Thrashers, Bogey Take Hit In Pittsburgh
Atlanta’s 6-game winning streak came to an ugly end in Pittsburgh as the Thrashers lost 6-2 to the Penguins. It was the first time since losing 5-1 to New Jersey back on February 6 that Atlanta simply had it’s butt handed to them on a platter. As for the game itself, the Thrashers just got beat by a very hot Penguin’s team that outplayed them. Period.
With the loss, the Thrashers will finish the season Oh-fer-Pennsylvania…having dropped all four games played against Philadelphia as well as the four versus Pittsburgh.
However, the loss…or losses… that concerns me most is that of star rookie defender Zach Bogosian, who left the game shortly after the Penguins’ Matt Cooke went knee-first into Bogey, and Boris Valabik who left holding his left shoulder after a multi-player scrum behind Pittsburgh’s net. The official team report on Zach is that he suffered a “lower body injury”. Like you, I can only hope that these minor and…in Bogey’s case… isn’t a re-aggravation of the broken bone that was suffered last October. I’m sure we’ll learn more about it later.
Was the hit against Bogosian inflicted by Cooke with the intent to injure? Well, you all can hack that out if you wish. As for me, it certainly looked that way. Now…I’m I viewing that through blue-tinted glasses? Am I just being sensitive to the fact that Bogey may have been seriously hurt again?
Or is it the history Atlanta has had regarding hits from the Pens of late?
Cases in point…
Shorty after the All-Star break last season, in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jarkku Ruutu took a run at the Thrashers’ Ilya Kovalchuk along the boards. Even though Ilya was able to duck out of the way to avoid the high elbow…Ruutu struck Kovy knee-to-knee. To me, and many others, the intent was to injure Atlanta’s star scorer…and it succeeded, putting Kovalchuk on the bench for a few games.
The NHL took no action against Ruutu.
Last December 18th, the Penguin’s Sidney Crosby was the third man into a fight involving Boris Valabik. While the Thrashers’ defender was bent over, being held by his Penguin combatant, Crosby took multiple swings at the back of his head and then his groin in less-than-classy display.
There was no disciplinary action taken against Crosby for either being the third man into a fight or the punches being thrown in such a manner. He is, after all, the league’s poster-child for post-lockout recovery….thus, the Chosen One is untouchable.
And while we’re on the subject of Crosby…you know, just once I’d like to see Cindy go to the box after being called for a minor penalty without cryin’ and slobberin’ like a spoiled rotted 5-year old girl who just got told that she wasn’t getting a pony for Christmas. Just once.
Valabik thought there was more to the hit on Bogosian than a simple tripping call. “I just don’t understand how that is tripping,” Valabik said. “He’s an 18-year-old future superstar, and if people are calling to protect superstars in this league, that was a knee in my book and anybody’s book. The question to me: Is that the same trip as if you trip somebody that slips on your stick”?
“Make your own opinion. I don’t know. I saw what happened just like you guys.”
Anyway…for some odd reason, when it comes to hits on Thrashers by Penguins, the league has a habit of simply looking the other way.
But, moving forward…regardless of whether or not you might feel the hit on Bogosian was nasty or not, the Thrashers’ locker room is starting to resemble a M*A*S*H unit. Last week, Kovy went down with a “lower body” injury and has missed the better part of four games now. Slater took an elbow to the head in Buffalo last weekend and then Ron Hainsey missed his first game of the season after being hurt in Monday’s 5-1 win against the Caps. Now… Bogosian and Boris.
Good Lord…the way things are going, Friday night’s game in Philips could look more like the Detroit Red Wings vs. the Chicago Wolves.
Not To Be Overlooked Though…
Lost in Tuesday’s mess was the fact that Bryan Little scored his 30th goal of the season. It came with just 34 seconds ticked off in the game and gave Atlanta an early lead. Todd White assisted on Little’s goal giving him 63 overall points on the season. Prior to this year, White’s highest point total was 60 while playing for Ottawa in 2002-03.
