Finding solutions to the problems should be main focus.

Well, as it turns out, yesterday was a great day for hockey. Too bad no one told the players that they were actually supposed to play hockey though.

Judging from the fan reaction at last night's game and social media after the game, I am not the only fan that is frustrated. Boos were heard at Consol Energy Center last night during some of the Pens' power play work, or lack thereof. While I myself am not a fan of booing my team, I completely understand the frustration of other fans. The Pens did not play well last night and the Islanders did play well. That's what it came down to. The Islanders looked good on their power play, had good speed and the Pens were the complete opposite.
Social media also tells me that there are a lot of different people involved in the organization to blame for the way the Pens played, but I will not be pointing fingers. I do not own a hockey franchise, I do not coach a hockey team, I have never played ice hockey and I do not have the credentials to do any of those things either. Therefore, I am not really in the position to cast blame on people and neither are most of you. I find it pointless to find a scapegoat when it's more important to find a solution to a problem and ensure that EVERY ONE understands the problem and situation and how to fix it. Let's face it, the whole team has things that are needed to be fixed.

And apparently today, an attempt to correct a situation has been implemented. The Pens had a new look for their power play at practice today. Evgeni Malkin moved to the right point and James Neal is back to his old position down low. Kris Letang was at the left point and Sidney Crosby was on the half wall while Chris Kunitz was at the net. We will see tomorrow night in New York against the Rangers if this new configuration is the answer to the power play problem.
It wasn't just the power play that was less than satisfactory last night, however. Therefore, the Pens will need to play a more consistent game and have a stronger defense. All in all, every aspect of the game needs to be stronger. Not a perfect game, but a much better one than what was played last night.

Penguin fans are a passionate bunch. Most of us know how lucky we are to have some of the players we have on our team and that translates to a good deal of expectation. It doesn't help that before this season started a week and a half ago, most were betting on the Pens winning the Stanley Cup. I am not saying that can't happen, but if we continue to play like we did last night, I can guarantee it will not happen. Perhaps we need a dose of patience at this point and just hope that the Pens reach their potential sooner rather than later. It's not easy, but what other alternative do we have, become Chicago Blackhawk fans? Well, I am sticking with the Pens. No one said it would be easy. In fact, perhaps we should think of the common logic that anything worth having never came easily. Maybe the Pens need to struggle a little bit to end up where they want to be. It's only 6 games into the 48 game season, we can't lose hope just yet.

NHL hockey is back... and so am I.

The words all hockey fans have been waiting for were uttered and heard this past Sunday and spread quickly. Early Sunday morning, the words we wanted to hear months ago finally held some truth: The NHL lockout is over. After 113 days, but who was counting, of ups and downs, back and forth, media ploys, and a lot of frustration, we will see a shortened season of NHL hockey that will most likely begin by next weekend.

Sure, there were a number of people upset by this lockout. Nearly everyone involved and affected by the lockout were angered by it, in fact. And rightly so. I was one of them. It was an embarrasing work stoppage for the league and left a bitter taste in a lot of people's mouths. Some fans won't return, and I will not hold that against them. I understand their frustration. However, for me, I've never been much of a grudge holder. Hockey is my favorite sport. I don't care much for football, baseball is not at all entertaining to me, it has always been hockey. Therefore, how I could I be anything but excited when NHL hockey is coming back.

I will admit, as a Pens fan it is quite easier to be excited as well. Most of our fan base never held the lockout against our owner, Mario Lemieux. I, myself, would find it very difficult to dislike Lemieux. Most fans in general may never have blamed the players. It might also have something to do with the fact that as Pens fans, we get to see some of the best players in the game play for our team. How can one just simply not watch the best players play if they call themselves a true hockey fan?
I don't want to miss out. Remember, it's a shortened season now, every game is a big game. There will be a lot of hockey crammed into the next few months and we will see a lot of the same opponents from our division and conference. In our case, as Pens fans, a lot of those games are expected to be good ones based on what people believe the teams are capable of. It's no secret that the Pens are one of the teams some are saying has a great shot of winning the Stanley Cup this season. Do you want to miss that? Because you want to prove a point?

