This season.  What to even say about it?  It feels like a strange dream, an alternate universe.  In which Jussi Jokinen, Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, and Douglas Murray are all Pens.  (It's a shame they're here for a short time--we've only just gotten used to their fuzzy faces burrowed in our hearts.)  Being tops in the East is a weird feeling.  Being "regular season good" is like a terrible curse.  It's like being the Caps in 2009.  No one ever wants to be that.  We'll have to make this work after today.  But a win today would still be good.Let's give some awards, because they're meaningless, and it's worth it.

ALSO BTW LOL WE TAGGED THIS POST WITH THE #CAROLINA HURRICANES IS ANYONE PREPARED TO CRY ABOUT OUR RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH ON THE FUCKING INTERNET?  Hockey is love, ladies and gentlemen.  Hockey is love.



DRUNKEST
So ROOT sports is talking up the Canes having three Staal brothers.
This is the most belligerent family reunion in human history.  There are like eight coolers full of Yuengling and Early Times in the Sons of Italy pavilion right now.  Jokinen playing the Canes, Sutter playing the Canes, Tim Wallace playing the Pens (THE ALASKAN STORM), Staal playing the Pens, Eric Staal and Jared Staal playing each other.  Anyone we missed?  Should we have brought more beer?

Oh and we've got PaulMart back AND James Neal.
The real challenge here will be to stay sober.

STAALIEST
Apparently JStaal (Uncle Jordy, not the other one) has been "struggling" this year.  How strange!  Poor Jordy.  Remember when you saved Christmas?
No but the Staaliest is probably Eric.  He took a penalty in the first period to give the Pens a PP.

MOST PARENTING
The PP looks pretty ehhhhh but it's pretty obvious that Neal and Malkin are back to being soul brothers.  Next rush on the PP, Gene is weaving his way through a pack of Hurricanes off of a pass from James and gets a puck past Peters in one of those beautiful moves we always know he is capable of, even in those moments when he is flailing around and getting his temper.
Oh and guess who got an assist on that goal?  Dad MAF.





Maybe Evgeni should offer to share his parents with PaulMart because it's his first game back after breaking his hand and he flipped the puck over the glass like immediately after the goal.

It's okay Pauly we got your back.  And how!  Even a Kuni breakaway after the penalty is over!  Gosh golly gee whiz.

STORMIEST
How did Tim Wallace manage to draw a penalty on Douglas Murray?  Do we really have to play this game?

Well not really because it was like playing even strength basically.  Canes are really bad at this game.

We wish we had more stormy things to announce, but we don't.  It's a breezy summer day both on and off the ice.  Let's hope we don't start sucking each other's dicks too soon.



Oh Gene we've missed your sweet voice.

PERIOD OF LIGHT IN WHICH WE MAY HAVE GOTTEN TOO COCKY

Neal snipejob eventually.  Canes don't even know.



2-0



Oh did we mention MAF?  because MAF

Malkin's line gets 40 chances but none are buried.

MAF makes some ridic save on Eric Staal but a rebound is forced to the stick of Jiri Tlusty.  Apparently the last person to touch it was Westgarth.  Who we care very little about.  So no shutout for Dad.





at least westgarth seems happy

Random: why do red hockey pants always look like they've recently been pooped in?

This is no offense to all red hockey pant-wearing teams.  Maybe it is.

LEAST COMPETENT--BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYWAY
Jokinen and Dupes get a 2 on 1.  Jokinen shoots--Peters could have stopped it, but doesn't.  Jussi gets the juicy (SEE WHAT I DID THERE) rebound from a bad angle.  It floats right in.  God, Jussi.



here is jussi looking super unimpressed with himself

Hearing Jokinen speak, btw, was a jarring experience for me.  I totally forgot that he would have a Finnish accent.  I guess I always saw him as a silent hero.  Why is Peters in this game again?


LEAST GODS IN THE CASTLE
god damn it Tuomo Ruutu.  Fleury makes another excellent save but then gets in trouble. Someone forgot to pick up the Finn.  Easy goal.  Water bottle flying around.





And then there was Westgarth from the point.  Fleury seems rattled.





Come on you guys we've gotta win THIS one.  This one is still important.  We have to keep the castle pure.  Letting the Staals get in your mouth is not the way to keep pure.

3-3 to the end of the second.

FATTEST STAAL
It's obviously Jared.  Jared ran into MAF thinking that he could let McBain score.  But no.  You can't interfere with the goaltender Jared.  Did they not tell you that while you were playing in the backyard pond?  Possible brother sabotage.

On the ensuing PP, Malkin to Neal to snipejob.  It's seriously like they missed no time at all.  How are they so flawless together?  It's obviously witchcraft.







MOST FLAWLESS THING TO EVER HAPPEN
Did we mention something about James and Malkin being perfect together?

Because Gene had another pass for James on the rush and James had another bullet of a shot that Peters apparently could care less about and that's the fucking hat trick, people.  You have babies inside you.  It was a perfect two on one.




Sutter's line struts up next shift after they get rid of the hats.

Morrow up in Peters' kitchen.  Gentle tap-in.  Morrow opens up another Shake Shack in Justin Peters' nutsack.


he is so happy.



so Sutter is having a much better game than Jordy.  And season.  They showed Jordan on the bench after that goal as if they were reading our minds.  We're sorry Jordy but maybe you should have thought of this before.

Pens kill another penalty that doesn't feel like a penalty.  Welp

JUST ADDING INSULT TO INJURY
Mattie felt he had some demons to exorcise after this ridiculous week of the entire Northeast Division trying to burn him in effigy.





Geno-esque move.  it works b/c it's Peters.

blah blah blah

Dupes snuck up on everyone to score an 8th goal because the Canes are awful.

8-something

SPECIAL REPORT: SHIRTS OFF OUR BACKS IS THE FUCKING BEST.

we're busy crying

here is beau with a small girl



and craigsy with a small girl

and malkin with a li'l dude



and stevemac with another li'l dude OKAY WE'LL STOP NOW



well actually not after we show you this bad screenshot (but the best we got) of Vitale Girl aka Zoë's soul sister



SHE IS PERFECT

oh yeah the pens won btw



INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

LEAST DESIREABLE




Chad LaRose just stop.


