Sunday Ice Time: Pens vs. Lightning

With tempers on edge most of the evening and something to prove to the Stanley Cup champs, the Lightning brought their game faces in front of their home (sell-out) crowd.  I was anticipating a battle all week when thinking about this game and it's 7 first or second round picks.  Plus, with Crosby, Malkin, and Stamkos on the ice at the same time, you never know what you are going to see.

This game did not disappoint.  It was faced paced, exciting, and had a playoff atmosphere.  In fact it was probably the closest thing to a playoff game the Lightning are going to see this year.   Great goals, hard hits, and some great goaltending...the game had it all.

On the opening shift of the game, Crosby was taken down by a Russian leg sweep applied by "repeat offender" Steve Downie (that was sarcasm in case you hadn't guessed).  Everyone knows Downie is a thug, just like Cooke is a thug, Carcillo is a thug, etc., etc.   I'm not getting into it again.  There is a target on the backs of every Penguin player now and Crosby almost became a casualty.  He went down in such an awkward posistion, I thought for sure his leg was broken.  Minutes later, he was back in the game. 

Shortly thereafter, Stamkos took a hard shot from Brooks Orpik into the boards and he went down in a heap.  Still, the show must go on.  He was back on the ice on the next shift.   

It was still 1-0 Lightning until the third period when Super Duper and Sarge both tallied within 3 minutes of each other.  The game winner was a power play goal with about 5 minutes off the clock in the third.  Fleury only faced five shots in the entire third period after the Pens turned on the trap game and played most of the remaining minutes in the Lightning's zone. 

For Pittsburgh, the win gets them 2 very needed points to stay up on the Devils in the division.  Of course it wasn't without a price.  Geno took a Letang slapshot off the foot and left the game in the second period.  He didn't return and the evaluation of him Monday showed no fractures.  No idea when he will be back.  I hope it isn't too long.

In unrelated news...OVECHKIN GETS A 2 GAME SUSPENSION FOR HIS BOARDING CALL.

Let the outrage begin!!

Another Crazy Contest Pimping

I know I haven't posted anything of substance for awhile because I have been swamped at work.  I have something I have been working on for a multi part post.  I still haven't decided how to break it down yet though. 

I have been reading my usual daily fare as well as commenting though.  I came across this one the other day...

If you haven't already done so, go and check out the crazy contest going on over at Offy's Sports Site. 

He has a some Obak, Tristar, and some cool wrestling cards up for prizes.  It looks like it is pretty easy to enter as well.  Just go here and start with Contest #1. 

Here is Contest #2...

Contest #3...

Contest #4


It ends on Saturday March 20th.

Ice Time: Pens vs. Devils

In a semi-"must win" game tonight, the Pens visited the Devils for a Friday evening division battle.  For the fifth straight time this season, the Devils came up with the victory and have now outscored the Pens 16-3.  The worst part of it was the two points they get for the win pulls them within two points of first place.  With only 17 games left, it is going to be a fight to the finish.

Crosby scored the only Pens goal and is now 1 ahead of Ovechkin in their battle for the Rocket Trophy.  I am getting a bit concerned about Malkin though.  After watching two games in a row he seems to be getting into one of his lethargic slumps.  It is almost like since the Olympics, he hasn't been the same.  Maybe I am just looking for something to complain about.  Yeah, that's it.  I hope. 

I am not going to get into the blatant goalie interference on the third Devils goal.  It was a blown call by the refs and unfortunately the Pens weren't able to counter punch.  The other unfortunate fact is that goalie interference calls, whether blatant or not, are not reviewable.  Maybe they will change that rule next year too.


The one thing I can say for this game was it was penalty filled.  Craig Adams received a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for a charging penalty that the Pens were able to kill.  After that, it was chaos.  There were 49 minutes spent in the Sin Bin.  Kovalchuk even had a penalty shot after Letang drug him to the ice in what would have been a breakaway.