During this lockout, I tried to stay away from watching old games or clips because I was trying to put it out of my mind. The more I would watch old clips or games, the more I would have missed NHL hockey. I stayed up-to-date on the lockout news and refused to get my hopes up no matter what the media reports were. These tactics worked just fine for me. Now, I can put the lockout behind me and look forward to watching some great NHL hockey.

I am letting go of the frustration and even the resentment I had towards the Hockey News for writing an article a few issues back about how if there were a season going on, we would be seeing a "scary" Sidney Crosby. How people have never seen him this fast and he would be doing crazy things if there was hockey being played. Well, easy for them to say; now I can let that go because we have the chance to see this new Crosby. As Pens fans we surely are accustomed to Crosby surprising us with his talent and skill. I can't wait to see what surprises he can come up with.

All in all, at this point in time, I don't care to hear all the details of the deal, I don't care to hear much negativity at all. I won't forget this lockout that's for sure, but I also understand that there is not much sense for me to hold onto it either. As a result, I will do my best to put it in the back of my mind. Also, far from my thoughts are the memories of last season's disappointing playoffs and now I am thinking how great it is to have Evgeni Malkin and Crosby starting a season together for the first time since the start of the 2009 season.

I am ready to hear Jeff Jimerson sing the National Anthem, ready to hear the puck drop, the Consol Energy Center crowd cheering. I may not be quite ready to hear Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey and their infamous mistakes and style, but I surely am ready to hear all the wonderful sounds of NHL hockey back again. At times, the odds of a season happening at all seemed nearly impossible and now I will appreciate the start of this season a little bit more, perhaps.

We shall wait and see...

NHL hockey may not be back yet, but I am. I decided not to blog because I was attempting to avoid talking or thinking about the lockout. Well, for a hockey fan, that is nearly impossible. I can't say that I absolutely NEED NHL hockey; I have been reading about hockey and watching clips from various leagues to get my hockey fix and it has been enough to get me through. Frankly, it's because this lockout just makes me a little upset.
I have not picked a side and I will not. Well, perhaps that is not true. I am on the side of the fans who want to see the best talent in hockey playing in the NHL right now and I am on the side of those who need jobs in hockey to make a living; those who need the paychecks right now. That's the side of the lockout that has been affected the most.

Hockey fans had to hear the latest bad news in this lockout last week.
The cancellation of the Winter Classic was no surprise, we knew it was coming. It is a shame though because the Winter Classic generally has high ratings and receives a lot of attention. Also, the Winter Classic goes along with HBO's series, 24/7 which has brought more attention to the league and has been popular. This year's Winter Classic was expected to be the biggest yet between two original six teams in Michigan Stadium, filled with 100,000 fans. It's terrible that a league trying to gain recognition and popularity in many areas had to cancel an event that would surely help to do those exact things because they can't agree on how to split money. Adam Proteau, of The Hockey News wrote an article about how the cancellation of the Winter Classic is a new low for the NHL:
With this lockout, you better believe some fans won't return to the NHL so excitedly and some won't return at all.
In his article, Proteau wrote, "The NHL can pretend all it wants there will be no blowback for its actions, but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion you easily could fill Michigan Stadium with 100,000 people who swear off the product forever.
Just as the Winter Classic can create a lifetime of positive memories for hockey fans, so too can its cancellation leave an odor that curls people’s noses for the rest of their days."



We, as fans, don't watch hockey for the owners. We don't watch hockey for the sole purpose of players getting paid. We watch hockey because we have a love for the game. The NHL may not be in action but there is certainly hockey out there. It may take a little more work following other leagues. It may take a longer drive to watch some hockey and it may not be the same caliber of NHL hockey some of you are watching, but it is hockey- the game we love. If the NHL lockout and those involved continue to argue over a large amount of money and how to split it, we will get our hockey fix elsewhere because one thing this NHL lockout is not doing is wiping hockey out everywhere.