ALTERNATIVE THREE STARS


1. Brendan's face

2. Joe Vitale's suit

3. This lady.



still gotta figure out who we play first round

GO PENS

Oh my god this game.
The Debs are impotent and sad by the time we get to the Jerz, but they are still holding this game's two points over our head. We waaaant theeemmmm. 
It's like when the old, failed Survivor contestants get to judge the still-successful ones. This is what I gather from conversations with your mother, at least.
She loves that show.

Awards plz.

MOST DESERVING OF A KIND SALUTATION
First,of course, we all say hello to Johan. 


Please don't stop any of our pucks tonight.
Picnic in the park if you say yes.
Once again, a rare "good Swede." But we aren't afraid to cut you off. Or cut you, for that matter.

MOST MANLY ADORABLE FIST BUMP
The first period spends way too long finding its legs. It has the cadence of a normal game, we guess, but it's almost playoffssss.
Well. For the Pens.
 Eventually it finds itself a little personality when Hedberg couldn't track down the puck in front of the net and Cookie was able to shuffle it in just over the goal line. It is confusing as hell.
At first you're not sure if it's a goal or not but adskjfhadskj it is.




This award was ALMOST "Most adorable manly fistbump." But let's be honest, that fistbump is more fundamentally adorable than manly.
This may be arbitrary and strange, but goddamnit if those aren't our middle names. 

Sutter follows up by getting a NASTY chance, Johan says no. Peter Harrold's name is floating around, which for certain reasons (refer to our middle names) is a delight to us. 

MOST UNACCEPTABLY AWKWARD
Kovalchuk tries to do it all and wastes a really decent play by being a selfish bitch. Josefson is pissed. Like, openly angry. We can't imagine that. It's like we got invited to our friend's house for dinner and his parents had a domestic dispute at the dinner table. 
And we had to act like it's normal.

 JUSSI-EST 
(We swear, it's a one time thing. Never again.)

MAF makes a save with the side of his skull, BoBo almost got one in but Hedberg pulls rank, and Gene makes us gasp before chipping the puck over the net. All in all, the hockey is alive with the sound of crunching bones and obscenities. 
The hills are totes jealous.

Then, Letang gets a sweet pass to Jussi, who absolutely launches it at the net. The puck makes this insane clanking noise akin to the noises we hear in our nightmares but somehow it went over the line as it hit the post.





Both of the goals in this game so far have just barely made a case for existing, but it's 2-0 nonetheless. 

Also, for the record, there's a moment wherein Ktang makes love to the entire Penguins bench because he quickly had to jump off the ice to avoid a too many men penalty.
Totally worth mentioning. 

MOST SPECIFICALLY NOT A GENIUS
Some word are said about how excellent BoBo is. Unfortunately that sentence is uttered near a sentence that contained Lemieux's name. 
Bobby and Steiggy spend some time - too much time - an insulting amount of time - clarifying that they are NOT comparing BoBo to Lemieux.
And while we know that and agree and have no opinions to the contrary and think it is silly to even waste time on, it was just a biiiit offensive how much time they spent clarifying that.




"You didn't even have to think about it, did you?"

LEAST CONSIDERATE
Zajac (more like Za-jag, ammirite?!) has this gross turning shot that gets behind MAF. It's offensive and, quite frankly, rude. 




MAF already told us that Zajagis not being invited back to NHL cotillion.
Which MAF runs.
Naturally.

SLOW DESCENT INTO DARKNESS
Well, it felt slow. Really, it was this fast:






Whatever.
At least we know what a U-turn is.

Pens lose, 3-2

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

MOST WITHHOLDING 
If Bob Errey has one nice thing to say about Kovalchuk, he ain't saying it.
He sounded so stern, the whole game.
It's adorable, but also unsettling.

ALT THREE STARS
BoBo - Seriously, though, BoBo, we love you. We hope your mom wasn't listening to the local broadcast in Pittsburgh.
Peter Harrold - We heard your name. We're proud of you for being on the map.
Cookie - Because our team has no depth. 
Mmmhmmm.
Riiiiight.

Whatever.
Can't even be too upset.
Never losing again.
Go Pens

Three games before the madness.  Just three.  Buffalo is in town for the next-to-last home game of the season.  And Buffalo sucks this season.  Ryan Miller's tears have taken up residence in the local Greyhound station.  And we have Gene back, and Letang back, and Fleury back.  ROOT, we expect a babby photo.  Bobby is looking particularly earnest between the benches:



My oh my.[[MORE]]

MOST IMPROPERLY ERECT SWAGGER
Out of the gate, Gene almost buries one on Miller.  He is fucking starving for points, hitting Nisky with some kind of ridiculous pass for a one timer.  Steiggy goes so far as to describe Malkin as "frisky."  Scandalous. 

Jochen probably does not want Gene to get too frisky w/ him.




Honestly a game like this, to us, could be a perfect trap for the Penguins.  Who were also frankly embarrassed by Buffalo last time they met.  But this is a different night.  Did we mention BeauBeau is back too?  Our California lover has returned.  And TK Pony Go is scratched.
Malkin has a God Mode shift.  Unfortunately Ryan Miller appears to be awake.  We'll have to get through Silver if it kills us.

PRETTIEST THING WE DISCOVERED WHILE WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN IN THIS GAME


Nisky accepting his Good Guy Award like he would a second-choice but very cute prom date.  We all know that Mattie should win the Hart of Hearts.

IMAGINE THAT!
blah blah blah Thomas Vanek scored.  All alone in the slot.  REALLY.  No one even thought about Thomas Vane.  No one even knew Thomas Vanek had ever been born apparently.  This is looking fun isn't it?




THE RYAN MILLER MEMORIAL OF TEARS AND SNOT LTD
Next rush Ryan Miller also forgot that he had ever been born.  Even that he had appendages and human form.  Totally didn't even try on what looked like an easy glove save for RyRy from Chris Kunitz who has 22 fucking goals.
Maybe we can give Ryan some conciliatory picnic tickets.  They're going fast ladies and gents.  Get your PH picnic tickets while they last.










aaaand we're tied.
The rest of the period is uninteresting.  Promise.

