Pens/ Bolts Game Three: Stealing the Thunder from the Lightning!

Pens up 2-1 in the series

by Jan Snyder

The folks at the St. Pete Times Forum tried hard to give their team the advantage in this first playoff game in Tampa. They handed out drums as patrons entered the building. The idea was to make as much noise as possible and knock the Pens off their game. Good thinking, except…

The Pens came out flying and noise or no noise, they stole the thunder! Max Talbot and Arron Asham each scored quick down and dirty goals in the first period. Those two goals essentially took the crowd and their drums out of the picture. Before the first period ended, Marty St. Louis scored the first of his two power play goals, just to make things a little interesting. I said before the series started that I’ve always liked St. Louis, but I’m starting to feel differently about him already!

I would have thought the building would be louder than it was, unless the TV broadcast was muffling some of the sound. You would think having their first playoff game would bring out more passion in the stands, but I didn’t notice it so much.

By the time the third period rolled around, St. Louis made it interesting yet again, bringing the score to a 2-2 tie, but on just the next shift, our own little tiger, Tyler Kennedy (Kennedy!) popped out of the pack and found the goal to put the Pens up for good.

Still no change on the status of the Pens power play – it’s just about on life support, now a dismal 0-15 in the three games. But it’s getting closer – we can feel it – it’s coming – just a few more tries…same can be said for James Neal’s attempts to score. Not quite there, but coming.

How about Kris Letang? After a less than stellar game last time, he sure made up for it in this one. Two assists, five shots, five hits – he seemed like he had a clone as everywhere you looked, there was another “58” hustling to the puck. Overall, the defense played a much stronger game and it showed on the scoreboard.

Fleury continued to be amazing, stopping Tampa’s big three several times. Only St. Louis seems to be able to beat him, scoring a goal for each of his root canals.

Nice to see Max Talbot get a hard-earned goal. His line was all energy tonight. Also nice to see Ben Lovejoy carry on an intelligent conversation after the game. When he got hit behind the goal, I was afraid we might have another concussion to deal with, but he seemed to be fine. We’ll see if Steve Downie is fined after the NHL review of that hit that saw him leave his feet.

So, the players now have another day at the beach to soak up power from the sun and breathe some life into the anemic power play to get it breathing on its own again. Then on Wednesday, back to business and getting another win in Tampa!

LET’S GO, PENS!

Habs/ Pens Game Four: It’s As Simple as 1-2-3

by Jan Snyder



Pens Lose 3-2 to Montreal
series tied 2-2

What a first period! There they were – the Pens of last year, the holders of the Cup, playing like crazy, buzzing like bees around a hive! Staal was back, somewhat unexpectedly, everything was right with the world! Even though Montreal scored first as Pyatt snuck the puck through Fleury’s legs, that was okay because shortly after, Max the Superstar Talbot, scored for the Pens. Hal Gill was called for a penalty and we took advantage as a loopy goal went in off Kunitz and gave Sid an assist. The score was 2-1 as the period ended and things were lookin’ good.

What a second period! The Pens started with a power play, then the Habs had a power play but neither could score. Each team worked hard for the full twenty minutes, but there was no scoring. Instead there were plenty of opportunities for the Pens to score, but Halak and the defense kept them off the scoreboard. I was starting to squirm, thinking we needed one more, as Letang missed an open net and others came so close but couldn’t find the back of the net.

What a third period! The Pens came out like the Energizer bunny as his batteries were wearing down. Where was that fire from the first two periods? Give Montreal credit – they took full advantage and scored two quick goals about ninety seconds apart and went up 3-2. So the Pens had some work to do and they set to it. When Geno got loose and came in on the breakaway, I was sure he would tie things up – but, no, not so much as he missed and Halak flung the puck up ice. They worked and worked right to the bitter end, but couldn’t come back to tie it up.

What a game! Even though we came out on the bad end of this one, it was one terrific playoff game. Halak was good, Fleury was good. The Pens were better in the first part of the game, the Canadiens were better in the second part. Nobody said it would be easy to defend the Stanley Cup!

Now back to Pittsburgh for game five. Home, sweet, home with the series tied at 2-2. Come on, fans, show your support, be as loud as the fans in Montreal (but don’t throw trash on the ice) and help the Pens get that third win! We can do, they can do it –

LET’S GO, PENS!

Random Thoughts:

• How odd is it that Miroslav Satan, who won the Cup last year with the Pens, has scored three game-winning goals for Boston? Love the phrase, Miro the Hero!

