Some ramblings on an off day....

Some general NHL ramblings while both our teams are enjoying some needed time off to rest injuries….and well, I’m bored.

- The Pittsburgh situation sucks, and there’s no other way to describe it. There is no other city in the US or Canada that will be able to support a team the way Pittsburgh has. Period. Not Kansas City, not Las Vegas (God help us if they go there), not Winnipeg, not Houston, not Portland. Although if they have to go SOMEWHERE, put the team in Canada where the fans will actually give a crap about them. It will be a sad day if and when the Penguins leave Pittsburgh, that much is certain. Even if they get the “Cleveland Browns deal” and are promised an expansion franchise with the Penguins name if the NHL ever decides to expand again, it still wouldn’t be right.

- Rick DiPietro earned 80,000 and change per save (all 56 of them) last night. Too bad he couldn’t stop one more. But he did play an excellent game in a playoff-like atmosphere. I bet it makes the Islanders wish they signed him long term. Oh wait…….

- I watched the Ryan Smyth farewell conference yesterday. By God, he’s the ugliest man in the NHL. A lot of other (read: more important) people have said this too, but things need to be done to curb this rent-a-player deal at the deadline. It’s a joke for a team to give up multiple players and picks for 2 months of a guy, and then see them sign long-term with their original team. See Doug Weight last year….

- Speaking of Weight, I wonder if he still doesn’t know who Jason Pominville is.

You know, the guy with 26 goals and 53 points (40 in even strength situations) and a +25 rating (that's 10th in the NHL) for the top team in the league.

Some playoff race-related notes….

- Is anyone scared that the Rangers or Boston will take the 8th spot in the East with all their games in hand on Montreal and Carolina? (Okay, other than CG…) The Sabres have owned New York and Boston since the lockout, and I believe the Sabres are 4-0-0 against NYR and 4-1-2 against Boston this year after going 7-1 last year. Yeah, I’m not worried.

- Has anyone noticed Florida suddenly is 7-1-2 in their last 10 games and are only SIX points out of a spot themselves?? In the immortal words of Vince Lombardi, “What the hell is going on out there??”

- According to James Mirtle, the Sabres have already clinched a playoff spot…. http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2007/02/playoff-push-95-points-or-bust.html#comments

Game Day Preview: 5 lobsters, lots of ketchup

Pittsburgh Penguins @ Carolina Hurricanes, March 2nd 2007
( 33-20-9, 75 pts) - (32-27-7, 71 pts.)

As much as the Hurricanes have just stunk it up at home this season, it still is a relief to know that tonight’s game is going to be played at home. The Canes have had a bit of bad luck in the injury department on trips up to Melon Arena (Cole, Letowski) and at this point I want us to actually GET healthy, not lose more legs/arms/head/hair*.

The guys have had pretty confident wins over the Pens at the start of the season (5-1 and 6-2), but lost 3-0 during the last outing. I don’t really remember that game but it’s probably because all of the loses have blended into one long, foggy memory. Kinda like when you drink too much and can’t remember all of the night before, just bits and pieces. Welcome to my 06-07 hockey season.

Wildcards for tonight:

- Tim Gleason. He appeared to be injured during an icing rush Weds. night via an unnecessary hit delivered Chris “I’m a disgusting puke” Neil. He skated in circles holding his arm/wrist/shoulder but I haven’t heard any news on his injury. It’s not like the Canes don’t have a plethora of underachieving d-men to replace him with, but Tanabe already leads our defensemen in TOI. Our D is in trouble enough as it is.
- Anson Carter. Is he going to score, assist or even touch the puck tonight? I want to recognize his play by a dazzling goal, not by his crazy dreads.
- Are the Canes going to realize they have a game tonight? Man, I sure hope so. There is a real need to start performing/showing up/trying during games here. It can’t be said enough…..as of right now, the Canes aren’t even in the playoffs!!!!
- Sidney Crosby’s puck possession time. FSN South isn’t broadcasting the game, so I get to watch it via Centre Ice. I anxiously await every second that Crosby touches the puck being tallied.


Cole is still out for tonight (hip muscle). Cam Ward most likely in net, he has a great history against Crosby. Cairns and Ekman are out for Pittsburgh but they also have the addition of Roberts and Laraque.

Not to mention their record of 15-1-2 since January 13th. Yikes.

* http://www.stbaldricks.org/about_us/news_media.html?NewsMediaID=547