Game Thread ..... vs. Pittsburgh, 3/11/10 - HD [Archive]

caniac97

03-11-2010, 01:06 PM

So word on the street is that Brent Johnson is in net tonight. (http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=520976&cmpid=pit-twt-pghpenguins) I guess Bylsma either thinks Fleury is still shaky with all his days off, or that we're not worthy of their number one.

On another note- wouldn't it be nice of our web people were so detailed with info like the Pens people (photos, blog and all) while on the ROAD? :crazy:

Per PM's I have gotten from our web people, they are too busy making sure SuperDave and I are not offending someone to have time to actually do something creative.

nccanes

03-11-2010, 01:16 PM

^:lol:

^^If they did 1/8th of that, it would be an improvement. I do get a chuckle about the twitpics of things we see on TV ourselves (like the FSN interviews). :lol:

There must be something written in Tripp's contract - no social media, no blogging, no tweeting. It boils down to Branecky who is good (but doesn't travel), JF who is not geared toward frequency nor brevity, and Sundheim/Hanlin that are empowered to speak on behalf of the team it appears.

c-girl

03-11-2010, 01:39 PM

Personally, I think LTD and Socal should give up their present jobs, go to work for the organEYEation, travel with the team, and provide the rest of us with photos and details. They'd do a 1000% better job than what we get now.

sandpiper214

03-11-2010, 01:56 PM

SoCalcaniac

03-11-2010, 02:05 PM

c-girl, you are TOO sweet and funny. I think you know it wouldn't take much arm twisting on LTD's part; as for me, Oh to be a fly on the wall or in with the cool kids representing the Carolina Hurricanes. :lol:;) IceSaber and I would sit through practices years ago; with me listening and watching the ice- while Ice would come up with elaborate ideas on how we could ditch our lucrative careers and become "volunteers" for all things Canes (for the Fans of course) and almost every practice we had ourselves convinced we could "do it" (Oh Mr Socal won't miss you if we go on the road!). :lol: This was even before the Twitter/Blog/Facebook explosion.

^:lol:

^^If they did 1/8th of that, it would be an improvement. I do get a chuckle about the twitpics of things we see on TV ourselves (like the FSN interviews). :lol:

There must be something written in Tripp's contract - no social media, no blogging, no tweeting.

I believe you're on to something with Tripp, E. If there was ever a dude who should have a Twitter account and join the world of 140 characters, it's be Tripper. I don't know why on earth he doesn't have one. He gives these kernels of info in the broadcast, would they not be kernels that we could get randomly during a game day?

Sample tweet:

@NHLTrippT: at dinner with Eric's house. His wife TANya is a great cook.

As for the current tweeting; I really wonder why they send Twitpics of Osala getting interviewed DURING the interview itself. :crazy:

I follow all of the NHL teams official twitter accounts; I'm extremely impressed by many of the teams who tweet prolifically. Some of it is goofy (Steven Stamkos got a shipment of STICKS!!!) others are interesting -- "Brent Burns is recognized at the team hotel in San Jose" and the picture is provided of said player with the fan, or the sticks or whatever. and I notice the tweets are far less formal. Whereas the Canes it's always the stuff right off the website. No wiggle room to have a little fun with it. Whoever tweets for the 'Hawks, is a friggin RIOT.

nccanes

03-11-2010, 03:12 PM

Sample tweet:

@NHLTrippT: at dinner with Eric's house. His wife TANya is a great cook.