Marty The Magnificent
New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur notched career win number 552 wto pass the great Patrick Roy as the NHL’s all-time winningest goalie. Brodeur made 30 saves in the Devils’ 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Marty set the mark in his 987th career game…Roy’s 551 came in 1,029 starts.
After the game, Brodeur took a pair of scissors and cut the nets off the pipes to take home with him.
What’s next for Brodeur? Well, he’s only three shy of the all-time shutout record and 600 wins is only 48 away… that’s but one average season for him. So, keep your scissors close at hand, Marty.
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109 comments Add your comment
ThrasherTim
March 18th, 2009
1:47 pm
Here’s an interesting stat:
Overall record: 29-36-6
Vs. Flyers/Penguins/Bruins: 0-12-0
Rest of NHL: 29-24-6
Wow.
Rawhide
March 18th, 2009
1:58 pm
ThrasherTim – Very good…I had remembered the record vs. Phily and Pittsburgh but had forgotten about the Oh-fer-four against the Bruins.
ranallo10 (in AT)
March 18th, 2009
2:15 pm
I’m just curious why this whole argument couldn’t have been made without referring to how much one person’s city sucks more than the others…
Regardless of what we (Atlanta fans) or they (Pittsburgh fans) think about the hit, there is one obvious result…Zach Bogosian, the future stalwart defender for the Thrashers, was injured by the hit due to a knee on knee collision.
So, those that wanted the team to stink for a chance at getting Tavares (the next Crosby/Malkin/Ovechkin according to most hockey analysts) have a good reason to be “excited” about the next few games. The Thrashers will be without Kovalchuk (due to injury), Bogosian (due to injury), and Hainsey. Instead of three big pieces towards the team’s future playing, developing chemistry, improving skills, etc…those players will be sitting and Atlanta will rely on others in their place.
So, we might see Lewis, Lehman or possibly Kulda playing defense for a few games (though, aren’t the Thrashers perilously close to the maximum amount of minor league transfers allowed?). We will definitely see more of Sterling and Machacek at the NHL level, depending on the urgency to rush Kovalchuk or Slater back (which in my opinion is NOT urgent, and they shouldn’t be back until they are 100%).
So those wishing for a worse end to the season than the last 7 games have provided, you might be in luck. To those wishing to see young talent get their shot at the NHL level, you might be in luck too. To those wishing to see the remainder of this season end on a high note, your luck might be running thin.
Let’s all hope Bogosian’s injury is minor, and let’s hope that serious injuries avoid the team for the remainder of the season…there is only so much a fanbase can deal with.
Alan
March 18th, 2009
2:23 pm
ranallo, I believe the Thrashers have only one more transfer allowed, unless it’s an emergency call-up. As per the CBA, an emergency call-up can only occur if the roster falls below 18 healthy skaters and two healthy goalies.
ranallo10 (in AT)
March 18th, 2009
2:35 pm
Watching the replay of Valabik-Godard fight, I think Godard may have gotten him in the arm pit with their simultaneous punches, but I can’t really tell. Weird punch…but it ended up with Valabik seeming to throw out is arm in the melee.
Here is the link…you can see the punch in slow motion near the end of the clip. The announcers guessed they punched fists, maybe they’re right.
Tom
March 18th, 2009
3:13 pm
The way to get to Darius is simple.
We know we are a second rate city right now, bad owners and a bad GM in a new market.
Pittsburgh is supposed to be a mature market, but they almost left for Kansas City. But that is not the kicker. The thing that proves Pittsburgh is second rate is:
Marian Hossa.
He left you guys and more money for Detroit. And that is why Pittsburgh is second rate. He brought you close to the promise land, but knew in his heart that he would never get their with Crosby, Malkin, and the rest of the Penguin organization. He left you guys for a winner.