LONELIEST STORMCLOUD
where the fuck is Brooks Orpik
we barely have time to think about it because we are apparently being dazzled by Malkin and also Dustin Jeffrey who looks like some kind of Selke winner.  Speaking of, why didn't Jordan Staal ever win the Selke?  He may never have the chance again.

Buffalo thought they scored but they didn't.  Calling some kind of interference on Vanek, who has knitted too many woolen cock cozies today.  Legit call.  If Letang is hurt on the next sequence though it is tantamount to attack on a unicorn sanctuary.

Better end this award before the stormcloud gains friends and followers.

BEST DAD EVER
MAF stood up to make a breakaway save on Vanek.  Nope.  MAF is going to win some kind of award for being the most amazing father in human history.  We can tell.

Then Letang went to the locker room after getting hit high.  Luckily he returns during the TV timeout otherwise we would have been picketing the streets.  It's okay though.  The unicorn blood is safe.  Lord Voldemort will not rise again.
Breaking news: Douglas Murray's head is still large.  A baby of his would be hard to birth.


DO THE SABRES HAVE A PLAYER NAMED BREW-WHEEVIL OR SOMETHING
We can't understand a word Steiggy is saying.  The Pens almost score 5000 times.  There still isn't much happening that we can even talk about but we did do some serious research while this was all going on:





oh okay that really clears things up for us.  Here is a selection from Chad Ruhwedel's Twitter which we would like to submit as an exhibit to the Hockey Hall of Fame as an exhibit of the quintessential hockey player Tweet.  They like to mention each other and use hashtags made of food.  That's really the peak of the experience.  We're happy that Chad is from California, though.  Very happy about it.

Great dinner with @arnbarn90. Great guy #chickenparm #not

— Chad Ruhwedel (@cdiesel3) April 17, 2013
That's just poety, Chad.  Really eloquent.




BEST CALIFORNIAN
Bennett drew some kind of penalty and then Ott started shouting and was kicked out for 10 minutes.  We can only assume that he was Very Offended by what happened on a Very Personal level.
The rest of the period is dot dot dot.

PERIOD WITH THE MOST QUESTIONS
we have no idea what is going to happen.  Pens don't seem to have quality shots on goal to rub together despite how well they seem to be passing and getting in the slot etc.  The Sabres are just over the season and want to go to a farm sanctuary.

They score, though, apparently.
~WELP~

Shortly thereafter the news drops on Twitter that Orpik will not return.  Could be not a big deal.  Better safe than sorry.  Ennis has a massive giveaway to Malkin and it looks like he's off to the races in one of those beautiful moments--but it was not meant to be.
Mark Eaton even tried to have some kind of Crosbyesque shift down low.  That's what this game is about apparently.  We have no idea what is going to happen.  The Sabres threw the puck out of the rink with their bare hands because that is how bad they are, that's a penalty.

anyway, Iggy came here for a reason.  He's gonna one time a game-tying power play goal:
We don't have any pics of the goal yet and it's late so here is Gene looking like a baby giraffe who just fell down:



which I mean answers our main question.
2-2

MOST DICKS IN YOUR MOUTH
Ott thinks he scored.  We'll see about that, says the crossbar.
Yep: Steve Ott.  It's always Steve Ott.
Toronto comes on our faces.  It's a goal.  Why did you do it Devorski.
Pens have some Serious Business shifts to try to tie it up, but it wasn't meant to be. 
Vanek knits some special baubles onto his cock cozy and sheathes it in velvet for the empty netter.
4-2 welp
the Sabres are the only team that can beat the Pens apparently.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
MOST LIKELY TO BE JORDAN STAAL IN A SKINSUIT OR PERHAPS INHABITED BY HIS SPIRIT BECAUSE ~DAMN SON~ THAT TWO WAY GAME WAS PRODIGIOUS


DJ.  remember when he used to wear 42?  those were the days.

ALTERNATIVE THREE STARS
1. Ktang, five shots, 28 minutes.  hard to argue.

2. Evgeni - for some reason he won a lot of faceoffs.  Good for him.

3. Mark Eaton.  Deliver us from evil amen.

two more

go pens

The truth is that playing the Sens right now should be thrilling.
As a potential first round match up it should be hard fought. 
As our chance to cash in on a perfect record against the Sens, it should be exciting and rewarding. 
Danny has that bottle of champagne for his 200th ready on ice.
In the end, we know there's going to be a lot of griping about Mattie, a lot of penalties exchanged, and boo-birds abound. 
Here's hoping we can all rise above and enjoy some good ole frenzied late-season hockey. 
Awards will obviously be in order.
CUTEST SCRATCH
MAF is abandoning us tonight, but that's okay, because we are far more deserving of being abandoned than his perfect wife and brand new daughter. We don't even bring tiny shoes to the equation, you guys. We never had a chance. 
Get excited.
The baby-in-the-Cup photo opportunities are mind blowing.

MOST FAVORITE DICK
It's clear from the start that this is going to be an event largely focused on how much Matt Cooke is in everyone's head. Mattie, who has been nothing but professional about it, isn't taking shit for an accident, but everyone is all riled up. 
The Sens fans are booing Mattie every time he touches the puck, because it is the most boring thing they can possibly think of to do. 
The whole scene is gross and it makes it that much sweeter when Morrow gets a cute pass over to Dustin who gets a mouth-watering one-timer into the net.




He's a dick, but he's our dick. 
Also, p.s., Dustin's rage over being a recurring guest rather than a co-star is translating into some really amazing play. Hunger looks good on him. 

PRETTIEST PRETTIEST PASSER
Morrow doesn't even wait much longer before setting up another insane pass because he doesn't have time to mess around like some of these other children. Iggy picks it up with ease in front of some open net and puts it in. 




For normally holding it down, Anderson is really being the piece of gum I stepped in yesterday.



BEST OCULAR PAT-DOWN 
Penalties are flying left and right to no great end. Every whistle ends in a tiff, and finally it boils over with Brooks and Neil having words. It gets a little too heated for Mac, who has been visually assessing the threat level, and he steps in to do his job. 




It's excellent to see Mac stepping in. No reason for Brooks to be fighting, as much as we sometimes daydream about it. Mac got a 3rd man in for this, which is soff as hell seeing as this wasn't even a fight. 

