Devastation City. PENS LOSE.

[NHL.com recap]


Years from now the Penguins will lose a tough game , and someone will say that the loss hurt worse than Game four of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals.

And they still won't be right.

These are the type of losses that stay with you, and haunt you.
Shades of Jiri Hudler could be a phrase you hear when you blow a huge meeting a work.

Did Wings really win, or did the Penguins lose it?

It doesn't matter.

All that matters is that the Red Wings got it done, and Lord Stanley will be in attendance on Monday evening.

We're not going to lie, the situation is dire.
The chances of winning 3 straight games against the Red Wings are about as close to not possible as it gets.

But there will be no concession.

You can throw Malkin under the bus.
You can make posts about Ty Conklin starting in net on Monday.

The last eight months would mean nothing to us if we did that.

Monday is a nation of Pens fans, against the world.

The ship is sinking, but we are going down to the bitter end.

God, help us all.

:::::::::::::::::: PREGAME :::::::::::::::::::

NBC refuses to show the national anthem.
NBC = hates America

[ DOUBLE J ]

All business

:::::::::::::::::: ANTHEMS :::::::::::::::::::


[ 6470 ]


[ ANUKUL ]


[ JOEY L. ]

[Alex B]


[Adam H]

:::::::::::::::::: FIRST PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

NBC got their wish with an early icing call.
They get more time to throw more graphics at your balls.

Early on, you couldn't feel the urgency that was prevalent for all of Game 3.
The Red Wings were getting chances like it was their job.

Dallas Drake, the wily vet, makes a horrible play and cross-checks Whitney.
Pens jump onto the PP.

After surviving a scare with Zetterberg lurking, the Pens got it done.
Hossa and Roberts cause trouble in front, Hossa fakes a wrap around and keeps it shortside.

1-0.

Stunned

[ 5031 ]

Hossa almost made it 2-0 right after, but he hit the crossbar. The goal could have changed your life.
That Game 3 urgency. It was there.

Everything was going well. And then Bing's stick broke in his hand, and he couldn't get the puck out of the zone.

Dupuis hits Cleary from behind.
The Wings jump onto the power play.

Orpik got crosschecked from behind early on the PK.
But it was apparently legal.

The PK was a thing of beauty.
But the boom came right after Dupuis got out of the box.
Lidstrom with the slapper.

1-1

Just a huge goal.

After some jobbing, Adam Hall draws a penalty.
The Pens couldn't get it done.

In the second half of the first period, it was 1-1, and it really didn't matter who scored the first goal.

Jordan Staal drew another penalty on the Wings.
The Wings just couldn't keep up.

That PP went to the wayside.
As that shift continued, Talbot gets crosschecked and goes off for diving.
Okay.

Franzen and Candy went off at the end of the next shift.
Great 4-on-4 action ensued.

And that was it.
A solid first period.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ KOZ ]

:::::::::::::::::: SECOND PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

The second period started after what seemed to be the longest intermission of the season.

Staal interferes with someone.
It was a Red Wing, so it was a power play.
The Pens kill it. Just a huge kill.

What followed was some more unbelievable hockey.
The Wings sustained some decent pressure, but couldn't get a shot off.

Hossa led the charge the other way, but Osgood was there to make the stops.
We were now getting to the point of the game where the next goal would win it.

The game came back from commercial, but the tempo stayed the same.
Then another commercial, then still a feverish tempo.

After more great work from the third and fourth lines, the Pens draw a penalty.

And it was here, that season may have started to unravel. The powerplay that has been so clutch, just could not get set up. And frustration began to set in. Roberts tried to fight some joke as the period ended, but the joke was scared.

Weird feeling going into the third.

:::::::::::::::::: THIRD PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

After the second longest intermission of the season, the third period started.

Something just wasn't right. It is like a scene in a movie, where you know something really bad is about to happen.

Two minutes in, that scene happens.
The Pens couldn't get the puck out, Jiri Hudler backhands it home and into your nightmares.

2-1

If you had to give up a goal in the third, the earlier, the better. Whatev.
Just a crushing goal.

The snowball had its chance to roll at Mach 10 when Fleury knocks it out of play.
The Pens killed it.

As the Red Wing begin to put their choke hold on, someone jobs a Dupuis.
As the Pens break into the zone during that powerplay, Bing gets interfered with.

This was the season, everyone knew it.
The Pens got some big chances.
Zetterberg makes an unreal play on Crosby to prevent him from scoring, by tying his stick up.
[David Staples] from the Edmonton Journal says it was a classic case of obstruction.

After some more unreal chances, a heartbreaking flicker of a goal light, it was over.

The 5-on-3 should have its own blog.
Should HCMT called a timeout before to set things up?
Should Malkin be taken off the point and put back where he belongs on the wing?
Should Roberts have been on the ice?

Father Time grudgingly walks down Center Avenue.

After the final commercial break, this was it.

The Pens took it to the Wings, as if you expected anything different.
Hall-Staal-Talbot work down deep just to get a chance. But no dice.

Time just ticked away.
The Pens got MAF off, but it wasn't meant to be.

Game

MISCELLANEOUS

• Vomit
• Someone threw an Octopus on the ice.
• Shooting a broken stick at a player is grounds for a penalty shot--- just saying
• Is the Western Conference the Old NHL?
• Chris Osgood actually looked like a real goaltender. Whatev
  
• Vomit again.

Hacksaw went down swinging.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

This is all we have for inspiration:




Go Pens

SCF GameDay: Game 4 -- Red Wings @ Penguins

GAME FOUR
8:10

WATCH GAMES ONLINE

[ ChannelSurfing.net ] -- Highly regarded.

[ MyP2P ]
[ Sports Talk World ]
[ Yahoo NHL ]
[ Hockey Webcasts ]



[ Here ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Yahoo and AOL are also doing liveblogs

[ PuckDaddy ]
[ Fanhouse ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




Lineup is the same as Game 3.

If you want to get even more jacked,
read this article by Bucci. [ ESPN ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



No word on Jokestrom, game-time decision. [TSN.ca]

UPDATE:

Jokestrom is out. [TSN.ca]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

We left it up to the man himself.
Playing hurt, tired, and left for dead.

He said he wants the call.
And who are we to argue.


HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
GO PENS

Ron Cook Likes Pee

The new cool thing to do in the media?
Blast Mario Lemieux for no reason.

Next up, the wildly untalented Ron Cook.

[The return of Jschiff]


He throws Buries It under the bus in a column about Bing. [PG]

Scott Burnside, a national columnist for ESPN.com, chided Mario Lemieux in a piece Tuesday for hiding in seclusion and not doing more to sell the NHL during the Cup final. Burnside took a beating from Penguins fans, but he was right on with his criticism. Lemieux's public-relations stance always has been a matter of convenience -- his.

Ron Cook writes for the Post Gazette every week. And all of sudden because ESPN blasts Lemieux, he does the same? Why say something like that?

You'd think Cook would stick up for Lemieux.

After all, he sure gave him stuff to write about over the years. Like this [600 word lovefest] back in 2001.

But no, Ron Cook is a coward. Cook also blasted 66 in a TV appearance to drive the point home.

Dick.

:::::

We don't know what the big deal is about Mario not acquiescing to media requests.

Pensblog's own Marty the Chicken put in a request on Friday, and it was granted.


You are a beast


I know.


So, how does it feel to be on the owner side of the SCF?


Any SCF I've been in, I've owned, so it's nothing new to me.


Sidney Crosby lives with you. Tell us it's like a sitcom.


It's more of a reality show called "He Lives With Me. The Media Covered This Two Years Ago."


That's a pretty long title.


what


Listen, Buries It, this interview isn't about you.
It's about me touching myself when I tell my colleagues that I interviewed you.


okay


As a player, you were always available for interviews.
In your retirement as a non-player, you haven't been as available.
What gives?


The operative word is "retirement."


Oh, but you were available when you wanted an arena for your team.


Yeah, that was kind of a big deal.


And the SCF Finals isn't a big deal?
You're a hockey legend. Why haven't you had more of a presence in these Finals?


I'm the owner of the team now.
Yeah, it's a good story and all.
The ironic part is all you got to tell people is that I'm a former player who is now the owner.
Anything following that, I look like I crave the attention.


Then why did you agree to this interview?


Because chickens don't get much respect in the journalistic community.
And I was hoping I could get some free candy out of this.


A-ha! So it is all about you!


You would be surprised what some people would do for free candy.


true


Listen, chicken, you media types can't play both sides.
You call me out, saying I only grant media requests when it benefits me.
But then you conveniently ignore the thought that me granting requests during the SCF would benefit me.
I've raised a lot of money for my charity during these SCF by opening the Mellon for away games.
You can't say that I'm all about myself when I say I don't want any piece of the spotlight.
It doesn't make any sense.


That rant just cost you a Tootsie Roll


Colonel Sanders just called.
Your mom is dead.


bastard

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


[Jon M]

:: Jokestrom Is in. [TSN]

:: [PSI] is usually dead on, and they are saying Jokestrom is out..

:: Rumor has it that the Wings were forced to move to Nemacolin Woodlands,
because some Pens fans unleashed the jobbing squad at the Renaissance Wednesday morning.

They went into the garage across the street from the Renaissance with airhorns.
They used duct tape to rig the horns so they blew until they ran out of air.

The Wings were upset and changed hotels.
But they are back at the Renaissance today.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Not a lot of Pens news going on. If you don't know whats going on at this point, you are worthless.

:: The meaning of Game Four. [Going Five Hole]

:: Game Four is a battle of the TV ratings. If people in Detroit even have TV's. [Puck Daddy]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Alan Muir from Sports Illustrated says why even play any more games. [SI]

We'd respond, but we fell asleep trying to read it.

Muir needs some Candy.


[Nick V]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
With the Penguins' prospects getting the job done in the AHL Finals,
it has forced us to look ahead to next year.

Hacksaw has had a masterful run.
It makes sense, considering this is the final year in his contract.

Red and Andy are secured through 2010.
So is Ed Harris.

President Whitmore may retire.

Others in the system:


2007-08 record: 0-2


2007-08 record: 0-1

Top Prospects:





:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Some other shit probably happened.
But whatev.

8:10 PM tonight is all we are worried about.




Go Pens

Ruutu and Free Candy

[ Zach Lancia ] with the clutch embed



[Sean L.]

Go Pens

True Lies

[ Tim S. ] sent that link along.

Just a great way to start the day.
Tha'ts how you job.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The second-best way to start a day?
Hearing rumblings that Tomas Holmstrom has a lower-body injury.
A.K.A. -- Ovulation. [ TSN ]


[ Dan D. ]

Holmstrom is an abominable snowman that you can't knock down on the PK.
But when it's 5-on-5, he goes down faster than Lee P.'s wife.

It does not have to be said that the Wings losing Holmstrom is huge.


[ Andrew C. Bly ]


[ A2Y ]

"Pens Game 3 Game Plan: Beat the Hell out of Holmstrom. And they did. All night.
Hal Gill is a lumbering illiterate and his antics last night were reminiscent of [Chris Pronger]."



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

A bad way to start the day?
To see more journalists jumping on the job-Lemieux bandwagon.

David Shoalts at [ Globe and Joke ]

Article Title:
Mario Lemieux: Exploiter Extraordinaire

So once that arena deal was announced, Lemieux didn't need any more attention.
Not even a few minutes to talk about the feel-good story of his team.

See ya, suckers, the saying goes.

Ouch.
This is all moot when 66 takes the pregame skate on Saturday night.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




[ Alan "Crash" ]

[ TSN ] [ NHL.com ] [ ESPN ] [ Yahoo ]
[ PG ] [ Trib ] [ Penguins.com ]
That saved us a lot of work.


