scheduled to open for the 2010-11 NHL season.

Fedotenko Re-Signs

2009-07-03T14:33:00.002-04:00

We got Fedotenko back!!!! I'm so giddy...I saw it posted first on the Post Gazette Website and damn near screamed out loud here at work!!! hahahaha

Fedotenko's deal is a one year $1.8 million. Last year he made $2,250,000...yet another player taking a pay cut to remain in Pittsburgh. Gotta love those guys.

Also, the Penguins signed Sewickley native Nate Guenin, a defenseman, to a one-year contract.

The deal will pay him $500,000 if he plays in the NHL, $105,000 if he plays in the American Hockey League.

Guenin is 6 foot 2, 210 pounds. He has played in 12 NHL games and was the New York Rangers' fourth-round draft choice in 2002.

It was not immediately known if Guenin is viewed as a potential replacement for the newly departed Rob Scuderi, or if the Penguins will look at more established defensemen such as Jay McKee.

Canada Announces Olympic Camp Roster

2009-07-03T09:17:00.004-04:00

Crosby, Fleury, and Staal have all been named to Canada's Olympic Camp Roster...

I'm pretty certain Crosby and Fleury will make it...and I'm hoping that Staal will also, but ya never know about those crazy Canucks! I'M KIDDING!!!

And yes, the other two Staal brothers are also named to the roster....Can you imagine if they hadn't been?? I imagine Jordan would take every chance he got to rub it in....lol

Here is their Roster:

Goaltenders

Martin Brodeur, New Jersey; Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh; Roberto Luongo, Vancouver; Steve Mason, Columbus; Cam Ward, Carolina

Defensemen

Francois Beauchemin, UFA; Jay Bouwmeester, Calgary; Dan Boyle, San Jose; Brent Burns, Minnesota; Drew Doughty, Los Angeles; Mike Green, Washington; Dan Hamhuis, Nashville; Duncan Keith, Chicago; Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim; Dion Phaneuf, Calgary; Chris Pronger, Philadelphia; Robyn Regehr, Calgary; Stephane Robidas, Dallas; Brent Seabrook, Chicago; Marc Staal, New York Rangers; Shea Weber, Nashville

Forwards

Jeff Carter, Philadelphia; Dan Cleary, Detroit; Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh; Shane Doan, Phoenix; Simon Gagne, Philadelphia; Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim; Dany Heatley, Ottawa; Jarome Iginla, Calgary; Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay; Milan Lucic, Boston; Patrick Marleau, San Jose; Andy McDonald, St. Louis; Brenden Morrow, Dallas; Rick Nash, Columbus; Corey Perry, Anaheim; Mike Richards, Philadelphia; Derek Roy, Buffalo; Joe Sakic, Colorado; Patrick Sharp, Chicago; Ryan Smyth, Colorado; Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay; Eric Staal, Carolina; Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh; Joe Thornton, San Jose; Jonathan Toews, Chicago

Scuderi signs with the L.A. Kings

2009-07-03T09:12:00.002-04:00

*sigh* I knew that it was a huge possibilty that we wouldn't be able to keep Scuderi, but dang it, I was hoping!!! lol...The signed contract is said to be a four-year deal worth an average annual salary of $3.4 million.

The Penguins are thought to have offered a five year deal at a $2 million annual average salary, though the club would not confirm those details.

Chicago did what!?

2009-07-02T11:17:00.002-04:00

Blackhawks pry Hossa from Wings with 12-year deal....HUH??? Where did that one come from? I certainly did not expect to read THAT headline today!!!

The 12 year deal is reportedly worth $62.8 million!! Wow...Chicago must think really highly of Hossa....I guess someone else other than himself should huh? lol (BTW...that's about 5.2 million a year by my calculations, but don't take my word for it cuz I suck at math!!!)

“Now I don’t have to worry about dealing with it year-to-year. I’m set for 12 years. That will make it easier and I can focus on hockey,” Hossa said. I wonder if he thinks he has a better chance with Chicago to win the Stanley Cup now....lmao

And....Chicago is looking to Hossa to play a part in leadership.

“Marian has played a lot of games,” Tallon said. “The most-important thing for Marian is that he wants to win and he feels we’re headed in the right direction and that he can be as a 30-year-old one of our elderly statesmen on our team and help lead this young team.”

I find this rediculously hilarious.....Poor Chicago...I hope they can get out of this contract before those 12 years is up or they look to be the next one on Hossa's list to jinx.....He thought he had a better chance with Detroit and look what happened. Now he thinks he has a chance with Chicago?? *sigh*

And so much for it all not being about the money.....

“I had a great time in Detroit. … But with today’s economy and the salary cap, it’s really hard to sign star players,” Hossa said.

“Somebody just couldn’t be able to sign and I guess that was me,” he added. “That was basically a great year. It didn’t finish how I would like. Now it is time to move on. I was hoping to sign a long-term deal and Chicago made a great offer.”

Olympics

2009-06-30T13:20:00.002-04:00

USA Hockey today announced that 34 players, representing 22 National Hockey League teams, have been invited to the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp from Aug. 17-19, at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, Ill.

Of the 34 players invited, only five have previous Olympic experience; Mike Modano (1998, 2002, 2006), Chris Drury (2002, 2006), Brian Rafalski (2002, 2006), Scott Gomez (2006), and Jamie Langenbrunner (1998).