A part of me wishes that when the NHL lockout ends, I could boycott the league and show how important and vital the fans are, but I know I will watch and attend games and not for the owners or the league or even for the players' paychecks, but because I love the game and the talent. However, it is this fact that makes both sides of this lockout confident that fans will come back to the game. Though, this lockout will have its casualties, just like Proteau said. Some fans will not return and even some players will not return. It is a shame such a great game can not function more properly as a league.

News coming out of CBA talks that occurred this past weekend tell us that the talks were productive and that we have a reason to be hopeful and optimistic. Well, we have heard that before and I didn't believe it then. I will be optimistic when I hear an announcement ending the lockout and when games are starting to be played. Until then, if you'll excuse me, I have other hockey to follow.

Hockey in class of its own.

By now, you surely know that I believe hockey to be the best sport there is. I make it quite obvious the way I feel. I have shared many reasons as to why I believe this to be true and the excitement and tempo of the game are just part of the reason. Watching the Super Bowl yesterday was pretty boring to me. It did not grab or hold my attention. I think I can honestly say I have a slight idea of what it is like to have an attention deficit disorder now; I could not concentrate on that game much at all... except for the commercials.

I have always admired hockey players for their character and skill. The main thing that sets hockey apart from any other sport and any hockey player from any other athlete is their ability to skate. Athletes can usually play multiple sports, and Tom Thompson, of the Hockey News, discusses this in his recent column titled, "Skating skills separate hockey from all else."
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/44523-Tom-Thompson-Skating-skills-separate-hockey-from-all-else.html

In Thompson's column, he mentions the fact that Bo Jackson could excel in any sport he tried, except hockey and Michael Jordan, who attempted to play pro baseball after retiring from basketball also could not have played hockey. The main reason: They didn't know how to skate or at least did not know how to skate as well as hockey players do.

I have always said that to be a good hockey player, you have to be great at skating first. How many other sports require someone to learn how to do a completely different task and then learn skills and the concepts and fundamentals of a sport? Hockey players started out skating and then developed skill and game sense.
Any other sport you need to learn to run or walk basically, those are developmental stages that most people achieve at a very young age. Most hockey players learned to skate soon after learning to walk or run.

Some believe that skating is becoming better in earlier ages for hockey players than it has in the past and some are concerned that that might have a negative affect on the game for injuries. If that becomes the case, the game will adjust as needed, but we all know that skating is what makes hockey so unique. Thompson tells us not to take it for granted and I know I surely don't. It is just another reason I admire hockey players. Just add it to the long list.

Tis the Season

I was inspired today to write a post about the things I love most about hockey when I read a column by Rory Boylen, of The Hockey News, about what makes Hockey great. (Link available above.)

Hockey has been my favorite sport all my life. Granted, I was not always as big a fan as I am now, but it was impossible for me not to fall in love with hockey. It was the favorite sport of my older brothers and the sport I watched them play and watched on tv all growing up. It wasn't until late middle school, early high school that I really began to understand the game of hockey and my mom would say that my brother turned me into a "Hockey monster." I began to live and breathe hockey soon after I attended my first Pens game at the old Mellon Arena. It was October 29, 2005. There was no looking back after that.

I had been to a Pirates game and knew that I could not really watch an entire Steelers game on tv(since then I have also attended a Steelers game.) and still, nothing compares to a live NHL game in person.

So, here are my reasons why I love the game of hockey.

Reason #1: The atmosphere of an NHL game. I do miss the days of getting into Mellon Arena with the Student Rush program and having almost an entire section filled with other students. Students that would stand in line for hours to get great seats for $20. Those sections will always be the best in my mind. They were loud and the camera man for the jumbotron never really left the area. I wouldn't have a voice the next day. Though the games I have attended at Consol have seemed a little more quiet, the atmosphere of an NHL game still is the tops! The game keeps you entertained and the crowd comes alive and there's nothing like it.

Reason #2: My family loves it. I may not be a hockey fan right now if it had not been for my family. My family is a hockey family. It is the only sport we can all sit down and watch together and when there is a Pens game on, you probably won't find anything else on any of the tvs in my house. I love sitting down with my family and watching a great Pens game, it's one of my favorite things to do.