Glovesave29
March 18th, 2009
3:19 pm
Spud…stole my thunder. Funny how this Pens fan forgets how close they were to losing the team just a few scant years ago.
Figure it out…look who this guy is a fan of…Darius Kasparaitus. Quite possibly the most cowardly player to wear an NHL uniform (after Patrik Stefan, that is). He was alway getting into fights…with guys half his size. When a bigger player challenged him, the ran away like a little baby behind his teams’ enforcer. He never saw a spear he didn’t like, or a cheap shot he wouldn’t take…a la our new “friend” here.
Dwayne Johnson
March 18th, 2009
3:25 pm
having darius make some comments have added some spice to this blog.
thank you darius.
Dwayne Johnson
March 18th, 2009
3:37 pm
d elliot said blysma played the way cooke does…..mmmmmmmm. i never seen blysma play, but i take the comment as blysma was dirty. the intent to hurt was there, everyone saw it. what’s sad is the NHL allows Pitts burgh to treat Atl. that way.
Rawhide
March 18th, 2009
3:54 pm
Per Mike Knobler: Kovy, Bogey and Hainsey are all probable for Friday night…Boris is questionable…Slater is out.
That’s 3 bits of good news, one maybe and one un-good. Given what went down in the last week or so regarding injuries, it’s welcome news.
LAC
March 18th, 2009
4:17 pm
Hey darius DumbA$$, stick it punk ! Oh, yes Iam a business owner, how many companies do YOU own ? Only playing monoply !
Crotchby is a snot nosed little punk period. It has gone to his head, I cannot wait to see him get it handed to him.
So shut THE FU-K UP about us having an NHL team, also not so long ago
Rustburgh had a team that stunk !!!! Hell you had to have your owners threaten to move to Kansas City and play in the Brand New Sprint Center,
to keep the team, what a JOKE there !
I’ve been to Rustsburgh and talk about a place NOT to live, people rude & nasty and the city, will it’s awful !
So go enjoy a polluted river race, and oh yes…. Is there NOT a nascar race at Pocono every year ?
N/A
March 18th, 2009
4:31 pm
Yay! I hope Bogey, Kovy, Boris, and Hainsey are all healthy for Friday’s game. I’m going with my family and I have AWESOME seats. Plus my dad’s a big Redwing’s fan and it would be nice to tease him about his team losing to the Thrashers (my mom never let him forget that they lost to Toronto in their home opener in October). Oh and to adress Darius, like nearly 85% of the people who post here are saying intention is IMPOSSIBLE to tell from watching on TV. Even TV analysts aren’t 100% sure. The fact of the matter is unless the guy has a bright neon pink sign attached to him saying LOOK OUT I’M GONNA HURT THIS GUY then there’s no way to tell. I personally think it was a dirty hit and the look of frustration on Bogey’s face made me feel for the guy, it has to suck reinjuring a recently healed wound. Oh and please if you want to go talk about how awesome Crosby is go to a Pittsburgh fansite.
Thanks
NASCAR Dave
March 18th, 2009
4:34 pm
Hey Darius, come on down to Atlanta and meet me… I’ll let you know the differnece between a “clean” and a “dirty” hit. And yes, I am serious.
Pucks 'N' Darius
March 18th, 2009
4:44 pm
Hey Darius, I guess that really sucks that WE have Esposito, and YOU don’t. You’re probably still crying in your apple juice about that one, huh? And Maryann Hossa left you guys because he knew you didn’t have a shot at the Cup like the Wings do. Oh, and thanks for Armstrong and that 1st Round Pick, what do you have to show for that trade today? Looking forward to your answers.
Nikita
March 18th, 2009
4:59 pm
Heh. I love Darius Kasparaitis. Though there’s no question he’s where he should be, rotting in a lower league.
Malkin is far more talented than Crosby, and about eight times as mature.