2009 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp Roster

Goaltenders: Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick, Tim Thomas
Defensemen: Tom Gilbert, Tim Gleason, Ron Hainsey, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Mike Komisarek, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, Brian Rafalski, Rob Scuderi, Ryan Suter, Ryan Whitney
Forwards: David Backes, David Booth, Dustin Brown, Dustin Byfuglien, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Mike Modano, Kyle Okposo, T.J. Oshie, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Bobby Ryan, Paul Stastny

Names in bold are current Penguins, while names in italics are former Penguins.

Other Free Agent News

2009-06-30T12:57:00.004-04:00

With the signing of both Guerin and Adams, the Penguins stand at $51,218,000 with the cap being at $56.8 million.

The Penguins have tendered offers to goaltender John Curry, defenseman Ben Lovejoy and forward Tim Wallace, all of whom are restricted free agents. Goaltender David Brown was not tendered an offer and has become an unrestricted free agent.

All three players have legit chances to make the team next season. Curry will probably be the top candidate to replace Mathieu Garon as Marc-Andre Fleury's back up. With Philippe Boucher, Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents, Lovejoy will likely become one of the organization's top six or seven defensemen. Wallace is a solid fourth-liner who looked good in an limited audition in the NHL last season.

Winger Fedetenko and defensemen Gill and Scuderi can test the UFA market starting tomorrow. First off, it's going to be difficult to re-sign Scuderi, unless he gives the team that drafted him a big break money-wise. Will he? No one can say, but it's not out of the question since the team is returning next year very nearly intact as it was this year. Scuderi has said before that it's not about the money, I suppose we'll see if he was being sincere.

And I know....this doesn't pertain to the Penguins, but I found it interesting none the less.....Detroit is said to be offering turncoat Marian Hossa a long term deal with a cap of $4 million a year.....Lord only knows if he'll take it or if he'll pull the same stunt as last year and sign a one year deal with another team that he thinks has better chances at getting him a Stanley Cup. *excuse me while I go wipe the tears from laughing*

Who's Ready to Celebrate??

2009-06-30T12:46:00.004-04:00

I certainly am!! I am so freaking ecstatic that Shero was able to re-sign Billy Guerin for next year! I understand he wants to spend time with his kids, but I'm glad that he decided to come back for one more year. I think he played an integral part of the team this year....bringing leadership and veteran status to the team. And hey, call me crazy, but I'd like to see him with an "A" on his chest next year. I think he deserves it.

In regards to his contract, no specifics, except that it is a one year deal, were given on the Penguins official site. Update: Found on yahoo, they are reporting Guerin's deal is worth $2 million. This is a huge pay cut from the $4.5 million he made last year.

Also re-signed was Craig Adams. Adams provided a steady support role in the Penguins drive to the Stanley Cup, with 3 goals and 2 assists in 24 playoff games. Other than his contract being a 2 year deal, again, no specifics were given. Update: Again, found on yahoo, they are reporting that Adams' deal is worth $1.1 million. Last year, Adams made $600,000. In each of the years during this new contract, he will make $550,000.

I love seeing guys willing to take pay cuts to remain with a team. It shows that for them, it's more about playing the game than for the money itself.

Free Agent signings and Salary Cap News

2009-06-29T13:34:00.003-04:00

Penguins GM, Ray Shero, is looking to ink Guerin and Fedetenko by July 1st.

Guerin was offered a one-year deal (salary unknown), and Shero is confident "he wants to come back."

Winger Ruslan Fedotenko is expected to receive an offer from the Penguins by Monday. He is seeking a multi-year deal, as is defenseman Rob Scuderi, who Shero expects to explore his free-agent options.

The Penguins also have not ruled out re-signing winger Petr Sykora, who appeared in only five playoff games after a 25-goal regular season.

Guerin, Fedotenko and Sykora are believed to be seeking no-movement clauses, which would prevent them from being traded without consent and negate the possibility of minor-league assignments.

With almost $49 million committed against the $56.8 million cap for next season, the Penguins are counting on veterans to accept less money and term to return and again chase the Cup.

CAP NEWS

The NHL salary cap will increase for the 2009-10 season, though not enough to impact clubs in a significant way. The league and its Players' Association announced Friday that the cap will jump to $56.8 million -- a $100,000 increase from last season. The salary floor will stand at $40.8 million. The Penguins will commit $40.7 million to the following players: Cs Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ($8.7 million each); D Sergei Gonchar and G Marc-Andre Fleury ($5 million each); C Jordan Staal ($4 million); LW Chris Kunitz ($3.72 million); D Brooks Orpik ($3.75 million); and D Alex Goligoski ($1.83 million).

General manager Ray Shero said cap uncertainty for the 2010-11 season because of the weak global economy "could be" a problem regarding contract extensions for D Gonchar and Kris Letang. Gonchar, 35, can become an unrestricted free agent and Letang, 22, a restricted free agent next summer, but the Penguins would like to reach extension agreements with each during the upcoming season. Negotiations cannot begin with either player's representatives until July 1, per the collective bargaining agreement. Gonchar likely will need to accept a lower annual salary because Letang, at $835,000, is expected to command a significant raise.

Shero also said his focus this weekend was "on the draft," but did not express pessimism about signing unrestricted free agents he has targeted to bring back next season. Those players include (as stated above)RW Bill Guerin, LW Ruslan Fedotenko, and also, C Mike Zigomanis and, yes, D Rob Scuderi -- though the Penguins expect Scuderi to test the open market and receive offers beyond what they can afford, given their cap situation. "We've identified some guys we'd like to have back and we've expressed that," Shero said, "but it's a matter of keeping these guys with a $56.8 million salary cap, and keeping our core guys together."

Hopefully, the Penguins will do all they can to keep the core of the team together for another playoff run next year.