Reason #3: The players. Sure, every sport has members and players that contribute to the community and donate time and money to charities, but it seems like the NHL has a great abundance of players who have started organizations and truly care for many charities. I know other sports are the same way, but I don't read as much about them.
Also, the players on hockey teams seem like a close group. The locker room atmosphere of a hockey team is important to how they play on the ice. In other sports, it seems like most individuals are out for themselves, but in hockey, the team is the most important in many players' minds and it makes me love the sport that much more.
The players' characters are another reason the players are a reason I love the sport. In other professional sport leagues, you hear so much about arrests and poor behavior and that news in hockey is few and far between. It seems the NHL is full of a lot of stand-up guys and I appreciate the positive outlook that gives the NHL. (I know there are excpetions to every rule and the NHL does have its share of negative news, but not nearly as much as other sport leagues.)

Reason #4: The players' love for the game and willingness to play after an injury. In some cases, this can be a bad thing. Especially with the rise of concussions in the NHL, some players are hiding their symptoms in order to continue playing which is nt helping their situation (ex: Colby Armstrong most recently). However, with other injuries, you often see a player get cut or take a bad fall or hit and they'll be back on the ice in no time. It shows the love for the game these players have and how they are determined to help their team win a game.

Reason #5: How it connects people. I know for myself, I would not have some of the friends I do now if it were not for hockey. Hockey is the first thing we found we had in common and in most cases, that is enough. Going to Pens games, waiting in those student rush lines, and talking hockey online, I have met friends that are some of the nicest people you could meet. We share the love of hockey and that is all some need.

Reason #6: The excitment and pace of the game. I said earlier that I struggle with watching an entire football game on tv and I have never been able to watch an entire baseball game on tv either. The slow pace of a baseball game makes me tired and the constant breaks and commercials of a football game make me lose interest rather quickly. On the other hand, most hockey games I find myself not being able to change the channel. The quickness of the game and the speed are, to me, what seperates hockey from the rest of the sports and makes it the most interesting and best.


I could go on and on with reasons why I love the game of hockey, but these are my top reasons and when it is this time of year, I tend to reflect more on what I am grateful for in life. Sitting down with my family to watch a hockey game and laughing and spending time together is often one of the things I am most grateful for in my life.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Pens season starts tomorrow.

For most of us Pens fans out there, today is like Christmas Eve. The anticipation and excitement most of us are feeling can only compare to that of a child waiting to open all their presents Christmas morning. I believe hockey fans have it a bit better though. Whereas a child gets a short amount of time opening all those presents and then enjoying playing with their new toys, hockey fans get months of nail-biting games, superb goals, jaw-dropping moments, great battles, intense rivalries, great saves, awesome breakaways, last minute goals to tie a game or break a tie and so much more. I can not wait for a new season to start, but I look forward to each and every game and this season has me particularly excited because I have a feeling we will see some great things. I may have trouble sleeping tonight because of excitement for a new hockey season, but I will need to rest to stay up for the late start for the Penguins tomorrow night in Vancouver. Something tells me though that I won't have any trouble keeping my eyes open.

So, we are almost there hockey fans! Another season is about to begin and anything is possible. At this point, any team can be lifting Lord Stanley's Cup at the end of the season. Ok, some teams and that dream are really far-fetched, but anything is possible at this point.

I also have to wish a Happy Birthday to the beloved Mario Lemieux. The Pittsburgh Penguins would not be what they are today without him. I truly believe that Mario Lemieux is one of the greatest people to ever step foot on this planet and the greatest player to ever grace the NHL. Thank you for all you have done Mario!

One Game at a Time.