• Detroit isn’t going down easy. Quite a statement tonight scoring seven goals.

• I was pulling hard for Lisa’s Canucks last night, but they broke the pattern of doing what the Pens did. Now they have to win tomorrow night to get their series to 2-2 as well.

What It Takes to Win

What It Takes To Win




By Jen (Jan Snyder's daughter!)




Last year, the Pens and the Red Wings met in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time. And while the Pens had an amazing run through the post season and seemed like they were almost invincible, the Red Wings were too much for our young and inexperienced team (at least in the finals anyway) and we lost a heartbreaking Game 6 on Mellon Arena ice. As our team left the ice in defeat, the Red Wings hoisted the Cup in triumph. It was almost too much to take.

A few weeks later, my favorite band, Journey, released a new album. One of the songs on that album, “What It Takes To Win” really struck a chord with me. After the exhilarating playoff run and gut-wrenching loss, it was the perfect song - although I didn’t realize how perfect until this year’s playoffs.

Through the opening line to the end of the song, I could visualize the entire Pens’ 2007-2008 season. In my mind I could put an entire montage of moments together that would fit right along with the lyrics - especially moments from the Playoffs.

The first verse goes something like this:

Day has come,
you’re prepared,
electricity in the air.
Feel the calm,
feel the rush,
you want to leave victorious.
When you look in their eyes,
they want you gone,
they want to take the prize.

I could just imagine flashes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal or Max Talbot getting ready to take the opening face off in the elimination game of the series - flashing from them to the various Red Wing centers who would take the draw against them.

The second verse is a run of the clichés that we all hear during these great sporting events...

Seal the deal,
get it done.
Earn the right to say you’ve won.
Work it out,
sacrifice,
someone’s gonna have to pay the price.
Face to face,
stand your ground,
stay in the zone,
now don’t back down.
More than pride,
you defend,
fighting hard until the very end.

During this verse I think of Ryan Malone taking a puck in the face, the “Sacrifice” t-shirts the Pens wore proudly last year and “the shift” by Brooks Orpik - you know, the one where he checked the Wings players five times in about 20 seconds.

But the most prophetic verse is the chorus and I did not understand its full meaning until this playoff year...

When you learn to lose.
You know what it takes to win.
Wanna go the distance with a hunger that never ends.
When you want to prove, you’re the best there’s ever been.
They can knock you down, you’re on your feet again,
‘cause you know what it takes to win.

Last season, losing to Detroit in Game 6 for the Cup was devastating. But it taught the Pens and the fans what it takes to win. We were knocked down in Game 5 against the Flyers, down 3-0 in the second period. If the Pens lost, their season was over. But they got back up and rallied to beat the Flyers and moved on to the Capitals. We were down in that series too. Coming back home for Game 3, the Caps were up 2-0 in the series but because we knew what it took to win, we were able to overcome that too and moved on to Carolina.

We kept the hunger going against the Canes and swept that series to face our foes in Detroit once again for the Cup. That series didn’t start too well either. Down 2-0 in the series, the Pens won Games 3 and 4, had a terrible and forgettable Game 5, then rallied in Game 6 to force Game 7. That’s when last year’s loss, turned into knowing how to win and the Pens were able to hang on to win the Cup and prove they are the best.

So for the conclusion of my montage, I see the last second effort of the puck fluttering along the goal line last year, but staying out. I see the Wings celebrating the win and the Pens hanging their heads. I see a shot of one of the Pens wearing this year’s playoff t-shirt that said, “Ya Hungry?” I see the last-second save on Lidstrom by a diving Fleury in Game 7, and the Pens celebrating with the Cup.

I see the 375,000 Pittsburgh fans lining the streets for the victory parade. Then as the song ends, I see a fade-out of Sid the Kid raising the Cup proudly above his head, proving the Pens are the best and that they learned what it takes to win.

cup and bobbleheads photo by Jen

Stanley Cup Final: Game Seven, Pens vs. Wings

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS – Queen

by Jan Snyder

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world –

Oh, what a journey and what a great ending! Although the first game seems like it was only a few weeks ago, now the season is over – after 87 games. We as fans couldn’t have asked for any more from our team. They did everything they had to do and their persistence brought Stanley back home to Pittsburgh where he belongs. He’s been gone a long time and welcoming him back to town will be so much fun.
Max Talbot 2, Detroit Redwings, 1. What a game Max had and to hear him talking after the game about his relationships with Fleury and Sid was amazing. I remember the last two times the Pens won the Cup how perfect it seemed to see Mario raise it above his head. I have to say I had the same feeling when I saw Sid do it last night.

