Blingee some Valentines/other greetings for the Pens and e-mail them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  We will use them in the wake of the Avs game on Wednesday to either comfort or celebrate with the Pens.  If we get enough we will send them to the Pens front office to show that we care and maybe the players will actually see them.  Maybe.  We need the world to continue to appreciate the art that is Blingee and allow it to grow, organically, from our love and appreciation of hockey.
 
please use the subject line "always and forever."
DO NOT SEND THROUGH BLINGEE OR ATTACH THE FILE; if you can, please obtain the URL and paste it into an e-mail. 
this is for real, guys.

GO PENS. 

look at that smile.

We find that the actual scores and events of these games are hardly newsworthy when we're lucky to come out of every 20-minute period without a season-ending injury. We find it more newsworthy the way the NHL is handling everything day-to-day. We find it more newsworthy that Brett Sterling is stepping it up at this level. We find it more newsworthy the way Kris Letang skill skates his balls off to exit the zone and the start the breakout on one of his last shifts of the game, with no real chance of a comeback.

It is absolutely about survival and nothing else at this point. We're already in our playoffs. The Pens know that, it seems. If everyone were writing this off as a lost season, you wouldn't see the attitude or behavior that you see among the Penguins, in their locker room, at their practices. They still want to be here. So should you.

So wipe off the dirt.
We on to the next one.

Nick Johnson in this picture has already been mistaken for Brent Johnson by the fine folks at Getty. No one even knows who are team is anymore, except us, and the guys wearing the jerseys. And that's not a bad thing. Everyone can hate us. Fuck them. We're still here. Tank ain't empty yet.

10 games for Eric Godard, 9 games for Trevor Gillies, 4 games for Matt Martin.
We're picking up what Mario's putting down. We get that he is a private dude. We wouldn't want to subject ourselves to the way the current hockey media is, either.

Suck it.

Pens don't play til Wednesday. Get some rest.

Go Pens.

I just caught up with the Pens/Rangers game after spending four hours under red lightbulbs in a darkroom, and here's what I return to. Pens had a 2-goal lead in this game and have since given up six unanswered goals to the Rangers including three power play goals. Um.

Mario Lemieux released this statement today:

“Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn’t hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that.

“The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed.

“We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players. We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action.

“If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it.”

This game was not that exciting.
It was well played, good hockey, but really, not that exciting.
I'm sorry, was I supposed to lie to you? We were playing the Kings for Curry's sake.
I mean, yeah, it's exciting that everyone gets to talk about Scuderi playing the Pens, blahblahblah, but overall, nothing much happened.
Which is kind of nice when your heat goes out in the freezing cold and then for once the fire evacuation isn't a drill, your apartment building is actually on fire.
A nice, simple hockey game in which the Pens take home two points.

So, while I try to figure out why the hell this backup space heater isn't working, let's roll out a quick awards show.

BEST LIFESAVING SKILLZ
Nothing really happens at all until we're damn near midway through the first period. 
Gogo finds himself in the box for inappropriate touches of the ref's wife, and the Kings have a chance to pull ahead. 
MAF gets stuck out of the net chasing kittens into the stands, which leaves Justin Williams a welcoming net in which to place the puck. While this moment was heart wrenching, I can never take Justin Williams seriously, because he shares a name with this childhood friend of mine:


Anyway, Michalek, who according to the press doesn't exist, pulls off a little move that we call a "panty dropper" here in the professional hockey journalism world, and saves all of our asses from the despair of being down 1-0 to the Kings. Someone has been taking classes at the Y in his spare time.

Gogo immediately gets out of the box and damn near hits the twine at the opposite end of the ice.
What could have been a disaster comes up seeming more like motivation.
Good job, boys.

CUTEST BABY PHOTOS
Brett Sterling is here for less than ten minutes before he gets on the board for the Pens. 
He takes the momentum the save and gogo rush have built up and cashes in on it  by tossing the puck over Quick's shoulder.
The press brings us a touching photo of reunitied teammates .