Many have pegged the Penguins one of the top teams in the East for this upcoming season and with that many wonder: Will the Pens make it back to the Finals? Can they defy the odds? Since 1996 only one team that lost in the Cup Final the previous season won a playoff series the next season.
Well, for me, I say just to take it one game at a time. Like I said in an earlier post, no one can predict what will happen this season to any team. The Pens need to focus on having a good season and not look to the Final just now. Focusing on the season and taking it game by game will give the Penguins the success they need. No doubt that everyone wants to make it to the Finals and there is nothing wrong with wanting it, but don't let it become the focus. It takes work and commitment throughout the season to get there and that requires dedication and focus. Long road trips, divisional games, a busy schedule, these are things that the Pens will need to focus on to achieve their goal. So, looking at every game as a chance and step to their goal, who knows what the Pens will achieve. My guess is success. Now, let's just see how far they can go with their success this season! I look forward to finding out!

Wilkes Barre Scranton 10th Season Team.

http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=381431

The Wilkes Barre Scranton Baby Pens have announced their 10th season team that was voted by fans of the team!
The three forwards include Colby Armstrong, Dennis Bonvie, and Tom Kostopoulos.
Two Defensemen include Alain Nasreddine, and John Slaney.
The goalie is Marc Andre Fleury.
And the coach is Michel Therrien.
The top vote getters will be honored with a bobblehead night!
I have to say that I sure do miss Colby! Now, I was excited that we got Hossa, but I am never a fan of who we give up to receive players! I get attached to each member of the team and Colby was one of my favorites! I am hoping and praying to one day see Colby pull on a Pens jersey again. Let's face it, he just looks wrong in a Thrashers jersey!
Congratulations to all the players!

Crosby gets Order of Novia Scotia.

People should never be surprised to hear that Sidney Crosby has received another honor or award. It comes with the territory of being the best player in the NHL and also a person with great character. Crosby has always said he is proud of where he comes from and will never forget where he came from. Therefore, he was bestowed the honor of receiving the Order of Novia Scotia. I congratulate Sidney for this honor!



Of course, there are people who hate Crosby who say that he does not deserve this award and there are many more worthy people who should have received it. However, most of these people who say this are not from Novia Scotia. I am sure that by questioning the judgement on who should receive the award these haters are questioning very capable people. They have many reasons as to why they picked Crosby, he does a lot for communities like donating hockey equipment and so on. Novia Scotia is proud of Sidney Crosby and they feel he is a great recipient, as do I. So, all of those who say he does not deserve the award, Crosby does not pick the awards he receives, he is picked by responsible people. Therefore, when you state that Crosby does not deserve an award you are also putting down the people who chose him for that honor. Just let it go and get used to hearing more awards going to Sidney Crosby!

The possibilities of a new hockey season.

It's September and that means it is time for Training camps to get underway shortly! Nothing is more exciting to me than the thought of a new NHL season beginning. Who knows what to expect? What team or player is going to be a surprise, what team or player is going to be a disappointment? Who will score the awe-inspiring goal this season and which goalie will let the worst goal happen? What kind of fights will we see this year and who will go down with injuries? There are so many questions and so many possibilities, it is just impossible not to get excited thinking about a new season. Many are predicting that the Red Wings will repeat as Stanley Cup champs. Can they do it? I, of course, do not give predictions, but it is impossible to know what is going to happen. Any sudden problem could lead to a downfall of a team that was expected to win it all. That is what makes sports, and most importantly, hockey so exciting! A new beginning of a hockey season can be just as exciting as the end (if your team makes it to the playoffs). Though, few things come close to the excitement of being in the Stanley Cup final. So, with all the possibilities up in the air right now, the feeling of excitement is pretty high. I can not wait for the start of a fresh hockey season and to see what it brings!

Tampa Bay Lightning: revival or bust?

It is no secret how busy the Tampa Bay Lightning were this summer and I don't think any fans of a team know that better than Pens fans. A lot of our team ended up signing with Tampa Bay. So many players in fact that many people have called the Tampa Bay Lightning our second team. I would be lying if I were to say I would not be paying more attention the Lightning this upcoming season. However, it is not all because of the number of ex-Pens on the roster. It has more to do with the fact of the whole team face-lift they underwent this off-season. I want to see how Stamkos does and with all the moves, I want to see if all the hype the new owners made and all the moves pay off. Or is it going to be another disappointing season for Tampa Bay?
I think most NHL fans will be paying more attention to the Tampa Bay Lightning then they may have the past few seasons. I know I will be anticipating to see how and if they improve. I also wish all the former Penguins the best of luck, not just when they are versing the Pens!