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

Road Trippin' via Tweet would be AWESOME!!!

ontheglass

03-11-2010, 07:19 PM

You have got to be SH---ING ME? 2-0 after 5 min and no SOGs for the home team.

ontheglass

03-11-2010, 07:28 PM

All right 2-2, new ball game. Maybe Peters will settle down after he gets Crosby's, Malkin's, and every other Pens' autograph.

nccanes

03-11-2010, 07:32 PM

I am still working so my tickets are going unused but when the Pens went up 2-0 and you could hear their fans I was like "oh, maybe it's not a bad thing" and boom 2-2 and I'm like "maybe not" :lol:

BTW, I'm working on my laptop so I don't need my glasses, meaning the TV is kinda blurry. When Tripp showed Gonchar showing "concern" for LaRose, is it just me or did Gonchar looked more pissed than apologetic?

ontheglass

03-11-2010, 07:36 PM

BTW, I'm working on my laptop so I don't need my glasses, meaning the TV is kinda blurry. When Tripp showed Gonchar showing "concern" for LaRose, is it just me or did Gonchar looked more pissed than apologetic?

My tix are going unused tonight. Mrs. OTG couldn't make it tonight. Working on my laptop in KC. Hopefully I'll be home for Sat's game.

superdave

03-11-2010, 08:13 PM

Ms. sd and a friend of hers are using ours tonight. Watching on TV. It sounds too loud when the Penguins score.

nccanes

03-11-2010, 08:15 PM

What a nice fan shushing the home crowd when his visiting team ties the game -- and using his middle finger to do the shushing.

ontheglass

03-11-2010, 09:34 PM

BIG TWO points. Nice win for Peters, seems that he settled down after he got his autographs. 3 of 4 points for the week.

puck_it

03-11-2010, 09:34 PM

this season is the most ridiculous bull**** i have ever seen.

SouthernHockeyChick

03-11-2010, 09:55 PM

Good thing I couldn't get this site to load on my phone in the building b/c I might have said something nasty to those who couldn't use their tix...it was about a 4 to 1 Pens to Canes fan ratio to start the game. I think the Caniacs straggled in eventually. And I was xtra pissed because we had a winner of the Best Fan Since The Last Time We Played Buffalo award in 112 tonight. The ******* in the ***** powder blue jersey's sign said "Losing It's A Caniac Thing." Hope someone shoved it down his throat. Total KARMA win. Good job boys.

kermelbar

03-11-2010, 10:37 PM

I had the game on in the background while I worked on my taxes and I thought it sounded ridiculously loud for cheering on that last Pens goal. (I believe this is the one that showed the fabulous Pens fan ncc mentioned.)

Karma can be quite the butt-kicker.

MOVING SOUTH: It's a Pens/Buffaslug fan thing. And, really, Pens fans, you may have won the Cup last year and be having a great season, but are you REALLY in a position to talk smack about losing? The team that's alleged to have thrown a season (well, or not tried hard when there was a Lemieux pot at the end of the failure rainbow), who had to be saved by a former player who occasionally blackmails you with moving the team so he can get what he wants? Are you sure you want to start slinging sh*t? (And I say that, even though I love Mario. =.)

4DFan

03-11-2010, 10:46 PM

Any word on what happened to Sutter?

SouthernHockeyChick

03-11-2010, 10:55 PM

Any word on what happened to Sutter?

Lower body injury.

Looked like he tweaked his knee or ankle. He played a couple shifts after but, I was wondering if he'd be back after they got his skate off during the intermission...and he wasn't.

Heard on 99.9 that Mo said it wasn't serious and he may be back for the next game.

SoCalcaniac

03-11-2010, 11:00 PM

The smugness and arrogance in Pensfandom is appalling. we spotted the tools with the "Losing it's a Caniac Thing" sign when we sat down and ordered at the Deck. Some punk kid with two beers in hand (warmups had yet to begin) and his "sign" tucked under his arm. So it would face all the Canes fans he had stepped over getting to his seats. I'm sure THEY talked junk to him by the end of the night. :lol: I couldn't stop laughing when we ran into SHC after the game and she gave Mr. Socal a "scolding" --- "You better talk to your city" :laugh: When we were walking back to the car, hub says "I'm gonna have to disown the whole Pittsburgh thing it's just become really embarassing." We of course had to navigate out of the building past some drunks in the always original #87 jerseys screaming "we're still the Champs" :crazy: Yeah.