We kind of want to carry it around in our wallet with us to show friends.
Unfortunately, that FUCKING MISERABLE FAILED ABORTION OF A CHILD LOOKS SO DISCONTENT.
OH MY GOD I AM SO SORRY THAT YOU AREN'T PEERING DIRECTLY ONTO THE GLOWING FACE OF SIDNEY CROSBY. 
We have a duty to raise our children to love all Pens equally, and someone has failed.


Brooks looks proud. And Handsome. 
Also, I am two inches taller than Brett. 
*sigh*

THE MURDER VISION AWARD
Some other things happen, and then some others.
Michalek gets us all pregnant again.
DJSkillz does some neat things.
And then, Jarret Stoll somehow gets the puck behind MAF. It makes no sense, especially seeing as according to the press Jarret Stoll is this glass of milk:

However, after looking into it, we found this really concerning photo from a Sharks game.

If his photos always come out like that, we can understand press avoiding Bloody Murder of the photography world.

WORST FACIAL HAIR
In the second period, my apartment building is smoldering from what was probably a pizza left in an oven somewhere by some way cool dudes who drank wicked beers last night at Stacy's party.
Somewhere in Pittsburgh, however, Westgarth and Engelland decide it is time to exchange some words, maybe compare their taxes, ask about the wife and kids, etc.
While we don't like posting pictures of our guys taking hits in fights, this one is an exception:

While Engelland may be about to take that fist to some location on his body area, at least he does not have some sort of mangled sideburns/mustache deal going on. We think that Westgarth is gearing up to pull a Starburns here.
There is never any reason for your facial hair to be like that. Starburns are not an excuse.

THE MOST FML MOMENT
Dustin Jeffrey has a lower-body injury and will not return.

 YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING US.
When is this going to end srsly we are no longer feeling fun and fanciful about overcoming adversity with a broken team.
This is balls.

MOST ADORABLE BFF MOMENT
Simmonds decides to start yelling at Kris Letang's hair for being so beautiful and luxurious.

Ryan Craig says no, not on his call-up time.

This is a really weird photo.
I think they may actually be dancing. 
Who are the BFFs here? The world may never know.

AWESOMEST PHOTO

The game goes into OT tied at 1-1, but not without providing this treasure. 

MOMENT WE HAVE MISSED THE MOST THIS SEASON
It's so nice having Jordan back.
Not only is it just good to have a healthy Staal when everyone else is dead and gone, it's great to see him back with the guys just because he's so expressive and hilarious on the ice.
He goes all out for OT and, just by the skin of our teeth, gets it into the net before the SO.

So refreshing.

Pens 2 Kings 1
Pens Win

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

BEST GOAL REACTION
Did you think we were lying when we said Staal is expressive?
Seriously.
Nothing warms our heart like his scoring. And when the press is on board to catch it, everything is wonderful.





ALT THREE STARS

1) Michalek, for being the alternate goalie.
2) Brooksy, because he's handsome.
3) Dupuis, for absorbing all of the loving from Staal like a well conditioned sponge.


So there you have it, a hard fought game that we came away with despite the fact that our team is limping along the side of the road in the snow.
It's called heart.
Here's to another win tonight.
Cause as we all know full well, we're never losing again.
Go Pens.

Matt Cooke's much-discussed hit on Fedor Tyutin last night has earned him a 4-game suspension, and we head into tomorrow's home game against the Los Angeles Kings one sudden broken finger away from signing some dude off the street to a one-day tryout contract or some shit.

The sudden loss of Chris Kunitz seemed devastating. You wanted to take back all of the vicious comments you made about his bad passes to Malkin, but you couldn't, because they'd already been said. Now, Matt Cooke goes down, and when he isn't charging people he's playing pretty good hockey with tons of hustle. The Pens will undoubtedly need some offensive help. Especially with this man in the house:

total intentional photo choice.

