Waiting, originally uploaded by Mike @ pittsburgh.metblogs.com.

The line snakes down Bedford. Let’s go Pens!

Image courtesy of wikipedia (CC license).

Many people will talk about this, and I’m sure they will describe it much more eloquently, but I am very excited to have such a good definition of the term.

Literally, I work across the street from Mellon Arena.  However, I am elsewhere for the summer, so I will be missing all the festivities.  Enjoy it, I wish I could be there!

Dan Bylsma has been named the head coach of the Penguins.  KDKA has the story here.

We’ll know tonight who we play in the next round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, hopefully we’ll know dates and times as well.

Pens won tonight, exciting stuff.  Also, I just found out that CMU has created a service inside the Mellon Arena called Yinz Cam.  If you have a WiFi phone, you can get a signal that shows different cams, including one of the bench, penalty box or overhead.  The service is in beta testing, so only 200 people can be watching at once, and they warn that the signal is aimed primarily at the club level seats, but should reach everywhere inside.

I’m hoping to see a game next month, and I’ll certainly try it out.  At that game I’m planning on wearing the Monroeville Zombies jersey which arrived at my door today.  Of course I wouldn’t have a normal jersey.  And besides, it’s still Pittsburgh, just in an obscure and undead way!

It was announced about half an hour ago that Michel Therrien has been “relieved of his duties” and Bylsma, head coach of the baby penguins will take over as interim head coach.

Bylsma’s first game will be tomorrow in New York.  This comes after the 6-2 loss to the maple leafs.

Read the official announcement here, and look for more news to come in very soon!

So apparently, the Penguins management is talking to Jaromir Jagr. To be a Penguin again.

Rumor or truth?

If Hossa splits town for more money (pretty good bet, there), the Pens are going to need another physical presence with a scoring touch to replace the combined loss of Hossa and Malone. Even if Jagr’s not in his prime (he’s not), it’s still some points on the board.

The real question is, is Pittsburgh ready to embrace our once-revered winger?

What do you guys think – would Jagr be welcome back in the Igloo and the Golden Triangle again?

IMG_4727_resize, courtesy of apachicz.

It’s over.

I’m calm enough now to actually write about it; I was a hyperactive wreck last night for about an hour after the game finished.

So after the dust has settled, a new day begins in Pittsburgh with the Pens failing to capture Lord Stanley’s Cup.

And you know what? That’s ok.

C’mon, raise your hands – who among you thought the Penguins were finished after Game 2? I’ll admit I was seriously concerned: no goals in nearly 135 minutes? A powerhouse, cloying defense that attracted the puck like a magnet pulls on iron?

Yeah, I think even the most diehard of us were freaked out. (more…)

Sheesh, I go away on vacation for ten days and the ice caves in.

So we now find our once-indomitable Penguins in the odd position of being behind in this year’s playoff run. By two games.

And scoring no goals.

Someone check the Mellon Arena basement; did the right team show up in Detroit on Saturday and Monday?

I’ve watched the Finals with two hands planted firmly in front of my face. My nice big LCD screen looks weird when framed by my fingers, letmetellyou.

But take heart, fans – all is not lost.

It’s only two games. With two quick, solid wins here at home, the Penguins will be right back in it. Remember, Detroit went up 2-0 on Nashville in the first round with complete dominance of the Predators. And then promptly lost the next two in Nashville; the “inevitable sweep” predicted by analysts died a quick death.

And don’t forget Dallas; Detroit had them on the ropes 3-0 when the real Stars finally arrived and took two games before giving up in Game Six.

There’s two big keys to tonight’s game:

1.) SCORE GOALS. Not much to say here.

2.) Dump-n-chase the puck. It’s clear Detroit’s booooooring trap style is just too stifling (and proves this is only New Jersey in different uniforms) to keep carrying the puck in. Dump it deep off the boards and follow through and they’ll generate the possession and scoring chances they need to take the win.

Honestly, once the ’stigma’ of Osgood’s invincibility is broken, the dam will bust and we’ll see a scoring rampage from our key players.

So don’t lose faith, Penguin fans. It ain’t over until the final horn sounds.

Watch for Penguins, courtesy of jomilo75