Ovie *Hearts* Malkin

From NHL.Com after the October 16, 2008 Pens vs Caps game...

"Ovechkin had five shots but didn't get a point. He did do a lot of banging with fellow Russian Malkin, who assisted on the two goals he didn't score.

"Ovechkin is a great player, but every time he hits me — I don't know why," Malkin said when asked why Ovechkin seemed to be going out of his way to hit him. So why all the physicality?

"It's just a hockey game. I hit hard with everybody," Ovechkin said."

**BS ALERT!**

Ovie is *cleary* playing with the intent to injure Malkin. He has been for the last several games. So what gives?

Did it all start when Ovie allegedly broke the jaw of Malkin's agent (also reported here and discussed here) after said agent insulted him or -allegedly- his mother?

Some suggest the Ovie hatred escalated when Malkin "showed him up" ducked from, then shrugged off a blantant Ovie run at him at the Jan 21, 2008 game. Later in that game Ovie tried to run Malkin again only with bad results for Ovie.

While it's not clear why Ovie is headhunting Malkin, a local sports writer has noticed and agrees as I do that someone named Eric Goddard needs to put an end to it.

-GGG

The Utility of Zigomanis

Early on in Ray Shero's tenure with the Pens when they were sucking great wind with regards to face-off wins (and game wins, for that matter), the league premier face-off specialist Yanic Perreault became a free agent. Shero passed on signing Perreault and the Pens suffered for it.

The question is why did he pass? Was Perreault too old? Did he make too much money in Shero's eyes for his role?

While we do know that Shero had experience with Yanic Perreault when he was asst GM at Nashville, we may never know the real reason he failed to sign a proven face-off specialist and 20 goal - 30 pt/season guy.

Today Perreault continues to lead the NHL with face-off win percentage at >60% (last year he lead with 64.33%!!)

Enter Mike Zigomanis.

Has Shero finally found the face-off specialist they Pens so desperately needed?
Looks like it.

And Shero got him on the cheap at $650,000/yr.!

-GGG

UPDATE: Looks like the P-G is reading my blog again. Here is a story about Zig-o's face-off prowess.

Le Magnifique turns 43!

Today the best hockey player -EVER- turns 43! Happy Birthday, Mario!

Rumor has it he is in the greatest shape of his life...

The Penguin versus the Joker

.............................

"Areenalla" just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?!

The Pens take on Jokerit from the Finnish Elite League tommorrow in their last pre-season warmup before they open the season this weekend with a two game set in Stockholm versus the Ottawa Senators.

Unfortunately it's not likely to be broadcast. Too bad, I think it would be a fun one to watch.

These next news snippets brought to you by mighty "Thor" (thanks to EN for the pict)

- the Pens had a little "team building exercise" in Sweden. It's not West Point, but, hey, at least its something.

- The Pens take in a Swedish museum. Malkin declares "I like it!"

- Puck Daddy thinks the Pens are in trouble on "d".

- Gonch's injury is a good thing???

- Mirtle thinks the Atlantic division is now wide open due to Gonch's injury.

- Former potential Pens "saviors" Boots and Bals have problems

- Kris Beech is AWOL. Pens fans yawn.

And...this just in....The Maple Leafs still suck.

Until next time...GGG

Mental Health Day

Last Friday I took a "Mental Health Day" and went to watch the Pens practice.

Here are some photos I snapped...

The "White" team stretches

Janne Pesonen

Jeff Taffe sporting his new number - #22

Mike Yeo diagramming the drill

Casual observations...

- Miro Satan and Ruslan Fedetenko have a good shot - similar to the sniping Petr Sykora. Should get a lot a goals set up by Crosby and Malkin, respectively.

- Pesonen looks small and light. I worry if his body will hold up over a season of big-timebanging in the NHL.

- Fleury stoned Crosby on the shoot out and proceded to glide across the ice "riding his stick" in triumph!

- I would like to think Taffe will be around after the pre-season. My guess is Ryan Stone won't be.

GGG

Ahhh Vacation

Ahh the beach...

Back from vacation I can see that not much has gone on in the hockey world.

We do have a shot at the first hockey mom VEEP ... who happens to be a Pens fan ... cool

...Kudos to Pensblog/DenP for the Picture...

Oh yeah, and a bunch of Pens changed their jersey numbers...

"The Penguins' roster on their Web site has a few changes to some jersey numbers. Mark Eaton is now No. 7 instead of No. 3. Jeff Taffe is now No. 22 instead of No. 38. And Alex Goligoski is now No. 13 instead of No. 67."

Hats off to Empty Netters for spotting this...why the hell would Goligoski choose Dan Marino's number? After all 67 is one bad-ass number, dont cha think? Being wedged between the greatest player of all time and one of the greatest players (albeit a cry-baby) isn't all that bad, is it?

Maybe he wanted to avoid comparisions...but now he is going to be compared to another great player that never won the big one.

In any case it's time to put away the clubs....

....and get out the hockey jerseys!

Until next time...GGG

Alleluia!!!

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Penguins to break ground on arena next week
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Penguins and local and state officials will break ground next week on the $290 million arena.
Gov. Ed Rendell broke the news during an appearance in Pittsburgh to announcement the award of money for bridge repairs and other economic development projects.

The ground breaking will take place at 11 a.m. August 14 at the arena site bordered by Fifth Avenue, Washington Place and Centre Avenue. Mr. Rendell is expected to attend, along with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Penguins and other public officials.

The Penguins are hoping to begin construction in earnest by fall and expect to have the facility completed in time for the start of the 2010-2011 hockey season.