The ESPY's

2009-06-29T13:30:00.003-04:00

The Penguins Championship Season has netted them a few ESPY nominations.

http://promo.espn.go.com/espn/specialsection/espys2009/#/home/

Click above to vote.....

Hockey Lineage

2009-06-29T13:11:00.004-04:00

Well, the Penguins have taken three guys in the draft that have hockey in their family lineage. First, we have Philip Samuelsson, son of much loved Ulf Samuelsson, who helped the Penguins win their first two Stanley Cups. I can remember yelling "Ulfie!!!" at the tv...hahaha

“I wasn’t expecting (to get drafted) this early,” said the younger Samuelsson, who committed to play collegiate hockey at Boston College next season. ‘It's an honor to be picked by the Stanley Cup champions. I can't really describe it. It hasn't sunk in yet."

And I think he looks just like his dad too.

While Philip claims that they have similar styles of play, he admits that he's not as physical as his dad was in his days on the ice.

Second, we have Alex Velischek , whose father Randy, played 509 NHL games for three teams (Minnesota, New Jersey and Quebec) from 1982 to 1992.

The Velischek’s may share the same name and position, but there are slight differences in their game.

"I'm the opposite of my dad,” Alex said. “I'm more of an offensive defenseman. I step up in the play and take calculated risks. I like to control the puck at the point on the power play. I'm not really a checker but I'll play the body. I keep tight in the defensive zone but I like to take risks in the offensive zone."

Last, but certainly not least, we have Andy Bathgate. Andy is the grandson of NHL Hall of Famer Andy Bathgate, whom played for the Penguins in their inaugural 1967 season.

Bathgate was not in Montreal for the draft. Instead he huddled with his family in the kitchen constantly refreshing his computer in the hopes of seeing his name.

Out of the three, I'm most excited about Philip. Maybe it's because I remember Ulf playing in the 90's, but something about the kid just grabs me. I wish him well in Boston....that's a big name in college hockey, and hopefully next year when they have the ECAC games here in Albany, I'll attend and get to see Philip play for myself.

Just think....we have just over 3 months left before hockey starts again!!!!

Yankees vs Mets

2009-06-23T13:38:00.003-04:00

Friday night....Game 1 of the Subway Series at CitiField.

I'll be there!!!

Hubby got tickets yesterday. One of his coworkers got tickets also so I think we are gonna all go together. I can't wait. Hopefully, the Mets will do better than they did when they played in Yankee Stadium a couple weeks ago.

Malkin's Yinzerfication

2009-06-22T12:26:00.002-04:00

Penguins center Evgeni "Geno" Malkin was surprised to hear the words leave his mouth during a conversation two years ago with his father.

"We talked after my first year, and he asked how I like Pittsburgh," Malkin recalled Sunday, fewer than 48 hours after winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. "'Pittsburgh is very good for me,' I tell him. Other cities in America are too big, so fast. Nice to see, not good to live. Pittsburgh is good place to live. Nice people. Helpful. Leave you alone, but also support you.

"'Pittsburgh is the place for me,' I tell him. Now he agrees."

Since 2006, Evgeni Malkin has matured from a shy 20-year-old with tons of potential into one of the National Hockey League's best offensive players. Now 22, he grew into manhood under Pittsburgh's lauded skyline.

Russia is his native land, but Pittsburgh is becoming home — even if he remains leery about slamming french fries and coleslaw onto a sandwich.

A lay of the local land as Malkin has come to know it: grocery shopping at Whole Foods in East Liberty; dining at Shadyside's Umi; shopping for clothes at Ross Park Mall; enjoying a night in South Side at Diesel; or watching from the kitchen of his Sewickley home as his mother, Natalia, prepares borscht.

The Yinzerfication of Malkin took another step when Malkin decided he wanted a Terrible Towel during the Steelers' Super Bowl run. But teammate Matt Cooke could not convince him to forgo the warmth of his living room for a seat in the cold at Heinz Field.

"Nowhere better for me to live and play," Malkin said before jetting to Las Vegas for the NHL Awards. Malkin was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, which hockey writers select, and Lester B. Pearson Award, which players determine.

"Pittsburgh loves sports," he said. "People cheer when you do good, and they try to help when you don't."

Another Pittsburgh convert is not surprised.

"Pittsburgh is a great place, and I think you'd find a lot of hockey players that think so," said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, 21, who arrived from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, in 2005. "A lot of guys come from towns -- some of us in Canada, guys like Geno in Russia -- that Pittsburgh reminds us of in some way.

"It's probably the people here, who are great. That's what it was for me."

Vladimir Malkin, Geno's father, told the Tribune-Review this month that areas around Pittsburgh -- specifically communities such as Aliquippa -- reminded him of Russia's Magnitogorsk, the family's hometown.

Magnitogorsk is a mining town by the Ural River. It originally was intended to serve as Russia's version of Pittsburgh by Josef Stalin, who sought an industrial stronghold.

"Like ours, Pittsburgh is a steel town," Vladimir Malkin, a former steelworker, said through the Penguins' unofficial Russian interpreter George Birman. "Pittsburgh is bigger, more like a city than a town."

That, Natalia Malkin said, is what appeals to her son, who has spoken fondly of New York and Los Angeles.

"Geno likes big cities, but not too big like those -- not to live," she said through a translator. "Pittsburgh is best size for him, with good people like from back home in Russia."

Pittsburgh won favor with Evgeni Malkin immediately because Pittsburghers treated him like one of their own, according to close friend and Penguins teammate Sergei Gonchar.

Until last fall, Malkin lived with Gonchar and his family in Sewickley. He ate at restaurants they frequented, shopped where they shopped and knew what they knew about the city and region.

