Pretty nice highlight video of some of the Pens moments in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Short mashup of Eileen from Blawnox calling into KISS 96.1





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A few months ago it was difficult to imagine that the Pens would ever end up not only in the NHL Playoffs, but with home ice advantage to boot. This season has been a wild ride of ups and downs, cheer and agony, love and not love as much. But all along the players, organization and most of all fans, never gave up the hope. After the devastation of coming so close in the finals last year, it looks like the Pens are geared up for another strong run at The Cup.

Playoff hockey is just about here!

BelieVe! LET'S GO PENS!

After a thrilling comeback in what turned out to be one of the most entertaining games of the season, the Pens faced the Panthers in a heated shootout. Hoping the luck we witnessed last week in Washington would somehow carry over, fans sat on the edge of their seat. With some heluva-moves Letang, Malkin and Fleury chalked up the additional point.

As if the game wasn't good enough, the hockey gods graced us with a Geno interview. Evgeni Malkin's post game interview was awesome as usual. Listen closely to when he explains how he practices the shootout.

Some of us made the trip out to see the Pens take on the Blackhawks. Thankfully, our good buddy, @spony was able to get a few video highlights of the outing.

Funniest thing had to be Toews getting the hat trick, then having it recalled, then getting it again...all this on free hardhat night.

This may have been one of the best games we've been to in a long while. Even though it was frustrating to see the lead slip every time the Pens went shorthanded, Geno's gwg in OT made it all worthwhile.

After the dismal performance Monday night in New York, it was starting to look pretty gloomy. Pens fans were starting to stir and the All Star Game couldn't come soon enough. Alas, reason to rejoice! The Pens top Atlanta 3 - 1 at Mellon Arena and the slump is (at least temporarily) over. So what if they are the worst defense in the league, we won. If this would have gone the other way, who knows what type of rioting would have arisen in the strip post game.



Time to look at the pluses. Fleury looked like he was returning to his All-Star-hopeful-self. Making a handful of game changing saves to keep the Pens in the game. It was even looking like he could go for the shut out for a while there. Malkin put up three more points to increase his league points lead back to 10. Crosby scored in dramatic fashion with a waist-high redirect. The defense looked good all around, not allowing many breaks and making wiser passes. Ruslan Fedetanko got a nice shot on that damned Colby Armstrong, even though he had to leave the game after. And of course...Petr Gunn was so close to a hat trick he could taste it. He was practically drooling when the Thrashers pulled Lehtonen with a little over a minute remaining. But couldn't quite close the deal due to a Kozlov cross-checking penalty. Maybe next time Sykora! Keep shootin buddy.

Even though it was a small victory and only two points, it's a start. The first power play goal of the game appeared to rejuvinate the boys and the rest was history. All hope is that it sticks and we continue to build confidence and gain momentum enough to keep racking up the wins. Come on...how depressing was it to see the graphic with Pittsburgh out of the playoff picture? We can't have that now!

The Penguins lost to the Flyers Saturday 6-3. The Special teams were the clear difference in this game, as the Flyers won their fourth straight game. The Penguins gave up four power-play goals and scored only one of their own, after the game was already pretty much decided. The Pens were also outshot 27-26, only the sixth time they've been outshot in the last 19 games.

The game started with an unusually high number of power-plays on both sides. Leaving the Pens no chance to get any kind of rhythm in 5-on-5 play, which was clearly a major advantage for the Flyers.

Scoring for the Pens were Jordan Staal, Ruslan Fedotenko, and Eric Godard scored his first of the year. For the Flyers, it was Joffrey Lupul, Mike Richards, Scott Hartnell, Jeff Carter, and Mike Knuble had two.

Evgeni Malkin added an assist and increased his league lead to 49 points on the season. Malkin is also still leading the league with 37 assists. Sidney Crosby was held scoreless, but is still second, only to Malkin, in the league in points (44) and assists (31). Jordan Staal has five points in the last five games, three in the last 2, with his second period goal. Ruslan Fedotenko scored the Pens' power-play goal and recorded an assist, giving him seven points in his last six games. For Godard, it was his first goal as a Penguin and his first of the season.

The Pens will have a short break before they try to bounce back against The Atlanta Thrashers, Thursday December 18.

The I Bleed Black 'n Gold comic series...