:: Game 3 TV ratings were all business. [ KK ]
87% increase over last year's Game 3.
There's that number again.

:: David Staples is a beast. [ Edmonton Journal ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: HCMT questions and answers. [ KK ]
:: The Penguins control their own destiny. [ Paul Kukla ]
:: The differences in Game 3. [ Hockey.com ]
:: Watch the Penguins fly. [ Game On ]


New Cheer Cards. [ PG ]
There's no "U" in TEAM.


:: There are some tremendous pics over at Empty-Netters' Flickr Page. [ Flickr ]


:: [ Tournament of Masks ]
Fleury has met his match. He is down roughly 600 votes.
Again, that site is unreal. Vote for the best mask. Or don't. Whatev.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

It's been over 24 hours. Orpik's shift has been watched 20,000 times on YouTube.
Rob Scuderi called it a Yard Sale.
It's somehow become the national anthem of Cambodia.


[ sh0ez ]



The Shift set to a great soundtrack.
[ Alex N. ]


[ JMO in Dormont ]


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: The Red Wings relaxed Thursday. [ Detroit Free Joke ]


In other news, Red Wings fans are fat:
[Thanks to Kaitlin C for the pic]





:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


[ Blaine Hull ] with the Randy Newman song written for Chris Osgood.

"Little people got no reason to live.
They got little hands, little eyes.
They walk around telling great, big lies."


[Nicky B]

Why is Randy Newman so pissed? Jesus.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


The Baby Pens lost Game One of the Calder Finals 5-4 [ WBSPenguins ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



[ Robert S. ] grabbed this Top-10 All-time Pens list from TSN.

1:30 mark.
It looks like goals that didn't even count are put into highlight reels.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Somber news.
Top Canucks prospect Luc Bourdon was killed in a motorcycle accident. [ Mirtle ]
He was 21.

There will be a moment of silence before Game 4.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


:: Seattle residents were jobbed out of seeing Game 3. [ Globe and Mail ]
Thanks to [ Micah L. ] for the info.

:: [ Yinz Luv 'Da Guins ]

:: [ Wings-Blackhawks at Wrigley for next season's Winter Classic ]


:: KC residents dream of what could have been. [ KC.com ]
[ Fleury29 ] with the link.


The encyclopedia anyone can edit. Not.
Rex Gildo's page mentions nothing of the Hossa song now.

Have to do it:




:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


[ Mirtle M.D. ] found an interesting tidbit at MSNBC Thursday.
According to this [ MSNBC ] article, there are two dozen bloggers covering the finals.

No clue what MSNBC is talking about.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: If you want to talk to ESPN's Scott Burnside about him slamming 66,
we have on good authority that he enters through Gate 3 about 2 hours before the game.

:: Also, a little birdie told us the Wings are staying at Nemacolin Woodlands.
Hopefully Joe Hardy tries to marry one of them.




:: We've had many people snap this pic with their camera phones and e-mail it in.
Is it hanging up somewhere?

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




Go Pens

Lee P. = Stunned Again

[ The parade blogger Lee P. ] has "reported" that Tomas Holmstrom is gone with a sports hernia.
If we've been foolish enough to take the bait, well-played, Lee.

The Afterglow

7:30 Thursday Night

[ The Sports Docket with Aceman and the Kwass ]

Call-in number: 646 - 478 - 5118

It's a New York area show.
We'll be in a roundtable discussion with NHL.com's Brian Compton
and Christy Hammond from [ Behind The Jersey ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

In the next few days, starting tonight, we'll address every e-mail we've gotten since the Finals started.
We've been behind on getting pics up and whatnot, trying to focus on everything surrounding the SCF.
Our conscience wouldn't be clear unless we posted some of the miscellaneous stuff we've received.

Go Pens

To Hall And Back. PENS WIN

[ NHL.com Recap ]


Veterans. Experience. Adam Hall. Mellon Arena.
Those words have turned the Stanley Cup Finals on its head.

Pens fans were antsy after the first two games. People were stunned.
But we all knew what the Mellon Arena meant.

This is what Game One would have looked like in a parallel universe.

Tonight was about punching the bully in the face and stuffing free candy in his mouth.

Daryl Sydor jumped in and got the job done.
Roberts did his job on every line that HCMT decided to put him on.

We all know how good Bing is, but he took his game to another level.

All the talk about officiating, and the Wings had two more power plays than the Pens did.
It didn't matter.

Don't get too high. Don't get too low.
Saturday night, everything is on the line.

God help us all.

:::::::::::::::::: PREGAME :::::::::::::::::::

The Mellon Arena was insane.

[Thanks to Eric H]


At the 5:30 mark, your arm might fall off from the goosebumps.

:: [Going Five Hole] also had the opening.

Jeff Jimmerson gets jobbed by NBC, when they go to a commercial instead of showing the Anthem.

:::::::::::::::::: ANTHEMS :::::::::::::::::::


[Eric H]


[ Dave ]


[ Whistler ]



[ Josh Mc ]


[Johnny P]


[Sarah U.]


[Evan W]


[Eileenover]


[Andrew P.]

:::::::::::::::::: FIRST PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

So, the ice looks better without any dead animals on it.

Early on, the Pens get the game handed to them on a platter.
The all-important first goal could come on an early power play.

Ryan Malone almost changed the world, but Elroy was where he had to be.
The penalty was killed, and Jordan Staal was headed into the box.
It was there and then that the USS Hall Gill and Tomas Holstrom began their duel.

Looks like a Wrestlemania cover poster.

That penalty was killed, and the game settled down a bit.
Snore.

After the halfway mark, MAF was called upon to make a big save, when Datsjoke makes a nice move around the USS Hal Gill.
Scuderi ended up getting a piece of it. It didn't matter who stopped it.

Gonchar was headed to the box when the Pens got caught running.
Detroit was all business on the power play, but they couldn't put it home.

A different Pens team came out of that penalty kill.
They were possessed.

They forced Brad Stuart to make a mistake, hurrying a pass to Gretzky.
Elroy gives up a cupcake goal so he can throw his defensemen under the bus.

[Jaos]

1-0

Huge

After that, sticks start flying out of the Wings players hand.
They get whistled on another penalty, and the Pens get another chance.

After the puck jobs around, Hossa's arm gets destroyed as he was about to bury one.
Veteran move, nothing you can do about it. The puck floated to center ice as time expired.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ Ashlee H. ]

[ Spess ]

:::::::::::::::::: SECOND PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

Sid almost put the Pens up 2-0 with a wrister, but it hit the pipe.
The Pens, for the first time, took it to the Red Wings.
The Wings cleared the zone.

The Pens didn't care.
More cycling, and Kronwall had to job Malone.
The powerplay just looked smooth.
The puck got knocked around to Malkin, and he unleashed wicked slapshot that almost killed Elroy.

Welcome back, Gino.

As Elroy rubbed his balls, the Pens flew back into the zone.
Gonch threw one to the net.
It floated around forever until Bing was on Elroy's doorstep.

2-0


[CharmChild]

You want to talk night and day.
The Mellon Arena ice had already paid dividends. The roar of that old arena. Wow.

Somewhere amidst the Pens dominance in the first half of the second, Crosby gets upended by Kris Draper.
Had to mention it, 'cause it was pretty sweet and it was the only evidence that Draper was actually in Pittsburgh for the game.
It almost mattered.

After some more jobbing with the Pens controlling the game, Hal Gill headed to the box.
That penalty brought with it a nauseating camera angle.

Brooks Orpik saved a goal by handing out some Free Candy to Jiri Hudler and knocking him into the post.

[Rag33]

Hudler had nowhere to dive.
The Pens killed off the rest with relative ease.

A Holmstrom dive on a Hal Gill nudge put the Wings back on the PP.
It looked like the Pens would escape yet again.

But wait.
The Concussion went to the net all business and got it past MAF.

2-1

The Pens had to get the momentum going, but it didn't help when Kronwall put Hossa in a figure-four leglock.

Jordan Staal got the stick up in Lidstrom's face. Good no-call.

Any momentum the Wings had from the goal disappeared when the Pens jumped back into their 5-on-5 dominance.

MAF weathered a storm at the end of the period.
A war of attrition awaited in the third.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Mr. Mom.
Look at that dude on the left. Unreal.

:::::::::::::::::: THIRD PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

The biggest period since the one your girlfriend didn't get began cautiously.

For fans of the Wings and Pens, this was a big period.
For the casual fan, it was much bigger.

Hockey was finally truly able to be portrayed at its highest level.
Just unreal.

Father Time denies Scott Burnside's requests for an interview as he enters the Arena at Gate 8.

Hossa-Bing-Dupuis continued the even-strength dominance.
Hossa was inches away from going to State Farm. Rex Gildo was warming up.

If Ted Kennedy would have murdered that hooker in the third period, Devorski would have let it go.
Both teams were enjoying the freedom.

And then it came. It's why we wear the wristbands.
It's why we recognize what a 42-year-old warrior brings.

JFK gets blown up, but the Pens get possession, and dump it into the Wings zone.
Andreas Lilja never saw it coming.

Roberts ends his life.
Talbot joins the scrum, and the puck finds it way to Adam Hall.
He hits the side of net on his first try.

Trapped, with no one to pass to, Adam Hall the Magician faked a look at the crease and banked a shot off Osgood's arm into the net. For those who could see the genius of the play, it is another #28 goal that will remain in the mind forever.

A Conn Smythe candidate doesn't let that happen.
Pathetic display.

3-1


[Dave]

[ Polish Angel ]

The classy Wings almost took a dump on the momentum when they ventured into the Pens zone right after.
But Tomas Holmstrom can't score a goal unless he's touching another man. Post city.

The next 6-7 minutes was pure insanity.
Brooks Orpik turned in the best shift in the history of the NHL.
Detroit players left the ice with cavities.


[ Thanks to KAT for the heads-up ]

[ Nate B. ]

The bad part about those 7 minutes of insanity was that it came to an end.
Detroit was able to compose themselves, and it showed.

Some cycling, and it was 3-2.

The game started back up again but abruptly stopped when Tomas Holmstrom does the swan into the Pens net.

Moron

It was definitely Survivor Blog for the final 6 minutes.
It's what separates a Stanley Cup champion and a joke.

But hold the phone. Malkin gets sent off for hooking.
Horrible call.

You know the routine.
Amidst 17,000 screaming Mellon Arena fanatics, the Pittsburgh Penguins discovered who they were.

Somehow the Pens mustered up the guts to kill the biggest penalty of the season.
Honestly, the intensity cannot be expressed in words. It is nearly overwhelming.

As time ticks down, Jordan Staal and Max Talbot try to take a knee and run out the clock.
Elroy can't get off in time, and the Red Wings don't even set up anything remotely threatening.

[Johnny P]

Game


[Charmedchild]

MISCELLANEOUS

• HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
• What a hockey game. Great for the NHL.
  
• Bing reached another level. Big-time.
  
• Rub your eyes, Gino. Wake up some more.
  
• Sydor did his job.
• [Lee P.] = stunned.
• Pens fans expected this.
  

woooo

Renaissance Hotel
107 6th Street
Pittsburgh, PA, 15222



Renaissance Hotel
107 6th Street
Pittsburgh, PA, 15222

SCF GameDay: Game 3 -- Red Wings @ Penguins

GAME THREE
8:05

WATCH GAMES ONLINE

[ ChannelSurfing.net ] -- Highly regarded.

[ MyP2P ]
[ Sports Talk World ]
[ Yahoo NHL ]
[ Hockey Webcasts ]

[ Here ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Yahoo and AOL are also doing liveblogs

[ PuckDaddy ]
[ Fanhouse ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



The major change is Sydor is in, and Letang is out. [PG]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



[JMO from Dormont]

The only change?
Chris Osgood might dry a double tuck instead of a triple.


