Armyrulez

Pens fan here, my wife and I were in NYC for Game 1 of last year's finals, and we watched the game at the Blue Moon Cafe, up on 1st Ave between 95th and 96th streets in the upper East side, very nice place, it is owned by a former junior Hockey player, mostly Rangers memorabilia, but there were very friendly to both the Pens and Wings fans that were in the house. Great Mexican food and plenty of TV's in the bar. Very nice place. Good luck.

I guess we shall see.

Malkin 16 Even Strength Points, 12 PPP +3 Crosby 19 Even Strength Points, 9 PPP +12 they do play defense, contrary to popular belief and they are not living off of the PP

Since the Pens started dressing 7 dmen because of Gonchar's injury in the Caps series, Crosby and Malkin's ice time has dropped from about 26 minutes a game to about 21-22 minutes a game. It's a misnomer that they are "double shifting" They are not staying out when the 2 others (Adams and Satan) are coming out to flank the 4th line, it has been pretty consistent that Staal and Talbot have also skated on the line as well. The Pens are simply a more balanced team dressing 11+7 rather than 12+6, and their record is 6-1 with 7 dmen in the lineup.

http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2009/05..._preparing.html The cap could drop by as much as $2.5 million for the 2009-10 season from its current $56.7 million figure, according to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly. Although Daly couldn't say, it is not inconceivable that the figure could fall to $50 million for the 2010-11 season. Some cutting and belt tightening will have to be done by some, if not all. Hossa will not play for $2M/year.

5 years? 90-99-9 playoff appearances, 2 Stanley Cups, 1 president's trophy 00-01-Eastern Conference Finals 01-02-Missed Playoffs 02-03-Missed Playoffs 03-04-Missed Playoffs 04-05-Lockout 05-06-Missed Playoffs 06-07-Lost in First Round 07-08-Stanley Cup Finals 08-09-Stanley Cup Finals Keep in mind that the team was in bankruptcy from 01-04 due to terrible mismanagment from the previous ownership groups. But I would say that as a franchise, playoff appearances in 15 of the last 19 seasons and 2 Stanley Cups is a very respectable history.

I never said, nor did I say that he owed the Pens anything. The fact is that behind closed doors, he told the Pens and Shero that he wanted to sign, which led us to pass on several free agents, including Ryan Malone, who could have and could still be helping this team right now. He stabbed Ray Shero in the back by taking the 1 year deal, when he had no intentions of re-signing, do I blame him? NO, he wanted to win a championship, and he was honest about that.......after the fact.

Good Luck Wing fans, Hossa led us Pens fans on until June 30th last season and showed that he was not a man of his words, for your sakes, I hope he signs with you, but don't get your hopes up, looks like the Wings only have about 5 million in cap space available for next season, and I'm pretty sure that Mr. Hossa will not take that kind of discount for anyone.

Bylsma has changed the mentality to that of a puck posession game, their forecheck has become ferocious under HCDB, and at the same time have become a lot more responsible defensively with the forwards backtracking, allowing the D-men to maintain good gaps against rushing forwards. In short HCDB=forecheck, puck posession. FHCMT=fall back defensively, counter off neutral zone turnovers. This current Pens team is built to forecheck and attack.

Hello Detroit, another Pens fan here re-joining you from last year's SCF. Good luck btw, I have no problems with Kronwall's hit, Havlat should have had his head up, he has a history of ant-watching.

As a Pens STH, I have to say that your representation at the game last night was quite amazing, I know that your diehards shelled out a lot of cash to see history and that is very commendable. Having to deal on a regular basis with fans from Philly, Toronto, Buffalo and Montreal, I have to say that you fans are very classy and knowledgable, and that is great to see. Congrats again and here's hoping that Pittsburgh/Detroit will become a dyanstic rivalry in the years to come. Enjoy this time!

I second the Souper Bowl or the Steelhead in the Marriott, they will leave from gate 2.

What are you insinuating?

From Pittsburgh, as a STH, I would like to congratulate you Wings fans on your Stanley Cup win. With any sort of luck, this can turn into a bit of a rivalry and we'll see you here in the years to come again and then hopefully my guys will be carrying around the big silver chalis. You are a classy bunch, thanks for allowing me to be part of your forum.

Thanks so much for the welcome! It is a very refreshing sight to see a classy fanbase. The Flyers, Rangers and Sens fans were so brutal. I have not seen one reference to officials impartiality, or NHL fixes, or diving. I love it! In my biased opinion, this series could go either way. What do the Wings fans think Babcock's approach will be, lock down or run 'n gun? I think both teams can play it either way. Our defense is very underrated, but not quite in the class of the Wings. Our offense is very potent, and I think a little deeper than the Wings in some respects. The goaltending matchup, with the way that Fleury is playing RIGHT NOW is a wash. The Wings have defined team defense and wouldn't be a bit surprised if Therrien is taking notes from Babcock in this area. It all leads up to a Seven game series with my Pens skating the Cup at the Joe. Sorry Wings Fans. Here's to heated, civil hockey talk for the next 2 weeks, once again, thanks for the hospitality.