Either:
A) The season ticket holders are in DC waiting for their gubbermint handout.$$

or

B) The players are so old that all their fans have died

The Pens are on NBC today against the Rangers...12.30pm matinée
Half the team is out on injured reserve

This could be ugly

I expected it to be UGLY, but it turned out to be the tightest game I've seen them play in a long time. Everyone firing on all cylinders for 60 full minutes. I was shocked.

Bitchslapping the Rags 3-0 was a pleasant surprise.

Yeah they looked damn good...even if I didn't know who a bunch of them were. Played some real hockey for a change
Now the question is, was this a fluke or can they build off this and continue to improve as they get the guys back off the IR list.

If sending the Rags packing after a shutout doesn't turn this team around, nothing will. We'll see in the coming weeks following the AS break.

Sorry folks. Not quite enough last night to weather the storm. I guess I'm pleased with the progress that the home team has made since Mo took the helm.

What, no hockey fans?

Guess not  too bad there is no yawn emoticon

I am a hockey fan damn it!

 

My teams however are having mixed results.....

 

Montreal currently 29-17 with 64 points

 

Pittsburgh at 26-23 and 57 points

 

Well maybe it's just the Pen's who are really suffering

 

Habs are on Hockey night in Canada tonight

Edited by Rossi Smash - 2/7/2009 at 06:27 pm

Smash!  Damn glad to have ya back, not just in the hockey thread but in the whole damn forum

Thanks crgildart!

 

Heads up for tomorrow.....Stanley Cup rematch (well, not really)

 

Pen's vs. Wing's on NBC's Game of the Week, 12:30 pm (eastern)

I saw an article earlier this week at MSN Sports (can't find it but there are probably several around) that sugested that some of the hockey fights that involve the enforcers are set up days in advance, emails are exchanged and both goons agree to throw down for the crowd at a paricular game.  I know most fights are spontaneous and I can't imagine a pre planned mutual fight during the playoffs, but I can buy in to the WWE aspect of it.  It makes sense in the respect that hat migh be one reason why it is still allowed without more severe penalties.

Thoughts?

Our local enforcer, Boogaard, was interviewed saying that he doesn't do that and can't imagine any other enforcer in  today's league doing that BUT he had heard that it was done "in the old school days" meaning like the late '70s early 80s.  Yeah, that's old tyme hockey alright!

 

The Wild made some pretty awful moves this off-season and with Gabby out, it really shows.  Yet they manage to keep it around .500 and I'm sure will still be in the hunt for the playoffs even in the ultra-competetive west.  With a bit of luck, they might get the 5th seed and draw Chicago.  Otherwise I'm feeling pretty pessemisstic about their chances in the first round against any of the top 3 seeds.  Then again, who knows?  Maybe Calgary will come back to the pack....

Well some of you Pen's guys got your wish.....

 

 

Dan Bylsma Named Interim Head Coach of Pittsburgh Penguins

 

Dan Bylsma has been named interim head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, replacing Michel Therrien, it was announced tonight by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Bylsma, 38, has been serving as head coach of the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He will coach his first game with the Penguins Monday at 2 p.m. against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.

Therrien was relieved of his duties this evening, and assistant coach Andre Savard was reassigned within the organization.

Assistant coach Mike Yeo and goaltending coach Gilles Meloche will remain with the coaching staff. Tom Fitzgerald, the Penguins’ director of player development, will join the staff as an assistant coach.

“We believe we need a change in direction and, with 25 games remaining in the regular season, our goal remains to finish strong and qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs,” Shero said. “Dan Bylsma is one of the bright young coaches in the game and has done an exceptional job as the head coach in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season.

“We also would like to thank Michel Therrien for his significant contributions to the Penguins organization.”

1/2 a wish.  Our minor league coach finally got canned, but replaced with another....minor league coach.

 

 

Pen's on NBC's game of the week today at 12:30pm.....

http://thepensblog.com/pensblog/february-2009/new-jobs-for-michel-therrien.html

 

Over 140 photo shops of MT's new jobs.

What in the #%@& is going on with theIslanders? 

19 wins?

Bruins, Devils, Capitals

Everyone else EaseX 10

 

Wings, Sharks, Flames

Everyone else West cept Vancoover X 10

 

 <BIG YAWN> 

 

Flames are only up by five  Has there ever been a more boring season?  Bring on some playoff upsets..ZZZZzzzzzzzzzz.............

Hurricanes just got Eric Cole back.  We'll see if it is too little too late.  Any other trade deadline transactions that folks got excited about?

 

 

Not really, but with last nights win over the Avs, the Wings move into first place with 94 points.  This in spite of spotty goal tending throughout the season. 

Well if good goaltending and defense were the only ingredients to a Stanley Cup then the Wild would have a dynasty going.  Once again they are at the top in defense and are one of the worst offensive tieams in the league with only two teams scoring fewer goals this season.  And now they aren't even playing good defense blowing leads in their last three games!

 

Without Gaborik, the team has no one else to pick up the slack and this team really needs the 40 or so goals he could supply.  Hard to say just how many victories that would translate to, but even if it only resulted in another 3 - 4 wins that would put us comfortably in the playoff mix rather than looking in from the outside.  Bigger mystery here is why, with record sales at the ticket office (every game a sellout since the Wild started), our GM is so reluctant to go out and find another scorer to complement Gaborik and won't do any deals to help the team at the deadline.  And at the end of this season, Gabby is a UFA.

 

As for the boring West, I'd put the Hawks as a . They've been a good team to watch this year.

 

 

Not really excited!   Probably a little more nervous!  I'm a die hard Canuck fan living in Alberta.  The Flames pick-up of Jokinen and Leopold was a power move!  It should put the whole league on notice!  Just ask Philly how much they like Jokinens two goals tonight.

 

Don't get me wrong!  I still have the utmost confidence in the hottest team in the league, my nuckies!  After all, they've never let me down before.  This should just make it a little more interesting!

 

 

 

Watch out Caps, Canes are closing the gap fast!

Wore my CCM North Stars shirt and Stars hat around town yesterday.   Sure nuff the Stars beat the Canes last night.  Bring on the playoffs, this other excitement is just too damn much.

Sorry, but the March won't be long enough to catch up completely.  I guess they really only need to get second in the division to get in the playoffs.  Hopefully for them and my teams, the playoffs will be a whole new hockey game.

Top 8 from each division eh?  Canes might just barely make it.  Lookie there, the Wild and the Stars are tied for 9th behind Edmonton in the West.  If the Oilers stumble that would make for an interesting grudge match.

How are the WIngs doing?