[Matt V]


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

We're just pissed at everything.
And we're missing so much stuff in Gmail.
Not enough time.

It's only fitting that the season lies in the hands of this man.
He's come through with some serious victories all season, and we are giving him the reins.


HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

GO PENS

Chris Osgood Sucks

It took a year for Game Two to come around.

And now we're a quick workday away from Game Three.



The phrase "must-win game" is always thrown around liberally.
Your coach is on the hot seat while your team has lost 4 straight.
15 games left in the season, and you're playing the team you're battling for the final playoff spot.

But then you get to the playoffs, and you're quickly down 2-0 in a series.
Tonight is the must-win game's little brother.

A win, by whatever means necessary, completely changes the series.
HOOOOOOOO

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: The Pens were jobbed by some punks at their hotel Monday morning.
[ LA Times ] [ PG ]

A fire alarm went off at the Penguins' hotel around 1:30 a.m. yesterday.
Although it proved to be a false alarm, that didn't prevent the players from being awakened.

It was not immediately clear whether the incident was a prank,
something the Penguins deal with fairly often on the road.

"That's one that we've gone through before," center Sidney Crosby said.
"I'm sure it's just a coincidence."

The real kicker: About a half-hour after the alarm sounded, there was a hotel-wide announcement that it had been a false alarm, awakening anyone who had managed to get back to sleep.

"It was kind of annoying," forward Tyler Kennedy said. "I just stayed in bed.
Worse comes to worse, I'd just jump out the window."

Teammate Ryan Malone laughed it off. "I hear Pittsburgh is having trouble with that too,
in the hotels there," he said, "so I hope Detroit doesn't get the same thing."

Renaissance Hotel
107 6th Street
Pittsburgh, PA, 15222

Don't do anything stupid.
We are not advocates of chicanery.

Here's the address again.

Renaissance Hotel
107 6th Street
Pittsburgh, PA, 15222

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::





Pittsburgh Sports Insider is back in the saddle again. [ KDKA ]
Sydor is dressing for Game 3 and a stunning line change may be in the works.

Let the speculation begin. But this had to be done.
The wouldas and shouldas are becoming dids.

You need Scuds for the PK.
Letang can move the puck and has led an offensive rush on a few occasions.

Gonchar - Gold
Orpik - Silver
Whitney - Bronze
USS Hal Gill - Beast

Tough call for the Lord

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




:: Hey, kettle, "lastest" is almost a word. [ Yahoo ]

:: Questioning the legitimacy of Elroy winning the Conn Smythe. [ Mirtle ]
Again, it's why he's the doctor.


Where's Gino?

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The pressure of this series is taking its toll on everyone.
And what we don't need?


[ THIS ]

Scott Burnside is more than irked the Mario Lemieux hasn't made himself available to the press during the Stanley Cup Finals.

"But let's not paint this with any other brush than what it deserves. The only reason Lemieux isn't making himself available during these finals is because there's nothing in it for him.

And that's more than a little sad."
-Scott Burnside

SLAM

He wants Mario Lemieux to have a bigger presence in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Why? So he can do a fluff piece on Sidney Crosby living at Lemieux's house?

As much as we hate to admit it,
Buries It is not the face of the franchise to a new generation of sports fans.

Kids growing up now will think of Michael Jordan when the Bulls are mentioned,
because the Bulls have nothing else.

But when the Penguins are mentioned, Sidney Crosby is the name being recognized.
Let Lemieux enjoy his new job and retirement how he sees fit.

To suggest that Lemieux does things when it only benefits him...
wouldn't that mean he would want his face all over these Finals?

A person can only benefit from national press coverage, right?



You can't have it both ways, Scott.
Show some respect. Lemieux is the reason you even have a job.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Mark Madden is officially no more. [ PG ]
Bob Smizik buried him with what can only be characterized as a job.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: The question is, what has Gary Roberts done before? [ AOL Fanhouse ]

"I looked at it (yesterday), and it's obvious he tried to skate back into the play and decided to go down," Roberts said. "He obviously embellished it. If my glove got in his face, by no means was it a punch that could knock a guy down like that. He shouldn't be playing if he falls down that easily."


[Ed H.]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

:: One of our newer friends on the internet, [ Mrs. Monongahela ], found this:





:: Fox has a gallery of celebrities with the Cup. [ via Puck Daddy ]
Can an inanimate object get AIDS?

Also from G-Dubs:



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: [ Yinz Luv 'Da Guins ]


:: [ Tournament of Masks ]

:: [ The Blog of Burgher Jon ]
-- Thanks to a Google search --

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ Wings Parade ]

[ Jerry S. ]

If we didn't sit around for an hour hating Scott Burnside, the post would have been longer.

Go Pens

Parade Planning?

We linked some blog yesterday that was talking about planning a Wings Cup parade.
Pretty harmless. The guy's wife is cheating on him as he makes blog posts.

[ Wings Parade ]

But now this turd has heard through his gayvine that city officials in Detroit are already talking about next Tuesday, June 3rd, as being a potential parade date.

Newspapers have been given the heads-up on the parade route.

Winning two games in your own backyard apparently means the series is over.
Get real.


photoshoppers, attack

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



Sure wish we could hear what Mark Madden had to say about the parade garbage.
Unfortunately, the man you love or love to hate has been suspended. [ Jobber article ]
-- Thanks to Flyer Hater for the find --

It's been mentioned many times before. Everyone has their own feelings about the man.
It's good to hear hockey talk, no matter what. We've jobbed him in the past.

But there's one place Mark Madden should be during the Stanley Cup Finals.
Most fans would dream of having a radio talk-show host whose first love is hockey.

For Madden Haters out there, don't take offense.
The man has paid his dues and boosted ratings when terrestrial radio should be dead.
To take him off the radio during the Stanley Cup Finals is a disgrace.

Then again, who knows?
Maybe he was just gonna say the Pens are done.
Or maybe he could see a silver lining that we could all grasp.

But no. Thanks to a personal vendetta that Bob Smizik has,
Mark Madden is not where he should be during the Stanley Cup Finals.

It all started when Madden said something about Ted Kennedy
that Smizik thought would offend someone who is 85 years old.

He wrote a column in the PG about it...
someone who probably doesn't even know who Madden is read the piece...
and the rest was history.

We couldn't read Smizik's entire article [ here ]
because we fell asleep halfway through it while jumping out of a window.

Go Pens

Incendiary Situation, Code Red. PENS LOSE.

[ NHL.com RECAP ]


no dice

You gotta give credit where credit is due.
The Pens were just suffocated. There's nothing else to say.

For those who remember, this is just like the 2001 Eastern Conference finals,
when the Devils completely shut down the Pens.

After Detroit started playing not to lose, the game was over.
Still, everyone in the NHL world is waiting for Chris Osgood to be challenged.

What really stings about the loss is Osgood's lack of sportsmanship.
His two blatant dives were embarrassing.
One caused a near riot, just like he did against the Stars.

Another thing that is almost surreal: Detroit fans are now planning a parade.

Check out this blog:
[ 2008 Wings Parade ]

Wow.
Will the Pens be irritated at their premature burial?
Will it be a surly Pens team that rattles the posts behind Elroy?

Regardless, for Game 3, the Pens will be back with the folks that love them the most...
...in an arena the Penguins own.

:::::::::::::::::: PREGAME :::::::::::::::::::

Gordon Loesch from WPXI makes a mistake.


Thanks to [Brandon E] for sending that in.

Versus actually showed the national anthem being sung by some joke.


Of course...after the anthem...:

Just like a high school during the summer.

:::::::::::::::::: ANTHEMS :::::::::::::::::::

[From Jimmy Hug's couch]


[JT]

[JP]

[Jim L]


[Empty Netters]

[Kris R]
Cameraman = not a patriot

:::::::::::::::::: FIRST PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

Roberts-Staal-Kennedy started the game and were throwing the body around.
That took 34 seconds.

The Fool was on the ice for the next shift, and he was falling all over himself.

An unreal pace to the first few minutes of the game.
Kronwall gets a solid long jump into Ruutu. Almost a legal hit.

Malone had the first real chance of the period, but the puck bounced off his stick.
A sign of things to come.

The Pens were getting it in deep. The Wings were shooting from outside the circles.
A couple of icing calls against the Wings was the result.

The Wings drew first blood. Brad Stuart fires a shot.
MAF got a piece of it, and it flutters in.

1-0

After the goal, the Pens continued not being able to get a shot.
Just smothering defense.

Hal Gill makes the Scuderi guarantee just that much more improbable with a high stick.

Dan Cleary had a chance to make it 2-0, but he somehow missed the net.
After some jobbing, Zetterberg and the world overloaded Fleury, and Jokestrom put it home.

2-0

Shit

Soon after, Malkin was tripped up, and the Pens jumped on the PP.
They looked solid, but no dice.

The biggest PK of the season was on the way when Malone jobbed Zetterberg.
The Pens survived it.

The biggest PP of the season came right after.
An end-of-the-period goal would have done wonders.
There were some chances, but no dice.

Gary Roberts took a penalty at the end of the period.

:::::::::::::::::: SECOND PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

The Pens came out in the second and killed Roberts' penalty.
Then it was time to get down to business.

It didn't happen.
Kronwall tried to end someone's life.
Mike Lange mentioned that Kronwall compares himself to the great hitters of all time and watches YouTubes of great hits.
Sounds like he is way too into himself.

Again, it was about this time that Detroit's game plan took hold.
The Pens countered with the best they had.
A few people got tackled, but they don't call penalties in Detroit.

The game dipped into the second half of the period.
Orpik and Jokestrom went off, and there was gonna be some 4-on-4.
No dice on that.

The Wings would forecheck, lose the puck, then bolt back to the neutral zone.
That happened about five more times in the second.

The Pens had to wait for a mistake, and one came.
Some joke fell, and the Pens had their chance.
Staal missed the net, almost forcing Elroy to make an actual NHL save.

Somewhere in there, Kris Draper's helmet fell off.

The Pens ended the period with a big PK.
Malkin got tripped, and the refs look away.
This recap is probably as boring as the game itself. We can't help it.

This is how we felt going into the third.
[Fast-forward to the 0:40 mark]

:::::::::::::::::: THIRD PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

And then the third period came.
Hossa jobs Rafalski, and the Wangs were on the PP again.
We'd sound like Caps fans if we would complain about every call.

The Pens killed it, so whatev.

The first half of the third was like the rest of the game.
Wangs forechecking, losing the puck, and bolting back to the neutral zone.
It's what had to be done.

Ryan Malone jobbed Zetterberg, but Datsyuk had to protect his bf, so there was some 4-on-4 on the way.

[Who sent this in?]

The 4-on-4 evaporated quickly.

Dallas Drake tripped up Roberts.
The Pens got one of their final gasps.

A huge opportunity, and everyone knew it.
The Pens win the face-off and look poised to get something going.

Then it happens:


[J.S]

Osgood makes his first appearance of the game and jobs Malone.
Malone goes to the box.

If this were a penalty. we would be the first to say so. But come on.
The dive would change the game.

We go back to 4-on-4 again.
And then the money shot came.
Flopper flops on a semi-breakaway and beats MAF with a sick effort.

3-0

The goal would have been even sicker from the penalty box,
because that's where he should've been for hooking someone 20 seconds prior.

Give props to Osgood. After that goal, he had to save an Orpik slapper.
It was a tough one, but he was able to knock it aside.

Out of nowhere, The Fool embarrassed hockey fans everywhere with the gayest dive since Greg Louganis.

Franzen's never played hockey before.
He takes a hit from Roberts and falls to the ice like a ton of bricks.
Get some guts.

WARNING. PUT ON YOUR PONCHO



See the ref?
He may have actually been laughing at the embarrassing diplay.