Malkin's knee surgery is tomorrow, which makes the reality of the Penguins' recent injury loss all the more real. So far all of the injuries have come at forward, but when your system emphasizes offensive zone shifts as the best defense, you don't give your poor defensemen much of a margin for error. The Pens aren't scoring easily--it's a fact. Any mistake that leads to a goal is devastating. Any undisciplined penalty is a fucking disaster for the team, because the hockey gods won't always be kind to the Penguins' PK, no matter how beastly it is.

Our inspiration for tomorrow night is Craig Adams, who has received the A in the absence of Crosby and Malkin, along with Jordan Staal and Brooks Orpik.

Scott for scientific method, Amundsen for speed and efficiency but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Craig Adams.

Really, there are very few rocks on this team right now. The boys need all the guidance and defensive forward ability that they can get.
And when someone scores, we hope it's someone like Max Talbot or Chris Conner or Dustin Jeffrey or Tyler Kennedy. They're the boiler experts/firemen of this crew.
It's a long way to Elephant Island.


GO PENS.

First of all we would just like to say that in our pregame meeting with both teams, this is not the outcome that was discussed.
Last we spoke with them, the Pens were pumped and ready to go, and Rick Nash was promising that he would not give us any trouble, knowing that we are terribly upset about all the injuries. 
From what we understand, the deal went sour.
Maybe Steve Mason is no longer threatened by our blackmailing him with pictures of him OBVIOUSLY WEARING MANDLES, CARGO SHORTS, AND A TWINE BRACELET.
He thinks he can say he plays for a Western conference team and get off the hook for this, but as we explained to him, he is not actually in any western place at all, letalone coastal California. 
Or maybe Rick Nash figured out  a way to get his own cake.
We've been holding him in our grasp for eons with our secret Puck Huffers Magic Carrot Cake recipe.

Curry forbid he discover our secret.
Or, perhaps, Dorsett is very accurately calling our bluff that we'll turn in the stacks of evidence we have against him concerning a few felony charges.

Whatever the case, this was a fluke.
One that was about mandles and cakes and a Dodge Durango that went missing on April 18th, 2010.
It's nothing to get down about in these trying times. 
And thus, as always, this game is a red carpet event.

MOMENT YOU WERE PRETTY AMPED UP FOR FROM THE BEGINNING
Maybe it's the fact that we're so close to Columbus that they have an oddly large rivalry with us considering we're across the conference line.
Maybe it's because when their arena hosts the Pens, it's the only time they can sell out.
Whatever the case, these guys don't like one another too much. We bitches here at PH love the Pens and think the BJs are cute, but in the end, that's not how they see one another.
So, when a tangle in front of the net involves Derek Dorsett, you're looking for something to start. And Benny Lovejoy steps up to the plate.

They go at it for a little bit, and we're all pretty pleased to be hockey fans.
The relationship between the NHL and fighting in games is tenuous at best, so let's enjoy what we see.


THE GOAL WE KNEW WE'D COME TO LAUGH ABOUT
Brassard and Nash do something that is actually pretty clean, but we're just going to assume that it was terrible luck on our part and we'll pick it up in a minute. 

It's the Blue Jackets for Curry's sake.
Get a grip people.
We're gonna get this one back before ya know it.

THE MOMENT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LEAST
Brassard is in love with Tyutin, Cookie finds out about their love affair, and it all results in a whole lot of penalty time that people will probably go to their graves upset over. 
No photos of this treasured moment exist yet, so all we have to say is



THE MAN WHO WILL NOT BE THE SCAPEGOAT FOR THIS LOSS

MAF is a hero.
He stones Tyutin at the end of the first, and Nash to commemorate the beginning of the second.
Remember that 3 minute PK? Yeah.
We have recording devices with all of you. Say one negative thing, you implode.

THE MOMENT YOU PAUSED, TOOK A DEEP BREATH, AND TRIED TO CONVINCE YOURSELF IT WAS GONNA BE OKAY
Pahlsson gets a garbagey goal off his body.
You aren't too pleased about this, but remind yourself that it will all be okay and that Curry loves his little children, all the children of the world. 
Just in case you're down just thinking about this time, here is a photograph that is not of the event, and is instead quite delightful.