"We would be out, and people would come up to him to say hello," said Gonchar, who arrived in the United States in 1994 and owns homes here and outside of Miami.

"He had only been here for a few weeks, and everything was so very new to him, and I think he was surprised the fans here were so friendly. Now they don't bother him at all, other than to say, 'Good job, Geno.' He just fits in."

That is especially true at Diesel, a popular nightclub. Malkin enjoys that he is never the center of attention among fun-seeking fans who rarely disturb him.

People often recognize him when he shops for casual clothing at the mall. Penguins teammate Max Talbot said fans "always respect that he's trying to shop, just like them."

Malkin joked that nobody asks him to sign anything if he's carrying "bags in both hands."

At Japanese restaurant Umi, where Malkin prefers tartare-prepared dishes of salmon, yellow tail and toro, smaller and familiar crowds appeal to his reserved nature. Sous chef Jesse Wilson does not believe Malkin avoids attention because he remains uncomfortable with the English language.

Gonchar said he had played in North America nearly 10 years before he was comfortable speaking English in public. But he said Malkin could speak his second language fluently and still not feel comfortable at the head table.

"He's very shy, but that's because he's young," Wilson said. "The thing that sticks out to me is how polite he is to people when they do approach him. He's always saying thanks, and he seems genuinely happy -- maybe a bit embarrassed, too -- that so many people like him.

"And if he's awkward in a certain situation, people just go with it. Everybody ends up laughing about it a few minutes later because everybody that kid meets loves him."

The feeling is mutual, Malkin acknowledged.

But about those Pittsburgh-style sandwiches ...

"No, not for me, not yet," he said, smiling and insisting he means no disrespect to "those guys" at Primanti Brothers.

Vladimir Malkin was an instant fan of Pittsburgh's most famous sandwich, and Evgeni figures he'll become one eventually.

"Only been here three years," he said. "Maybe in a few more I can try one again. Then I can be a real Pittsburgh guy."

*Side notes:
One, this is what I love about Pittsburgh, fans see these guys in public and they don't mob them like they do in other cities. Our fans respect the players' privacy.
And Two, I think Geno is already a "real Pittsburgh guy"

Pitt policeman directs lost Stanley Cup to Lemieux's house

2009-06-22T12:19:00.001-04:00

Giving directions to people lost in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh is nothing new for Andy Redman.

Redman, 26, of Springdale Township, has been a police officer with the University of Pittsburgh for about two years.

But when two men in a black sport utility vehicle flagged him down shortly before 9 p.m. Monday on Forbes Avenue and said they were lost and trying to get the Stanley Cup to Mario Lemieux's house, Redman was skeptical.

Then they showed him the Cup. The Cup that Sidney Crosby hoisted over his head in Detroit after his team won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Cup that had been paraded before hundreds of thousands gathered downtown earlier that day to celebrate the city's latest championship.

The men, from the Hockey Hall of Fame, offered to let Redman hold the trophy and have his picture taken with it.

"It's not that heavy," Redman said Thursday, after getting clearance from his chief to talk about the encounter. "They say it weighs 35 pounds. It's really well balanced. It's really cool."

How the keepers of the Cup ended up in Oakland on their way to Lemeiux's mansion in Sewickley is anyone's guess. Redman said they had a map printed off an Internet site, and other directions written on a piece of cardboard from an earlier attempt to get pointed in the right direction.

Redman said the guys from the Hall of Fame "couldn't have been nicer" but put one caveat on his holding the Cup -- don't lift it over your head. He figures they just didn't want to draw a crowd. Still, about 30 people gathered in the two minutes the Cup was out of its box in the back of the SUV.

He said he and a couple other officers got to hold it.

"It was exciting because even though I don't know much about hockey, I know what the Stanley Cup means," he said. "It's unique among sports championships. It has history because it travels. It's the same Cup everyone else gets. You hold it, and you're like, wow, our fingerprints are on there with Max Talbot, Sidney Crosby, (Marc-Andre) Fleury, Evgeni Malkin ... all those guys held it, and so did we."

Redman escorted the men to the parkway, after which the Cup reportedly went for a swim in Mario's pool.

A Priceless Moment

2009-06-22T08:27:00.002-04:00

2 Tickets to the Stanley Cup Final Game 7 in Detroit......$200

Gas to drive to Detroit for SCF Game....$100

Food and drink during the game.....$45

Getting to watch the Penguins win the Stanley Cup on Detroit ice....PRICELESS

*please note, I was not at Game 7...these are just estimations of what I would have paid to go there.....

Party at Ruslan's!!!

2009-06-21T13:11:00.001-04:00

Fedetenko hosted a party for his entire neighborhood. Click the link for WTAE's coverage....

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/video/19796526/index.html

NHL's All-Star Teams

2009-06-19T10:07:00.001-04:00

The Penguins have only one member on any of these teams....Malkin. Can someone please explain to me how Crosby got left out of these first two and only made it on the Third All-Star Team? To me, that's just a slap in the face!!!!!

2008-2009 NHL First All-Star Team
G - Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
D - Mike Green, Washington Capitals
D - Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
C - Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
RW - Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
LW - Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

2008-2009 NHL Second All-Star Team
G - Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
D - Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
D - Dan Boyle, San Jose Sharks
C - Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
RW - Marian Hossa, Detroit Red Wings
LW - Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils

2008-2009 NHL All-Rookie Team

G - Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
D - Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
D - Luke Schenn, Toronto Maple Leafs
C - Patrik Berglund, St. Louis Blues
RW - Bobby Ryan, Anaheim Ducks
RW - Kris Versteeg, Chicago Blackhawks

Free Agency

2009-06-19T09:52:00.004-04:00

Come July 1st, these are the guys that are up for grabs so to speak....