Miraculously, Franzen was able to play his next scheduled shift, cried about something, and the Wings ended up with a PP.
It was killed.

Regardless, there was 5:00 left in the game.
Osgood had to make a save on a Whitney slapper.
Again, it was a tough one, but he got the job done.

Franzen's halo that we expected after the Roberts hit came into effect when Whitney jobs him.
Whitney goes to the box.
Somebody whined.

[kano4156]

The old adage of a team wanting something to carry them to the next game was alive and well at the end of the game.

Again, Chris Osgood challenges Franzen for dive of the year.
Petr Sykora, no question the dirtiest player in the league, apparently shoots him with a 12-gauge shotgun at point-blank range.

This causes a complete mess for no reason at all.
Have some respect for the game.

You're up 3-0 in the game. No reason for it.
It doesn't make sense, and it is low class.

The game was in hand, and it led to an ugly line brawl for no reason,
other than for Chris Osgood to feel like a puppet master.


[DO]------------[Stef]


[Kayla]


[Michelle M]

Whatever the case...


[Jefe]

Game.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Roberts justified his cult status. Gutsy performance.
• Malone was mixing it up, getting shit going.
• If you had the Pens in 6, they had to lose twice.
• Dress BGL and have him run straight into Osgood so that we at least earn the two minutes.
• Old NHL?
• Is the west that much better?
• Make no mistake. Detroit's system is elite.
• Pens played better.
  
• Mellon Arena is our only hope.
• [Hate]
  

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"We took two penalties tonight on the goalie. We never take penalty to the goalie in the playoff. I'll tell you something, I reviewed those plays. He's a good actor. He goes to players, and he's diving. Took away our power play. Got to get focused. I know our players are frustrated right now. It's tough to play the game. But Osgood did the same thing against Dallas under Ribeiro."

"Our team never go to goalie. We never did it. And we don't target the goalie. But this is, want to talk about experience, he goes to players, and he knows what to do, I guess."

Pissed

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Go Pens

SCF GameDay: Game 2 -- Penguins @ Red Wings

GAME TWO
8:15

WATCH GAMES ONLINE

[ ChannelSurfing.net ] -- Highly regarded.

[ MyP2P ]
[ Sports Talk World ]
[ Yahoo NHL ]
[ Hockey Webcasts ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

We've watched the Pens all year.
We know how explosive they are.

All the high-paid analysts are saying the Pens have to score more.
No idea how they came to that conclusion.

Roberts is returning.
HCMT has called out the team for their horrible Game One.
The pieces are in place.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

:: Everybody, join in: "Wake up, Gino!!" [ PG ]
:: Wings employ a different PK formation. [ PG ]


:: Ruutu acknowledges Roberts' campaign for presidency. [ PG Q&A ]
How does he not know he is Roberts' running mate?


:: Solid column about Buries It in the PG today. [ Chuck Finder ]
The speculation can now begin on whether or not Lemieux is wearing Airwalks in that pic.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



Fragile Franzen "The Mule" will be suiting up for Game 2. [ TSN ]
If we were Colorado, we'd care.

He's gonna take one hit, and he'll be back in the training room.
Yawn.


[ Flyer Hater ] with the find.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



[ A2Y ] is giving away a game program from Game One.
Just go to that link and be the first to correctly guess who will score the first goal tonight.

No Pens fans over there yet, so everyone has been touching themselves about Tomas Holmstrom.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


We're staying with our guarantee

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

CHAT BLOG

[ Live Chat at Yahoo ]

[ Live Chat at AOL Fanhouse ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hacksaw is a mess on the road.

Red and Andy are undefeated.



Salvation Lies Within

Go Pens

87 Mile

Losing Game One of a series sucks everything you want it to suck.
All day Sunday, Pens fans just stared at a wall, rocking back and forth.

But on Sunday, the news spread like wildfire:


Gary Roberts will dress for Game 2. [ Yahoo ]
The odd man out will be BGL.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Check out the joke [Jesse B.] played on his Red Wing fan friends.
He made Dave P.'s Roberts Wallpaper into a poster.



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

At that same Yahoo link, you'll read that HCMT is juggling the lines.
Reports everywhere say Malkin is now on the third line, but we'll believe it when we see it.

Malone-Crosby-Hossa
Talbot-Malkin-Sykora
Kennedy-Staal-Dupuis
Roberts-Hall-Ruutu

Is he hitting the panic button?
Is Malkin out of gas?
When is Heroes returning on NBC?

Built-up chemistry aside, Malone and Talbot fit pretty well on their respective lines.
Malone doesn't bring the explosiveness Dupuis brings, but Malone can finish.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



Regardless of who wins the Cup,
let's hope it doesn't meet the same fate as the Memorial Cup, recently given to the CHL Champion.



:: Heroes and goats of Game One? [ Edmonton Journal ]
Rob Scuderi's name kept popping up.

With that said, we are going out on the biggest limb of all time.


Rob Scuderi is scoring a goal
GUARANTEED


:: Covering the Finals like nobody's business. [ AOL Fanhouse ]
:: Instead of 80 links, just go here and have a ball. [ NHL.com ]

:: 44 Reasons to watch the Cup Finals. [ ESPN.com ]
Your brain cells may go on strike if you read that.


:: TV Ratings were superb for Game One. [ ESPN.com ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: Pens can compete with Wings. [ PG ]
:: Q&A with HCMT. [ Kukla's Korner ]
:: Gino, wake up. [ The Hockey News ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


[Cory M]


[ Phanatic ]
:: Franz may play, but Babcock has to find room for him. [ TSN ]


:: Wings make lackluster Pens look silly. [ Ross the Boss ]
:: The Red Army wants to improve on their Game One performance. [ Yahoo ]


:: Larry Murphy is on the fence. [ Sporting News ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



A Day in the Life of Game One. [ A2Y ]


Stunned

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Thanks to a Preds fan in Cblog, we no longer have to call Chris Osgood a midget.


Elroy

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




"I want goalie pads this small."
[ Bettman's annual State of the NHL Address ]

:: What will Crosby's presence in the Finals do for the NHL? [ ESPN.com ]
:: 10 key factors of the 07-08 season. [ NYT Blog ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

There is a reason we call him the good doctor.
[ Mirtle ] posted some great stats via [ Time On Ice ]

It breaks down who plays against who.

Brian Rafalski played 75% of his ice time against Bing.
Brad Stuart played 60% of his ice team against Malkin.

In Crosby's 18 minutes, he never saw Detroit's third pair defensemen.

Why did he only see 18 minutes?
Unsolved Mysteries was in Detroit to find out.



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


[J.S.]

Go Pens

Welcome To HockeyTown. PENS LOSE

[ NHL.com RECAP ]

The Detroit Red Wings were the league's number-one team for a reason.
Tonight it was on display.

Any questions about who was the favorite to win the series were answered.
But last time we checked, they don't award the Cup after one win.

This was a taste of how the NHL Playoffs are supposed to be.
You're not gonna win every game.
Some games will look like the worst performance you've ever seen.

And more times than not, you're not gonna win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals on the road.
At least that's what we'll tell ourselves until 8:14PM on Monday.

If you're ready to to give up already, we laugh in your general direction.
Get your mind right.

Embrace the arrogance coming from Detroit fans.
Channel the homicidal thoughts you have towards Tomas Holmstrom.

Its underdogblog from here on out.

THIS POST HAS BEEN PROOFREAD FOR YOUR APPROVAL :)


:::::::::::::::::: PREGAME :::::::::::::::::::

Omenblog

MAF bites the dust when he leads the Pens out.


[Thanks to Twins S] for the find

That just had to happen so some jerkoff in the newspaper can lead with a sentence like this:

" Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury fell down has he came onto the ice. The Red Wings would knock Fleury down there four more times."

Or you could just read [ Ron Cook's Column ]
Dammit.


Just be glad he got up quickly, avoiding a Little Giants pileup.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Buries It and Yzerman dropped the pucks for the ceremonial faceoff, and it was time.


Mario and Bing: Focused on the task at hand.
Yzerman and Lidstrom: Smiling for the camera.


The penultimate advocate of animal murdering got his 5 seconds of fame.

:::::::::::::::::: ANTHEMS :::::::::::::::::::


[Empty Netters]


[ Cmay and Damay ]


[ Dave S. ]


[ Jonny V. ]


[ Stinky Harry ]
WWGRD Baby's first loss of the season

[Big K]


[Double B]


[Brandon V]


[Cara F]

:::::::::::::::::: FIRST PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

The Pens pressed the action for the first couple shifts.
You look at the clock, and only 50 seconds was gone.

Fleury was called into action later rather than sooner, with a save on Zetterberg.

The camera pans to Detroit Coach Mike Babcock.
He looks like he needs a fix of heroin.
Chill out dude.

BGL wanted to drop with Darren McCarty.
But when you're paying off gambling debts, you can't afford medical bills.

The Red Wings started pressing more and drew a penalty on Letang.
All of a sudden, protecting your goalie is a penalty.
Jiri Hudler gets onto the Oscar ballot.

The even-up call came in short order.
Tomas Jokestrom puts the stick in Orpik's face, 'cause that's what veterans do.

During the 4-on-4, the Wings take their first run at Fleury.
Flopper drops the elbow on MAF, and he loses his mask.

The Red Wings kept coming after the penalties expired, but MAF was making the saves.
Pretty routine saves.

That's about when the Red Wings defensive scheme began taking hold.
The neutral zone became a mosquito net.

We got our first only sense of how many Pens fans were in attendance when ROOOOO was rained down when Ruutu blocked a shot.

Zetterberg, the best defensive forward ever born, gets messed with Hossa on the rush, and it resulted in the Pens heading the other way.
Detroit almost kills themselves when they see Osgood horribly out of position.
But the storm was weathered.

Nicklas Lidstrom heads to the box for hooking Ryan Malone.
Many hockey historians believe it is the first penalty ever called on Lidstrom.
Head Coach Mike Babcock is not happy.
It was time to set up shop for the Pens.

Besides a solid shot early on, the first minute was mud.
The rest of the PP was whatev.

Max Talbot drew another penalty, when some joke tripped him up.
The Pens were all business on the PP, but no dice.

PLEASE STOP USING THE BEHIND-THE-NET CAMERA VIEW FOR POWERPLAYS.

NO ONE CARES.
IT ENHANCES NOTHING.
GO TO HELL.

Chris Osgood starts showing up.

Excuse me while I make the easiest save of my life.

And then it happens.
Lidstrom gets the puck, and roofs it on MAF.

1-............

Out of the corner of your eye, you see the ref.

Tomas Holmstrom doesn't know the rules.

Mistaking MAF for a 12-year-old boy, he touches him as he skates past.

[NHL RULE 78 B]

"If an attacking player initiates any contact with a goalkeeper, other than incidental contact, while the goalkeeper is outside his goal crease, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed."


Head Coach Mike Babcock flips out.

Picture: Mike Babcock's wife beaches herself in protest of the call.
The whale's beaching and eventual death is approved by Red Wing fans.

The Pens head onto the PP for the interference.
We had to score here, since there was gonna be a makeup call on the way.

Kronwall introduced Malone to HockeyTown with a crushing hit.
Midget was there at the other end, helping the Wings kill their third consecutive PP.

Killed X 3

The USS Hal Gill headed to the box for high-sticking at the end of the period.
It wasn't looking good.
Everything was set for the Wings to score a demoralizing last-minute goal.

MAF was up to the task.
Talbot saves a sure goal by getting a piece of a cross-ice pass.
Great end to a great road period.

Aided by three power plays, the Pens headed into the intermission with a 12-11 shot advantage.
They would get 7 shots the rest of the way. Ouch.