I thought we looked woefully overmatched on so many levels, but we found a way to be tied up by the end. I was sure after no SOG on that 5on3 that we were doomed. Hello Coach: Please get Joni Pitkanen and his non-shooting self OFF THE PP. He had 3 different open 'chances' to shoot, yet he decides to make the more complex cross ice thru a stick or two pass; I thought I was gonna scream.

The key is, the kid, who looked maybe a little starry eyed at first, settled down, and the team kept workin' out the kinks. Beautiful that Pothier got the OT winner.

I was concerned when #16 went off the ice to the bench he was limping, and then got a text from nccanes who informed me about the injury. He went hard. I heard only a bit of the Aftermath as they're streaming a basketball game instead of the Aftermath but what I heard in the car, Forslund said he might be able to play on Sat vs. PHX. We miss his presence when he's not playing.

I thought #26 looked dicey in warmups- but he sure percolated after he got elevated to the Staal line when 16 went down.

The whole overload of Pens fans thing has me thinking they now rival BUF fans as the most obnoxious. Love how they cheered for 87 and 71 when JF was doing the pregame intro thing, and zilch when he mentions Gonchar, Johnson and the newly acquired and invisible Ponikorovsky. If you're gonna wildly cheer, it would help you to know the rest of your team, not the flavor of the month. Or maybe it's easier to bandwagon that way. *eyeroll*

Nice job on the Forslund Focus for The Juice. "Twilight's last Gleason" was heard on my side of the rink during the anthem. :lol::lol:

They better have tomorrow off. They need to rest up. PHX will not be a cakewalk either.

Captain Slack

03-11-2010, 11:01 PM

Have to say, that was a fun game!! And satisfying in more ways than one.

We got to the arena early, so we took a walk around the concourse. Passed a Pens fan who was holding a sign that said, "Losing: It's a Caniac thing". Made my blood boil! My first thought: we HAVE to win this game. Didn't think we'd pull it out during that first 10 minutes, but I have to give this team credit for not giving up.

And for making that Pens fan look like a fool. :D

SouthernHockeyChick

03-11-2010, 11:32 PM

Thank you for noticing!

But Pittsburgh got even when Matt Cooke (http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8465951) backhanded a rebounded through Peters' legs. Cooke, who was not suspended earlier in the week for a hit to the head of Boston's Marc Savard on Sunday, was booed loudly after the goal.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2009020993&navid=DL|NHL|home (http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2009020993&navid=DL%7CNHL%7Chome)

sandpiper214

03-12-2010, 12:12 AM

BrooklynCaniac

03-12-2010, 12:33 AM

livinthedream

03-12-2010, 12:39 AM

If you're not going to be kind to my goalie and his nerves you can just send him back to Albany ;)

All joking aside, I too was happy to hear him settle in and even happier to see the game winner from Pothier. I watched him play 4 years of college hockey in the Capital District over 10 years ago. Nice to have him back on the roster I root for!

Your boy done good tonight. Real good. He and the entire team showed great resilience. Couldn't be prouder of what this group of men are doing on the ice these days.

Lots of Caps fans on the various message boards are bemoaning the loss of Pothier. I can certainly understand why. He's been rock solid since we picked him up.

Man, we can't play the Pens without them breaking somebody. :ticked: Hope Brandon is okay, hopefully it's minor as indicated in the post-game. Looked like Jussi needed a few stitches for his stick to the face.

And I was xtra pissed because we had a winner of the Best Fan Since The Last Time We Played Buffalo award in 112 tonight. The ******* in the ***** powder blue jersey's sign said "Losing It's A Caniac Thing." Hope someone shoved it down his throat. Total KARMA win. Good job boys.

I got your text during the second period but was down at the glass so I couldn't see Section 112 well from my vantage point, but I never once saw the sign even after I returned to my normal perch and I was definitely looking for it. Wonder if it got confiscated? Course if someone made him eat it that would have worked too.