How lucky are we to be fans who have seen Mario and Jagr and now Sid and Geno? Speaking of Geno, winning the MVP Award for the playoffs was the perfect ending for him. He meant so much to the team the whole year and his stellar play every night was something we shouldn’t take for granted.

Fleury? What an amazing guy. To be pulled out of a game and then come back and play two of the best games of his life – amazing. We have to mention the Coach too. Dan Bylsma’s youth, his enthusiasm and his steady hand guiding the players was such a big part of this victory.

All the defensemen have to be commended for the job they did all throughout the playoffs. They scored, they checked, they hit, -- they did it all and so well.
As I’ve said many times before, this is the ultimate team game and to win the Cup takes the ultimate team. These guys clearly played for each other.

Now only five short months after the Super Bowl Parade, we have another parade to look forward to – in much nicer weather.

Just a word about Marian Hossa – he made the wrong choice, but if he hadn’t left, we wouldn’t have had Guerin, Fedotenko, Kunitz or Satan. Poetic justice, right? The Pens fans at the Joe tonight were loud. I can’t believe the Detroit fans didn’t try to drown out the “Let’s Go, Pens” chant. Of course, I can’t believe the people in Detroit booed Sid getting hurt either – did they all live in Philadelphia in a prior life?

I enjoyed seeing Mario have that Cup over his head again and seeing Eddie Johnson do it again was special too.

Thanks to all of you who’ve read these playoff columns and thanks to Lisa Ovens for giving me a forum to write about our fantastic Pens.

I’m exhausted and running out of words to say! But we ARE the Champions – that says it all.

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world –

Stanley Cup Final: Game Six, Wings vs. Pens

Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees

by Jan Snyder

And were stayin alive, stayin alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin alive, stayin alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin alive

Coach “Disco Dan” can dance to this tune tonight after watching his fantastic team fight to stay alive and play for the Cup on Friday night!

Spurred on again by a rabid crowd, the Pens played their game and outplayed the Wings. Despite two power plays in the first period, the boys from the ‘burg couldn’t score and the period ended with no scoring on either side.

In the second, the fun began! Jordan Staal came down the ice with one goal in mind – scoring a goal! And score he did. After Osgood gave up a juicy rebound on Staal’s first shot, Jordan pounced on it and drove it home, with assists from Kennedy and Scuderi. The crowd roared its approval and the hometown team was up 1-0.

Soon after, Zetterberg came in on Fleury but the puck hit the post. Meanwhile at the other end, the Pens had two pop ups that missed the net but could have gone in with a little luck.

The third period was the most exciting – and most nerve wracking. Tyler Kennedy (Kennedy!) imitated Staal and scored his goal on his second try too sending the Mellon Arena faithful into a state of pandemonium! Talbot and Fedotenko produced the assists.

But the next goal came from the stick of Kris Draper and with a good bit of the third period left to play, it was now 2-1. Quickly the Pens took two penalties, one on Geno and one on Guerin, but Fleury was magnificent – with a little help from Scuderi who blocked a shot that would have surely gone into the yawning net. And again near the end of the game, Scuderi imitated a goaltender as he helped stop several pucks that could have gone in, but happily, didn’t!

What is there to say about Brooks Orpik? He played so well and seeing him get beaten for a breakaway near the end of the game was scary, but Fleury again worked his magic and made an acrobatic stop to keep the Pens ahead and avoid overtime.

The three stars of the game were Staal, Kennedy (Kennedy!) and Fleury, but there could have been others - Scuderi for sure or Orpik, maybe Talbot for his inspired play. This game was just another example of a team playing as one unit and getting the job done.

Stanley was in the house and he saw a great game before he travels back to Detroit for Game Seven. We all saw a great game and I only wish the team from Pittsburgh could take their faithful fans with them to the Motor City.

No big screen outside for the fans tonight – thanks, NBC, for just being plain mean to hockey fans. We’ll remember that.

What more could we ask for than Seventh Heaven to decide the winner of the 2009 Stanley Cup? We needed to stay alive and stay alive we did! I have no idea how I will make it until Friday night, but we’ll have to be patient since we don’t have a choice. Thanks again, NBC!

And thanks, Pens, for an exciting game and the opportunity to see Game Seven!