Craig Adams (F)
Ruslan Fedotenko (F)
Bill Guerin (F)
Miroslav Satan (F)
Petr Sykora (F)
Mike Zigomanis (F)
Philippe Boucher (D)
Hal Gill (D)
Rob Scuderi (D)
Mathieu Garon (G)

I'd love to see Fedetenko & Scuderi back for sure. Of course, I'd really like to see them all back next year, but we all know that's not going to happen.

Reports from Stan Savran are that Philly may be interested in Hal Gill. I honestly don't think he'll be in black and gold next year, unless Boston wants him again. lol And I haven't heard any rumors of that so.....

Inside Pittsburgh Sports is reporting that Zigomanis is in talks with Pittsburgh since there's mutual interest in his remaining a Penguin and that a one-or two-year contract "will be finalized by the draft." Also, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (boy, that's a mouthful!) is interested in Sykora as the KHL is interested in Satan (Pittsburgh will not make a deal with Sykora prior to July 1st and are not interested in re-signing Satan which isn't that big of a surprise).

And last but not least for me, I'd really, really, REALLY, love to see Guerin return for at least one more season. He was such an integral part of bringing this team to the championship and it would be a sad day for all Pittsburgh fans if he left. I know rumors were shooting around about him possibly retiring, but since the end of the season last Friday, I haven't heard anything new about his decision. I'm sure he'd love to stay in Pgh for at least another season, but the only way I see that happening is if he takes a pay cut for a year......And then you also have to factor in that he would love to spend more time with his kids. And what great kids he's got! I just love that picture of his entire family being on the ice with him. I'm sure it's a moment and a picture that they will savor forever as none of the children were yet born when Guerin won his first cup with the New Jersey Devils, 16 years ago.

I don't know....we got our core players signed for years into the future, but I suppose we will all see what happens in the weeks to come.

A Great Year in Pittsburgh

2009-06-19T09:34:00.002-04:00

Ok....the following article was written by Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. It was too funny not to share...especially how he rips on Cleveland...lmao

Do we know how to do a victory parade or what?

Heaven knows we've had enough practice. The celebration yesterday in honor of the Penguins was our second in 132 days, dating to the February party for the Steelers after Super Bowl XLIII. It was the third in 40-plus months, counting the parade for the Steelers after Super Bowl XL in February 2006.

Cleveland hasn't had three in 40 years.

Actually, that's factually incorrect.

Cleveland hasn't had even one in 45 years for any of its major professional sports teams.

My gosh, how many have we had during that same period? Nine? 10? 11?

That's right, there have been 11.

Not to be snooty.

I probably don't have to tell you how fortunate you are to be living in Pittsburgh instead of Cleveland when it comes to sports. I just hope you realize how truly lucky you are, period. You're living through a sports year that very likely won't be matched the rest of your life.

The Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals to win the Super Bowl.

The Pitt men's basketball team came within one terrific, length-of-the-court drive by Villanova's Scottie Reynolds of going to the Final Four.

The Penguins beat the Detroit Red Wings -- on the road in Game 7, no less -- to win the Stanley Cup.

Amazing, absolutely amazing.

And here's the most surreal part:

If you're old enough -- probably 40 or over -- this isn't even the best sports year of your life.

That was 1979.

The Steelers won their fourth Super Bowl in six years, a dynastic run that transcended sports. It didn't just show the rest of the country and the world that Pittsburgh no longer was the dirty, sooty steel city that so many had looked down their noses on for so long. It gave Pittsburghers a proud identity that endures and thrives to this day. Steelers Nation -- millions and millions strong -- overcomes all, from the painful closings of the mines and the mills to the all-too-slow transformation of the city to an academic and medical hub to these horrendous economic times.

The Pirates won the World Series in '79. It's almost impossible to imagine now, but they were once much bigger and more loved than the Penguins. Their championship completed a remarkable decade in which they won six division titles and also the '71 series.

We Are Family!

And don't forget the Pitt football team in '79. It went 11-1, the first of three consecutive 11-1 seasons and part of a phenomenal 62-9-1 run over six seasons that began with the '76 national championship orchestrated by coach Johnny Majors and driven by Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett.

For me, '79 will never be topped.

Not that '09 is bad. And it's not even half over. How cool is that? Training camp starts in Latrobe in 45 days. Some will tell you that's when the real sports year begins around here.

It's easy to think this core group of Steelers will win another Super Bowl or two or three. Big Ben Roethlisberger is signed through the 2015 season. Two championships in four years do not seem like nearly enough for him. Wouldn't it be something if he matched the four that Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw produced in the '70s? Or topped them?

It's just as easy to think the Penguins will hoist the Stanley Cup again soon. Star players Sidney Crosby, 21, Evgeni Malkin, 22, Marc-Andre Fleury, 24, and Jordan Staal, 20, still are mere babies in their sport. Can you believe Staal couldn't drink champagne out of the Cup in Detroit the other night? Not legally, anyway.

LOL!

Crosby and Staal are signed through the 2013 season, Malkin through '14 and Fleury through '15. Together, they might just win more Cup titles than the two won by the most legendary Penguins player of all -- Mario Lemieux -- in the early '90s. That, of course, would delight Lemieux, the team owner to no end.

You really are lucky -- almost beyond belief -- to be living here.

As for Cleveland fans, well ...

Their time finally might be coming after those 45 long years.

They do have LeBron, right?

At least for one more season, anyway.