Personally, I think LTD and Socal should give up their present jobs, go to work for the organEYEation, travel with the team, and provide the rest of us with photos and details. They'd do a 1000% better job than what we get now.

I second that! All in favor?

I think you know it wouldn't take much arm twisting on LTD's part;

Hey, I'm in. What do we need to do to make this happen?

SouthernHockeyChick

03-12-2010, 01:00 AM

Maybe Pens fans forgot how they got all those high draft picks. Their were some dark years their in Pittsburgh.

Nah, they didn't forget. They just weren't bothering to be around during the lean years. That's the difference between their fanbase and ours. Our team doesn't go bankrupt when we're at the bottom of the standings.

I got your text during the second period but was down at the glass so I couldn't see Section 112 well from my vantage point, but I never once saw the sign even after I returned to my normal perch and I was definitely looking for it. Wonder if it got confiscated? Course if someone made him eat it that would have worked too.

No, he left his seats at the end of the game with the sign....and his tail tucked between his legs. He was just, oddly, not as interested in holding it up after the score went to 2-2 and then 3-2 and then 3-3. The last time I remember him holding it up I think was right after the Cooke goal when he was kind enough to hold it up backwards so everyone behind him could read it. What a nice guy, eh?

:lol: I watched him the entire game hoping someone would kick his a** or he'd get thrown out. Honestly, how do you get in the building with that sign? That's ASKING for a fight!! It was just an ugly piece of cardboard he'd written messily on with a black marker, though, so he could have made it after he got inside, I guess.

Hopefully his clever little joke will keep him warm tonight as he lies in bed thinking about how the 27th place team, coming off of a tough back-to-back OT against the actual best team in the league, with their back-up's back-up in goal for his 5th NHL game, after having traded half of their defense last week just kicked his team's a**. I know that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.:D

Jay

03-12-2010, 02:33 AM

Passed a Pens fan who was holding a sign that said, "Losing: It's a Caniac thing". Made my blood boil!

They take away a hilarious Linda Craft skeletor sign, and a Mo Must Go sign, but they let this tool keep his?

nccanes

03-12-2010, 07:04 AM

This is the 2nd "event" game that I've missed that I had tickets to. Of course, I continued to work THRU the game (at least I was at home) so my excuse was sad, but valid.

I WILL be there on Saturday!

For those at the game, Peters was the post-game on ice interview and this time he was pure excitement and a bit less emotion. He was really sweet. He talked about his parents (gets his competitive fire from the Peters side and his Mom has always been there for him no matter what) and he looked at the camera and said "I love 'em". It was really sweet, but I figure that they didn't get to see it since CI most often cuts off immediately following the game. Hopefully they'll see the clip at some point.

superdave

03-12-2010, 07:23 AM

ButtersSaysNo

03-12-2010, 07:26 AM

The whole overload of Pens fans thing has me thinking they now rival BUF fans as the most obnoxious. Love how they cheered for 87 and 71 when JF was doing the pregame intro thing, and zilch when he mentions Gonchar, Johnson and the newly acquired and invisible Ponikorovsky. If you're gonna wildly cheer, it would help you to know the rest of your team, not the flavor of the month. Or maybe it's easier to bandwagon that way. *eyeroll*

No kidding! I honestly do not remember another visiting fan base, other then Slugs, in our building so openly boo the Canes when the Canes took the ice.

One thing that ticks me off is that I know some of the folks booing the Canes are fans that cheer for them when they take the home ice 39 times a yr. I mean WTF. I grew up a Flyers fan and was a fan of them for 20 yrs before the Canes came to be. I still consider the Flyers my 2nd team, but I have never ever cheered for the Flyers against the Canes. I cannot F'n stand fans that say I am a Canes fan 77 times a yr, but not when they are playing (insert team). It doesn't work that way IMO.

And like you said, it was very telling that their awesome lifelong fans only cheered when 87 and 71 were shown on the jumbotron and nothing for the other players. I mentioned the exact same thing to SC06.

