USA Beats Canada in Canada to be IHF World Junior Champions

A night after beating Canada in the U-17 for the Gold, the US World Junior Team beats Canada for Gold! 2 for 2..........Lets go for the hat trick in Vancouver. Hockey is becoming a big US sport!!

Game 6 Finals goal by Staal

This goal is a big one in Game 6 of the Finals............coupled with the SHG goal shown below a couple of Staal moments to keep in mind........

Now that was more like it! Trade Staal

I continue to be amazed at the number of people who keep saying lets trade Staal to get a top line winger for Sid or Geno! I WAS one of those folks about this time last year, saying how could you pay 22M for three centers and have no money left for top caliber wingers for the top 2 centers..........BUT, the reality is that Jordan Staal and the third line of the Penguins is the match up HELL that nobody has an answer for when the team is clicking. It has been the most consistent line all year for the Pens, and Staal scored many clutch goals in the playoffs last year, not the least of which was the tide turning goal in the fourth game of the Finals against Detroit. He has been, along with Sid the most consistently strong Penguin player all year long, wins faceoffs, kills penalties, scores goals, and makes smart plays. He currently is in a three way tie for second in goals on the Pens with 13, is tied for third in total points with 29, and tops in plus/minus at + 11. On top of that, he will only get BETTER, as he is still in relative terms a baby. Finally, Staal is considered by many to be the best DEFENSIVE center in the Eastern Conference. In a seven game series, Staals line wears down the opponent, as it is nearly impossible to shut down the third line of the Pens with your third defensive pairing.............and your shut down forwards are committed to Crosby or Malkins line. No, Staal is as untouchable as Sid or Geno, his game is different, but make no mistake, he is a game changer in so many ways. If Caputi can make the step up to the NHL, there is help around the corner for the wingers. With Tangredi also a possibility for next season, the Pens can make a mid level deal for someone like Alexei Ponikarovsky from the Leafs or an older rental at the deadline like a Ryan Smyth or Bill Guerin type to give them enough firepower up front. Tyler Kennedy showed signs of coming along, and I have a feeling that you will see more from Kunitz after he returns from this surgery.

The play tonite of Staal, Kennedy and Cooke was great, which is a very good sign. Add to that the fact that Letang actually scored a goal, and Caputi did as well, there were some good signs for sure. A power play goal by Fedotenko did not hurt either. I am thrilled that Brent Johnson gives the Pens a REALLY solid backup that can give you a chance to win anytime he plays. ON a negative note, other than one spectacular rush, I thought Malkin continued to make stupid plays, and seems a little too much like Jaromir Jagr in his childlike behavior on that play where he lost the puck in the third period and served it right up at the blue line for Atlanta to make a rush the other way. If the hatred that flows between Philadelphia can get Malkin going again, this would be a huge step in the right direction.

If you click on the link above, you will see Staals series turning short handed goal in Game 4 of the Finals, and one ugly bald dude running down the steps to taunt a Wings fan........you may know him.

Gayest Video Ever

Ah, Toolbag, besides the obvious issues presented in general there, I will point out a couple of specifics:

Pretty tough to call the Craps the best team to ever play when they have a very glaring hole in the resume..........NEVER WON A CUP!!

The caveman eats 'guins for lunch? Must have eaten their wieners and choked because they lost yet ANOTHER series to the guins after going up 2-0! Sid cried all the way to the Pens third Stanley Cup! If you go back to my posts from last April/May during the Caps series, I will repeat, the most classless whiny bandwagon fans in America are the Craps' "fans." This is one shining example of the Caps toolbags.........I hope to see you in the Verizon Center someday, I would love to make you taste the Crosby urinal cakes, then flush your face!

Progress

Shit KEEPS Happening

Another ugly game to watch from the Pens.....they are about to lose their 5th out of the last six, and with 4 minutes left, have only scored one goal after being shut out by Brodeur............The amber alerts necessary to put out for the Pens would swamp the system............starting with GENO........I know he has a good plus/minus rating, and has about a point per game, but he is SUPPOSED to be one of three or four players to be spoken of when talking about the best player in the game....he had a huge game v Ottawa, but short of that, I cant remember a game recently that he has dominated...sorry, this year I have seen very few games where I could say that Geno is one of the top four players in the league without laughing out loud.....during the past two years I would have argued that he may be the BEST player in the game........Tyler Kennedy, four goals early in the season, and then NOTHING...............the entire defensive corps..........outside of Gonchar, not one of these guys has a point since November 28th. Gonch should send thank you notes to Letang and Goligoski, as their collective inability to score will make it tough for the Pens to NOT come up with a way to pay Gonchar...............Max Talbot, where are you hiding? I know you mostly comne out in the playoffs, but SOME meaningul contribution from you would be NICE........Fedotenko, same deal.................This last string is UGLY

12/21-Blown out by NJ and do not even look like we belong on the same ice

12/23-in the only win in the current streak, the Pens survive giving up 24 shots in the FIRST PERIOD, one short of a team record, then blew out the Sens.....

12/27-Toronto-The Pens lose after a LACKLUSTER performance against an inferior team playing the day after an OT loss on the road.......at HOME.........they lost a chance to at least gain a point after tying the game with about 2 and a half minutes left, when they quickly gave up the GWG under a minute later.

12/29-Buffalo-Pens come out and take a 3-0 lead an d look they will blow Buffalo out of the building.........only to give up four unanswered goals to lose the game..............

12/30-NJ-The Pens waste a great performance by Brent Johnson in getting shut out again by the Devils 2-0...........

1/2-The Pens get outworked by an inferior Tampa team, losing 3-1, and now have missed 10 out of the last 12 possible points..........I dont usually panic early in the season, but does this seem familiar.......anyone remember the defending Super Bowl Champs at 6-2 and being talked about as a favorite to repeat as champs? Well they are now 8-7 and most likely out of the playoffs.......On 12/21 the Pens were amongst the top three teams in the NHL, but look very little like that team since, leaving points on the table against very beatable teams...........I am hopeful that this team will come out of the doldrums tomorrow and salvage SOMETHING from the past two weeks........There are too many good teams chasing the Pens to keep leaving points on the table.........Time for Geno, the wingers and the young defense to step up and contribute to the level that was anticipated...............I hope to see Brent Johnson in the net tomorrow, time for Fleury to get a breather.

Winter Classic

I am in no way a fan of anything Boston or New England, but I sure did enjoy watching the Bruins come back late in the third and in OT to beat my favorite team!! Wasnt this guy named Pluto in the Hills have Eyes??