Meanwhile, Bortuzzo is off to the side dealing with Smith in an actual fight.




Fists all around!
Also, mustaches all around!




I see some stache envy in that other dude.
Tragedy. 

It ends up with the Sens going into the second with a PP on hand. If Sutter keeps owning the PK like he has been? No problem. 

MOST ENRAGING ALLEGED TRADITION
50 bucks to whoever brings us that bugle or trumpet or whatever. Dead or alive.

WORST TASTING CROW
As penalties fall from the sky left and right, the goaltenders are looking pretty strong.
The officials are trying to keep up - some of it ends in bullshit, but really, they're doing okay for such a messy game. Not the worst thing we've ever seen. 
No...no...that comes later, in the form of Tyler Kennedy doing this:




Thanks, TPb! Sort of. Staring at this over and over makes our stomachs hurt.
We're still not jumping ship.
But come on, TK. You aren't making it easy for us. 
Redemption?

DJ gets clipped on the cheek, poor fellah, he's down the runway but will almost certainly be back for the third.

TINIEST LITTLE PK
Morrow gets a penalty that starts with a faceoff in our zone. Alfredsson and Gonch just kill it at the facebook and get it to Wiercioch just in time to call it a PP goal. 
Pens get up fast on the PP but get no answer. The edge of the seat is officially occupied. 

MOST CONFUSING ONGOING DRAMZ
For some reason Neil and Murray keep happening into one another, as if that is even a thing that should happen. 
I mean, Neil is a disgusting monster, but he's not going to get anywhere with Murray.
I think we just keep him chained in the basement on off days and feed him raw meat. 
I'm just saying, we're afraid for a man's life here.

MOST OUTRAGEOUS WISH FULFILLED
When you ask TK for redemption, you maybe don't totally expect it.


SHAME ON YOU.
Cookie made it happen for him, setting up a pretty sweet play, but TK finished on it like he had something to prove.
...yeah.
Thanks, TK. We needed that from you.

We cruise into the end of the game, Vokoun standing strong in the face of a few good chances. 
Pens win.


INDIVIDUAL AWARDS 

MOST PIMPIN'
Seriously, Danny.
Fastest to 200 wins? 
We don't like our men to rush, but in this case, we're ecstatic. 
Also awarded to Vokoun for those sweet 300 wins. 

MOST OVERLY BLONDE
Just a second here to address this, you guys: Jussi, thank you for leaving the black mouth guard at home. 
Now, can we talk about this hair situation?
We need you to blend here in the 'burgh here a little more. Rust belters don't trust this look. Let's get you a freshman dorm room dye job soon, k?

ALTERNATE THREE STARS

Mattie - Keeping cool with all that extra attention. 
Mac - Stand by your man.
Crosby - For being our spirit animal. 

With playoffs are disorientingly close and half of our lineup in suits, it's so comforting to see us stay calm and work hard for a win. The penalties could have been controlled a little bit more, especially with a couple of To Much Man, but we can't say we didn't see it coming.
Still.
Let's cinch it in at the waist, you guys.
Keep strong. You're making it happen.
We can never say it enough.
Go Pens.
 

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Yesterday was another extremely difficult day in Boston.  Not trying to get super personal, but I think it's important to put this game in context.  I'm a pretty rural girl, having grown up in the kind of place where people don't lock their doors.  So waking up to 10+ text alerts from your place of employment and missed calls from close friends at 5:45AM telling me not to leave my house and that the MBTA was completely closed was pretty surreal.  I spent over twelve hours glued to my computer listening to a police scanner, in lockdown most of that time, under instructions from law enforcement along with most of the rest of the Greater Boston community to not leave my home or even open my shades.  This was because of the manhunt, which has been covered to hell and back in the US media, so I don't feel the need to bring you more deets--other than to say that it was bizarre, listening to the scanner all day, having no idea where this kid was and whether he was going to blow up someone's house within, idk, a mile of my own.  Then they said we were allowed to leave our homes again.  And then some poor dude in Watertown found a bleeding man in his boat.  And then, after some more police scanner craziness, they finally got the guy. Needless to say, the Pens game was cancelled.  

Last night was a beautiful night in eastern Massachusetts--warm, breezy, and misty, and once we were all allowed out of our houses, and we knew there were no more bombs in the city, I think we felt a whole hell of a lot better.  And we'd be up in the morning for hockey.

Needless to say, despite the army dudes with assault rifles and the fact that there were no fewer than eight large vehicles emblazoned with Homeland Security in front of TD Garden today, things are back to normal.  I know so, because frat boys were yelling over the Garden ice from the nosebleed seats to put Matt Cooke in a body bag and the boos rained down for everything from Jarome Iginla drawing breath to a hairline offside call.  Looks like we had a game on our hands

ROWDIEST CREW
The Bruins and their fans were like a band of drunken pirates out of the gate.  B's were getting all the shots, and like the villain in some kind of 90's buddy cop movie, Matt Cooke took a penalty.  Of course they were gonna score on that one.  About halfway through the period:





It made sense.  The Bruins had some exorcisms to do.  Even as a Pens fan I wasn't really gonna complain.  When I'm in an arena for a Pens game on the road I just try to smile and nod.  (Except when I'm in Nassau then I just shout.)  Really I just love hockey.  The Pens locking up the #1 seed flitted through my mind in this moment.

Before all that happened, Tanner Glass fought Adam McQuaid.  Standard ballroom dancing.  Yep this is the Boston game I'm used to.

MOST DANGEROUS GAME
Iginla got booed, by the way, every single time he touched the puck tonight.  It was like the Bruins fans totally forgot that Matt Cooke was even playing.  Iggy felt like he was getting shit so he eventually dropped the gloves with Horton for an unknown reason.  Horton did not return.  Everyone seems to think it was his hand and not his precious head.


Ridiculous fight.  Not a clue why this happened.  Or why Iggy was getting booed so much--really shouldn't everyone be mad at Jay Feaster for telling Chiarelli they had a deal before talking to his player or something?  BUT I DIDN'T SEE A "BURY FEASTER" BANNER NOW DID I BOSTON

the story of the game was blah blah blah penalties.  There weren't too many of them, but they seemed to fall at pivotal moments.  In both the second and the third period, penalties carried over from the previous frame.