ButtersSaysNo

03-12-2010, 07:30 AM

Maybe Pens fans forgot how they got all those high draft picks. Their were some dark years their in Pittsburgh.

They don't even acknowledge that

2001-2002
2002-2003
2003-2004
2005-2006

seasons existed.

DSCanesfan

03-12-2010, 07:55 AM

SD, SHC, SoCal, and a few others have mentioned the boorish Buffoonaloish behavior of the Pens "fans". Well I have a theory about this. If you remember, last year in the ECFs I had mentioned that Larry Perkins, the Assistant GM of the RBC Center, told me that the Sh!tsburgh fans were as bad as or worse than the Slugs' fans. Well that got me thinking and my theory became that they were one in the same. Kids that got moved down here by their parents, because they couldn't find work in their blighted "city" and the kids all rebelled against all things Raleigh. Well last night while I was tailgating, I saw a group of 4 Sh!tsburgh "fans" walking into the arena. But when I looked closer, one of them was wearing a Slugs' sweater. Which in my eyes, confirms my theory.

Socal, like Mr. SoCal, Mrs. Doug has renounced her ties to Sh!tsburgh. However, she did it long ago in the 1996/97 NFL season at a Carolina Panthers/Steelers game when we encountered the same boorish obnoxious behavior.

On the bandwagon, I think I noticed as many Steelers Jerseys as I did Pens in the arena last night. I was like hmmm that just proves that like Mrs. Doug's relatives that are still in Sh!tsburgh say, Sh!tsburgh is not a hockey town (except when they're winning) its a football town.

Doug

nccanes

03-12-2010, 08:21 AM

^Doug! :lol:

LOVE this photo!!

http://media2.newsobserver.com/smedia/2010/03/12/00/caneslede0312_G6V16MBGN.1+CANESPIT11.SP.031110.nos ell.CCS.embedded.prod_affiliate.156.jpg

Solracer

03-12-2010, 08:26 AM

^Doug! :lol:

LOVE this photo!!

http://media2.newsobserver.com/smedia/2010/03/12/00/caneslede0312_G6V16MBGN.1+CANESPIT11.SP.031110.nos ell.CCS.embedded.prod_affiliate.156.jpg

Hey Who let the Midget on the ice..
Oh wait that's you ray.. so sorry....

PennsylvaniaCanesFan

03-12-2010, 08:38 AM

On the bandwagon, I think I noticed as many Steelers Jerseys as I did Pens in the arena last night. I was like hmmm that just proves that like Mrs. Doug's relatives that are still in Sh!tsburgh say, Sh!tsburgh is not a hockey town (except when they're winning) its a football town.

Doug

It's a conundrum for sure for some of us. I've taken my fair share of abuse wearing my Canes jersey into whatever name area the Pens play in now. I've taken (and still taking) my fair share of good natured (and some not so good natured) insults from the ECFs last year. However, it's these same fans that make a Steelers game so enjoyable. Is it OK to dislike a fan base, and to love them in another field 5 miles across town?

Here is a experiment for someone, wear your Canes jersey and a Steelers hat. See the reaction.

Your dead on with your assessment about the Steelers and Pittsburgh. It's a football town first, and everything else a distant second.

aldamon

03-12-2010, 08:49 AM

Are we going to take a shot at keeping Pothier? Might be a good idea.

Darkwing

03-12-2010, 08:50 AM

Are we going to take a shot at keeping Pothier? Might be a good idea.

god I hope so

Darkwing

03-12-2010, 09:05 AM

anyone else catch the skill: it's a caniac thing commercial featuring whitney? is it available online anywhere?

caveman

03-12-2010, 09:43 AM

1. Cooke shouldn't have been playing, lack of suspension a complete joke
2. Don't care about other fanbases anymore
3. YEAH POTHIER

FinFan

03-12-2010, 11:09 AM

I told my husband before the OT last night that I was glad we weren't there in our normal seats. I probably would have fallen out of the upper deck. They had me on the edge of my seat all night.