Okay, so, 2-0, we can do tha-

MOMENT YOU STARTED TO WELL UP AND WONDER WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING TO YOU
Time flies while you are waiting for your team to come back from a two point lead.
These goals are seperated by a lot of time but feel damn near consecutive.

This is when we start to realize the deal had gone sour.
All the fighting, the three goal defecite... 
This was starting to feel like deciet. We released the scent of carrot cake into the visiting bench in hopes we would distract Fattie. We also use this in extreme cases with Chris Osgood and various other NHL fatties. Always remember to install your cake scent simulator. 

BEST USE OF CARROT CAKE SCENT
The President takes advantage of the weakened state of team CBJ. 
We thought it may be the guys getting back in line for a second, but as we know now it was just a brief lapse into cake haze.
There's no picture as of yet, so take this first period photo and pretend that THIS goal worked, and it almost makes it worth 4 points.


THE MOMENT THE DEAL WAS PRETTY MUCH SEALED

We hate to call it a game before the time guys do it for us, but our comeback frame of mind was kind of blown after this one.

BEST DEATH RATTLE

If it was all for this photo, it just may have been worth it.

Jackets 4 Pens 1
Pens lose

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

THE COLOR US SURPRISED AWARD
Press missed a few chances but still made good on some other opportunities.

We'll take it.

ALTERNATIVE THREE STARS
All three are distributed among the boys of the IR, who need some lovin' about now.


Our team is beat to hell and back, but after the smoke has cleared and we push some wreckage out of the way, we can see that our team goes deep.
We don't make it all the time due to bad nights, screw ups, and deals gone bad, but we've got a lot to be happy about as fans.
Don't get down - this is when it gets hard.
Luckily, the Pens are never losing again.

Go Pens. 

Hair League updates will soon follow. We're still reeling from the utter and complete loss of Gene. Here's that illustration again, just to get you upset:


Letestu had surgery. Still six weeks on him at least. Sid? No clue. We're on borrowed time right now. We will have to grind out Every Single Thing.

With these heavy thoughts in your heart, why don't you complete the Marry, Fuck, or Kill for tomorrow's opponent:


JAKUB VORACEK
This international man of mystery isn't good looking. Even we would not try to argue that. But, he's Jakub Voracek. He's clearly hilarious. Take this example we found here:

The father of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jakub Voracek caught a six-foot-five-inch hammerhead shark on Wednesday near Miami, according to the Columbus Dispatch. While the Shark was tossed back, Voracek's father has video and pictures to prove it. "I've seen the picture," Voracek told the newspaper. "It's uglier than me."

First off we're happy he's learned English. Second, isn't someone that self-aware just so lovable?


DEREK DORSETT
Is a man.


ROSTISLAV KLESLA
His name is Rostislav. He is a Czech defenseman. He is awkward and would probably buy you flowers.

LADIES, MAKE YOUR PICKS. And gentlemen.

This coming hockey is not for the faint of heart.
Go Pens.

oh, wait.

Clearly, in a 3-0 victory, Caps fans have a lot to complain about:





Ovechkin crying because he accidentally blocked a shot and thought he'd been hit with enemy gunfire.
maybe.


dick.


OH NOES NOT MICHAEL GREEN

NBC's broadcast of the game was atrocious.
Best part was "great job by the Caps!" on holding the Pens off when the Pens are running out of offensively-minded players to skate.
We can definitely win games with this team. We certainly have. But you don't get them all. And Neuvirth was a bit obese. Lots of missed chances.

There's a Super Bowl today. Go Pittsburgh.
Go Pens.

It's pretty clear that most hockey fans disagree with the whole mashup of sports. No one likes the guy in the Steelers jersey at the game on any given night. But in this case, of course, we accept it for the sake of Pittsburgh pride.
Anyway, we're not getting into the Superbowl. Go Steelers n'at, but we're here for the hockey.