It would be a real shame if he left the Cavaliers as a free agent in 2010.

Yep, a real shame.

Beat up Hossa....lol

2009-06-19T09:05:00.000-04:00

Wanna beat up Marian Hossa, but know that you'll get pummeled in real life?? Go to http://www.post-gazette.com/icehouse/hossa.asp and punch away....My high score was 80....what's yours?

2009-06-19T08:41:00.003-04:00

First....look at all those fans packed into the parking lot along the Blvd. of the Allies during the Penguins Victory Parade.....an estimated 375,000 fans showed up to cheer on the Penguins Monday, 6/15, after they won Game 7 in Detroit.

Pittsburgh is getting pretty good at hosting these parades. Then again, practice does make perfect!!

For the second time this year, and third in three, thousands of fans packed downtown (dahntahn for those who speek Pittsburghese) streets to celebrate a champion sports team. This time, it was the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

Wonderful weather combined with the end of the school year, drew a large crowd to the Golden Triangle.

And the team didn't disappoint their fans.

From team captain Sidney Crosby and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury taking turns thrusting the revered Cup overhead to Coach Dan Bylsma and players Max Talbot, Bill Guerin, Hal Gill, Matt Cooke and Eric Godard stepping off their vehicles to slap hands with the crowd along the Boulevard of the Allies, this was another chapter in the sports world's most public victory celebration.

Since the team clinched the championship by defeating the Detroit Red Wings Friday night, the cup has made visits with its temporary owners to team owner Mario Lemieux's swimming pool early Saturday, East Carson Street on the South Side Saturday night and PNC Park for Sunday's game with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yesterday, in addition to carrying it along the parade route, players passed the cup among themselves yet again on the Stanwix Street stage and filled it with champagne that was served to the parents of Mr. Crosby and playoffs' most valuable player Evgeni Malkin.

Coach Bylsma thanked fans for being "a real big part" of the team's success. Noting the Steelers' championship earlier this year, Mr. Bylsma said Pittsburgh again is "the City of Champions. That's much better than Hockey Town," Detroit's nickname.

2009-06-19T08:39:00.000-04:00

Penguins General Manager Ray Shero saluted Coach Dan Bylsma, hired Feb. 15 to shake the team from its losing ways. Mr. Bylsma went on to become only the second rookie coach hired in mid-season in hockey history to lead his team to the championship.

"Raise your hand if you knew who Dan Bylsma was before Feb. 15?" Mr. Shero said.

Off to the side, Mr. Bylsma sheepishly raised the hand of his young child.

That's priceless...

2009-06-19T08:37:00.002-04:00

Malkin cheers after his Mom and Dad drink champagne from the Stanley Cup after the Victory Parade on Monday, 6/15.

It's always great to see the young guys so involved with their parents. I wonder if his parents will move here eventually.....

Bylsma hears from President Obama

2009-06-19T08:30:00.003-04:00

Coach Bylsma was entering the Palms Resort and Casino and minutes from walking the red carpet on his way into the NHL Awards show last night when his cell phone rang and he heard these words:

"Please hold for the President."

Bylsma had known for a couple days the call might be coming, but his thoughts at that moment weren't just about the honor of President Barack Obama offering congratulations on the Stanley Cup championship the Penguins wrapped up last Friday with a 2-1 win against Detroit in Game 7 of the final.

"My charger must have broken, so I can't charge my phone. I'm on red on my phone," Bylsma said. "The phone call came in and I was thinking, 'Oh, please don't go out. Please don't go out.' "

The battery lasted long enough for the brief conversation, one that left Bylsma beaming as he reached the other end of the red carpet and entered the Pearl Theater.

"We talked about Pittsburgh's two championships, with the Steelers [winning the Super Bowl], lamented a little bit because he was hoping Chicago could get in [the final] this year and have a chance at it, or the [Washington] Capitals," Bylsma said. "He just talked about the way the guys played, how it was an awesome thing to watch."

Bylsma was thrilled that Obama suggested a Penguins team visit to the White House in the fall was in order.

Obama deftly avoided any faux pas in pronouncing Bylsma's name. "He went with 'Coach,' " Bylsma said.

Bylsma said he has been part of games where a president attended but had never talked to one, especially a sitting president.

"Very cool," Bylsma said.

Taken from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Site

For Gonch, all the pain was worth it....

2009-06-17T15:25:00.002-04:00

Taken from the Penguins site.....

For Sergei Gonchar, the pleasure was worth the pain.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman finished an injury-ravaged season by helping the Penguins win their final game, a 2-1 victory against Detroit in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Gonchar, playing on a brace-buttressed knee and with a surgically repaired shoulder, was a huge part of Pittsburgh's win Friday night, playing more than 22 minutes of near-flawless hockey to earn his first Stanley Cup in three tries.

Not only had Gonchar lost last season, watching these same Red Wings celebrate on the Mellon Arena ice after winning Game 6, but he had also lost the 1998 Final while with the Washington Capitals -- also at the hands of the Red Wings.

For a while, it didn't look like Gonchar would be around to finish off Pittsburgh's amazing run to its first championship since 1992 and exorcise his own demons against Detroit.

In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Gonchar was injured after his knee struck the knee of Alex Ovechkin during an open-ice hit. Many, including teammates, thought Gonchar was done for the season as they watched him writhe on the ice in agony.

Yet Gonchar was back for Game 7 of that series, willing himself into the lineup despite being far from 100 percent.

"Playoffs are a different animal and different beast all together," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "If you are around long enough in the playoffs, you tend to see things that go beyond what the doctor says. Would Sergei have played in the second round if that was Game 52? I'm not a gambling guy, but I would bet no."