Pete-Dawg was unbelievable last night. He had good D out in front of him for the most part. Lots of rebounds that weren't picked up by us, unfortunately. But that sprawling save where he punched the puck with his stick was incredible!

Staal's goal: The minute Erik passed the puck to Eric, it was like the RBC was in silent anticipation, everyone holding their breath. So often this year we've watched Eric try his patented wrap around and it get kicked out. But this time, I think he was the first in the entire place to realize it was a goal. Once his arms went up, it sounded like the RBC exploded!

I'll say it again, Pothier/Pitkanen pairing is impressive. I know Pothier was out with both Joni and Timmy a lot last night. And that wrister he just knuckled-balled into the net was quite impressive. Oh, and his nickname is "Potsie". Yes, Justin in his post game interview called him Potsie. I nearly fell off the couch laughing.

Thankfully they never showed the Losing sign on FSC. That was completely in poor taste.

Oh, Sutter's injury: He slid on his knees hard into the wall. My guess is pulled/strained groin. You could tell he was hurting.

BTW, did anyone notice in particular if Samsanov was on the ice every time the Russian line (Malkin's new line) was out? Trip said they were speaking Russian mostly.

I think that's all... GO CANES!

And GO WOLFPACK!

SouthernHockeyChick

03-12-2010, 11:41 AM

BTW, did anyone notice in particular if Samsanov was on the ice every time the Russian line (Malkin's new line) was out? Trip said they were speaking Russian mostly.

Since he was a -2 I'd say maybe.... but he only had 6:55 TOI so, no, I don't think so.

He must be injured........right?

Which makes me think of something else that annoys me about Pens fans (this is nothing new). I swear every time Malkin touches the puck they squeal. I least the ones sitting around me do. He can be in his own end and barely get a stick on it for half a second and they'll be squealing. WTF is that?:lol:

FinFan

03-12-2010, 11:45 AM

BTW, I'm working on my laptop so I don't need my glasses, meaning the TV is kinda blurry. When Tripp showed Gonchar showing "concern" for LaRose, is it just me or did Gonchar looked more pissed than apologetic?

I was thinking the same thing, though Tripp kept INSISTING Gonchar was making sure he was ok. My guess was Gonchar was chewing out Rosie for something he'd said earlier and that's why he boarded him.

Oh, one time they were showing Sid going by the glass where some Pens fans were and this little girl was waving at him as if he'd even give her the time of day. She was right on the glass and didn't even bang.

puck_it

03-12-2010, 11:49 AM

Oh, one time they were showing Sid going by the glass where some Pens fans were and this little girl was waving at him as if he'd even give her the time of day. She was right on the glass and didn't even bang.

the travesty of a kid looking up to a hockey hero. and she's doing it all wrong.

SoCalcaniac

03-12-2010, 01:46 PM

I was like hmmm that just proves that like Mrs. Doug's relatives that are still in Sh!tsburgh say, Sh!tsburgh is not a hockey town (except when they're winning) its a football town.

Doug, your whole post is so bang on, but that ditty above is SO TRUE. I think hub hangs on because he is not from the "City" he's a Western PA guy from 30 miles away, who of course cheers for all 3 pro teams. He likes to believe the designation is important. :lol: I tell him Yinz are all the same. ;)

However, it's these same fans that make a Steelers game so enjoyable.

One would argue, (if they're a football fan in any other NFL city) that is why people hate the Steelers. There is an arrogance, and entitlement within Steeler Nation, that has absolutely gone straight down the road and invaded the now full of people that weren't there before, Mellon Arena. Young, brash, arrogant. My hub's best friend since little league and midget football is part of our "family" owned row of season tix at MA. He says it's almost unbearable to go into the bldg because of the baffoonery. Many people who were once STHers (lifelong/longtimers) had been priced out when The Next One, The Russian One et al, came along. Some of the people still around, say "it's not the same, it's like a Steelers game every night" (i.e likes to fight guy in the stands especially when he's had alot to drink, and foul mouth girls screaming their undying love for (insert player name here) We were up at the MA for a game last year, and I'm pretty much over it. First off, it's still a dump and second of all people are obnoxious. :lol:

I'm getting ready to re-watch the TiVo of the game. I was watching Peters getting interviewed by Tripp, he seemed chipper and animated so I was wondering what he was chatting about. Good stuff.