And on the whole Atlanta vs. Pittsburgh thing…Atlanta is unlikely to lose its franchise for many reasons, but the most important one is that Atlanta is actually the appropriate size for a franchise. Pittsburgh is not, and will always be under pressure to succeed/invest relatively large amounts of money to keep fans from decamping to one of the other teams in that region.
Sara
March 18th, 2009
5:10 pm
DWTOO, while I semi-sorta agree you can’t know intent from watching replay, the fact that Cooke went after Enstrom and Kozlov as well I think really tells the whole story.
There’s been a bunch of internet chatter about this from last night and so many people think ATL is over-reacting. Except they only see the Cooke-Bogosian hit, not Cooke on Enstrom, Cooke on Kozlov, Boulton taking the stick in the face…much less what’s happened in past games.
But like I said…the Pens will feel the wrath of the hockey gods…and it’s probably gonna be real painful.
Masha7Player
March 18th, 2009
5:26 pm
Pittsburgh may have the better hockey team, but we have the better city for everything else. Pittsburgh and all of its in-breds should be wiped off the face of the earth. I can’t believe I would ever say this, but even Boston and New York fans have more class than Pittsburgh fans. Then again, those are both cities that actually have a culture and some half-way intelligent folks that make a difference in the world..unlike those morons in “the Burgh” or whatever the hell that place is, that are sucking up our valuable air.
Thrasherfan
March 18th, 2009
5:45 pm
After reading today’s blogs…I am highsticking Darius…get back in the crib and suck on your baby bottle. Having watched the NHL for 50 years, having lived in 5 different NHL cities…trust me…Sid is talented…but not even the best played on the Penguins…and certainly not deserving to be the poster child of the NHL. As for the Penguins…what do you expect when the Captain is a crybaby. His lack of emotional maturity is evident in virtually every game. If he was doing his job…incidents like the cheap shot by Cooke on Bogosian last night would be policed in the Pens locker room…a class team would put an end to those shenanigans. I’ve been to dozens of game in the Igloo…the worst NHL facility in the country…with some of the least informed fans about the sport. Finally…your remarks about rednecks and NASCAR are pure ignorance. Stick them with your “Terrible Towels”…
LAC
March 18th, 2009
5:53 pm
Right On ThrasherFan !!!!!!!!!
Darius #11
March 18th, 2009
6:13 pm
You people are truly sad. Yes Mellon Arena is a dump. That is why we are getting a new arena after next season.
LAC…PImping out your old lady in the back seat of your ‘87 Cutlass doesn’t make you a business owner. Sorry to burst your bubble.
Is Crosby the best player on his team? Maybe not. That shows how strong this team is. He would BY FAR be the best on your team though.
You can have Esposito.. and Colby. Nice guy but he’s a third liner. Hossa helped us get to the Finals…You know. Stanley Cup Finals. Watch Youtube….It’lll explain about the playoffs.
For the genius who said about NASCAR and the Poconos…That’s not even around here…and we laugh at the asshats who go to those races.
NASCAR DAVE…BRING IT!!!! I’LL GIVE YOU THE COOKE BEATDOWN OF YOUR LIFE!!!!!
Darius #11
March 18th, 2009
6:16 pm
hahahaha….Bettman is asking to review the melee..You mean where your tough guy threw a punch and then cried like a little girl? Nascar Dork, did you teach him to fight??
BTW, Crosby didn’t high stick Enstrom either. He gave him a glove to the face..Stay away from the swamp juice people…Makes you see things that aren’t there…
Glovesave29
March 18th, 2009
6:33 pm
Darius…you’re defending THIS punk?
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wqR17KrLKw)
YOU are the one who is wearing blinders.
Darius #11
March 18th, 2009
7:05 pm
Hey a$$munch,
I was talking about the other idiots saying Crosby high-sticked Enstrom. Didn’t happen. Why don’t you play the entire clip? Your cheap little Thrashers were hacking and slashing Sid.
