That's So MAF (the musings of a Penguins goalie)!

What Fleury had to say after their loss to Philly last Sunday.

“They had a bounce that went their way and they won the game because of it,” Marc-Andre Fleury said. “I think we played better, we won more chances and they got a little bit lucky on the power play and they got the win because of it.”

“If we meet them in the playoffs I think the guys will be confident because of the way we played tonight.” Fleury said. “I think that we will be in good shape.”

On this Date in Pittsburgh Penguins History

March 24, 1992

Mario Lemieux records his 1,000th NHL point against Detroit in his 513th game becoming the second fastest player to record 1,000 point in NHL history.


March 24, 1976
Jean Pronovost becomes the first Penguins player to score 50 goals in a season and Pierre Larouche becomes the first Penguin to record 100 points in a season in a 5-5 tie vs. Boston.

Pens - 1, Cryers - 3

Philadelphia Cryers webpage
RECAP: Flyers 3, Penguins 1 (03/22/2009)

Philadelphia Inquirer
No mistake: Flyers dismantle Penguins (03/23/2009)
Crosby and Malkin are sut down (03/23/2009)
Gagne, Hartness score as Flyers beat Penguins 3-1 (03/22/2009)
Flyers flatten Pens in Pittsburgh (03/22/2009)
Flyers Report - Broad Street Bull
Flyers' win may be season's best (03/22/2009)

Philadelphia Daily News
Flyers diligent in 3-1 win over Penguins (03/23/2009)

Turnabout is Fair Play!

This post is especially for the dumbass who is taking my email address and signing me up for bullshit.

As the post says, "turnabout is fair play" jackass and I'm sure you're too stupid to realize what that means right now, but you'll find out soon enough (since I'm not as dumb of a broad as you seem to think I am!)!! I hope you've had you're fun (and I hope you didn't waste too much of you're entire evening last night) because it won't be lasting much longer!!

Don't mess with the bull - you'll get the horns asshole!!!

HAVE A NICE DAY!!

On this Date in Pittsburgh Penguins History

March 22, 1992

Mario Lemieux scores his 1,000th career point at Detroit in only his 513th career game, thus becoming the second fastest player in NHL history to do so.

Pens - 4, Kings - 1

LA Kings webpage
RECAP: Penguins 4, Kings 1 (03/20/2009)

Los Angeles Times
Penguins slow down the Kings (03/21/2009)

LA Daily News
Pittsburgh strikes Quick against Kings (03/21/2009)
Inside the Kings (Rich Hammond blog)
Postgame notes (03/20)

Pasadena Star-News
Penguins knock off Kings, 4-1 (03/20/2009)

On this Date in Pittsburgh Penguins History

March 21, 1988

Ron Francis becomes the 7th player to record 1,000 career assists and the Pens become the 10th team to reach the 1,000 win mark in a 4-3 victory over the Flyers.

UP NEXT: LOS ANGELES KINGS

(30-30-10, 70 points)
In net tonight: Jonathan Quick
(projected; Ersberg played last night)

LA Kings webpage
Kings-Penguins Preview (03/20/2009)

LA Times
Kings play at Pittsburgh today (03/20/2009)

The Daily Breeze
Matchup (03/20/2009)
Preview (03/20/2009)

Inside the Kings (Rich Hammond blog)
Quick will start (03/20/2009)
Williams, Drewiske in (03/20/2009)
Gauthier injured (03/20/2009)

That's So MAF (the musings of a Penguins goalie)!

Fleury's idol is goaltender for the NJ Devils, Martin Brodeur. Brodeur recently surpassed NHL's all-time wins set by Patrick Roy (551) with win #552 last Tuesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Here's what Fleury had to say:

"Only one guy was going to do it in our day, and Marty was that guy," Fleury said. "They're both pretty amazing. Roy had the great technique and Brodeur was unpredictable, but for me the thing about both guys was ... they found ways to win. That's what made them great."

And in case you missed Inside Penguins Hockey - Episode 15, be sure to watch it!!! You won't want to miss Fleury rockin' with the TGIFriday's Kids Club (it's a funny one!)!!!

Pens - 6, Thrashers - 2

Atlanta Thrashers webpage
RECAP: Penguins 6, Thrashers 2 (03/17/2009)

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thrashers' win streak ends with loss to Pens (03/17/2009)

Blueland Blog
Two Special Milestones in Pittsburgh Tonight (03/17/2009)

The Blueland Chronicle blog
What We Learned Last Night (03/18/2009)

Malkin Benchmark

Last night, Malkin reached another benchmark scoring his 100th point for this season (ending the night with a total of 5 points for the game 102 points for the season). I was hoping, as I'm sure alot of fans were, for a hat trick to top off the evening for him.

GO MALKIN!!

The Penguins webpage has a really great article about him posted today, "Malkin Playing with the "Hart of an MVP."