:::::::::::::::::: SECOND PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

The Pens survived the rest of that USS Hal Gill penalty with relative ease.
The Wings were headed right back onto the PP when Bing slashes Rafalski's stick.

Somewhere in there, we saw a puck slide across the crossbar in between hitting both posts.

The Pens killed Bing's penalty, too.
The big detriment was Niklas Kronwall not being able to keep the puck in the zone.

If the Red Wings power play was supposed to get legit chances, we had yet to see it.

Malkin-Crosby were together after the PP, which was done in an effort to capitalize on the Wings' top guys going off the ice after the PP.

The Pens got out of PK mode, and the second period finally got interesting.
Both teams started getting their shots in.

Bing propels Pascal Dupuis on a semibreakaway.

Midget was there for a big stop.
It was the last chance the Pens would get in the period, and possibly in the game.

Flopper got a chance when an icing-to-be bounced right to him, but MAF was there.

And for some reason, everything changed.
The Wings went nuts and were in the Pens' zone longer than John C. Holmes.

That led to one of the worse line changes of the season, and the Pens get owned.
Mikael Samuelsson pops in NHL '95 and beats MAF on the wraparound.

1-0

The snowball had its chance to get rolling when the Pens headed to the box right after that.

Holmstrom had a solid opportunity on the PP, but he wasn't touching another man, and was thus unsuccessful.
The penalty was eventually killed.

Crosby/Malkin vs. Zetterbeg/Datsyuk came to fruition soon after.
Besides Hank taking a run at Bing fighting for the puck on the boards, nothing happened.

Talbot came in all business to hit Kronjoke, but joke got out of there just in time.

At the end of the period, Malkin was headed to the box for tripping.
No dice as the period came to an end.

The Red Wings would put their defensive gameplan into full force in the third period.

Imagine trying to do your high-school girlfriend in front of her parents.
That's pretty much what the Pens were gonna have to accomplish.

:::::::::::::::::: THIRD PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

The Wings didn't connect on their continued power play, but the blow came soon after.

Mikael Samuelsson drops acid and capitalized on a turnover.

2-0
You have to be kidding.

Now you had to ask your girlfriend's parents to get a camera and film it.

Interestingly, that's when the Pens started mounting their best pressure of the game.

But it's the Wings' gameplan to sit back and protect the weasel.
And the icing calls started piling up.

Father Time grudgingly got in his car and drove to the Joe as the period hit the 10:00 mark.
Off a quick face-off, Fiesta Mexicana was all cued up, but he hits the post.

As it got down to the nitty-gritty, the best defenseman in the world takes another penalty.
Last gasp for the Pens.
The puck floats out of the zone, and you see this dude stand up and point.

Picture: Red Wing fan Henry Ford IX tells Kris Draper he'll see him in the shower.

Dan Cleary shuts life down with a shorthanded goal.

3-0

MAF was out to lunch.

Ruutu jobs Samuelsson towards the end of the game, and the Wings jump on the PP.
Zetterberg runs it up. 4-0.

Game.

After the game a weird sign was seen in the sky...and Detroit's supply of FIJI water ran out.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Fail.
  
• Another great game for Tyler Kennedy.
• If you have the prediction the Pens would win in 6, you know they had to lose two games, right?
• Something bad needs to happen to Kris Draper.
• Almost done with Versus.
• If Mikael Samuelsson is going to turn into Gary Valk, we want out now.
  
• The Predators won two games. That's all we got.
• [Hossa]
  

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


[ Glenn ]

The Baby Pens advanced to the Finals.
They will play the Chicago Wolves for the Cup.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

17 years ago...
May 25, 1991.



Go Pens

SCF GameDay: Game 1 -- Penguins @ Red Wings

GAME ONE
7:30

WATCH GAMES ONLINE

[ ChannelSurfing.net ] -- Highly regarded.

[ MyP2P ]
[ Sports Talk World ]
[ Yahoo NHL ]
[ Hockey Webcasts ]

Everyone, including ourselves, expected a solid preview on here for this series.
But when it came down to it, the talking is now over.

We've linked everyone else who had something to say about this series.
Our Mirtle Q&A was pretty much all we had to say.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Unbelievable. The time has come.

As we said earlier today,
we wanted to thank everyone who has jumped on board with us since we started the site.



The pics, links, and whatnot that we receive every day
is what keeps the site going.

We wouldn't want to do these long-winded thank-yous
in a somber gameday post if the Pens are down 3-0 and on the brink.
That would be too depressing.

Personally, we just checked our gas tank, and the gas light just clicked on.
It will be pedal-to-the-medal during this last mile.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




The Mellon Arena doors will be opened for Games 1 and 2.
The $5 admission donation will go the Mario Lemieux Foundation. [ MLF ]

We would want it no other way.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Chris E said he wouldn't be able to make it.

So:




::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



We could have gone with Red and Andy, who are undefeated.
We could have gone with Hacksaw, who has been solid throughout.
We had Ed Harris, who has closed out a series for us.

But the man who helped win arguably the most important game of these playoffs is getting the nod.
He made an appearance for Game 3 against Philadelphia and dashed any and all hopes of Flyers fans.

He addressed Pens Nation at 6:30 Eastern Time:
( Note the beginning of his speech. Bobby R. did. )



Good evening.

In less than an hour, Pens fans from here will join others from around the world.
And we will be launching the largest battle cry in the history of the Penguins franchise.

"Penguins franchise."
Those words should have new meaning for all us today.

We can't be consumed by our petty message-board squabbles anymore.
We will be united in our common interest.

Perhaps it's fate that the recap will be posted on May 25th.

And we will once again be playing for our freedom;
not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution, but from disrespect from the media.

We are fighting for our right to live; to exist.


GO PENS

We Walk Together

If you've seen Armageddon,
you remember the emotional scene on the night before the space shuttles blasted off.

Bruce Willis went to Billy Bob Thornton
and demanded that the crew take the night off...

...to go do whatever they want to do...
...to remind themselves what they were fighting for...

That's what Friday night was to us, minus the fact Ben Affleck wasn't there.

It struck us ,that all week we didn't even do a series preview for some reason.

At this stage of the season, if you are looking to us for breakdowns like [Dr. Mirtle] or facts like [Puck Daddy] you're on PCP.

:::::::

The NHL came up with the brilliant tag line, " The Cup changes everything."

Everything has changed.

For the last eight months, we have all gathered from different parts of Pennsylvania, almost every state and from all over the world.

In the next two weeks, for better or worse, it all winds down.

Tonight, there will be people watching in their homes in Pittsburgh.
There will be some in Virgina,West Virgina, and Maryland.

From Hooks down in Florida, to the crew in Georgia, and back up to the boys in Bristol, Connecticut.

From Indiana, to Iowa, and swinging back to Kentucky and Tennessee.

To Loser Chris in Texas, and emailer Mr. Puck in New Mexico.

Our friends at [104.1FM KIBZ] out in Lincoln, Nebraska will be tuned it.
Oklahoma will be represented.

James Jack , Sean Leahy and others up in NYC and New Jersey, to the good folks like Vanessa Day watching behind enemy lines in Motown.

Stedman down in Lafayette, Louisiana and Steve in Denver.

To our homies like Bobby B, out in California, and Arizona.

Ted D in Portland, Nwchica in Washington and BNG66 in Ohio.

We know TV's in Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana and Chi-town will be on.

Double A-aka Fleury29 is all business in Kansas, and the lights will be on Sin city.

The believers in Carolina's, Minnesota and Massachusetts will live and die with every goal.

All over the world you'll be able to feel the excitement.

Daniel in Sweden and our many friends in Canada.
As far as Japan, through France, reaching out to the Czech Republic, Norway, and South Korean.
And we can't forget the Million dollar man in Germany.

Let us to take the time to thank those who we have mentioned, and the other we have forgot.

Thank you to everyone.

You say we get you through the day, but you get us through the day.

It has been an honor and a privilege to take this ride with you.


As Chris E would say, " Lets do this shit."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




:: Roberts is out tomorrow, and well, not so happy. [TSN]

"One thing I will say, if I do get the chance, I won't let my teammates down."

You haven't heard the last of Gary Roberts.

:: Everything else is normal for the pens. [PG]

:: Bing "Aw, what would Gary Roberts do?" [Herald Tribune]

:: Luke Ravenstahl tries to bet hockeytown, forgets about trademark. [Kiss Fm]

It is hard to imagine someone having a worse week when they really didn't need to.
What a mistake.


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Baby Pens

[Glen]


The Baby Pens forced a 7th game last night, with a win over Portland. [Face-off Factor]
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

How stupid is the [Detroit Free Press]?

They had a photoshop competition for their fans.
So of course we sent one in.

And they ran it:



::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Eddy Spaghettiblog


Big thanks to [Eddy Spaghetti]

He had us on his podcast last night.

[Listen]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


:: The goat or whatever might play. [ Abel To Yzerman]



[Bill]


:: [ESPN] says the goat is not playing.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Someone really likes Stephen S's artwork.

Thanks to [Jon] for the tip.


Speaking of Stephen S and his mad skills.

These shirts will be available in storeblog later today.



They will come in five different colors.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The bass player for the metal band [LiveSay], Alan D'Angelo, is a huge pens fans.

He sent us some pics.



Sick.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[PlayoffBeard.com] has a great post up about what else, playoff beards.

It list the five stages.
Our favorite:

The Chaka

"Towards the end of round 1 and entering round 2, those who have chosen to go natural will begin to emerge. Many players are beginning to look like the retarded half monkey / half ewok thing from 'Land of the Lost', or like Peter Forsberg does on a daily basis."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: Some new artwork from [Atom Bomb Bikini]
:: A new song from Star 100.7. [Youtube]
::Who is Lord Stanley? [AOL-Fanhouse]
:: BGL lending a hand off the ice. [Hockey.com]
::Thank you Mario Signs now available. [Kiss F.M.]


[Click the link, and not this pic]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

And finally.

We got a few messages on this, but
[Nate B] put it onto a photoshop.



Go Pens

One More Night

We don't care who you are or where you're from...
You can find a Phil Collins song that addresses everything you come across in life.

It's Friday. Tomorrow's Saturday.
Everything having anything to do with the Finals, we have tried to find.

Cblog has spoken up, voicing every opinion from every possible corner of Penguins fandom,
leaving us with nothing to bring to the conversation.
And we love it.

[ James Mirtle ] gathered 4 bloggers, The Pensblog included, to partake in a quick Q&A.
Here's what we had to say:

#1. We've seen features on Pascal Dupuis, odes to Dallas Drake and in-depth histories of the octopus and Mellon Arena. What is the best untold story of the teams in the final?

It is hard to find untold stories, because every blogger and columnist in the Western Hemisphere has told us even what the players eat for lunch. The ironic twist with this one is that the untold story is what everyone is mentioning as their unknown story in their articles. And that would be the Pens' defensive corps. If the Wings want to underestimate the discipline and talent on the Pens' blue line, we'll take it.

#2. Who has the edge in goal in this series?

GAA, we feel, is based more on the defensive style that a team plays. Solid defense equals low-percentage shots being given up. The Wings and Pens both have sported great GAA, and consequently, their goaltenders have great save percentages. This is truly a toss-up. Anyone who says Osgood is better than Fleury will bank on Osgood's past accomplishments, which have nothing to do with how each goalie is presently playing. Anyone who says MAF is better than Osgood doesn't respect Osgood.

#3. Can a team be too young to win the Cup?
(Or ... how big of a factor is experience?)

Mirtle: What about experience?

Pensblog: Let's see now. You know, come to think of it, we have no idea what that means.

Mirtle: Well, it means to have a little more —

Pensblog: We know what you think it means. Personally, we think it's a made-up word, a blogger's word; a word so young fellas like yourself can wear a suit and tie and run a blog. What do you really want to know? Are the Red Wings better because they're older?

