Ice Bowl and Catch-up recap

Hello All and welcome back from the holidays! I've been merry-making with friends and family the past two weeks and have been unable to blog while doing so. Hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Well, let me begin by saying..."WOW!". What a tremendous job the NHL and Buffalo did with the "2008 winter Classic" yesterday! The weather was, as expected in January in Buffalo, the stadium was electric, and the game was one that will be remembered for ages.

The Pens got on the board at 0:21 of the first period with a goal by Colby Armstrong and a sweet assist from Crosby. Buffalo tied up the game early in the second and the score remained 1-1 through overtime. The Pens won the shootout and game 2-1. Shootout goals were scored by Letang with Crosby chipping in the winner by beating Miller 5 hole.

Nearly from the start of the contest snow began to fall. And it hardly let up throughout the game. The game was stopped in all 3 periods and before OT to repair the ice with the Zamboni's. The NHL's ice crew was also called out several times to repair large divots in the ice in front of the player benches. While the stoppages in play were unusual they were warranted by the weather and conditions. In an attempt to make the playing field more even in overtime, the NHL decided to stop the game halfway through the extra period so the teams could change sides. This reasoning would have been more meaningful if the ice conditions were better since one team would have had a large advantage with the wind at their backs.

Ty Conklin got his 5th win in six appearances. He has proven himself to be a more than capable replacement for the injured Marc Andre' Fleury the past 3 weeks and is challenging Sabourin for the backup job when Fleury returns. He has posted a 2.35 GAA and a .925 SV% (admittedly in a much lower number of games) which is best on the squad. Conklin posted his first shutout of the season, and third of his career three days earlier in a 2-0 win also against the Sabres.

Since my prediction on 11/25/07 that the team had turned a corner (see: click here)
the Pens have won 13 of 18 games and have managed to pull within one point of the Atlantic Division leader New Jersey Devils. I am extremely happy to have been proven correct on that prognostication!

Remembering back to last season (if my brain allows accurate thought at this time) the Pens had a bit of a slump before going into a 14 or 15 game unbeaten streak. Here's to hoping that the current winning streak of four games continues through the month and through the upcoming All Star break.

Injury Update: Ryan Malone returned after missing 2 weeks on Tuesday. Fleury and Talbot, both recovering from high ankle sprains, have been skating daily and look to return soon. Mark Eaton has been sidelined indefinately with an ACL tear after a horrible slew foot by Marco Sturm during the Bruins last week. By the way NHL, where is the suspension and/or fine on that one?? Gary Roberts is also out indefinately with a broken fibula. Ouch! The iron man even walked off the ice after that one, albeit supported by 2 teammates but on his feet nonetheless.

Next up: Thursday 1/3 vs Toronto.

News of note: The Pens/Panthers game on Saturday 1/5 has been moved to 3pm due to the Steelers game being scheduled at 8pm at Heinz Field. Here we go Steelers, here we go!