Pens Lose 3-2

Well, that certainly was a fun game wasn't it? If only hockey games could somehow just end after the first period. Everything started off great. Pens were skating well early. Sabu made some big saves on good Avs opportunities... you could tell he was really seeing the puck well. PK was absolutely unreal killing a huge 5 on 3. Crosby nets two goals, the second of which coming on a wicked snapshot after being set up beautifully by Malkin. 2-0 Pens after one and it's good times all around.

Then a funny thing happened on the way to the locker room.


Please help us find our boys...

It's difficult to put in words how immensely horrible the second period of this game was. Just gut-wrenching to watch. Defense broke down, Whitney gets hurt, too much time on the pk, and the turnovers. My God, the turnovers. Maybe the high altitude in Denver causes temporary color blindness because most of our passes were finding the guys in burgundy. Ben Roethlisberger was unavailable for comment to confirm this theory. That joke of a PA announcer made me appreciate John Barbaro even more. 3-2 Avs


Third period was frantic at times but mostly frustrating. The passing troubles continued which is a shame because the pens had their chances. After looking solid early on, the power play looked rather abysmal in this period. We really missed Whitney being out there. Then there was this unusual play:


fine. i'll just pass you around if you won't give me the puck

I don't know exactly what was going on with this play. By this point, I was watching the game in a bar and was a bit distracted by the booze i was pouring down my throat. But it seemed like this dude was laying on the ice for an awfully long time and my first reaction was he trying to freeze the puck. Clearly, the puck is still visible. It was fun to see Staal just jamming away at this guy though. Just a really strange sequence. Not much happened the rest of the game. After a timeout late, the pens had one more chance but couldn't make it happen.

Game Over... Pens Lose... Bring on the Islanders.

Hockey Night: Pens at Avalanche

The Penguins are in Colorado tonight to take on the Avalanche. Thanks to the mind-boggling NHL schedule, we last played this team on Dec. 10, 2005, a 4-3 win at home. On paper, these two teams are almost identical statistically with the slighest of edges going to Colorado. But paper matchups are good for ass wiping and that's about it. For many, myself included, this will be our first look at Malkin B also known as Paul Stastny. He was on fire at the beginning of the season but has cooled a bit since. The Avalanche are one of only two teams that can boast a perfect home record. Guess who the other the one is...



Gagne likes the new "talent"

There's reason to believe the Pens could dominate this game. And i'm basing that on pure speculation and cold, hard crap. The game played on tuesday was a thing of beauty-- the kind of game that can provide momentum to go on a nice little run. It's funny how a great game can restore so much confidence. It will be interesting to see if Therrien keeps Crosby and Malkin on the same line. The way they are clicking now, I can't justify splitting them up. They have scored a combined 17pts. in the last 4 games. Malkin has been playing out of his mind this season and Crosby seems to be on the verge of one his unstoppable, 3 pts/game streaks. As long as the D remains solid, we could/should win this game.

It pains me greatly to even say this, but Jordan Staal needs to step up.

On Notice: Colby Armstrong

Look, i know it's hard to criticize him considering the way he is playing on the penalty kill. I know he's only 19. I know the season is still very, very young and this lack of offensive production will surely end sometime soon. He's getting his shots they're just not finding the back of the net. He is absolutely one of my favorite players on the team so maybe i'm just expecting too much. But he is way too talented to not be scoring more goals. With that, here's my completely baseless, unjustified prediction for the game tonight: tight game that opens up late, Staal breaks out and scores 2, Sabu kicks some ass, pk does it's job, all en route to a 4-2 Pittsburgh victory.



ryan smyth is inconsolable


9:00 PM, FSN.
Let's go Pens.