How about those Pens?!?! Breaking the Consol and power play curses in the same weekend! Just a few quick thoughts:
- I’m glad to see that the league did the right think and revoked Letang’s 5 minute major and game misconduct. This means that he will have a clean slate and that his next violation of the hit to head rule will not result in an automatic suspension. You know, since he has such a track record of those and all. (I really wish that there was a universal sarcasm font out there. Note to self: invent universal sarcasm font.) It would have been really nice if the refs realized he hit Comeau’s shoulder before they threw him out. Even Bailey, who jumped to Comeau’s defense, said he never thought it was a hit to the head. Comeau, who fell to the ice and laid there like a log, was hurt so badly that he was out on the ice when the Isles scored on the PP. I know the league doesn’t want to move to in-game review of those calls, but what’s to prevent that kind of embellishment to get a guy tossed? I understand why the rule is being enforced like it is and it’s an important rule, the number of players in the league currently dealing with concussing symptoms is out of control. But, the league needs to find a way to balance safety with the abuse of the rule.
- Wear the baby blues for every home game until the magic wears off. It’s ironic that the blue jerseys that everyone thinks are “cursed” got the first win in the “cursed” arena. Truth is, the blue throwbacks had a pretty impressive record going into last night’s game. I’m all about superstitions and going with what works.
- Speaking of going with what works, I had no problem with Bylsma going with Johnson tonight even given the back-to-back situation. This whole argument about worrying about Fleury’s confidence is getting a little old. He’s not a first or second year goaltender. He’s not even that young age-wise anymore for a starter and he’s in his 5th season as a full-time NHL starter. It’s time to stop coddling him and make him realize that he has to earn his games if he’s not going to be consistent. Remember how well he played when he felt like he had to earn his games from Conklin…?
- Huge props to Letestu! I don’t think I need to list the reason that the kid deserves kudos, but let me add two more that he earned tonight. As of the scoring of right now (hurry up and post this, Bombay), Letestu leads all rookies in points (5) and goals (3).
- It’s good to see that some things never change. Apparently the Philly fans booed the mite player who said he wanted to play for the Pens when he grows up and started an “assss-hooollle” chant for him. For a little kid. Flyers fans…always kicking the class up a notch. Oh, and will they ever learn that the “Crosby sucks” chants is the definition of an epic fail?
- Finally, Phil Krundle needs to put up his post about Crosby’s slow start the night before every game. Sid is out of his “slump.” Crosby came out and scored two goals tonight, and on the power play no less! We all know that playing in Philly ignites a spark in Sid, but I’m guessing that the criticism he’s been getting from the fans and media added to it as well. No one with as much of a competitive edge as Sid and who is as hard on himself as he is likes to hear people question his game. Besides, superstitions and all…
So, I’m at all the home games and missed the first road game thanks to corporate America. This is the first broadcast I was able to watch. I’m glad to see that FSN is also further cashing in on the move to sponsor every little possible thing. (See, that sarcasm font would come in handy again)
Finally a person who actually gets it! Great read, and from the looks of things replies to each comment,unlike most. Hey buddy, consider me a fan of yours!
Thanks for the kind words! I try to reply. My e-mail doesn’t always cooperate and sometimes sends my alerts to my spam folder. Of course, my own e-mail also spams me and only me…
Good article dude,I agree with all points. I’d like to see Brent Johnson start a few more games,he’s a very reliable goalie,who plays a completely different style then MAF,but I got no problem with that as long as he keeps winning games for them. As for the blue jerseys…I like them better then the ones they got planned for the winter classic,they should have totally rocked the early 80’s edition.
I watched the game on the FSN network and loved it. I live in Canada,and got Center Ice,so I get to watch the Penguins games,it was my first time experience with FSN,and I look forward to watching more of it.
Keep up the good work,love reading this blog!
Cheers
Thanks for the kind words!
We’ll see what the plans are for the goalie situation, it will be interesting to say the least. Regardless, it’s comforting to know that we have a solid go-to as a back-up.
I wish they would just stick with the same blue jersey, but as we’ve seen, it’s all about the money. I’m glad you enjoyed the FSN broadcast. Lots of drinking games can be played to the quirks of Staggy and Errey. Lots of us down here are jealous of your CBC feeds. I used to live in an area that got it and would watch HNIC no matter who was playing.
Thanks for reading!
Unfortunately, due to league mandated rules, the Pens are only allowed to wear the Alternate (Blue) jerseys so many times during the season. Since the official team colors are black and gold, the Blue will always be considered their 3rd jersey.
Yeah, well Phil also didn’t put up his post about Sid’s slow start before the Ottawa game either. I guess it wasn’t either of those after all. The whole blue jersey every game thing was just about the arena “curse.” Obviously they can resume wearing the black “home” jerseys now. I put the “home” in quotes because I still prefer the days when teams wore their colors on the road. But, I digress…
By sticking with the same blue jersey I was referencing the new old blue (confusing, I know) jersey that will be introduced at this year’s WC and worn twice following that game. That jersey will likely become a future 3rd jersey. I just meant that I wish they would keep the current 3rd blue jersey, but of course they’ll take the opportunity to sell more jerseys with the new WC/3rd jerseys.
Wow, that’s a lot of different jerseys to keep straight. Sorry for the confusion.
So that there isn’t further confusion, the above post was by me. Apparently I have problems remembering my password, and noticing when it says that my login failed. That’s pretty much how my whole morning has been going.
I guess two cursed makes a win. Id rather lose in black and gold thank you!
Two wins!
I don’t care if we wear purple and green, I just want to play good hockey and win. We’ve done plenty of losing in black and gold.
When the Penguins originally wore the blue jerseys they sucked ass. Why wear the blue jerseys now? Wear something similar to what Mario wore when they won the cup.
Back in the day, yes. But, in the 1st WC and the 3 seasons that they’ve worn them as 3rd jerseys since, they’ve been quite lucky. These aren’t new 3rd jerseys, these are the same ones they’ve been wearing for the past few seasons.
Remember, they sucked a lot more seasons in black and gold than they did in blue…
Black and gold 16 out of 23 winning seasons with 3 Stanley Cups and one President’s Trophy. 4 out of 13 winning seasons wearing the blue.
08/09 (the cup year) Pens only won 3 out of 10 games in blue.
Last year according to YOUR website they scheduled the shirts to be worn against the worst teams in the league to get rid of the curse.
OK, the new kid here will have to go back and look what was written on here last year…
My point in response to Sandi Eddy simply being, that we’ve worn the black and gold a lot more years. The blue jerseys (all versions) were worn at the beginning of the franchise which, I don’t think anyone can disagree, are the toughest years for any team. If we switched to blue jerseys full-time now, I’m sure the stats would even out a little.
Besides, that wasn’t my point. It was simply that the supposed “cursed” blue jerseys broke the new arena “curse.” The irony being that going into Friday night, they had a record of 12-7-3 since the 1st WC. I didn’t break it down by season or account for injuries in each game. It was just a fun fact.
With everything going on with the team, are the third jerseys really everyone’s biggest concern? It’s not like the team is permanently switching colors. It’s part of the team’s history, you can’t erase that.
Oh, and my remark that the team should wear the baby blues for every home game was sarcasm people. Sarcasm. I still haven’t invented the universal sarcasm font yet, I’m working on it.