This game was weird, plain and simple. If you were looking for something to mess with your emotions last night, you certainly got it. Would we give up a win against the Sabres to have Malks not injured for five minutes? Maybe, maybe not. We have to think on that one.
Let's do some quick awards in the meantime. 

MOMENT YOU DEFINITELY STILL REMEMBERED BY THE END OF THE GAME BUT MAYBE CARED A LITTLE LESS ABOUT

When the puck ended up in our twine and the Sabres started celebrating as soon as the game came on, we were almost certain that it had to be some sort of Sabres highlight reel playing that was not a part of the game. Scoring in the first few seconds of the game gives everyone an uncomfortable feeling, even when it's your own team. We just want a little warm-up time, guys.
When it isn't your team?
Then it's uncomfortable and awful. 
Luckily we know these goals well, and we understand that goals in the opening seconds rarely mean anything other than some quick, lucky bounces for the opposing team. 
We don't let it get us down.


THE MOMENT YOU STARTED TO LET IT GET YOU DOWN

When only a little while later Grier puts the puck in front of MAF in a relatively easily contained way and a freakish series of events land it on Engelland's skate, we're suddenly down 2-0 in what seems like a crazy flukey way. 
We're hanging on strong to HOPE and FAITH, but we're starting to get a little worried that this may be one of those games where the bounces are just working against us.
A few disagreements on the ice lead us into a series of penalties for both teams, and we eventually head into the second with over a minute of power play.
Maybe things will finally start going our wa-

MOMENT THAT MADE YOU CRINGE UNCOMFORTABLY

And it's official - we can't catch a fucking break.
And neither can Malks, clearly. After a sinus infection and long-term knee issues, Malks hits the ice again, this time clutching the OTHER KNEE.
You're about to throw in the [terrible] towel. 
This blows.

BEST REVENGE
Finally, the bounces start working in our favor, probably because the universe feels sorry for giving a hard time to the Greatest Human.

DJ Dance Party gets the puck near enough to the net that it hops in off of Connolly's skate.
You are familiar with moments like these. They are called turnarounds, and you will be taking yours now, please.

MOST LIKELY TO BE RE-ELECTED FOR ANOTHER TERM IN OFFICE

In the interest of taking care of business, our President and yours, Tyler Kennedy, sees to it that the turning point opportunity is not in vain - suddenly it's 2-2 and we can see the Sabres sweatin' it a little. 
The know a train coming when they see one.

MOMENT THE SABRES SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN OFF THE TRACKS


And that is how you take a lead.
Bitches.

PERIOD IN WHICH WE KEPT SAID LEAD
Third period is just about keeping one step ahead. 
Paul Martin acts like a fucking genius.
Conner has some nice shifts.
All in all, we hold it down.
And it pays off.

PENS 3 SABRES 2
PENS WIN

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

MOST TERRIFYING

Lindy Ruff, your existence is a mystery as old as time to us.

ALTERNATIVE THREE STARS

1) Kris Letang

Might need a haircut, but still charms us on ice.

2) Malkin

For being a trooper, and because we miss staring at your slackjawed face with wonder.

3) MaxTal

Because we're looking for him to have another crazy power game, and maybe getting a star will pump his ego enough to get it done.


Post later tonight on truly ridiculous things.
Sunday, of course, go Stillers.
Pens are never losing again.

Go Pens.


 

Look at Gene, with his mouth all open and shit.
This photo represents a time we want to forget soon, when the Winter Classic was the biggest deal ever and Sid and Evgeni couldn't get shit going. And we were all taking crap for it.
If Gene's knee is in fact 100%, tonight's the night he gets to show it.

Sid's visiting Trina and Troy.  Eating oatmeal while watching Project Runway reruns.  etc.
It's like every day of your winter break, basically.

Also, ever remember how no one cares about the Heritage Classic?
Well, we just found out, it's in like 2 weeks. Catch up on it? If you care?
God the Flames are in it. What garbage.

btw, Brent Johnson literally broke DiPietro's face. And apparently he has a swollen knee. 4-6 weeks out. Dang.

Tonight's going to be weird.
Go Pens.