But he did and he hasn't missed a game since, getting stronger each night. He scored the game-winning goal in Game 3, beginning his team's fight back from a 0-2 series deficit.

"Obviously, I'm very fortunate my body responded the right way and I'm playing right now," Gonchar said.

Gonchar's body may have responded properly to the knee rehabilitation, but there is no question that it has paid a hefty price to get him to his third Stanley Cup Final.

Remember, Gonchar separated his shoulder in the first exhibition game of the season. There was a chance, at that time, he would miss the entire season. Instead, Gonchar decided to have surgery to accelerate the possibility of returning this season. So while his team opened the season in Europe, he went under the knife in Pittsburgh.

"The way the season was, it was very tough in the beginning," Gonchar said. "I had an injury, and I didn't know how it's going to be after the surgery. I didn't know if I was going to come back and play this year, because there were a few options. There was a chance I'm going to play this year."

Instead, Gonchar returned to the lineup Feb. 14, right about the time the Penguins broke out of their funk and begin climbing up the Eastern Conference standings. Pittsburgh players say those two facts are inexorably linked.

Gonchar not only runs the team's power play and transition game, he also provides an almost preternatural calm to the other defensemen. His mere presence allows the other five defensemen to concentrate solely on their own jobs because they believe Gonchar would pick up the slack.

It is not a coincidence that the team played its best playoff hockey against Carolina in the Eastern Conference Final -- a stunningly savage four-game sweep -- once Gonchar started to find his rhythm.

2009-06-17T15:22:00.003-04:00

The winning team skating with the Stanley Cup is sport's most captivating celebration. Here is the "route" the Cup took Friday night after the Penguins' Game 7 win. It started, of course, with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman handing the Cup to the youngest-ever captain of a Stanley Cup Champion, Sidney Crosby.

1. Sidney Crosby
2. Bill Guerin
3. Sergei Gonchar
4. Miroslav Satan
5. Petr Sykora
6. Hal Gill
7. Philippe Boucher
8. Ruslan Fedotenko
9. Craig Adams
10. Mark Eaton
11. Matt Cooke
12. Pascal Dupuis
13. Chris Kunitz
14. Brooks Orpik
15. Rob Scuderi
16. Marc-Andre Fleury
17. Maxime Talbot
18. Evgeni Malkin
19. Jordan Staal
20. Eric Godard
21. Kris Letang
22. Tyler Kennedy
23. Chris Minard
24. Alex Goligoski
25. Michael Zigomanis
26. Dan Bylsma

And somewhere in there was Lemieux. Yes, Lemieux got to hold the Cup once again, despite having a bad back.

Sykora finally gets to skate with the Cup

2009-06-17T15:20:00.002-04:00

Taken from the Penguins site...

Last time Petr Sykora's team won the Stanley Cup, he was laid up in a nearby hospital.

So there was no way a suspected broken foot was going to stop Pittsburgh's Sykora from getting out on the Joe Louis Arena ice Friday night to party with the world's most famous trophy in the aftermath of the Penguins' 2-1 victory in Game 7 of the Stanly Cup Final against Detroit.

Sykora injured the foot blocking a shot in Game 6, his first game of the Final. Sykora had been a healthy scratch since Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals before Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma gave him a chance in Game 6

The injured right foot -- the same one that was in a walking boot after Friday's morning skate -- was somehow jammed into a skate as Sykora got himself onto the ice while Sidney Crosby, the Penguins captain, accepted the Stanley Cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

"I find a way to put the skate on and I'm so happy I could be able to skate around with the Cup," Sykora told NHL.com as he lounged in his stall with the foot tightly bandaged. "Nothing can compare to right after the game to be on the ice and lift the Cup."

Despite winning his first Cup with the Devils back in 2000, Sykora never had the chance to do a victory lap with it. When New Jersey's Jason Arnott scored the double-overtime winner in Game 6 to clinch against Dallas at Reunion Arena, Sykora was in a local hospital being checked for head injuries after absorbing a vicious check delivered by defenseman Derian Hatcher.

The Devils brought the Cup to Sykora in the hospital. While a nice gesture, Sykora says it is not the same as being on the ice with the team in the immediate aftermath of the triumph.

"What a great feeling, I can't describe how good that feels," Sykora told NHL.com.

Surprisingly, Sykora did not have to wait long for his turn with the Cup this time around. Despite not playing in Game 7, Sykora was the fifth Penguin to receive a turn with the Stanley Cup, taking it from Miroslav Satan

How did Sykora get the Cup so early, before Conn Smythe winner Evgeni Malkin or Game 7 hero Marc-Andre Fleury?

"It goes by age, buddy, so that's not a good sign," Sykora said with a laugh.

For Guerin, 2nd time with Cup is just as sweet

2009-06-17T15:14:00.003-04:00

Taken from the Penguins site.

Fourteen years ago, Bill Guerin was a brash youngster on top of the hockey world, cherishing the first of what he thought would be many Stanley Cups.

Friday night, in a cramped visitor's dressing room at Joe Louis Arena, the 38-year-old Guerin, his playoff beard featuring as many gray whiskers as black, joked about taking out his dentures before finally slaking a thirst for the sweetest of champagnes that can only flow out of the Stanley Cup.

"This is what we dream of," Guerin said. "This is what hockey is all about. This is why we love the game."

Less than an hour after Guerin's Penguins won the Stanley Cup with a thrilling 2-1 victory against Detroit in Game 7, he was gulping champagne out of the Cup as young Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby tilted it toward his mouth.