Malkin is one of those few selfless players who truly deserves everything he earns!!!

Pre-Game News

EVGENI MALKIN
As expected, Malkin will be in tonight's lineup against the Atlanta Thrashers.

"Today he came in with a smile on his face so I think that means he feels better," interim head coach Dan Bylsma said. "He looked better on the ice and hopefully that will give him more jump in his game."

LINE COMBINATIONS (from this morning's skate)
Guerin-Crosby-Kunitz
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Talbot-Godard

Orpik-Gonchar
Eaton-Letang
Gill-Scuderi

ILYA KOVALCHUK / JOHAN HEDBERG
Kovalchuk, the Thrashers leading scorer, will be out of the lineup tonight against the Penguins. He has missed the passed few games due to an upper-body injury. Hedberg will start in goal for the Thrasher tonight giving Lehtonen a well-deserved break.

UP NEXT: ATLANTA THRASHERS

(29-35-6, 64 points)
In net tonight: Johan Hedberg
THANKS for catching my mistake, Ed!!

Atlanta Thrasher webpage
NEWS: Thrashers Recall Forward Spencer Machacek (03/16/2009)
Q&A with Colby Armstrong (03/12/2009)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thrashers win franchise-records 6th in a row (03/16/2009)
How did the Thrashers get hot? (03/16/2009)
Numbers behind Thrashers win streak (03/15/2009)
Atlanta Thrashers blog
Kovy listed as day to day (03/16/2009)
Slater doubtful for next 2 (03/15/2009)

Kunitz Stripped of Sunday's HT

Early in the third period of Sunday afternoon's game against the Boston Bruins, fans celebrated what appeared to be Chris Kunitz's first hat trick as a Pittsburgh Penguin typical fashion by showering the ice with various caps / hats; however, after the game, his "second goal was credited as a "tip-in" by Sergei Gonchar.

“I feel bad for all those hats on the ice but I’m sure they’re going to a good cause,” Kunitz joked after the team’s Monday practice.

So, now that the hat trick was taken away from Kunitz, do they give the hats back?

“I actually picked up a nice blue one and kept it after the game,” Bylsma joked. “So I don’t want to give them back.”

That's So MAF (the musings of a Penguins goalie)!

The fans weren’t the only ones getting swept up in the [Chris Kunitz's] hat trick drama.

“I threw my hat on the ice for the hat trick,” goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury said.

Eddie Johnston - 25 Years of Service

On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins paid tribute to Eddie Johnston for 25 years in the organization in some form. This is the tribute video they played prior to the game.

Malkin Misses Practice

According to the Penguins webpage, Malkin has been playing through an illness and was given the day to rest today.

The team had an afternoon practice.

Sorry for the Lack of Updates!

It's been quite a busy weekend, but I think everything is back to normal and I'll be back to updating the blog daily. I apologize for the lack of posts.

John and I went to the game on Saturday. It was quite a disappointing loss after a 2-point lead, but at least we got a point out of it. I enjoyed getting to see Ruutu back in action at the Mellon Arena even though he didn't get much ice time (he was on the ice to assist Campoli on the Senators first goal which was his 100th NHL career point - BTW). He was pretty quiet / low-key otherwise. OH - and we also got to finally see, first-hand, the Ken Kennedy video he made for TK after he scored in the second period which was pretty cool (John was pretty hyped about it and I guess I was too!).

"Goal scored by Tyyyyylleeeeerrrrr Kennedy ... Kennedy!!"

I have some pictures I took on Saturday at the game and of the progress on the Consol Energy Center that I'll post sometime later today or tomorrow.

Pens - 6, Bruins - 4

Boston Bruins webpage
RECAP: Penguins 6, Bruins 4 (03/15/2009)

The Boston Globe
Blahs are getting to the Bruins (03/16/2009)
Kunitz's 2 goals lead Pens past Bruins 6-4 (03/15/2009)
Bruins Blog
Last words from the Igloo (03/15/2009)

The Bear Cave blog
Ugly Finish Ends Winning Streak in Pittsburgh (03/16/2009)

Stanley Cup of Chowder blog
B's Game Notes: Penguins 6 Bruins 4 (03/15/2009)

The Bruins Blog
Postgame: Pittsburgh 6, Bruins 4 (03/15/2009)

Pens - 3, Senators - 4 (SO)

Ottawa Senators webpage
Recap: Senators 4, Penguins 3, SO (03/14/2009)

CBCsports.ca
Senators notch comeback win over Fleury, Penguins (03/14/2009)

Canada.com
Sens ice Pens in shootout (03/15/2009)

National Post
Senators rally from behind to beat Penguins in OT (03/14/2009)

Silver Seven blog
Win: Sens 4, Pens 3 (SO) (03/15/2009)

SENS Town
Afternoon Delight (03/14/2009)