Mirtle: Well, are they?

Pensblog: Every day that goes by, the Red Wings get older. They wish they could go back, but they can't. Sooner or later, the grey area between being experienced and being old becomes focused, especially when you have a hungry group of talented players chomping at the bit to expose it.

Experience? That's a bullshit word. So just go on ahead and post your blog there, sonny, and stop wasting our time. Truth is, we don't give a shit.




#4. Using a haiku (20 words or less) who is your Conn Smythe pick?

Malkin, Hossa, Bing
On ur rinkz, scoring big goalz
Stanley Cup in sight

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ PSAMP ] had a startling revelation.
Two guys in these Finals have in fact played against each other in the Finals before.



1989


First team ever to win the Cup on Montreal ice or something ridiculous like that.

And Chris Chelios hates Detroit:




Coupled with Chris Osgood.
The Red Wings are the biggest liars in the game.

[Nate B]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: The Stanley Cup Finals are here.
Quick, somebody give us 10 ways the NHL can improve. [ The Canoe Dossier ]
Joke.

:: Pens in 6. Jim Kelley. [ Sportsnet ]
:: Pens in 6. Twice. [ Columbus Dispatch ]
:: Pens in 7. [ Marty Henwood, Hockey.com ]
:: Wings in 6. [ Stan Fischler ] Who?

:: The pressure is on Bing. [ Damien Cox ]
:: Osgood just wins. [ Damien Cox 2.0 ]
:: Hockey has changed. [ The Hockey News ]
:: All About Gino. [ Ottawa Citizen ]
:: Hype is building. [ Paul Kukla ]
:: Pens playoff run is to be admired. [ Henwood, Hockey.com ]



Smokin' Jim chimed in with his own assessment. [ Detroit Tigers ] via [ KK ]
"May the best team win."



Today's version of the DreamCatcher:
[ Brian Engblom Approval Ratings Poll ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ The Post-Gazette ] has released some unreal downloadable poster cards for the SCF.
You can download them at that link.

They are all business with their Pens coverage, too.




So solid.

[ The Detroit Free Press ] caught wind of it.

They announced a call to arms,
asking Wings fans to submit their own poster cards and what-have-you.

Mistake.

puck@freepress.com

Our first photoshop sent:




We encourage you to send them some.

:: Seth at [ Empty Netters ] released a great breakdown
on #1 draft picks and how quickly they get to the Cup.

Also from the PG:


[Tom Quinn's] photoshop for us last year:



Both are as solid as you can get.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Stephen S. made some sick posters:



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Check this guy out.

His name is Stanley Cup. [ Trib ]

"The steelworker, an avid Penguins fan, was unable to purchase tickets to watch his favorite team skate for the trophy that bears his name. Until Thursday, Cup planned to watch the playoff games on a big screen TV with friends at the Tunnelton Inn, where his photo -- taken several years ago with him holding his namesake -- hangs above the bar."



Dennis Franz may or may not play in Game One.

No link, because like 8 people care.

*************************

Remember this turd from yesterday?

He obviously littered the e-mail with typos and stuff
to guarantee we'd fall into the trap of saying Red Wings are illiterate, stupid, etc.



But hold the phone.

We got another e-mail today from the same guy,
this time using better grammar than Mark Twain.



Too bad we can't admit everything in his previous e-mail was correct since he stated no one on the Penguins' team has won Rookie of the Year.

We brought it to his attention that Malkin had indeed won the award.
And we got this reply:



Has the award even been given out for this year yet?
What a jackass.

The guy is now eating crow.
And by "crow," we mean his own pubes.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

SIGNGATE

We simply refuse to throw Mayor Luke under the proverbial bus.
Mainly because Jerome Bettis would charge us $100 to use the word "bus."


Picture: Bettis turns the corner and runs toward a $5 bill someone dropped in the end zone.

But WTAE obtained an e-mail thread that says it was in fact The Force who shut down the idea for the big Pens' banners, not the other way around. [ WTAE ]

Here is what the banners would have looked like:


Pensblog has obtained a classified document depicting a sign
that is rumored to be going up on the Steel Building downtown.



:: State Rep Jesse White from the Fighting 46th
says he'll find his own way to Detroit, thank you very much.
[ Jesse White ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

DRAMA BLOG

The battle between Mark Madden and Bob Smizik is getting ugly.

Apparently Madden said something about Ted Kennedy.

Smizik flipped out. [ PG ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ Vinnie from The X ]
We probably owe him 25 cents for posting those Benz photoshops over there.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ Sandy and John ] have assured us that no animals will be harmed during this series
with this dude keeping guard:


All Business

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


[ demondg1 ]

[Canaan]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: A guide to hockey. [ Trib ]
:: A shoutout to our old friends at [ NPI ]. Solid preview, girls.
:: Pucktoons from Earl Sleek. [ Fanhouse ]



:: Welcome back, Pittsburgh Sports insider. [ KDKA ]
:: Stop whining about the refs. [ Battle of California ]
:: Sweet Goalie masks. [ Masks from the past ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

And finally...

42 years ago today.


[Dannielle]

Happy Birthday, Gary Roberts.


Take it away Tiff...




Go Pens

When The Levee Breaks

First off, if you're driving to Detroit for Games 1 and 2, you are in luck.

Antwaan Randle El e-mailed us and said he will be manning his tow truck for the weekend.

As you may recall, Randel El is no stranger to bailing out quarterbacks people in Detroit.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: The referees for the Finals. [ KK ]
Dan O'Hallaran, Paul Devorski, Brad Watson, Mark Joannette

:: Matchup made in heaven. [ Montreal Gazette ]
:: The two most talented teams in the Finals. Post-lockout is a success. [ Michael Farber ]

:: Wings in 7. [ Sportsnet ]
:: Pens in 6. [ Spector at Fox Sports ]
:: Pens in 6. [ John Buccigross ]
:: Pens in 6. [ NHLNow.com ]
:: It's a toss-up. [ Jacques Demers ]

Trev Alberts likes the Pens.


Yeah...that Trev Alberts. WTF.
Thanks to [Dylan]



We stole this screenshot from Faceoff Factor:

:: SICK Finals preview. [ Faceoff Factor ]

Faceoff Factor is the place to go detailed analysis from intelligent Pens fans who run a blog.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: Ray Shero Conference Call. [ KK ]
:: Ryan Malone Conference Call [ KK ]


[ Tournament of Masks ]


[ Mike H. ] -- Dick's Sporting Goods

Speaking of banners, there's been a throwdown in Pittsburgh
regarding the team wanting to hang banners to usher in the SCF.
[ Tribune-Review ]

Apparently, LAMAR put a billboard in the city without it going through a public review.
The banners the Pens have in mind bear the Reebok logo.

And there's a big holdup because if they put up these giant advertisements,
it will hurt the City Council's legal battle against LAMAR.

The Pens have commented that the banners aren't even made yet.

[ The Burgh Blog ] is all over it.
We would vote "PittGirl" for mayor.

Honestly, this whole thing from a Penguin standpoint is whatev.
But that doesn't prevent us from giving Pittsburgh Council President Doug Shields the award.



Mr. Shields had this advice for fans who might have wanted to see huge Penguins signs:
"Get a bed sheet and hang it off your front porch."

What a line.

Mayor Ravenstahl

The Mayor wants to go to the Pens game in Detroit. [ The Burgh Blog ]

"I'd like to go," he said of the Saturday night face-off between the Penguins and the Red Wings, in Detroit. "I have asked [the city Law Department] for guidance" on whether he should pay for tickets, travel and lodging out of personal funds, campaign money or otherwise.

He agreed that the appearance in the Finals is an event at which the city should be represented.

"I think it is important for the mayor to be there and support the team and their efforts."

He just wants to enter a rap contest in 8 Mile.



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


And just like we can't figure out if this is the guy from 90210,
we cannot figure out Red Wing fans as a while.

Maybe we've just been spoiled with some great trash-talking fans over the past few months.

On Wednesday, we got this e-mail:



No mention in the e-mail about allegations of animal-cruelty.
But damn us for thinking the Penguins are going to win.

:: [ Abel To Yzerman ] is still bringing pain.
It's not arthritic pain, though, since he is not listed on the Wings roster.

Some of his recent photoshops:







That one is kind of funny.

But not as funny as Darren McCarty losing all his money at a casino.

[J.S.]


:: Someone who's actual name is Helene St. James
said Malkin and Crosby aren't as good as Zetterjoke, and Datspuke. [Detroit Free Press]

********************************



A little dream has come true.
[ Joe Beninati Approval Ratings Poll ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::





[ Jmill ]

We were gonna talk about this yesterday.

The Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Red Wings
will be playing Games 1 and 2 of their respective series on the same nights. [ Doubt About It ]

Detroit fans react:



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

NO RESPECT


[ One of nearly 6,000 pics we've posted that we have not credited ]

Thanks to everyone who sent in the info that [ a blogger on NHL.com ]
is stealing the artwork submitted by Pens fans to this blog.


It's pretty cool to see it on the main page of NHL.com, no matter how it gets there.

We don't care that we're not credited.
But we do care that someone didn't take time to credit us.
If that makes sense.

Discussion also arose when photoshops were found
on [ Tim Benz's page ] at 105.9 The X's website.


[Will Smith]

50 cents says he doesn't post those.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ eSellOut ] has tickets available for the Finals.

Tickets for games in Detroit start at $263.
Pittsburgh tickets start at $342.


If you type in in ThePensBlog you get 5% off.

Thanks to [Dave P.]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




We feel like Don Imus right now.

We posted a picture last night of two skanks making out in Penguins gear.
We were informed they did it to win a contest.


[Sandy and John]

We simply buckled under playoff pressure.

We weren't censoring ourselves when we took it down.
We just realized in short order that we shouldn't glorify hoe bags like that who do things to get noticed.

If they were legitimately excited about the Pens winning,
and it just so happened their clothes fell off, that would be a completely different story.


Picture: Pensblog cleanup crew closing the lid
on the biggest controversy since the Natalee Holloway joke. [ ahem ]

Couple all of that with the misappropriated credits to photoshops and ringtones that were rectified in Cblog, Wednesday may have been the most tense day we have ever faced.

Apologies.

*******************************



On a lighter note, everyone that comes to the site has the chance
to get $30 credit in the Pensblog Storeblog.

The first person in the comments to explain
why we have to wait until 6:30 on Saturday night to post GameDay will win.

We've dropped some real ambiguous hints in recent days
that hopefully someone out there will piece together.

We'll post this contest tomorrow, and we'll announce the winner in the GameDay.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

A special shoutout:



[Dannielle C.] a first-time photoshopper for us sent in 25 photoshops in one e-mail.



What a performance.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


[ Ryan P. ] wallpaper


[ JPC ]


[ US Congressman, Tim Murphy ]
This picture alone just approved legislation.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

And if there is one thing you must do today...
Watch this:



[ Thanks to Puck Daddy ]

Goosebump City

Go Pens.

So They Seem Nice----Or Not

We debated about whether to post this picture or not.
Mistake.

It came into our inbox out of nowhere a few days ago.


UPDATED




Picture has been moved due to public outcry.
But it is hiding on the sidebar if you really want to see it.

Puckbunnyblog isn't our stuff, so we are washing our hands before it gets ugly.

We let [ Wyshynski ] down.

It could be worse, we suppose.

They could have had the Steeler fans one.


Go Pens


Pensblog = Fail

Detroit Joke City

[ Post-Gazette ] [ Trib ] [ Empty Netters ]

Running on all cylinders.

Penguins tickets go/went on sale at 10:00 AM Wednesday.


DeepThroat has tipped us that the Penguins
may be inviting fans to watch Games One and Two in Mellon Arena.