THE BEST BASTARD LINE EVER GOD DAMN IT
Glass, Jokinen, and Adams are the forwards on the ice in the second period about five minutes in.  No idea why.  But it worked.  Craigsy and Tanner worked the Bruins defense over a bit and no one picked up Jussi, who was able to swoop in and make a diving play for the puck past Rask's hand.


Rask is trying really hard you guys.  But Juice and Craigsy and Glass are trying harder.  Tanner Glass assist alert, bringing his season point total to two~~~.

There was a sequence mid second period here it was all fucking Bruins all the time and the puck eventually was poked in, but the whistle had blown and also someone had tackled Vokoun.  So that was legal.

Equally legal was Chara remembering Matt Cooke and getting all up in his business and taking a penalty:




For this moment everything is amazing.  Jagr took a penalty at the end of the period because he's busy Jaromir-ing it up and didn't realize it was the end of the god damn period.


the vast majority of us do not miss you in your current form

unlike the Pens taking eight thousand penalties in the first period, the Bruins took eight thousand in the second period instead.  IN OUR DIFFERENCES WE ARE MUCH ALIKE

MOST SPECIAL
The third period really could have gone either way.
But it went a different way.  The Bruins looked a little unfocused and were not the shot-creating machine that they were in the first.  The Pens had found their legs.

And also their power play which is for some reason still amazing without Crosby, Malkin, and Martin.  Jesus.  Marchand tried to fight Jokinen for some reason but ended up just being a dick.




Bruins fans are busy booing Iggy, so he put a slapper in from the center point.  Eesh, Tuukka.  Yeeeeesh.




boooooooo Feaster boooooooooooo on you

A few minutes later the Pens get another PP.  This time Letang, who has been having one of those quiet, gentle, perfect, we-all-want-him-to-get-the-Norris-nomination games, puts one in from way up top.  Can't really boo anyone on that.  It's the unicorn blood within.


COME TO ME MY BRETHREN



MOMENT THAT EVERYONE IS ALLOWED TO SAVOR
The Bruins realized that time was running out on them eventually but they still played hard and tried to get just one more.  Tyler Seguin did get one with like 2 seconds left and my dear friend Paula, next to me in her Seguin jersey, was like, "Just one more!  We'll take it."



and so they did.

Pens win, 3-2.









INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

TENDER MOMENTS WITH TANNER GLASS



WHY AND HOW WAS THIS PHOTO ALLOWED TO BE TAKEN BY SOMEONE


ALTERNATIVE THREE STARS
1. Beau Bennett: should never not be in the lineup seriously

2. Iggy because iggy

3. Boston--thanks for getting back to normal, and for all your stupid townies on my post-game train who didn't know how many stops it was until Kenmore.  I love you.



I know that feeling safe outside of our own locked front doors meant a lot to everyone in the Garden this afternoon, win or lose.  It's all for the love of hockey.  See you in the playoffs dicks.





Dan Bylsma wore this shirt in his pregame interviews.  These are being sold by the Bruins.  There is a Red Sox version as well.  The proceeds from these shirts go in full to benefit the victims of the marathon bombings.  They can't make them fast enough because everyone is buying them, but they appear to be getting more hot off the presses all the time (like I think I bought mine right after it was pulled off a truck this afternoon).  If you're in Boston, you can pick one up, or buy directly from the Bruins pro shop here: http://www.bostonproshop.com/bosttee1.html

Please buy from the Bruins and not from some dude on the street or a third party website because hospitals are expensive as fuck and a lot of the people injured probably don't have health insurance at all.  It's a cool shirt and you are actually helping.  (I haven't taken mine off since I got home and it is already covered in cat hair--a symbol of love.)  You can also donate directly to One Fund Boston.

We'll be over here waiting to see whether we play Ottawa, Winnipeg, the Rangers, or maybe even the Caps.  Battles for the bottom seeds are absolutely wild right now.  Caps are 3rd seed but could fall totally out of the playoffs with one bad move.  Read: their division is butts.

Happy playoffs also to the Islanders and the Leafs.  We shall waltz at dawn.

go pens~~~






 

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The Habs are like this terrible thorn in your side that never ever goes away. And then, of course, the thorned area gets infected. And then gangrenous. And they bring Carey Price with them, too. 

He's so SAD. Not starting is a serious burn. He's gonna have to talk to mad jagerbombs to sort out this emotional tiff, you guys. 
Also, lols to Root for having the balls to go with "The Price is Wrong." You know at least one guy was saying "Should we? Nahhhh. Too overdone. Too Corny. Right? Should we?" Showing restraint is a sign of weakness, Root. Haters to the left. 

Whatever, Carey. We're sure we'll see you real soon, you son of a bitch. 
Okay, awards time, let's go.

CLOSEST TO THE SUN
The first opens up with some good up and down hockey. Really smooth - we look remarkable, considering. Actually, strike that. We don't look good in spite of anything, we just look good. 

Mattie, who is hilarious when presented with the Habs, is already being a riot. He takes exception to something, of course. What the thing was isn't so important, he was just kind of waiting for a reason, much like how most bar fights are started. Mattie's out there ranting and raving, burning the candle at both ends. The man is not afraid of anyone. He, of course, ends up in the penalty box. 

BEST BULLYING
You'd think this was heading Mattie's way, but nope. Just before the 4-4 winds down and our PP comes up, Suttsy lands one in the net like like it's nbd. 

Best part?

Laughing in the face of enemies is the #1 way Brandon Sutters take their victory, what about you?

MOST EXCELLENT DIVERSION
Dupes on the ice looks to the Habs like what an inflatable clown must look like to chainsaw-wielding maniacs.  
Anyone?

Am I too old to be alive?

Dupes, being a Man in Charge knows this, of course. So he waits until he's covered, drops the puck back for Morrow, who picks it up in the slot and puts it in the net.

It's sort of gorgeous. 

FEWEST SHITS GIVEN
We look like this amazing machine. We're like a car that woke up one morning without tires and was like FUCK IT LET'S GO. 
It's sort of terrifying that if you squint and don't think about it too much, this could be our healthy team. 
We're just going with it.

Nisky draws a penalty towards the end of the second and Iggy capitalizes. 




