Week From H-E-double hockey sticks

Boston bruined the Penguins chances of a Stanley Cup with a 1-0 win in game 4, sweeping the anemic Penguins off the ice for the rest of the season.

Crosby and Malkin had no goals in the series.  Pittsburgh managed TWO goals in 4 games.  The defense played better in the last two games, but couldn't overcome a one goal deficit.

I blame this all on Toronto.  The Maple Leaf's suffered an epic collapse when they blew a 2 goal lead in game seven against the Bruins with 1:32 to go on the clock.  The Leafs then completed their collapse by losing in OT.  Stupid, stupid tree parts.

And then a judge rules in favor of the NCAA, dismissing Governor Corbett's lawsuit.

Per the Associated Press, U.S. Middle District Judge Yvette Kane has thrown out Gov. Corbett’s antitrust suit against the NCAA, citing a lack of  ”any factual allegations supporting (Corbett’s) allegation of ‘concerted action’ that might nudge its conspiracy claim into ‘plausible’ territory.”

The sanctions, Kane said, did not make for an antitrust case for the plaintiffs.

Ain't that a kick in the pants?  Paterno is fired, loses wins to 1998, and the football program is crippled on less facts. 

What is there left to say?

GO BLACKHAWKS!

Bruined My Night

6-1? Bruins? Leading the series 2-0???

Seriously?

Are you sure I'm just not having nightmares after eating a bad Charo churro?


What happened to our defense?

Where's the offense? One goal in TWO games???

Now is not the time to panic (but we're getting awfully close here.) The series moves to Boston and the Pens desperately need to find their mojo again. It's one thing to get beaten when you're playing your best and it's a hard fought game. But this is ridiculous. We're not even putting up a fight, here.

First order of business: Tighten up the defense. Gotta stop the sloppy play. There's no I in team, but there is a U in suck. Teamwork.

Second order: More pucks to the net. Sooner or later some of them will get in. Rask is not a superhero--he just thinks he is right now. It's time to find some Kryptonite pucks.

With games Wednesday, Friday and (hopefully) Sunday, I hope my weekend (and the Pens' season) won't be bruined as well.

Still No Penguins

Earlier, I posted No penguins till Saturday? Well, Saturday came and went, and . . .

Still.

No.

Penguins.

Tuukka Rask turned away 29 shots on goal and blanked the Penguins in the opener of the Eastern Finals. The Penguins hit the post six times, but not one found it's way in. It was a combination of bad bounces, and Rask playing out of his mind that earned the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the series.



We need some of whatever he's smoking!

Having a week off apparently didn't help the Penguins. The timing was just a bit off, and whether that was just dumb luck or the lengthy down time off remains to be seen.

Game two will commence Monday in Pittsburgh.

Crosby lost the jaw protector. Seriously? Why take the chance? Didn't improve his play. Put it back on.

Now is not the time to panic. They just have to get back to their game and match the physicality of the Bruins. Fights aside, I think they did match intensity and toughness last night, but just couldn't make the shots when they had the opportunities.

Pittsburgh has not been behind in any play-off series this year so far. It will be interesting to see how this team faces some mild adversity. They also have not lost two consecutive games in the play-offs yet. I look for the Pens to come out on fire and even the series tomorrow night.

No Penguins Till Saturday . . .

What A Wonderful Phrase!

Coaches Caravan

Pavlik, O'Brien and Gadowsky

I attended the Penn State Coaches Caravan at Penn State Altoona for breakfast this morning.  The event seemed well-attended with only a few seats empty here and there.  We did not see nearly the 1,000+ that reportedly showed up in Scranton.

Three coaches were present:  O'Brien (football), Pavlik (men's Volleyball) and Gadowsky (men's hockey.)

Pavlik spoke first, likening himself to a leek among the more popular vegetables (the other two coaches.)  But with his record as the volleyball coach, Gadowsky said that would make him a garnish.  O'Brien didn't bother to indicate what vegetable or food group he represented.

Now, if we can believe that he really means everything that he says--and there's no reason to doubt that--then I think we have a pretty special guy coming in.  Why would he lie?  How many coaches have told their team they are not leaving, while they have tickets in their back pocket to head elsewhere?  I don't get that sense from O'Brien.  He did indicate he would not coach until he was in his eighties, and he never guaranteed all those coaching years would be at Penn State.  But he sounds like a man who has found his dream job.

When asked why he took the Penn State job, his response was basically, are you serious?  This is the best job in college football.  The facilities are second to none.  He praised Joe Paterno for what he had built and confirmed a commitment to success with honor.  He is building his football program on 4 basic cornerstones or pillars:  academics, football, integrity and respect.  He admitted he won't be able to beat Ohio State with a 105 Valedictorians, but he is looking for student athletes that will be willing to work in the classroom, as well as excel on the football field.

In short, O'Brien respects the past and the ideals that set Penn State football apart from many other programs, and to some degree seems humbled and privileged to be where he is right now.  He sounds excited about the prospect of leading this team onto the field this fall.  His enthusiasm is infectious and his humor is reminiscent of Paterno.

When talking about Happy Valley, he noted that his team will be able to play in any weather.  He said the first day of practice was marked by 55 mph winds and the passing game was so bad that his wife questioned him after the scrimmage . . . "what was that?" she asked.  The next day it rained.  The following it spritzed snow.

He mentioned that the new NCAA "play-off" in the BCS might allow for a home game for the higher ranked team, prompting him to ask the crowd how they would like a game in Beaver Stadium in December.  The very fact that this man is thinking Penn State will be a participant in that scenario is refreshing alone.  Never once were fans asked to lower our expectations, even though it is certainly reasonable to expect the transition to a new coach and scheme to take 2-4 years, particularly since most of these players are not players he recruited.

All in all, I found the event positive and I am now more than ever looking forward to the opening game against Ohio on September 1st.

Respect the past.  Play hard in the present.  Plan for the future.

We are . . . Penn State!

O'Brien mingles with the crowd at Penn State - Altoona.

Virtually Real Hockey

Not So Funny Funnies

Adapted from Frank & Ernest:

Penn State Icers