KISS FM wants someone to win two tickets to Pens home games.
[ Free registration enters you to win ]

Detroit tickets went on sale Tuesday.
We got plenty of e-mails from happy Pens fans who scored tickets.

[ Scotty V. ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

It was easy to hate the Senators.
It was even easier to hate the Rangers.

Despising Philly is our birthright.


[ Nate B. ]

But Detroit?
It is hard to have hatred for a team we never play.

Nothing can be made of when Detroit came to town at the beginning of last season.

We as a blog were in our infancy.
Probably the worst recap we have ever done.

[ Embarrassing. Pens Lose. ]

We didn't look for highlights of the game,
'cause all you have to do is stare at a wall and shoot yourself to re-create the feel.


The game might be OnDemand at your local nursing home, though.
[ Jason S. ]

It was easily one of the most boring games you could possibly watch.
Detroit refused to play offense.
They scored a goal, waited for mistakes to be made, and ended it.

But things have changed.
Every Red Wing their top line actually tries to score goals now.


[ Ed H. ]

They are the model franchise when it comes to drafting and signing free agents.
Best in the business, no question.

Brian Rafalski has stepped in this year and solidified the blue line.
Datsyuk and Zetterberg were drafted like 400th overall or something ridiculous like that.


But they finished 4th and 8th overall, respectively, in the points race this season.
Maybe they'll catch our boys one year.

"Wah, wah, you sucked, you got draft picks, now you're good."

Thanks for reminding us why every sport's draft system is modeled the way it is.
We had forgotten.

************************************************

We were looking for a reason to hate the Red Wings...
and then we remembered:

Detroit fans and players hate animals.

Enter the legend of the Octopus. [ Wiki ]



It is tradition for Detroit fans to murder an octopus
and throw it onto the ice before every home playoff game.

It is from the days when an NHL team needed only 8 wins to take the Cup.

So someone, while molesting an octopus, saw that it had 8 tentacles
and decided to sacrifice it to the team.

Just read how the octopi are slaughtered for this Satanic ritual:

Beforehand, an octopus should be boiled for at least 20 minutes on high heat with a little lemon juice and white wine. This will mask the creature's odor as well as reducing the amount of slime. A raw dead thrown octopus would result in a smelly ball that would stick to the ice upon impact and possibly leave an inky stain, while a well-boiled octopus will bounce and roll across the surface of the ice. [ Wiki ]

So, now that the Red Wings are only FOUR wins away from the Cup...

...hide your little guy from Red Wings fans
who have every intention of killing it for their own enjoyment.

Pensblog Exclusive

It doesn't stop with the Red Wings fanbase, however.

Look at Nicklas Lidstrom poaching:


Chris Chelios partaking in the annual baby-seal slaughter:


Zetterberg loves to kill defenseless cheetahs:

What a scumbag.

And remember the Exxon Valdez?
Guess who was driving it.
That's right: Kris Draper.


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

One reason not to hate the Wings fanbase is what they've done on the internet.

We had some [ words ] this past September with [ Abel to Yzerman ]
after he got mad about our Red Wings season preview.

But he is a solid human being and actually understood that we like to job.
We've become friends with him over the course of the season.

[ Abel To Yzerman ] is at the top of the hockey-blogging world.

But it's still to be seen if he chokes in the playoffs
like the Red Wings have been doing in recent years.


We have found a worthy adversary when it comes to chops.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



The jobbery has begun to slowly pour in from hoMoTown.
:: With Pittsburgh, Real Fun Begins For Wings. [ Free Press ]

**************************************



[ red and black hockey ] has some discouraging news for Pens fans.

Hell, he had the news for us June 7 of last year
when he told us Pens fans to prepare ourselves for heartbreak this season. [ Link ]

Since 1989, a team has not been runner-up twice in the Cup Finals.
The Red Wings' year was 1995.

Couple that sick detective work with Jesus Christ himself coming down to us
and telling us, "shut down the blog, Wings in 3," we are devastated.

But we were uplifted when we remembered another factoid of Stanley Cup history.
***No European captain has ever led his team to the Cup.***

Stunned


:: Uh-oh, Ross. Wings in Five. [ Ross McKeon ]

:: Wings in Seven. [ Paul Kukla ]
:: Pens in Six. [ Hockey News ]
:: Pens in Seven. [ Scott Burnside ]
:: Pens in Six. [ Matty Means Sports ]

:: Young Pens vs. Old Wings. [ Yahoo ]
:: Remember Ian Mendes? He talks about nothing. [ Sportsnet ]
:: First Impressions. [ EJ Hradek ]
:: NHL Series Breakdown. [ NHL.com ]
:: Most entertaining Finals series since 1994. [ SportingNews ]

We've lucked out for these finals.
Pretty much every link pertaining to the series can be found at [ Kukla's Korner ].

We salute Paul Kukla.
He has been bringing links to the masses for quite awhile now.
And he loves his Wings.

We love Paul and what he has done for the Hockey Internet.
It can't be overstated.

But at 7:42 on Saturday night, he doesn't exist...
...until we go back for more links.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



[ angelo g. ] with the find.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


[ Annie ]

We're in the Stanley Cup Finals

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::





Some pics we're getting stray away from WWGRD 4 Prez and go into normal Penguin fandom.
We simply can't post them all.


[ 5031 ] at Bike Week in Mirtle Beach


[ Charmed Child ]


[ David M. ]


[ Jimmy G. ] at Auntie Anne's in Monroeville Mall


[ Scotty V. ]


[ Stagel ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


[ Nick M. ]

While we're hanging out in Germany:


[ MJK ]

*******************************

[ Bobby T. ] was gracious enough to edit Rex Gildo's Wiki
to accommodate the recent Hossa surge. [ Wiki ]



[ Hossa! Text Message ]
[ Hossa! Ringtone ]

Thanks go to everyone in Cblog who ironed out the iPhone ringtone dilemma.

There seems to be many varying options on how to get the ringtones on your iPhone.
It may be due to the fact that some people are running different versions of firmware and software.

Regardless, if you are using iPhone 1.1.4 and iTunes 7.6.2., this baby works.
We made a quick and painless tutorial:



You can't set a ringtone as a text-message alert, though.

[ Mike Lange Ushering The Pens to the Finals -- Ringtone ]
Props to Lloyd for that one.

**We really wish we had set up a multimedia page for fan-submitted wallpapers and stuff like this.
That'll be a summer job.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

SPELLCHECK BLOG


[ Allison R. ]

Gino, not Geno. Noted.


[ Michael W. ] [ J.S. with the FAIL inspiration ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

And finally, Detroit Metro Airport was on Red Alert early Wednesday morning.
An unidentified aircraft was seen performing maneuvers in the skies above Detroit.

Go Pens

We'll Do It Live!

On Sunday, we rejoiced in the bask of the Eastern Conference Championship.
On Monday, we found ourselves in NHL purgatory.

On Tuesday, we're downloading pics of Red Wings to put in photoshops.


[Mr. Plank]





And so, here we are.

The Wings will have home-ice due to their ability
to beat up on the Blues, Blackhawks, and Blue Jackets during the regular season.

Correction: The Red Wings didn't dominate Central Division teams.
Looks like the Wings suck more than we thought.

The Red Wings haven't seen a team like the Penguins.
The Penguins haven't seen a team like the Red Wings.

It is truly going to be a special matchup.
We have all week to break this down, so no need to go nuts yet.


"Penguins aren't in the Finals." -- Chris Osgood.


What did The Sporting News have to say about it back in August 2007 in their season preview?


Sick.

We'll be bringing the pain in the coming days.
**We have a huge call to arms coming for Game 1 in Joketown.


Speaking of the Cup Finals, KISS FM wants someone to win two tickets to the first home game.
[ Free registration enters you to win ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

What a feeling. Cup Fever.

But there's a quite a few days to drown posts about it.
We still have work to do around here.

First off, let's not forget how far the Pens have come in 4 years.

Here is the Penguins JumboTron intro video from 2003-04.
Look how depressed Lemieux is.



Pensblog buddy Tom tracked down the YouTube
and did some extra research.

Players who are no longer in the NHL:

Dan Focht
Josef Melichar
Martin Strbak
Kelly Buchberger
Rico Fata
Lasse Pirjeta
Mike Eastwood
Landon Wilson
Ric Jackman
Konstantin Koltsov
Aleksey Morozov
Ramzi Abid
Steve McKenna
Sebastien Caron

Players still in the NHL:

Ryan Malone
Brooks Orpik
Marc-Andre Fleury
Matt Bradley
J.S. Aubin
Dick Tarnstrom
Tom Kostopoulos
Michal Rozsival

Players who are still beasts:



::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Rex Gildo's Fiesta Mexicana is en fuego.

We figured we should get the subtitles to know what the hell he's singing about.



Look at those moves.
Who the hell even makes that YouTube?


All business

We looked up Rex Gildo on Wikipedia, expecting an uplifting article.
Mistake. [ Wikipedia ]

He was basically Germany's Tom Jones in the '60s and '70s.

In 1999, he tried committing suicide by jumping out of the window of his apartment, but he failed.
He spent some time in a coma before passing away.

Posthumously, it was discovered that his secretary, Dave Klingeberg,
was his gay lover for 7 years.

What a downer.

*********************************************

Ringtone Blog

[ Hossa! Text Message ]
[ Hossa! Ringtone ]

Huge props go to [ Jefe ] for clipping the files for everyone.

Imagine getting your phone to scream..."HOSSA-HOSSA-HOSSA"
when your booty call texts you at 2:00 A.M.

That's gold.


iPhone users = Stunned

Becoming a champion during a sleepover at a convent
is more likely than getting the ringtone on your iPhone.

We've tried admirably. We've failed miserably.

If ever the collective brains of Cblog came through, now is the time.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



Our Gmail looks like Vietnam right now.
WWGRD Blog will be full throttle on Wednesday.

[Nate B.]
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Eyes of the Week Award



The award this week goes to [ Chris B. ] for seeing this error
at the start of the third period on NBC's Game 5 broadcast that seemingly no one else noticed:


Ouch

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



We'll be on [ NPR ] at 7:30 this morning, trying to educate people about the Pens.
It is not local, but it's broadcast on Sirius.

We aren't sure whats more shocking:
Someone wanting to talk to us...or us getting up before 8 A.M.

UPDATE:

[Link here]


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Jinxblog

Does anyone know where the Conference Trophy jinx came from?

We did some searching around Gore, and it seems some have touched it, and some have not.
Much like Paris Hilton.

There is no pattern.

66 touched it:

Won in the Finals


Looking throughout the years, it means nothing.


We were going to show pictures of each team and who has touched it and who hasn't.
But no one cares.


Lidstrom almost touched the Campbell Conference Trophy last night.
But then he realized that Golden Girls was on in 10 minutes and left the ice.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



:: [Dr. Mirtle] has an absolute must-read about hockey blogging,
featuring Yahoo's [ Puck Daddy ], Greg Wyshynski.

We don't respect many people, not even ourselves.
But when the good doctor and G-Dubs take the stage, we read it and respect it.

If you are a hockey-blogger, you need to take a look.


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


We kind of miss Phillyfreek93 already:



Yawn.

Who is going to fire the first shot via the internet?

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


[Nate B.]

Go Pens

It's On

Flyers Photoshops

You can understand if we missed a couple

What a performance by you all.
We would be nothing without you.

Click to enlarge all.

Brando 3 | brittney n. 2

BJF | bng66 | brad a | brett h. | brian v.