1 out over every 1 Jarome Iginlas agree that a smug smirk adds the greatest amount of insult to injury.

We go into the second gloating.

LEAST AVOIDABLE BAD KARMA
Okay, come on, when you found out that Carey P is here like some backup prom date, you start to laugh.
Because it's impossible not to.
We know it's terrible luck to do this, but really, that's like saying it's terrible luck to breathe. As the ocean crashes to shore, so do we mercilessly mock Carey Price. 

WHIFF MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED
BoBo - son, friend, lover, prodigy - sets up a good play for Morrow to get in on. They take it to the net and it gets a little dicey there for a second, but Morrow sort-of fans on the puck, which proceeds to just sneak in under CareCare's stick.




 GOLD METAL OF PERSEVERANCE
Brian Gionta tries to make us care about him by scoring, but fails. 
We're way too haughty for that at this point.

More importantly, soon after Morrow works so hard that it makes us weep, and Suttsy just gets into position and waits and waits and keeps that stick on the ice and makes space for himself and is just so wonderful we want to scream. It all pays off, of course, and Suttsy gets it in when it looks like there's no real chance, netting his second of the game.




It's innard-warming. 

And in order to lump two Habs goals into one award for the Penguins, I'll mention now that for some reason the Habs scored again before the end of the period. But whatever, we get a major penalty out of the second when Gallagher tries to force feed Mattie his stick. We head into the third with most of it left (and Mattie's face only a tiny bit bashed up.)

MOST INFURIATING SQUANDERING
Habs kill it, and then score. 
Media pretends it doesn't happen.
So do we. 
Somewhere, a Has fan whispers "third period team?" and a tiny part of each and every one of us dies. Never give them hope.

MOST IMPRESSIVE THEFT OF HOPE
If you really want to stomp someone's feelings, you can give them a heads up that you haven't scored since December 9th, 2010, and then skate on by to do this:




You go, Douggy. 

LEAST CORDIAL CHITCHAT
Morrow - who by the way also wins "blogger's pet" because players like him are basically the bread and butter of hockey bloggers - beats the shit out of Subban to the point that Steiggy gets concerned for his well being. That's a Gordie Howe hat trick for him tonight, by the by. The two of them head off to the box and proceed to shout at one another. 
Best part? Morrow points to the clock and tells Subban that when they get out, he wants to go again. Subban tries to act cool and fails. 
We'd be shitting our pants right about now, too.

Honest to his word, he keeps trying after the get out. Never gets his chance to show Subban what's what. 
A few crazy post shots and an unfortunate late Habs goal later, stick a fork in it.
Pens win.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH




hahahahahahahahahahah.
*sigh*

ALT THREE STARS
Dupes - For being the perfect man/player/person.
Kunitz - Basically for the same.
Iggy - As good for us as we'd hoped.

Maybe not the greatest finish with the late goal. but overall, we looked pretty good. Some patchwork to be done here and there, but the fact that we can ever have those weirdly smooth, impressively sharp periods of hockey without our "top players"?
We'll take it. 

On a more serious note:




We here at PH would like to share our support for Boston and the running community. Along with Zoe being a current Bostonian, we understand fiercely loving a place (and a niche sporting group, for that matter) and our hearts break for those who faced an attack so senseless.
Keep strong and only let yourselves become more fiercely loyal.

Team Lemieux runners, we're looking forward to watching you kick ass real soon. 

And, of course,
Go Pens. 
 

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Hello from Seattle.  I've missed a lot of hockey to be in the Pacific Northwest, drinkin' drinks and eating hot dogs with cream cheese on them.  Is this a Seattle thing?  Someone can clarify, perhaps.

Anyway, the Panthers.  Apparently Malkin was a late scratch--hopefully just one of those "let's rest him for the playoffs" things because, let's be honest, the Pens can't afford to take risks right now.  The win streak put us sitting pretty--perhaps dangerously--but at least we're not in the dogfight.

Seems like the Pens didn't really get going until late in the first period when Kris Letang bared his unicorn horn and put one in from the center point through a Big Deal screen.  Then, a few minutes later, Morrow, Bennett, and Vitale get nasty around Markstrom (who we really like btw, sorry folks).





this photo is ominous.  is that nisky looking like a mob boss?





triumph~~~~



the depth sure is showing with Sid and Malkin out of the lineup, eh, folks? 

Upshall got some garbage early in the second.  Accurate representation of your emotion at an Upshall goal:




ain't even no thang (we hope you are laughing at this crying fish because it is HILARIOUS).

But since then?  Just a lot of playin' it simple and strong.  Now is not the time to get fancy, after all.  Morrow empty netter at the end.

Solid road game idk.

go pens

cream cheese hawdogs 4ever

Stormed last night in Pittsburgh and today we play the Bolts.
Root is just spazzing over the pun possibilities. 
We're going to try to avoid it, but if they total 2 goals in the game...
There's going to have to be a striking twice joke. 
So sorry in advance. 

Let's get to the awards. 



MOST POWERFUL OVERLORD
Sid shows up in a suit. 
He's watching.
Waiting.

BEST RESULTS WITH LEAST EFFORT
I mean, we're not doing terribly. Just...you know. Sluggish.  But then, amidst the slumbering men on skates, Dupes chips it to Morrow, who gets it towards the net. It goes through the paint and Jussi gets a foot on it, sending it into the net. Refs rule no distinct kicking motion.




Look at the happy fans behind Jussi...we were LOUD in Tampa tonight.

Then, Kennedy creates a nasty rebound for Dupes to scoop up and get into the back of the net. Suddenly it's 2-0. We don't look too good, but man do the Bolts look bad.

If the game ended now we could headline this PENS STRIKE LIGHTNING TWICE or LIGHTNING GETS STRUCK TWICE. Or something else less horrible. 

Let's Go Pens! is drifting around the arena. It's a beautiful America for Pens fans.

MOST LAUGHABLE


Purcell thinks he's a real boy.



DOWNYEST SOFFNESS
Before the end of the first moseys around, Tanger lands the kushiest pass ever on Iginla's stick. No one likes a soff attitude, but soff hands? They're a beautiful thing.Gloves stuffed with down? #conspiracy
Iginla doesn't disappoint and totally snipes it into the net. 