Job well-deserved?

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/17614-Screen-Shots-The-Hockey-Show-host-more-than-just-a-pretty-face.html

Above is an article about the host of the Hockey Show on NHL.com. Now, as a female myself, I am well aware that women are completely capable of knowing and understanding the game of hockey and fully appreciate the game. However, I think they could have chosen a better host than this Carrie girl. She read Hockey for Dummies when she got the job. Sounds to me like the job was given to looks over knowledge of the game. That leaves fans at a disadvantage. Anyone can read a teleprompter but she probably can not add that much depth of her own to the coverage. Now, I am not aware if The Hockey Show actually has a lot of viewers, but I am sure a number of people are interested in some of the stories. Therefore, I beleive they should have chosen someone who knows the game. Though, if being around the game is helping her to know the game better and she actually begins to understand every aspect o hockey, then I guess it is not the worst thing. I still believe the job could have been more properly filled but as long as the stories remain relevant, then I guess I have no problem. Also, I think I have only watched one segment from The Hockey Show so I am not a regular. Just wanted to bring this subject up and see if anyone else had any other thoughts. That is, if anyone is reading this blog!

Is it Hockey season yet?

With training camp right around the corner, the excitement for the new season is growing. The expectations might be high once again for the Pens, making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, but I am just eager to have a fresh season starting soon. I am not one for making predictions because I don't want to jinx anything. So, you will most likely never find me giving predictions. We hear enough of those anyways.

I wanted to address something on here. A little while ago, Bob Smizik, a writer for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, had an article in the paper saying that Pens fans were worse than Philly fans with who they boo. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08202/898253-61.stm Now, I must let it be known that I rarely agree with Smizik and I usually hate what he writes. I even call him Bob Smizshit most of the time. This article was an occurrence where once again I found myself disagreeing with him. I do not think Pittsburghers would boo Santa Claus, we are smarter than that. Smizik assumes that Marian Hossa will be booed when he visits the beautiful Pittsburgh this upcoming season. Now, I agree that he will be booed, but if the fans want to do that, let them. I am not a booing person. I want to use my voice for "Let's Go Pens!" chants but Smizik doesn't seem to know the main reason why most people would be booing Marian Hossa. Sure, he mentioned that it was "strange" he signed with Detroit for one year. He also mentioned how he left millions of dollars to sign with Detroit. I believe the main reason Hossa will get boos from Pens fans is simply the fact that Hossa said he wanted to play for a team with the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup. Hossa could have simply just taken the deal and left it at that. Some people say what Hossa did was a slap in the face and with what he said, I somewhat agree. Smizik did refer to that, but did not have it as the main reason. Smizik also said that many fans were left wondering "How could Hossa walk away from the honor of playing with the Penguins?" Is it so bad that Pens fans are so proud of their team that they feel players should feel honored to play for them. Now, Hossa made his decision and we have to deal with losing a great player, but instead of boos, I would love to see the revenge on the scoreboard and at the end of a very LONG season.
Smizik, leave the Pens fans alone, you already aided the firing of Mark Madden, a loyal and dedicated Pens fan who actually covered mainly the Pens on his time slot on ESPN radio in this city that is dominated by its football coverage. You have done enough Smizik and saying that Philly fans are better, you should know better than that!

Welcome!

Hey, my name is Mary! I am a die- hard Pens fan! I will be blogging about anything Pens and any other hockey subjects in general. The OT in the title of the blog can stand for Overtime or Off-topic! This blog will hopefully be a variety of all things hockey. No subject of hockey is off-limits! I hope this blog will become a place for all Pens fans or any hockey fan to come and enjoy reading and discovering new things. This blog will be a place for all hockey fans to share their thoughts about anything regarding hockey. So, this is my Welcome post but my next post will be the beginning of the real Pittsburgh Penguins OT blog.