Angelo G | anthony b | anthony doom | big k | bill r

Abby & Peff D | adam k | aj | andy b | andy b


B Rob 3 | Byrnes 2


Buriedby66 | Captain Dummy | Chris eag | claire g. | clauer


CoB | coffeytalk | corey g. | dave c. | dave and don


dave h 2 | dom dem | doug v | ed $


ed h | eric poole | evan k 2 | evan and maulin


geeves 2 | grant | guido | hutch | ian b.


jannah j 2 | jason b. | jason g. | jason mas


jason s. | jefe | jeff h. 3


jeff p. | jeff w. | jerry | jfronz | joey d.


jon marn 2 | josh b | justin mc | kanerz


kaylaj 2 | kellik | kicksave | k. mckee


krafster 2 | lady jaye | lb | lgp


lindsay j 2 | lori f | lowell 2


matthew c | matt kom | matt in n.c. | matt p. | michael w.


mike r. | neal b | nick f | nicky v. | nikki t.


ogre39666 (2) | pat s. | penguini pat | philip george


pittsburghler | psamp | rocky s | ryan g | ryan h


ryan p | sammy | sean m | seth | shawn p


shawn d. 2 | sh0ez | spencemo | steve h.


thickANDY | tim d 2 | ujval | vanessa d


whistler | will r. | zach b | dr. turk 2


ian 2 | wilsmith 3


jmill 5


jmill 5


mike and bonnie 6


nate b. 5


nate b. 4


notman1 (3)


rag33 (4)


rob s. 4


russel s. 3

You Can Spit-Shine Your Shoes. The Pens Are Goin' Dancin' With Lord Stanley. PENS ADVANCE.

[ NHL.com Recap ]



Perhaps it would have been better for the Flyers to lose Game 4 at home,
clawing for the survival of their playoff lives.

But, no, they had to force Game 5, thinking this was actually a series.
And they get embarrassed 6-0.

The road traveled is littered with achievements
that are as valuable as the ultimate prize.

And this why the humiliation of the Philadelphia Flyers en route to winning the Wales Conference Trophy makes everything so much sweeter.




[ Matt K. ]

Bottle it up; the feeling we all have on this glorious Monday.

After all the dark years the franchise went through...
After people buying Konstantin Koltsov jerseys...

The Penguins are on the doorstep of something
that NHL players spend their entire career trying to attain; fans, hoping to see.

This doesn't (and won't) happen every season.
Teams don't do this all the time.

Teams don't gel at the right time and tear through their Conference with a 12-2 record.
It just doesn't happen.

This was the road less-traveled. Now it is traveled.
But an unknown and completely different kind of monster awaits the Pens in the near future.

If you aren't as ecstatic as other Pens fans about winning the conference, join the club.
There are bigger fish and possibly other sea creatures to fry.

Monday, May 19, 2008.
All is great in Pens Nation.


[Devin W]

Detroit @ Dallas -- 8:00 PM -- Tonight

Enjoy it.

:::::::::::::::::: ANTHEMS :::::::::::::::::::

This will give you chills:



Sick.
Thanks to [ N. Zapadka] for the recording.



[Joey L.]


[ Anukul from C5)]


[Double B]


[Scotty D]


[Nicholas E]


[ Mark & Kathy L. ]


[ Bobbi Jam ]


[ Bob B. ]


[ Derek D. ]


[ Gregg T. ]


[ Chris F. ]

:::::::::::::::: FIRST PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

It was back and forth early on, whatev.
The intensity was actually overwhelming.

With energy that even Consol would be proud of, Talbot-Laraque-Hall draw a penalty.
Mike Knuble makes an appearance, going to the box.

About 12 seconds later, the puck was in.
It hits Malone's skate and gets past Toast.

Hold the phone. Go to the War Room.

1-o


[ Chris F. ]

MAF was tested after the goal, making saves on weird caroms and one-timers.

But play refused to die. There was about 5 minutes of nonstop play after that.
Both teams committing turnovers.
Kimmo Timonen doesn't know what's going on.
No way he should have played.

After a commercial break, the Pens started dominating.
Crosby was nasty. Hossa was stealing wallets and cellphones.

After a line change, the Pens dump it, and Malone goes in after it.
Marty Biron tries to bait Malone into checking him, but Malone eases up.
Biron loses his stick in the process.

But losing your stick has nothing to do with not knowing where the puck is.
Malkin grabs the puck after Hatcher whacks it away from Malone, and 71 puts it home.

2-0

The Flyers felt hosed on the "no-call" on the Malone/Biron thing, so they figured they could blatantly do it to MAF on the other side and not get called.

Mistake.
Hartnell jobs MAF, and the Pens hit the power play again.

The Pens could smell blood on the PP, but no dice.
The Flyers had finally woken up.

After some jobbing around, something that's been a long time comin' finally happened.
Jarkko Ruutu demolishes Jason Smith.
No one is sure what Jason Smith even does.

Derian Hatcher shows how big a wuss he is and doesn't drop the gloves with BGL.
Such a shame.
But it's a good thing. The Flies are better when Hatcher isn't on the ice.

At the tail end of the first, the Cries had a chance to eliminate a lot of the Pens momentum that built up during the period when Whits goes to the box for hooking.

The Pens kill it, and it was the loudest the Arena can be.

Picture: In a return appearance,
Derian Hatcher's wife throws up after realizing he was a -2 for the period.

:::::::::::::::::: INTERMISSION :::::::::::::::::::

[Double B]


[ Bob B. ]


[ James S. ]

:::::::::::::::::: SECOND PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

If you weren't listening to Lange and 29'er, you were stunned when the second period started.
Malone was in the box for high sticking.

It was gonna be all Flyers, too.
They didn't connect on the PP, but their best chances came afterwards.

MAF was in a zone. No other explanation.
He made saves that in retrospect turned out to be the closest the Flies would get.

The Pens had weathered the storm, if you will.
And we will.

Pretty much the death blow came close to halfway through the second.
Crosby goes to Hossa School and pickpockets Richards, the best player in the NHL.

The Pens go back, jobber deflections.
Crosby blind pass to Hossa.
One-Timer. BURRRRRRRIED. And the towels fly.

[ Wilsmith ]

[ J Schiff ]

3-0

The Flyers got another chance on the PP a little after that.
Somehow, the Flyers had the man-advantage after the Malkin/Umberger melee.

And wow. It took 6 seconds for the Flyers to shoot themselves in the foot...
or should we say, the ankle?

Kimmo Timonen trips up Staal. Stupid play.

During the 4-on-4, Little Danielle Briere visits the Candy Shop.

[Notman]

Poor baby.
Orpik led the rush the other way like Paul Coffey, but no dice.

Everything was 5-on-5 again, but Malkin draws a penalty.
Now even the fans could smell blood.

What was it, 20 seconds, before Gonch wristed it to the net?

4-0

Scottie Upshall had a chance out of nowhere on a little breakaway, but the Pens got back to it and messed with him.
What a play by Scuds.

The second period was waning, and Jordan Staal added one more blow.

We can only hope this kid from Thursday night was facedown in a pack of men by then.

5-0


[ Lacey ]
"Stunned" wasn't even the word at that point.

The Flyers came back and looked like they got the doughnut off the board.
Somebody did something wrong.
No goal.
The poor Flyers got screwed again.

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

:::::::::::::::::: INTERMISSION :::::::::::::::::::



According to legend floating around in section D23,
WWGRD Baby is 13-0 this season.

Unreal.

[Thanks to Kathy and Mark L.]

:::::::::::::::::: THIRD PERIOD :::::::::::::::::::

Let's go to Versus for a bio on Debby Briere:


[Jeff]

Flyers officials were also seen searching for Danny.
So it was Amber Alert time.

[Seeker]

The third period started, and you knew the Flyers were going to be headhunting.
Or maybe they had learned something from seeing first-hand how an actual hockey team plays.

The Pens looked like the team down 5-0.
Their forecheck was insane.

Tick, tock, tick, tock.

Hossa and Dupuis come into the zone.
Hossa wrists it to the net.

[ Doug L. ]

6-0

[Derek D]

HOSSA-HOSSA-HOSSA-HOSSA
LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-HO-HO
HOSSA-HOSSA-HOSSA-HOSSA

Even though Dupuis later got credit for the goal,
huge props to the Penguins for playing this song:

You'd be hard-pressed to find a harder-working, more in-touch group
than the Game Operations & Presentation folks working with the Penguins.

Kudos to you all.

The next couple minutes consisted of the Pens continuing their dominance.

[Derek D]

Father Time was bangin' some chick and didn't even bother showing up.
He's made 90-some appearances this season.
He was allowed to have a game off.

Na-na-na-na...na-na-na-na...hey, hey, hey...goodbye.

This is from the game.
Listen to that crowd:



[Thanks to Gaylord Focker] for this.

Scuderi has gotten great chances throughout these playoffs.
He almost became his own country with a slapper, but hit the pipe.

It looked like the Pens had 10 guys on the ice compared to the Flyers 2.

The best chance all game for the Flyers came on a little 2-on-1.
Jeff Carter gets completely robbed by MAF.

That was with 5 or 6 minutes left.
The Flyers were playing for pride by then.

Late in the game, Adam Hall gets sent to the box for being an unreal role player.
Every clear of the puck was met with insanity.

Talbot lays his life on the line and clears the puck.
Maybe it was so his buddy MAF held onto the shutout.
Maybe it was the adrenaline of going to the Cup Finals.
But the cheers it received from the Mellon is why we're hockey fans.

Thanks to [Gaylord Focker] again for this:

The Flyers curl back into their zone and shoot themselves.

Game. Set. Finals.

[ BnG66 ]

PhillyFreek93 = Stunned

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

SERIES WRAP-UP


[ Tom M. ]


[Ryan D]



Let's face it. The Flyers had a tremendous playoff season.

They beat Washington in what was easily the most entertaining series in the East.
They surprised Montreal and the hockey world in Round Two.

But when you get to the Eastern Conference Finals,
you can't sneak up on teams anymore.

Injuries start plaguing your roster and your weaknesses have become common knowledge.


You'd be in denial if you said you wouldn't want Mike Richards on your team.
What a hockey player.

We'll never know how games 1-3 would have turned out if Kimmo Timonen was in the lineup.
We joked around, ribbing Flyers fans on how much they praise him.

Timonen isn't Bobby Orr. But he was the Flyers' Bobby Orr.

But 30 years from now, when we look back on the 2008 ECF,
no one will mention Kimmo Timonen.

Where was big R.J. Jokeburger?
Where was Darlene Briere?


[Nate B.]

*********************************************



There's really nothing to say.

We're not gonna grandstand and shower the Pens with appreciation.
That is being done everywhere you look today.

We said it up top: What we're seeing doesn't happen every year.

We sat down and buckled up when these playoffs started,
talking about 3-OT games and being down 3 games to 1 in a series.

Through three rounds, we've seen nothing of the sort.

But a different monster altogether awaits in the Cup Finals.

And despite what has happened in the first three rounds,
we still gotta say buckle up.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

SERIES MVP


4 Goals, 5 Assists


[ BnG66 ]

Hossa's performance in this series is exactly what was envisioned
by Ray Shero and the Pens brass in late February.

The MVP could have gone to Bing, since he is still atop the playoff scoring race.

But the tiebreaker between Bing and Hossa
was the Game 3 goal that pretty much ended the series.



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

SHINE 'EM UP



Do it.

We got photoshops on the way Monday evening.

Go Pens

GameDay (3.5) -- Flyers @ Pens

Kick it off with a song.


Thanks to [Pav]

3:20 PM




It seems like this game has taken weeks to get here.
The world stops at 3:00.

If you're overwhelmingly nervous, shaking, and borderline suicidal,
you are not alone.

And that's why we are in this together.

It helps to know we have support all over the world.



Biggest game of our lives.

God help us all.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



We were here two weeks ago to the day.
Up 3 games to 1 and everything made sense.

The return of St. Kimmo Timonen is raising some eyebrows around the hockey world,
mainly because that's the only thing to be excited about.


[Geno]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::