See Sid throws a punch and his arm doesn’t fall off…Just the ones who Nascar Dork trained…
Dwayne
March 18th, 2009
7:14 pm
Come on Darius, you’re not defending Cindy Crotchby are you? The girl was feeling on Boris’s nuts in front of thousands of people. Cindy would not be the best player on the Thrashers if he were here. The only reason Cindy’s number’s are good is because of another Russian, Malkin. Didn’t Malkin carry the Pens when Sissy Cindy was hurt last year? Just asking. And has poor little Sissy Cindy got her lisp fixed yet? Anyway, how’s the weather? 75 and sunny down here, girls are getting their tube tops and cut of jeans out. Can’t wait.
Glovesave29
March 18th, 2009
7:19 pm
Ahhhh name calling. What you fall to when you cannot use reason to get your point across.
Hacking and slashing is what happens in front of the net. If you are not willing to pay the price, you don’t camp out hear the blue ice.
ranallo10 (in AT)
March 18th, 2009
7:25 pm
I really hope the Thrashers fans that frequent this blog don’t float around to other team’s blogs after a win and make all Thrasher fans look like infantile idiots. No matter what the score was, or what “points” can be made from the visit, in the end the idiot is the person who is completely out of place…in this case the Pittsburgh fans on a Thrashers hockey blog.
Show some class and stop posting. Of course, that’s just my opinion.
Glovesave29
March 18th, 2009
7:37 pm
Ranallo – especially in light of the conversations we have had lately about road trips to follow the Thrash or opposition fans coming here. Hockey is still a small community, and that we are fans of different teams is cool, we can still sit and have a cold one and talk hockey. Going on line the day after you’ve beaten another team and causing trouble and bragging just shows a lack of class.
Alan
March 18th, 2009
7:45 pm
ranallo, I know I certainly do not. I’ll usually go complement the other team on a great effort, or in cases like this, just keep my mouth shut. I did speak with a couple Pittsburgh fans earlier today who told me they felt the hit was suspension-worthy. I commended them for Malkin earning his 100th point.
Some Pittsburgh fans are classy fellows. Others, apparently, have a bit of a behavioral problem.
Darius#11
March 18th, 2009
7:53 pm
I am sorry for causing problems. I have a little winkie and I am mad at the world
N/A
March 18th, 2009
8:06 pm
Ok…how do I put this politely?…….
Darius: As a fellow NHL fan I respect your opinions and as much as I dislike the Pens I can see where they might think that the Thrashers (and their fans) are overreacting. But coming onto an ATLANTA fanblog and not only disrespecting our players but calling other posters names (granted you’re getting your share of insults too)? C’mon man even my 13 year old brother has more class than that. Look I get that you want to defend your city and your team, that’s what fans do but as assuming that everyone who’s from GA or everyone who’s an Atlanta fan is a backwater hick is unacceptable. Now please, if you have something to say, be it pro or con Thrashers share in a NONINSULTING way. Yes people on this blog will still call you names, call your players wusses, and trash your city but that doesn’t mean you have to respond to any of it. Don’t feed the fire, just let it go (FYI: you’ll end up looking like the bigger person)
Peace
Darius#11
March 18th, 2009
8:13 pm
a bigger person with a little tallywacker
dwayne
March 18th, 2009
8:24 pm
darius#11 is really Stendec
LAC
March 18th, 2009
8:44 pm
No darius,I own REAL MONEY MAKING companies,want to compare YOUR bank account to mine ? Guess not since you would not understand why I have all those zero’s after the first group of numbers…
Things go in cycles, teams, business and people, from where I stand I
can plainly see you are stuck on the IDIOT spot.
Rustsburgh is an awful place and I hope to never go there again in my life and thank-you for illistrating clearly how rude & nasty from there really are, you should be the poster boy for how your area really
is now a nice place to be ! Now go get back in your little rusty crib and suck your thumb !
