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Concussed

Chaiwoman — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:46:26 +0000

Tags: Arron Asham, Bryan Berard, Buffalo Sabres, Chris Kunitz, Columbus Blue Jackets, concussions, Craig Adams, Craig Custance, Derryk Engelland, Eric Goddard, Evgeni Malkin, fighting, J. P. Dumont, James Neal, Jason Pominville, Jay Beagle, Jordan Staal, Marc-Andre Fleury, Mark Madden, Peter Keating, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ross Bernstein, Sidney Crosby, Tyler Kennedy

The topic of concussions in the NHL seems no more prevalent and pervasive than it has this season, and for Penguins fans of recent memory, has had little impact (pardon the pun) until it happened to Sidney Crosby. Just in the past two seasons, more Penguins players than I remember before have either been diagnosed...

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What We Have Here…

Chaiwoman — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 03:08:25 +0000

Categories: Analysis, Features, Opinion, Previews

Tags: Alex Kovalev, Ben Lovejoy, Brooks Orpik, Chris Conner, Chris Kunitz, Dan Bylsma, Deryk Engelland, Dwayne Roloson, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Eric Tangradi, Game 6, Game 7, James Neal, Jay Caulfield, Jordan Staal, Kris Letang, Marc-Andre Fleury, Mark Letestu, Mark Madden, Matt Niskanen, Paul Martin, Pittsburgh Penguins, Root Sports, Ryan Malone, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vincent Lecavalier, Zbynek Michalek

In the wake of a stunning Game 6 and on the brink of a decisive Game 7, this is familiar territory. The Penguins have never done anything the easy way. They impress with brilliance and solid focused play on one night and fall apart the next, and just when you think they are sunk, they...

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A Tale of Two Teams

Chaiwoman — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:12:00 +0000

Categories: Analysis, Features, Highlights, Opinion, Previews

Tags: Alex Kovalev, Arron Asham, Ben Lovejoy, Bolts, Brooks Orpik, Chris Conner, Chris Kunitz, Consol Energy Center, Craig Adams, Dan Bylsma, Dustin Jeffrey, Dwayne Roloson, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Eric Brewer, Eric Tangradi, Guy Boucher, James Neal, Jordan Staal, Kris Letang, Marc-Andre Fleury, Mark Madden, Matt Niskanen, Max Talbot, Mike Rupp, Pascal Dupuis, Paul Martin, Pavel Kubina, Pittsburgh Penguins, Power Play, Ryan Malone, Simon Gagne, Stan Savran, Stanley Cup Playoffs, Steve Downie, Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tyler Kennedy, Victor Hedman, Vincent Lecavalier, Zbynek Michalek

It was the best of teams…It was the worst of teams. Both were the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 and then Game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Best of Teams On April 13, a play-off seasoned Pittsburgh team skated with authority and precision, an unrelenting...

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How Do You Solve a Problem Like Evgeni?

Chaiwoman — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:56:34 +0000

Categories: Analysis, Features, Opinion

Tags: Alex Goligoski, Alex Ovechkin, Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins, Bridgestone Winter Classic, Bruce Boudreau, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Chris Kunitz, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dan Bylsma, Eric Staal, Evgeni Malkin, HBO's Penguins - Capitals: 24/7, Jordan Staal, Mark Letestu, Mark Madden, Matt Cooke, Michel Therrien, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, P.K. Subban, Pascal Dupuis, Paul Martin, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ray Shero, Sidney Crosby, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tony Granato, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tyler Kennedy, Washington Capitals, Zdeno Chara

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...

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Keys to Losing

Chaiwoman — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:41:56 +0000

Categories: Analysis, Features, News Digest, Opinion

Tags: Alex Goligoski, Bill Guerin, Boston Bruins, Brooks Orpik, Chris Kunitz, Craig Adams, Dan Bylsma, Evgeni Malkin, Evgeni Nabokov, Hal Gill, Jordan Staal, Kris Letang, L.A. Kings, Marc-Andre Fleury, Mark Madden, Mike Rupp, Murphy dump, neutral zone trap, Pascal Depuis, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Power Play, Rob Rossi, San Jose Sharks, Sergei Gonchar, Sidney Crosby, Tyler Kennedy

At a time when the Pittsburgh Penguins were off to a red hot start, hovering at the top of the league with only three losses in their first 14 games, some might wonder critically why the focus here would be on losing. The answer is no more evident than in the back-to-back losses over the...

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A Date with Destiny

Chaiwoman — Sat, 30 May 2009 19:06:18 +0000

Categories: Features, News Digest, Opinion

Tags: AHL, Alex Goligoski, Alexander Ovechkin, Bill Guerin, Brooks Orpik, Chris Kunitz, Craig Adams, Dan Bylsma, Detroit Red Wings, Eric Goddard, Eric Staal, Evgeni Malkin, Gary Roberts, Hal Gill, Jordan Staal, Kris Letang, Marc-Andre Fleury, Marian Hossa, Mark Eaton, Mark Madden, Matt Cooke, Maxime Talbot, Mike Zigomanis, Miroslav Satan, Pascal Depuis, Paul Bissonnette, Petr Sykora, Philippe Boucher, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ray Shero, Rob Scuderi, Ruslan Fedotenko, Ryan Malone, Sergei Gonchar, Stanley Cup Finals 2008, Stanley Cup Finals 2009, Sudney Crosby, Tyler Kennedy

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...

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The Hockey Gods Must Be Crazy

Chaiwoman — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:33:05 +0000

Categories: Analysis, Features, Highlights, News Digest, Opinion

Tags: Alex Goligoski, Alexander Ovechkin, Bill Guerin, Chris Kunitz, Craig Adams, Dan Bylsma, David Steckel, Eastern Conference Semifinals, Evgeni Malkin, Game 5, Game 6, Game 7, Hockey Gods, Jordan Staal, Marc-Andre Fleury, Mark Madden, Matt Cooke, Maxime Talbot, Miroslav Satan, Pascal Depuis, Philippe Boucher, Pittsburgh Penguins, Rob Rossi, Ruslan Fedotenko, Ryan Malone, Sergei Gonchar, Sidney Crosby, Simeon Varlamov, Tom Poti, Tyler Kennedy, Washington Capitals

Like gambling junkies sitting at the one-armed bandits in Vegas, the Hockey Gods simply had to go just one more time. They were unable to let the arguably frenetic series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals end in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. If Game 5 had been weird enough as Tom...

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