You know that's right.


GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR PUNS YET
Connolly makes it easy:





LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE, NOT ENOUGH 

When horrible puns weren't happening, other less horrible people told the real story:




Hahahahahahaha. Yes.

MOST HULKED OUT
Malkin is kind of back, which is awesome. We've missed him. We almost forget what insane animalistic shit he can get up to.




Malkin undresses everyone (and their mothers, but that's later) and sends it home.


Shortly after Kunitz gets into some faces while battling on the boards. Malkin gets into a shovey shovey match. Engo and Cooke step in to defend their leader. It's so bromancey up in here that it's insane.

WAY MORE THAN THE TIP
Jussi moved to get to shot that Murray took. At first the word "tip" was used, but Murray had just been getting it past some Bolts - he got it close enough to Jussi, who sent it the rest of the 10-or-so feet it needed to go.




(Oh, hai black mouth guard, how are you today? What's that? In my nightmares, you say?)

BEST CHERRY POPPING
Murray goes into a fight with Crombeem helmetless. His first fight for us! He gets a good number of fists in, totally ignoring Crombeen's helmet. Then he started getting in body shots and goes after Crombeen's hand - treats in a hockey fight. Wonderful, wonderful treats.  And yes, I did just use Crombeen as many times as I could. That name. 


We'll always remember your first <3

MOST ADORABLE
Letang spends some time ruining lives, Gudus gets kicked out because [footage missing.] It's a little on edge out there, and it gets scrappy. We're up on the power play when something really special happens.

Tanner gets his first special teams goal. Bobby actually says "good for Tanner Glass!" like he is a proud father. We all feel proud. It's just...
Brings a tear to your eye, ya know?

EASIEST TO IGNORE
The Bolts get one in in the dying stretch. Whatevs. Fuck 'em. They just wanted to ruin the puns.

Pens Win.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

MOST PRESENT MEDIA
Overhead cam was on point tonight.




Alt three stars:
1. Tanner. Gawww.
2. Tanger. Obvs.
3. Tyler. Because this game is brought to you by the letter T.


Maybe if the Pens keep winning the cicadas won't come back. 
That's the only way it could get better, I think.
Saturday awaits.
Go Pens.

We know it's Staals tonight but we won't be drinking. We have more than enough to deal with. Look at this sad sadness:



We could drown our sorrows in vodka but we also might die.  Homemade french dip will probably alleviate the sorrow.

MOST DOOMSAYING
Everyone hates the Canes and think they are awful, apparently.  Canes got an early PP after Engo fought some asshole.  Eric Staal (drink if you're paying attention) goes to the box 30 seconds after Craigsy obviously slashed someone, probably because he forgot he was human.

Then Chris Kunitz gently touched Jeff Skinner and Skinner was felled like the tiniest flower.  Errey with the diver accusations but in the most loving way possible.

But that doesn't stop the Canes 4 on 3 goal:





0-1
pretty nasty.

LEAST LIKELY TO
If you told us like five minutes ago that Bortuzzo was gonna go to the net for a tap-in, we would have gently chuckled at you the way we gently chuckle and are past the point of caring about the assholes who comment on the Pens Instagram.  But he went to the net on Peters and Dupuis fed him a pass.  Bye.

1-1

further inspection indicates that Bort may also be a velociraptor.





MOST PROBLEMS SOLVED
We were ready to start modifying our picnic guest list (Jeff Skinner no longer invited ever) and chalk the rest of the first up to ancient curses and a few too many Moon Pies, but Jokinen got a puck up to Brenden Morrow after a Canes turnover at the blueline.  Morrow was basically one-on-one in the slot with some dickbag.  Backhand-forehand and an absolutely nasty shot.  He fell while he was scoring.  Brooks got him the puck.  His first as a Pen--it's moments like these we kind of live for.










2-1 feels pretty good right about now.

BLOOD?
This guy's name is Bob Sanguinetti which sounds like a name from Harry Potter or True Blood.
Canes faceoff win.  Just got it to the net.  Uhhhhh.




Canes celebrate.  We just feel icky.


next shift Douglas Murray almost scored and we had already named the triplets.
EACH STAAL BROTHER HAS AN ASSIST, Steiggy says.  That's worth at least a shot or two.  Rest of the period, there are flashes of something--like catching your heart in your throat when Malkin and Iginla are passing to each other--but nothing much.  Feels like we've already been here for 8 years.

MOMENT EVERYTHING WAS BEDTIME STORIES
steiggy and errey started telling stories about Finnish people to deal with the uneventful moments that were the first 10 minutes of the second period.  Two teams just trying to score but not super jammed up about it yet.  Peters and Fleury both holding the fort.  Pens get a PP but not much is going on.  Jeff Skinner thinks his mother is a bit late bringing him his warm milk, throws a tantrum. . .or slashes someone.  Would be interesting to see. . .something.  Anything.
Morrow got us excited right before the penalty call by driving to the net like his life depended on it.

Jokinen and Malkin almost made Serious Magic at the tail end of the PP but nothing was going on.  Skinner out of the box almost gets a break.  Errey says the Canes fans have awakened from their naps and realized that Brooks Orpik exists still.  Cue Erik Cole reference.

STILL DRUNK
Jordan has played more minutes in this game than his brother Eric to start the third.  Imagine that.

Pens got into some trouble behind their own net.  Who the hell is Riley Nash?  all alone in front.


vomit

MOMENT YOU WOKE UP
Pens grinders have something going.  Beau Bennett is out there making magic with Craigsy and Tanner.  Beau went to the net.  Nifty backhander.  Rebound goes off of some Cane though we had some fleeting hope that Tanner Glass got his butt on it.  Nothing doing with that dream.  But BeauBeau hasn't lost a step.





Next shift Malkin and Iginla come out.  They went to the net.  Malkin would have done anything to get to that puck.  Pretty much anything.  He ended up wildly poking it in while one-handing his stick.

All of a sudden it is 4-3.  Gene has completed his spirit quest.




bitches we still here.

blah blah Canes pull Peters and the Pens defend the net like champs.

Dupes gets the empty net.

5-3

We don't understand this game but we'll damn well try.  We think we just had to find the monster within.  Eric Staal remembers.  It's a young monster now.  But we'll watch it grow.



