Game Day #13: Penguins @ Maple Leafs

The Penguins are in Toronto for tonight's game against the Maple Leafs!

Though the Leafs missed the playoffs last year, they have started off the season stronger than ever and currently hold a 6-2-1 record. With a young core of players, they are out to prove their contention. Keep an eye on Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, and Dion Phaneuf!

Game Notes:

• The Penguins have won five in a row. Time to keep up the momentum against a tougher opponent!
• No Staal tonight. Normally, this would be big news, but considering the volume of injuries, it just seems like another day the the office, eh? #11 is day-to-day with a lower body injury.
• James Neal and Phil Kessel are tied for the lead in goals with nine a piece. I think you know who we want to score his tenth tonight.
• I will be live-tweeting the game, so prepare yourselves for some sass. @NHLKate

Where to Watch/Listen:

ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), 105.9 (FM Radio), Penguins Radio (Online)

We’re Going to Pittsburgh!

The 2012 NHL Entry Draft will be held at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

Friday, October 27th, it was officially announced that Consol Energy Center, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins, will be host to the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. This is an incredibly exciting announcement for the Penguins organization as well as hockey in Pittsburgh!

Consol Energy Center was recently voted the NHL’s best rink, and it will certainly be showcased in all of its glory during the June 22-23 event.

…It also means that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be on the premises. Aww yeah.

Hockey in Pittsburgh has grown immensely over the past few years, and an event like this will only help continue the advancement that the 2011 Winter Classic helped head-start.

“The NHL is extremely pleased to be able to host this outstanding event in an outstanding city and venue — CONSOL Energy Center,” says Gary Bettman.

…And for once, I couldn’t agree more!

Game Day #12: Islanders @ Penguins

The Penguins host the Islanders in a rematch tonight!

On Tuesday, the hockey world was buzzing about the Penguins facing off against the New York Islanders. After a string of brutal–to say the least–games last season, everyone wanted to know who would be punching who. Fortunately, the Penguins avoided distractions, played a clean game, and came out on top.

Tonight…Round Two!

Game Notes:

• Keep your fingers crossed that the Hockey Gods will let Evgeni Malkin play more than one consecutive game.
• The Penguins will be wearing purple jerseys in support of Hockey Fights Cancer during warm-ups tonight. Snazzy!
• If you didn’t get James Neal on your fantasy team at the draft, you can probably kiss your hopes of a trade goodbye…

Where to Watch/Listen:

ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), Penguins Radio (Online)

Kunitz has this covered, guys.

Game Day #11: Penguins @ Islanders

Oh, well this is embarrassing.

Jordan Staal Scores His 100th!

A warning: this piece on Jordan Staal is written by a massive Jordan Staal fan. There  is a fair amount of gushing in here. Turn around now if you don’t want to see it. 

source: penguins.nhl.com

Congratulations are in order for Jordan Staal. On Saturday, in a game against the New Jeresy Devils, Staal scored his 100th career goal.  This was more than just the 100th goal for Staal. It meant he has finally come out of the shadow that he has seemingly been in his whole life.Jordan grew up the third brother of the Staal family, behind oldest brother Eric and second oldest Marc. Eric was drafted 2nd overall in 2003 by the Carolina Hurricanes. Marc was drafted 12th overall by the New Yorks Rangers in 2005. Both quickly made names for themselves. Eric was named alternate captain during the 2007-2008 season before being named captain in 2010. In 2006, he won a Stanley Cup. He soon added a World Championship gold medal, and an Olympic gold medal to that. Marc has quickly made a name for himself in the NHL as an excellent defenseman who can throw out the big hits (want an example? Youtube ‘Marc Staal hits Jordan Staal’. Seriously, do it), make the passes that score the goals, and kill the penalties.

Jordan was taken 2nd overall in the 2006 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He became the youngest player to score a hattrick, won a World Championship gold medal, made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2008, and finally won in 2009. In 2010, he was a finalist for the Selke Trophy for the league’s best defensive forward.  At the beginning of the 2010/2011 season, the Penguins named Jordan as an alternte captain, along with Brooks Orpik. But somehow, none of this really matters.