The fight of the night had to be when Jamie Langenbrunner grabbed Chris Kunitz by the Pens bench and they stumbled into the bench area and continued to battle.  I thought someone would have definitely started throwing punches but it wasn't in the cards.

These guys square off again in New Jersey next Wednesday and it is going to be another classic.  Hopefully the Pens can pull one out for the first and last time this year.

In other news, the Lightning shocked the world!!!  They beat the Caps 3-2.  Shocking because it is only their second win in 9 games.  Shocking because they beat the Capitals, the best team in hockey.  Shocking because they held Ovie to 1 shot on goal.  

Ice Time Pregame: Pens vs. Canes

The Pens begin their lengthy road trip tonight against the Hurricanes in Carolina.  Pittsburgh is in a tight battle with the Devils for the division lead that is most assuredly going to come down to the final week.  With the Canes fighting for thier playoff lives, they are not going to easily roll over and die.  If they lose this one, they are likely playing golf real soon.  They are in for a fight, as most Pens/Canes games have become over the last few years. 

You know what would be fun?   A drinking game.  For anyone that has the ability to watch the game, here are the rules.

1)  Everytime someone references Crosby's equipment being stolen...take a drink.

2)  Everytime someone references the Staal brothers, or the fact that they are brothers, or the fact that there is a third brother...take a drink.

3)  Everytime there is a conversation about "headshots" or Matt Cooke not being suspended...take a drink.

4)  Everytime someone reference Crosby as the "Gold Medal Winning" or "Olympic Champion"...take two drinks.

5)  Everytime they show Mario Lemieux in his luxury suite...take a drink.

6)  Everytime they mention Bill Cowher being a Carolina fan...take a drink and then throw your glass at the TV.

7)  Everytime they mention all the coaches that used to be Penguins (there are 4, I think)...take a drink.

My prediction is that sticking to these rules will most assuredly get you drunk before the first intermission and possibly cause black outs by the end of the second period.  Have 911 on standby if this game makes it to overtime.

Cards From the Night Owl (Part 4)

Enough commentary on these already...geez!  More Bucs from the nocturnal one.

Two things here:  1) Wally Backman looks like he is trying to escape from the confines of the box Topps bordered around him, and 2) Why is Dave LaPoint so happy?

Look there...another team card.  Lovely, isn't it?

I'm not sure if there is a whole team set here but I bet it is close.

Owl inadvertently helped me with my Series I set with three cards and a ToppsTown card.  I'm not complaining.

Cards From the Night Owl (Part 3)

(Somehow I inadvertently posted part 4 before part 3 last night.  That's what lack of sleep gets you I guess.)

Finally, we are onto the baseball portion of our show.  I am really starting to get fired up over putting together this Pirates collection.  I am especially enjoying the older stuff that I used to have as a kid, circa 1984-1989.  Plus they are really looking good in the binder I have for them and it makes it easier for my son to look through them since he is now intrigued by the thought of collecting.

I got a little long winded on the last two parts of this trade post so I am going to keep it brief here and showcase the cards.  They speak for themselves.  I am still going to have to split this into two posts since the picture content is going to be enormous.

Thanks to Night Owl for all the great cards and the awesome Steeler schedule.  I think my Bucco's collection has doubled, if not tripled, in size.

A slough of A&G cards as well as a few OPC baseball from last year.  I never liked the A&G but that was because I didn't own any.  No I do, and now I like them.  Go figure.

A nice mix here highlighted by the center square.

A few Topps Heritage that didn't really do it for me when I saw them on other blogs, but now that I own them, it's a different story.

Gotta love the Madlock Diamond King and I really like the airbrushed helmet on Barry's head in that Post card.  John Smiley is the 3 of clubs...I figured him more for an ACE (**comical drum hits ensue**)

Some oldies but goodies.  I though that Ken Brett might have been my oldest Pirate but I forgot that my brother found my old stuff including my 1954 Dick Groat card.  I'll show that some other time.

80s Cheese with a 90s card on the bottom...how'd that get on this page?

Finally some Reuss-age, and Omar Moreno, and a team card.  Does it get any better than team cards?