Rawhide
March 18th, 2009
9:07 pm
You know…we haven’t haven’t seen this place sink to such “civility” since…well, since the last time a Penguins player took out a Thrasher…when Ruutu took Kovy out. And, in both cases…the discussion went tumbling right down the toilet because of a …surprise, surprise…Penguins fan.
I guess the blogosphere in western PA has a rapid response system ready to go anytime one of their players takes out an opponent and people actually dare to take issue with it. Judging from today’s activity here and over on Knobler’s blog…it certainly does look like the Penguin’s blog-nation got their talking points.
Hey…you gotta give ‘em points for being well organized.
Alan
March 18th, 2009
9:15 pm
Rawhide, don’t forget early last season when you pointed out the similarity between the Islanders’ logo and a giant turd. Although I don’t think that had near as much vitriol as these past incidents with the Penguins fans have.
Lol...
March 18th, 2009
9:35 pm
If you honestly thought Cooke was trying to injure Bogosian you’re clearly disillusion. Cooke was trying to knock Bogo into next week. Bogo being semi-aware, tried to dodge the hit. In doing so he put his knee in harms way. It was totally a freak thing. A guy was trying to play the body… the guy that was going to be hit tried to avoid it. There’s no blame to be placed on either player. It’s an unlucky occurrence in a high speed game.
Glovesave29
March 18th, 2009
9:46 pm
No, Bogo was already clearly engaged with another player. Cooke took a run at him realizing the situation. Bogo could not escape to his right to try to avoid the hit.
Y’know – the greatest moment in Atlanta sports came against Pittsburgh. Sid slid home under Spanky’s tag and this city went bonkers. We we crazy for the Braves, not that another team had failed. You actually felt sorry for Andy VanSlyke as he sat in CF with tears in his eyes in shock. Never did it occur to us to search out the Pirate fans to harass them there at Bleachers in Buckhead. People were shaking their hands and saying good game and buying them a drink. I am sure most fans up there would act in the same manner…
Hanson Brothers
March 18th, 2009
10:10 pm
Anyone else catch that exchange just now in the intermission of the Stars-Flames game on NHL network. They were asking the panel if all 14 non playoff teams should have a chance in the lottery for the first pick. One panelist said all teams should have a chance since in today’s NHL teams at the bottom don’t stay there as long and teams at the top don’t stay there as long. One of the other panelists said “what about Atlanta. They are always at the bottom.” To which the reply was…”you do have to draft well.” Nice to see the Canadian media holding DW accountable.
Rawhide
March 18th, 2009
10:18 pm
Glovesave29 – Ahhhh…the memories! Of course that play will be always highlighted. But I also want to point out that the year before, the Braves beat the Pirates in seven as well. Only in that series, Braves pitching completely dominated Pittsburgh, especially in their home park. After losing 5-2 in the opening game, Pittsburgh fans never saw another run scored in person that season as Atlanta won game two 1-0…game six 1-0 and game seven 4-0. Three straight shutouts in Three Rivers.
I’ll never forget the looks on all those dejected Pie-Rat fans. Priceless.
Ahhhhh…the memories!
Darius #11
March 18th, 2009
10:27 pm
Actually I thought I was reading an account from your local newspaper and then realized it was this wonderful blog. With all of the blubbering, whining and half truths I felt compelled to let you know the truth…You people have no idea.
Bogo was NOT engaged with another player. Sykora was skating BEHIND him..Again, pick up your pencils. I’ll educate you again. Engaged with another player means that they were tied up or jostling with each other. Skating behind someone is not engaging that player.
Nobody has still commented on how pathetic Boris was to injure himself throwing a punch. That sums up Atlanta sports. Good for a laugh…but sad.
LAC
March 18th, 2009
10:32 pm
Gee Rawhide, with Det coming in, I dare wonder if we will be hearing from pucks-n-snot let’s hope not,two looney’s from out of town would be too much !
michael
March 18th, 2009
10:48 pm
bogosian tried to avoid a clean open ice hit from cooke. his knee swerved into cooke’s knee. there’s no way cooke could have possibly prevented knee on knee contact. it was bogosian’s own fault. what do you want cooke to do? not hit in the open ice?