Jordan is constantly forgotten, mostly because he plays on a team with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Jordan is usually a third line center. On any other team, he would easily be a second or even a first line center. And when he is remembered, it’s because people need to blame him for the team’s losses. Staal came back from injury just as Crosby and Malkin were injured and left for the season. Many fans were angry at Staal, claiming he wasn’t scoring enough goals and the like. Some people went as far as stating that drafting Staal on the Penguins was a mistake and we should have taken Chicago’s Jonathan Toews. But he was being used on the penalty kill, along with taking on responsibilities as the captain. And let’s not forget that he only played half a season due to injury. Now that’s he’s fully healthy, we can expect more goals from him.

Getting his 100th career goal was a huge milestone, and was celebrated by all Pens fans. Staal has finally come out of the shadow that’s he been in his whole life, and no one is happier than this fan right here

Game Day #10: Devils @ Penguins

Wow, already game day #10? My how the time flies when the Hockey Gods continue to wreak their vengeance on your team…

We’re coming off of an exciting and invigorating win against Montreal, whereas the Devils are looking to rebound.

Game Notes:

• Martin Brodeur is still out. Hedberg has been doing just fine filling in, but there isn’t anyone quite like Brodeur.
• Have you ever wondered where the Devils got their name? Read this creepy article and prepare not to sleep for a week.
• Kris Letang is back in action after serving his two-game suspension.
• Every other team is still freaking out that we don’t have Crosby and/or Malkin. Ha.

Where to Watch/Listen:

The puck drops at 7:00 PM (EST).

ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), Penguins Radio (Online).

The Real Deal

More of a man than Bear Grylls? I think yes.

Let’s take a second to imprint this moment on our minds forever.

The date is Thursday, October 20, 2011. The time is approximately 9:10 PM (EST). James Neal is currently tied for league leader in goals with seven.

This is the guy people jobbed since March because he didn’t score 100 goals in his first game. Now, somewhere in Pittsburgh, those people are eating their words and the rest of us are trying to convince the world our Neal t-shirts were purchased in April…okay, well maybe that’s just me.

The point is that James Neal is a beast. His confidence and hockey sense are improving with every game. Life is good.

Just let this sink in.

Game Day #9: Canadiens @ Penguins

SORRY ABOUT THE LATE POST, BUT THAT DOESN’T MATTER RIGHT NOW.

Game Notes:

• ORPIK IS IN.
• JEFFREY IS IN.
• GO GET SOME TISSUES BECAUSE I AM SURE YOU ARE CRYING TEARS OF JOY RIGHT NOW.

Where to Watch/Listen:

THIS MUST BE A DREAM, SO I ASSUME YOU COULD DREAM UP A FLATSCREEN WITH ROOT SPORTS.

Weekly Links: 10/19/11 Edition

The ‘Guins:

• Travis Hughes over at SB Nation Pittsburgh wrote a fantastic article on one of the most loved, yet most controversial aspects of the game: fighting. Check it out HERE.
  

 

• The Pens announced their participation in another year of the “Little Penguins Learn to Play Program.” It’s an awesome opportunity to give children of all backgrounds a chance to try the world’s greatest game. Read more here.

 

• People are still talking about Asham’s fight…even Asham. He continues to apologize and says he wishes to avoid “typecasting” after what happened. Source. 

 

• Neal With It. 

 

‘Round the NHL:

• The Harvard Lampoon called the Bruins the “best sports team ever.” Well, if they said so, it must be true!

 

• Every home game, the Oilers enter the ice via a massive derrick. Seems like something that could go wrong, right? Well, it did. 

 

• We aren’t the only team riddled with injuries. David Krejci (Bruins), Marian Hossa (Blackhawks), Martin Brodeur (Devils), and Jeff Carter (Blue Jackets) are currently all out.

Letang Suspended

Brendan Shanahan has struck again. This time it is close to home as Defenseman Kris Letang was suspended two games for his hit against Alexander Burmistrov during last night’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.

With nine suspensions during the preseason and two during the regular season, Shanahan has been busy in his first year as disciplinarian.

For the Pens roster, this is anything but good news. Already missing Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Brooks Orpik, Tyler Kennedy and Dustin Jeffrey to injuries, another loss depletes the Pens lineup.

With Letang out for tonight and Thursday’s games, the Pens have brought up defenseman Brian Strait who was impressive during training camp.

Hopefully no more injuries or suspensions will happen for a while or else Ray Shero might as well start bringing up the entire Wilkes Barre-Scranton lineup.