On the Gonchar thing- He didn't look concerned to me, he looked irked/pissed. But then he has that blank look thing going on about him, so there's no telling.

I noticed that TOI for Sammy- is he hurt? SHC, I don't know what that squealing for #71 is; but it's crazy. I noticed it in their bldg when we've been there, where he clearly plays differently -- I like to say he gallops and gets after it more at home than on the road- But they do it there. :crazy:

sandstone

03-12-2010, 01:48 PM

Just like the Hurricanes that fly by the waiting crowd after games without even a glance in their direction.
Does the NHL need to stop warmups/games so the players can socialize with fans?

ButtersSaysNo

03-12-2010, 01:57 PM

Just like the Hurricanes that fly by the waiting crowd after games without even a glance in their direction.
Does the NHL need to stop warmups/games so the players can socialize with fans?

Apples and oranges comparison. A player standing just on the other side of the glass, 2 ft from a lil kid that they likely see, during WARM-UPS, can wave, smile or something, lots of players do.

Much different then folks waiting out back after players have just spent 2.5 hrs playing a game, are probably tired, PO'd if they lost, are in their cars and most of the time it is late at night.

SouthernHockeyChick

03-12-2010, 02:07 PM

I'm personally confused about what exactly the discussion is regarding fans on the glass and the players' reaction. The players are there to play a game, not chat with fans so, I've got no issue with anything I saw. If they're taking their job seriously.....well, they should be. And actually, IMO, the Pens warm-up last night was one of the most awesome to watch, in terms of their interaction with their fans and with each other.

I saw Jordan Staal make some little girl's night. She was obviously trying to get his attention on the glass and had her camera. He stopped, turned toward her to send the puck off the boards right in front of her....facing her...perfect for pictures...for about 2 solid minutes and then he sent one right at her face on the glass and skated off giggling.

Max Talbot snuck up on their TV guy who was on the bench and snowed the living hell out of him. It was the most hilarious thing I've ever seen. I'm talking, he started at least 8 feet out from the boards and LOADS of snow went all over the guy. Talbot almost peed his pants laughing.

However craptastic some of their fans are, the Pens are a team having an absolute blast and that's pretty fun to watch (as long as they lose to us). I don't have much bad to say about any of their players....except Matt Cooke who I'm hoping fell out of the plane on the way home.

Kidder

03-12-2010, 02:14 PM

Apples and oranges comparison. A player standing just on the other side of the glass, 2 ft from a lil kid that they likely see, during WARM-UPS, can wave, smile or something, lots of players do.

Much different then folks waiting out back after players have just spent 2.5 hrs playing a game, are probably tired, PO'd if they lost, are in their cars and most of the time it is late at night.

So what about practice days when the kids are tracked out from school, and Tim Gleason goes flying by every single time, never stopping to sign?

Or how's about one time not too long ago this season when he came out the back of the RBC, and sat around for about 15 minutes inside the fence, and wouldn't even make eye contact with the fans waiting for him to come over. He waits for his girl to come and pick him up, and then he turns his head AWAY from the fans as they drive past.

superdave

03-12-2010, 02:15 PM

I was thinking the same thing, though Tripp kept INSISTING Gonchar was making sure he was ok. My guess was Gonchar was chewing out Rosie for something he'd said earlier and that's why he boarded him.

Gonch looked really concerned, didn't he? I was laughing when Tripp was off on that tangent.

nccanes

03-12-2010, 02:18 PM

It's also possible that Crosby had already acknowledged the girl and she continued to be excited and wave.