The Joker
March 18th, 2009
11:08 pm
Why argue with Shittsburgh fans, we all know what they are full of.
I love this quote from the ref to John Anderson:
“The referee said if he was injured [Cooke] would have gotten five minutes,” Thrashers coach John Anderson said Tuesday night. “He was injured. He just didn’t lay on the ice.”
It’s no wonder the Shittsburgh players flop on the ice like fish out of water whenever they’re touched.
N/A
March 18th, 2009
11:19 pm
_Sigh_ . I give up. Hey Rawhide do you know who’s on the injured list from Detroit? Last I heard Holstrom was out but I don’t know if anyone else is hurt.
jason
March 18th, 2009
11:29 pm
Personally, the highlight for me of the 1992 NLCS was watching Barry Bonds’ throw take about 24 bounces before it got to the plate. Talk about good for a laugh!
PensFan
March 19th, 2009
12:18 am
I am not going to pretend to be a neutral fan and do a sneak attack on the Thrashers. I live in Atlanta and confess to watching only Pens games here by buying tickets on the cheap online. I do not have any interest in the local team other than as an interested observer of the NHL.
I didn’t think Cooke intentionally went for the knee. I think the reason why Cooke didn’t lean in full body for the hit because instinctively he probably didn’t want to hit Bogo into Sykora. But I will say that it was definitely reckless and I do think the NHL needs to punish reckless play if it causes injuries. Kind of like high stick penalties. It’s a 2 minute thing, but you will pay for your recklessness with a 5 minute penalty if you are not lucky enough to not draw blood. I think a 2 min was OK, but I also think Cooke should be suspended because his actions caused an injury through a play that was not legal. THis would make players be more careful in their reckless hits.
As far as Crosby, I do believe that he should have been suspended for a game for the crotch shots he inflicted in Atlanta. But I will defend him on his “whining”. I have seen other players yap just as much. Early on in his career, I have seen Crosby get targeted a lot and people would accuse him of diving when I have seen other players fall to the ice for less. As far as Crosby being overhyped, you get no argument from me. Even on Pens blogs, you will see some fans admit that and some of us believe the Russians have a case to stake their claim too. Crosby is definitely not the most talented player out there though I think he is the hardest working superstar the Pens ever had.
BTW, Pittsburgh nearly lost the Pens, not because they were the lowest revenue team. They just had the right combination of low revenue, attractive franchise name value, and a no strings attached status to the local arena when the whole drama was going on. You seriously tell me that the Pens got less support than teams on Long Island or even Florida?
Rawhide
March 19th, 2009
1:01 am
PensFan – Nicely stated and presented. Well played, indeed!
Sharon
March 19th, 2009
4:13 am
“You know. Stanley Cup Finals.”
Yes, Darius, I do know. My Detroit Red Wings sent your Pens home. Oh wait, it was in your arena. Well then, thanks for hosting our Stanley Cup victory!
DWTOO
March 19th, 2009
8:23 am
LAC – Also thought of our old pal Pucks-n-Snot when reading the childish rants of Darius. On one hand I think we should just ignore the little turd, but, it is semi-entertaining.
When your team is riding high it’s easy to brag, but,the D-Boy should remember the law of gravity. The Pittsburg sports teams have had more than their share of bad times and that should give their fans a little humility. However, it just brings out the a$$hat in them.
Glovesave29
March 19th, 2009
8:25 am
Yeah Darius, that sure was funny watching a player get injured. Just like watching Dave Dravecky shatter his arm in the middle of a pitch. Or perhaps Clint Malarchuck getting his throat slashed by a skate blade. Joe Thiesman’s leg was a riotous hoot. Kris Drapers face getting smashed in was the laugh of the decade.