Tag Archive: Eric Staal

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Evgeni?

When the Penguins are winning and dominating, the focus is on the prowess of Sidney Crosby. When the Penguins struggle, one of the biggest and most pervasive topics of focus is Evgeni Malkin. Such was the case the morning after the Penguins let a 2-0 lead against Boston implode, ending in a 4-2 loss. The…

Opening Salvos

The Pittsburgh Penguins opened their 2009-10 season with their first back-to-back set of games, and their double-dose of New York opponents were chomping at the bit to get at the Kings of the Hill. A home-opener of cosmic proportions ensued with the raising of the Stanley Cup banner for the last time in the Igloo. It…

A Date with Destiny

Hearken back… Stanley Cup Finals (2008)… The Pittsburgh Penguins found themselves like Cinderella at the ball, in the Stanley Cup Finals facing the storied and formidable Detroit Red Wings. For me, it might as well have been USA versus USSR in the 1980 Olympics, it was that gut-wrenching. We all felt the overwhelming crush of…

Manhandled!! Pens Sweep Series 4-0

They got it done. The Pittsburgh Penguins did it differently this year in many ways, including allowing themselves to touch the Prince of Wales Cup. So did Mario Lemieux all those years ago–twice–and they went on to win the big one–Lord Stanley’s Cup. The Penguins bought into a system and a new coach’s philosophy and…

Git ‘er Done

By all accounts, no matter what Pittsburgh Penguin is interviewed, the message is the same: focus on the game at hand, play the right way, and get it done tonight. In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Pens and the Carolina Hurricanes, the Penguins know that the ‘Canes have battled adversity and…

The Russian Nightmare: Pens 7 – ‘Canes 4

In the eye of a white-out Game 2 storm, a flurry of towels and tinfoiled knuckles on a pseudo-Hanson brother with the real Dave Hanson in attendance, there was truly something in the air at Mellon Arena on Thursday night. The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes shed the Game 1 pleasantries, and with the honeymoon…

One in the Can: Pens 3 – ‘Canes 2

Game 1 in a playoff series is always a little surreal. Both teams come out  sizing each other up, testing the waters, getting a feel for how they will set the tempo they want to set and executing. Given the hellfire and brimstone of Pittsburgh’s first two series versus the Flyers and Capitals respectively, Monday…