FinFan

03-12-2010, 02:20 PM

I know. I mean, the ref looked like he was almost dragging Gonch into the box. Unless... one of our guys said something to him about getting him back for that dirty hit. But either way, he was NOT concerned. Trip was on something.

BTW, we need to make a book of Trip-isms. He comes up with all kinds of stupid crap.

Oh, Crosby didn't even look up. The girl looked at her friends and then waved at Sid all excitedly. If you want a player's attention during the game, that's not the way to go about it.

livinthedream

03-12-2010, 02:47 PM

Well, I had a REF acknowledge me last night. DURING THE GAME. It was during a stoppage, and he pulled up right in front of me as I had my camera focused on someone or something, and he pretended to get in my way, then jumped back, then jumped in front of me, then he turned to me and laughed and I laughed back at him. A couple minutes later he was along the boards and Malkin skated up right in front of him and the ref smacked him on the boom-boom. It was hilarious.

SoCalcaniac

03-12-2010, 02:51 PM

But she's a GIRL. On the other hand, When players are in warm ups, or in a game, they're not going to blatantly acknowledge a person waving wildly. I just can't see it. They might be discreet about it, or in some cases continue to read the sign that is being displayed or whatever, but most won't be like "hey how ya doin'" They're preparing for a game or playing in one.

Ok, so I'm watching the Tivo from last night; I am in TEARS laughing at the always koo-koo TRIPP re: the Staal boys, who are "neighbors" at their "cottages" in Thunder Bay during the offseason.

Tripp: Jordan& Eric are "Paul Bunyons" who work out in the Wilderness during the off season"

JF: "The Wilderness"??? out in the wild?

Tripp: Well you know, they have nice accomodations up there in TB but I was speaking more about when I was up for Eric's wedding, I couldn't get a cell tower. I got better cell service when I was in South Africa.

JF: (deadpan) Oh, ok so we're being clear that the boys aren't suffering in the "wilderness" and are comfortable.

Tripp: Oh, yes of course, it's very beautiful.

:lol::crazy::laugh::lol:

You just can't make this stuff up.

kermelbar

03-12-2010, 02:54 PM

As mentioned yesterday (this thread?), it's hard to believe Tripp doesn't tweet. If there was ever a twit made for tweeting ...

nccanes

03-12-2010, 03:04 PM

SoCal - I almost texted you a faux "Tripp tweet" with that cottage yakking. :lol: I KNEW you'd enjoy it.

Name dropping about Staal's wedding and his globe trotting to South Africa in the same sentence! :lol:

FinFan

03-12-2010, 03:08 PM

How about Trip nearly getting "skewered by Malkin's stick" (his exact words). And he missed Pete-Dawgs awesome sprawl because Crosby was tossing his water bottle on the bench or something...

livinthedream

03-12-2010, 03:09 PM

Oh, forgot to mention for those not at the game... Oskar Osala did take the pregame warmup although he was an obvious scratch when Cole was able to join the lineup. He's been sent back to Albany already so not sure if we'll see him again but I did snag a couple of photos of him in warmups (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbk-ltd/sets/72157623606168348/).

FinFan

03-12-2010, 03:15 PM

Those Finns and sticking their tongues out. :lol: I really hope he might get to come back soon. I like the way he plays. Plus, it's just darn cool having 4 Finns. :D

NCCaniac42

03-12-2010, 03:48 PM

Those Finns and sticking their tongues out. :lol: I really hope he might get to come back soon. I like the way he plays. Plus, it's just darn cool having 4 Finns. :D

Speaking of the fourth Finn.. there was a sign in front of me at warm ups that said Welcome Oskar (in Finnish of course.. NOT MINE).. but he slammed a couple of pucks at it and the woman who made the sign was busy texting and had earbuds in and wasn't paying attention. Funny guys.. think he was told by other 3 finns who to look for.