"That's good champagne," Guerin said after spraying a geyser of champagne mist toward the ceiling for luck.

It was impossible at that moment for Guerin not to think about the first time he won the Stanley Cup, as a youngster with an upstart New Jersey Devils squad that upset these same Wings in four games back in 1995.

"I was so young and I thought I would get a million more cracks and you don't, you just don't," Guerin said. "All I wanted the rest of my career was one more crack at it -- thank god for Max Talbot."

Talbot scored both of Pittsburgh's goals Friday night, delivering Guerin a second Cup almost 14 years to the day from his first. Guerin waited 13 years, 353 days before he finally got to raise the Stanley Cup over his head for the second time.

It was also impossible not to marvel at his good fortune in landing with the Penguins in a protracted trade that got a little messy and took several days to finish. That move, from a New York Islanders team well out of the hunt, revived Guerin's season, although thoughts of a shot at the Stanley Cup were not prevalent at the time.

"When I got traded to Pittsburgh, the Pens were in 10th and I was in 30th," Guerin said, laughing.

Only Chris Chelios (16 years, 20 days) and Mark Recchi (15 years, 25 days) waited longer than Guerin between NHL championships.

"You see a guy like Billy Guerin, he won it, but it was 14 years ago," Crosby said. "It's scary to think that we've got another chance, another crack at it; and we did the most we could with that opportunity. It was just about seizing the opportunity, and doing what we could with it."

In a somewhat surprising move, Crosby handed the cup to Guerin first after accepting the trophy from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

"It was amazing and I appreciate the other guys letting me do that," Guerin said. "Just being able to be a big part of this team, they're great guys. I'll tell you, this is a great team."

His teammates say that Guerin deserved the honor of receiving the Cup from Crosby.

"He's a huge reason why we all stayed so composed," linemate Chris Kunitz told NHL.com.

"He's a guy that is a talker in the room, keeps everybody's spirits light. He's a great teammate. He tells players like it is when something needs to be done. He's out there fighting for guys, blocking shots, scoring goals. He does whatever it takes."

Defenseman Brooks Orpik had a huge smile plastered on his face as he stood on the ice watching Guerin celebrate the victory with his wife and four kids.

"He's just one of those guys, as soon as he got in the room it seemed like he had been there for years already," Orpik told NHL.com.

"Everyone seems to gravitate toward him. He just garners that respect right away. More importantly, he's a really, really good human being and that is what everyone respects most about him. He was huge for us ever since we got him."

Goligoski Stays

2009-06-17T15:03:00.002-04:00

The Penguins have locked up defenseman Alex Goligoski with a new three-year contract after the 23-year-old inked a deal with the team on Wednesday.

“I wanted to stay a Penguin for a long time,” Goligoski said. “The way they treat you here and with this group of guys here, I think we can be a contender every year. I want to be a winner so it was an easy decision. I’m glad we were able to get (the contract) done early. It’s just really exciting right now.”

"This last two weeks has been unbelievable,” Goligoski said. “It feels awesome. It’s a really cool experience (winning the Cup). It’s something I was able to go through and it’s a surreal thing. You dream about it growing up and for it to happen is a really cool thing.”

Goligoski, who was the third-leading scorer among NHL rookie defensemen in 2008-09 with 20 points on six goals and 14 assists in just 45 games, is a smooth skating, offensively gifted blueliner, and the Penguins brass is thrilled that he’ll be in a Pittsburgh uniform for the next couple of seasons.

“Alex is a skilled young defenseman and a tremendous skater, and we are pleased to sign him to a multi-year deal as we continue to build our young core,” general manager Ray Shero said. “He gained some valuable experience this season and made contributions to our Stanley Cup run. He is another example of a great future here in Pittsburgh.”

Goligoski, who appeared in two games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, recording one assist, earned a roster spot at the start of the season and his play impressed his teammates, coaches and the front office. However, a logjam at the defensive position forced the Penguins to send the promising defenseman to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League to continue his development.

With his contract out of the way, Goligoski can concentrate on his summer program in preparation for next season. He knows he still has to earn his way onto the Penguins’ roster.

“I’m having a good summer with training and working on certain things,” he said. “I’m getting ready to go when training camp starts. I’m not taking anything for granted but I feel good to get the contract done with and moving on, concentrating on trying to be a really good player for the Pittsburgh Penguins next year.”

Goligoski was the Penguins’ second-round pick (61st overall) in 2004 and made his NHL debut in 2007-08, playing three games for the Penguins and picking up two assists. In the 2008 Calder Cup playoffs, he set an AHL record for points in a playoff season by a defenseman with 28 and ranked second overall in AHL playoff scoring.

Game 7 most watched game in 36 years

2009-06-16T13:05:00.000-04:00

Friday night’s deciding Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on NBC Sports was the most-watched NHL game in 36 years (5/10/73, Stanley Cup Final Game 6 on NBC, Montreal-Chicago, 9.4 million) drawing an average of 8 million viewers. Overall, the series averaged 5.6 million viewers for the five games on NBC, the best since 2002 on ABC (three telecasts, Detroit-Carolina, 5.8 million average viewers).

Friday’s Game 7 earned a 4.3 rating and an 8 share, the best for a series-ending game in six years (6/9/03, Game 7, Anaheim-New Jersey, 4.6/8).

NBC Sports’ Game 7 finished No. 1 for the night in every category including viewership and household ratings.

Poor Jordan

2009-06-15T12:43:00.000-04:00

The dude can't even legally drink yet!!!

Parade of Champions

2009-06-15T12:34:00.001-04:00

The Victory Parade is being streamed live at http://www.thePittsburghchannel.com