June 13, 2009
The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions
It doesn't feel real.
After everything this team has been through this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins are the Stanley Cup Champions.
Outstanding.
Congratulations.
June 12, 2009
The Last Time the Pittsburgh Penguins Won the Stanley Cup
The Final in 1991 was the first time I has ever really paid attention to hockey. I was nine years old and I remember the kids at school were talking about Mario Lemieux. The day of game six everyone was speculating about how Lemieux could win the Stanley Cup that night.
I knew who Mario Lemieux was, but I had never watched him play.
I grew up in Toronto and, while I had seen portions of hockey games, I had never watched a whole game from beginning to end. The Penguins were rarely on TV and the Leafs never interested me.
I don't know why, but I wanted to see this Mario Lemieux person win the Cup.
I remember asking my mom if I could watch the game. I remember her telling me that she thought the North Stars would win that game.
The Pittsburgh Penguins won 6-0 and they claimed their first Stanley Cup. I was instantly hooked.
I spent the summer collecting hockey cards, hoping to get cards of the Penguins. My cousin was a Los Angeles Kings fan and I think I had my first Lemieux vs. Gretzky debate that summer.
By the time the 1992 playoffs rolled around I was definitely a full-fledged Penguins fan.
I remember hating Adam Graves for slashing Lemieux's hand. I remember watching Dominic Hasek and Ed Belfour play goal for the Blackhawks. And I remember cheering as Mario Lemieux - who was now definitely my hero - raised the Stanley Cup for the second time.
My uncle later told me that he wanted to call me after the game to congratulate me and the fact that "my team" won. But, I was ten years old, and he wasn't sure I would be awake for the entire game.
I was definitely awake. There was no way I could have slept that night.
Tonight I could experience the same emotions I felt 17 years ago, this time as a 27-year-old man. Inside of sitting with my mom I will be watching with my wife.
The time may be different, the scene has changed and I like to think that I've grown a lot since that little kid watched his hero raise the Cup.
But I know that when Sidney Crosby raises that trophy over his head, I'll feel the same way I did when I was ten.
Lets Go Pens.
June 12, 2009
Game Seven
The absolute first thing I thought of when I woke up this morning was "Today is game seven."
The Pittsburgh Penguins have not been this close to the Stanley Cup in 17 years.
Tonight will be historic.
None of the odds are in their favour. History tells them that the home team has won 12 or the 14 game sevens in Stanley Cup Final history.
This is going to be tough. Very tough.
Lets Go Pens.
June 6, 2009
Yes We Can
With apologies to Barack Obama
A few months ago, no one imagined that we'd have accomplished what we did in these playoffs. For most of this season we were far behind and we always knew our climb would be steep.
But in record numbers you came out and cheered for the Penguins. And with your voices and your signs you made it clear that at this moment - in these playoffs - there is something happening in the NHL.
There is something happening when fans who are young in age and in spirit - who have never before cheered for a hockey team - turn out in numbers we've never seen because they know in their hearts that this time must be different.
We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can withstand the power of millions of voices chanting "Lets Go Pens."
We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant in the days to come. We've been informed by a network that we can no longer watch on a big screen. We've been warned against offering the people of this city false hope.
But, in the unlikely story that is Pittsburgh, there has never been anything false about hope.
For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we've been told that we're not ready, or that we shouldn't try, or that we can't, generations of Yinzers have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a city.
Yes We Can.
Pens in Seven.
June 4, 2009
Pittsburgh and Detroit - Game Four
May 30, 2009
The Stanley Cup Final Begins Tonight
This is what we all have been waiting for.
Ever since the Red Wings took the Stanley Cup out of Mellon Arena last year, we've wanted our revenge.
Now we have it.
Pavel Datsyuk will miss tonight's game for Detroit.
Nicklas Lidstrom will not.
The unbelievable story that the Pittsburgh Penguins have written this year is entering the final chapter.
Lets Go Pens.
May 28, 2009
Pittsburgh Penguins Tickets Go On Sale Tomorrow
Tickets for game three and four of the Stanley Cup Finals at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh go on sale tomorrow.
The games will be played Tuesday, June 2nd and Thursday, June 4th.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will face the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final.
May 27, 2009
Penguins Sweep Hurricanes, Return to Stanley Cup Final
What seemed incredibly unlikely just a few months ago is now true. The Pittsburgh Penguins will once again dance with Lord Stanley.
They defeated a tough, physical Philadelphia Flyers team in round one.
They outscored a dynamic Washington Capitals squad led by Alexander Ovechkin in round two.
They beat a fast, offensive team and made a hot goaltender look ordinary in round three.
One round is left.
At the start of the playoffs Dan Bylsma called it "a race to four." He was talking about the four games necessary to win a series, but it could have easily been talking about the four rounds necessary to claim the Cup.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, the team that everyone had counted out during the winter, have won three of those rounds.
They'll need one more.
May 22, 2009