PENS WIN 5-3 BYE

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

YOU KNOW WHO WE ALWAYS FORGET ABOUT




ALTERNATIVE THREE STARS

1. Mark Eaton.  Our favorite American soldier.  +3

2. Brooksie.  Seems to be back to his old self a little tiny bit and was a +4 this evening.

4. Admiral Adams, because when Admiral Adams has had a multi-point game, it is a very special and hallowed night indeed.



Go make your babies.

Go Pens.

So we've been doing this tumblr thing for a couple games now. WAIT NO, SERIOUSLY, TWO GAMES. It has been rightly mentioned that there may be a curse. This is number three. Should we lose this game, I promise we'll burn it all down. (Hints and tricks - if you are reading this intro, we probably won.)

Let's hope it doesn't come to that. 


MOST FURIOUS FISTS
Halfway though the first, Engo is as bored as we are.
Sure the game is looking good, sans the moments when we for some reason cram all three forwards into a corner (not acceptable, jags) but it's certainly not everything we dreamed it would be and more.
So Engo fixes it by putting his fists onto the face of Ryane Clowe. It's pretty great to see, especially when we get to watch it again in slow motion. Hell yeah.


Later, for your pleasure, Clowe undresses in the penalty box. It's confusing and weird but sort of okay if you squint and pretend he's still a Shark.

WEAKEST
Nothing else really happens. 
Well, there's a penalty that we all think was called and get angry about, but it turns out it wasn't real.
And there are some okay scoring chances.
And the Rags are waiting for our turnovers on neutral ice like sharks swarming for chum, which is a little scary because we're like, really good at turnovers if you catch us on the wrong day.
Overall, actually, it's pretty excellent hockey to watch, but we won't be talking about it next week. 

MOST DEAD FROM OXYGEN DEPRIVATION
The second period politely introduces itself to us by letting Sutter get his hand messed up on a faceoff. GTFO, second period. Suttsy goes off the ice in some obvious pain and eventually hits the runway. We all hold our breath.

He comes back pretty quickly, but you didn't survive that unless you are some trained deep-water diver or something. 

UNFORTUNATE APPEARANCE


Go home, creepy black mouth guard. You are not with the band. 

MOST EXCELLENT FAILURES
Th play on the ice is fast and exciting and pretty wonderful. Some of our guys come up HUGE but don't come out of it with anything. Malkin and Iginla get absolutely wild in front of the net and it's some weird anti-miracle that it doesn't go in the net.

Later, Dupes, fanciest skater alive, makes some cool stuff happen. It all looks so GOOD but we just can't finish. PLEASE, GOD, LET US FINISH.

Well. Third period team?

MOST FORTUNATE APPEARANCE

OH HEY THERE BLACK MOUTHGUARD YOU BE LOOKIN' FLY TONIGHT HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU HOW GREAT YOU ARE?
Jussi does it. It's too pretty for us to admit. And too pretty for press to present to you in a timely way.
If there's any way to break down our icy exteriors, it's to get one on the board for the Pens. 

MOMENT EVERYONE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEARNED THAT MAF IS A MAGICAL CREATURE SENT FROM ABOVE
MAF is coming up all aces in general, so when a D tie-up results in a wide open MAF and Stepan right in front of him with the puck. Due to witchcraft and witchcraft alone, the flower pulls of some shit like bards used to talk about.




Whaaaaat?! Your screams alert everyone in the surrounding area that Greatness just went down.
Too good.

MOST IN NEED OF A HUG
Neal gave us a brief scare early in the third when he took a hit to the midsection and had the wind knocked out of him. Halfway through the third, though, Del Zotto catches him on the chin and knocks the sense out of him. You can actually see Neal ask what happened, as he sits on the ice, looking confused. There's some blood in his mouth, and we're all really just hoping it looks worse than it is. He heads to the runway, looking dazed.

WAR HERO
It all kinda starts to fall apart when Murray really just takes it to Boyle, cutting it close to being a late hit. And it's an EPIC hit. Then we get a PP that is of at least mildly questionable validity (although, fuck them, they slashed and hacked their way through the first few seconds.) MAF grabbed Clowe's stick after the shoved around, and it ends in MATT COOKE GOING INSANE TO THE ENTIRE RAGS BENCH. He just stands there and bitches out fattie for a whole minute.


It's weird. And awesome.

MOST CONFLICTING EMOTIONS
First, this happens. 


And the call goes upstairs, and we all know it's no goal, and the call is amazing and all hail MAF.

While still hailing MAF, the Rags somehow get it behind him in the blink of an eye off of the faceoff. Obviously no one is blaming MAF too much for it, especially because the play should have been dead (have we mentioned that the refs are dogshit tonight?) thanks to Sutter playing it with his hand, but still, it's depressing.

But then! This: 




What is a human with limited emotional range to do? THERE ARE TOO MANY FEELINGS. 

The game heads into overtime, everyone reeling.

(Sorry for the horrible screencapping - MAF is too on fire tonight and the press is too spotty. Spending a game with your finger on "print screen" is a fun experience, btw. Try it some time.)

NEWEST SHIT LIST MEMBER
Del Zotto, you're going in the books.
First you clip Neal.
Then you act like a fool to Malkin in OT?
Welcome to a prestigious list of people we want dead.

HARDEST LIFE
So, MAF just barely covered a Rags win. 
Gasp, gasp.
And then OT is over. You guys, I didn't even finish my OT drink and now I need to start a SO drink?
Ugh.

SCARIEST SHOWDOWN
We have not done many SOs this season, and our lineup is BARE. Crosby? Nope. Tanger? Nope. Neal? Nope. 
But, oh, dat Jussi.
THANK YOU BLACK MOUTH GUARD. Totes nails it on his signature move.
MAF shuts erryone else down (hah, fattie) and sends us home with the win, securing our fate on Tumblr. 

INDIVIDUAL AWARD

CALLED IT


Said we'd win. Why? Jussi. Guess who knows his shit? 

ALT THREE STARS
James Neal - trooper
Dupes - dem legs
MAF - no subtext needed.

So hey! No curse!
New streak!
Never losing again!
Get some sleep. Come playoff time you won't be able to.
Go Pens!




 

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