Keith Russell's Journal: Penguin Report: 8 Oct 2005

It was like 1991 all over again. The crowd was rocking, Christina Aguilera sang the National Anthem, Mark Recchi was on the wing, the Pens were getting out-shot but still winning, Mario was dominating every shift, and the refs put the whistles away in the third period.

But, of course, this is 2005. That means Christina's no longer that little girl from Wexford who sings the Star-Spangled Banner real good, but a multi-platinum international superstar who has to hold on to her wig for the high notes. The refs didn't blow many whistles in the third because they wore 'em out in the first two. And Mario wasn't on a line with Recchi and Kevin Stevens, but Ryan Malone and Ziggy Palffy.

But that's OK, because The Wreckin' Ball is showing young Sidney Crosby the way. Sid's a quick study, judging by how he scored his first NHL goal: Stuffing a close rebound behind Hannu Toivonen at 18:32 of the 2nd. (Assisted by Recchi and Palffy, on the power play, for the record.)

For those of you who haven't been to your local NHL rink for a game yet, beg, borrow, or steal to get tickets! Watching teams trade end-to-end rushes, long lead passes (no more two-line-pass rule!), and odd-man breaks is a blast when you're in the middle of a loud, rowdy crowd of 17,000.

Only four things could ruin such a wonderful night:

1. Most players still haven't learned that using stick on player == minor penalty, no matter how light the touch is. Lots of power plays and 5-on-3 time. Just kills the flow.
2. I am now convinced that the NHL tells its linesmen the exact opposite of what the rulebook says on icing. For years, they'd call icing when a defensive player could play the puck. All too often, they'd call icing when a defensive player tried to play the puck, but missed. Now, if an iced puck is the result of a missed pass, the linesman has the discretion to wave it off. Which, of course, means that the linesmen call icing every stinkin' time!
3. The refs still enjoy altering the outcome of the game with late-third penalties. There were two penalties called in the third period: One on Boston at 3:44, one on Pittsburgh, with the game tied, at 19:19. 16 minutes of non-calls, and they decide to get ticky-tack again with less than a minute left? What a crock!
4. Eddie Olczyk is under the mistaken impression that Steve Poapst is a penalty killer. Poapst spent the short overtime staggering around the slot like the last hour of a South Side pub crawl, looking for an alley to pee in, totally oblivious to the Bruins' power play. Glen Murray had time to pitch a tent before scoring the game-winner.

Final score: Bruins 7, Penguins 6, and Steve Poapst thanks his lucky stars that he hasn't been in town long enough for anyone to recognize him at the Giant Eagle.

saw the game on TV at the bar

[Abm0raz]

It was tough to watch, living in State College and all, since it was on at the same time as the Penn State whuppin' of Ohio State**. Crosby looks GOOD!! He's already tied for 3rd in the league in points and is only going to get better. Palffy is starting to fall into his own as well.

The boston game the Pens played a LOT more like a team. The first 2 games each player on the top 2 lines (save Crosby) looked like they were doing their best Pavel Bure imitation. They all tried to do everything themselves

** (forgot the addendum)

[Abm0raz]

17-10 may not seem like a whuppin', but if you watched the game, you know OSU never got in a rhythm. We could've been up by 1 point, 7 points, or 27 points and it wouldn't've mattered. They were unprepared for the full wrath of Penn State and especially the PSU fans.