Out In the Street (May 13th-19th)

“When that whistle blows, girl, I’m down the street.  I’m home, I’m out of my work clothes.  When I’m out in the street, I walk the way I wanna walk.  When I’m out in the street, I talk the way I wanna talk”.

…you may remember Adam Sandler re-creating this song in the movie “Reign Over Me”, about a guy who lost his family in the 9-11 terror attacks…his character was obsessed with The River album…saw this live during my first ever Springsteen show back in 2000 at the ACC…

One Win Away From A Date With Lord Stanley

The title of the post says it all!  After 16 long years, the Pittsburgh Penguins are one win away from returning to the Stanley Cup Finals.  The Pens totally dismantled the Filthy Flyers in a 4-1 Game Three victory on enemy ice Tuesday night, with a score that actually flattered Philly.  The Flyers were dominated defensively by the Pens, allowing them only 8 shots on goal through two periods.  Flyer-killer Sidney Crosby had two more assists, including a beautiful outlet pass to Marian Hossa, who absolutely embarrassed the Flyer defence with an array of dekes and cutbacks, before ripping a wrister past an ordinary Marty Biron http://www.myxertones.com/ringtone:484002/.   Make no mistake, the Penguins were the better team from the opening faceoff until the final buzzer, in what could be considered their best overall game of the playoffs IMHO.  Even Hal Gill got in on the scoring act, with an assist on Hossa’s second goal of the game into an empty net to clinch the victory.  Less than 48 hours until Game Four, with a likely date with the Detroit Red Wings (who are up 3-0 in the West Final) in the Cup Final!

Why not you?  Because your team sucks ballz!

Mad Max & Sid To the Rescue

The Penguin hockey machine just keeps on truckin’ through the 2008 NHL Playoffs, even when the team doesn’t put in their best “A” game effort.  Led by captain Sidney Crosby and new to the lineup Max Talbot (after missing three games with a broken foot), the Pens doubled up on the Filthadelphia Flyers tonight 4-2, to take a 2-0 best of seven series lead in the Eastern Conference Final.  Crosby, who scored in his second straight game, already has as many goals in this series (2), as he had in the previous nine playoff games.  Fitting because he has flat out dominated the Flyers in his career.  Talbot was set up midway through the third on a fantastic pass by the ageless wonder “Scary” Gary Roberts to give the Pens the lead for good http://www.myxertones.com/ringtone:481222/, and Jordan Staal iced the game with an empty netter in the final minute.  It’s worth noting that Tyler Kennedy laid a pretty good beating on Scottie Upshall early in the game to give the Pens some life.  The scene now shifts to Philly for Games 3 & 4, with the Pens now owning an amazing 10-1 record in these playoffs.  One would think that if Pittsburgh can split in Flyer-land, it’s Stanley Cup Finals time!  Stay tuned.

 

Malkin Dominates Flyers In Game #1

The hockey world is starting to realize with each passing Pittsburgh Penguin playoff win, that Evgeni Malkin may be the best player on the planet.  With all the love (deserved) thrown at Sidney Crosby, Malkin continuely flew under the radar with his unbelievable play — not anymore.  Geno torched the Flyers for 2 goals (including a slapshot short-handed beauty http://www.myxertones.com/ringtone:478823/ ) an assist in the Pens 4-2 Game One win over their hated state-mates Filthadelphia at Mellon Arena tonight.  In fact after Philly took a brief 2-1 first period lead, the Pens basically shut them down the rest of the way, with little to no resistance.  Martha Biron looked shaky at times, and if this is the type of effort the Flyers are ready to give each game, this will be one quick series.  Game Two goes Sunday night in Pittsburgh, where the Pens have yet to lose in these playoffs (6-0).

 

State Trooper (May 6th-12th)

“Maybe you got a kid, maybe you got a pretty wife, the only thing that I got’s been both’rin’ me my whole life.  Mister state trooper, please don’t stop me, please don’t stop me, please don’t stop me”.

…tells the tale of a man on the run from the law…saw him perform it solo at the ACC during the Devils & Dust tour…he also had Canada’s Arcade Fire help him with the tune back in October in Ottawa during the first leg of the Magic Tour…

Pens Bloody, Then Eliminate Rangers In 5

It was not as easy as the 4-1 series score indicates, however the Pittsburgh Penguins are now halfway to winning their first Stanley Cup since 1992.  Lead by Marian Hossa’s two goals, including the OT and series winner, http://www.myxertones.com/ringtone:472121/  the Pens took out a game squad of Rags’ 3-2 at Mellon Arena on Sunday, and will now face cross state rival Philadelphia for the Eastern Conference title.  The Pens blew a 2-0 third period lead, but totally outplayed the “Blueshirts” for the majority of the game, led by an inspired game from Evgeni Malkin and Hossa.  Sidney Crosby is still not firing on all cylindors, however Hockey Night In Canada was saying that he may be battling the flu.  No matter, the Pens are in the final four and that is what it’s all about.  Three stars for the series:

1. Marc-Andre Fleury
2. Marian Hossa
3. Henrik Lundquist

Possibly the Grand Daddy Of All “Spells”!

This is one minor league baseball manager who really got his moneys worth arguing a call with the umpire.  It’s beyond classic!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGZUKHtW7vg&feature=related

First Penguin Playoff Loss…Finally!

Not much to say other than the Penguins stunk tonight in a 3-0 loss in New York.  A listless effort in Game Four with a chance to sweep the Rangers and move into the Eastern Conference Finals.  Jaromir “Puff Nuts” Jagr had himself a game with 2 goals and a helper, and Evgeni Malkin took one of the stinkiest penalty shots I’ve ever seen that could have tied the game at 1 heading into the third.  So it’s back to Pittsburgh for Game Five Sunday afternoon.  A better performance is needed in order to advance that is for sure.

 

Winning Ugly, But Winning Nonetheless

7-0, kinda has a nice ring to it.  But the path to a perfect 7 wins and no losses so far for the Pittsburgh Penguins was never more bumpy than tonight in New York.  An amped up Rangers team played their best game of the series, taking advantage of some bad Penguin penalties and a less than stellar overall effort.  However the Rangers still lost 5-3, and now face elimination on Thursday.  The ‘Burgh boys took advantage of their few power-plays, and when Ranger goon Ryan Hollweg took one of the worst penalties at the worst possible time (after the Blueshirts had come back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game) Geno Malkin buried what would prove to be the winning goal.  Another thing that needs to be mentioned right now, Marc-Andre Fleury is handing Henrik Lundquist his lunch in this series.  “The King” as he’s known to Ranger fans has been brutal so far allowing 12 goals in the 3 games.  So Thursday Sid and Co. will try to finish off their second straight sweep to start the playoffs and head to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2001.  Pure awesomeness!!!

My City Of Ruins (April 29th-May 5th)

“There’s a blood red circle on the cold dark ground, and the rain is falling down.  The church doors blown open I can hear the organ’s song, but the congregation’s gone.  My city of ruins”

…this song was written pre-911, however Springsteen released it on The Rising album and the song is seriously an anthem for New York if you listen closely…he sang this tune to open the telethon that was aired on all major U.S. networks several days after the attack…this is a top ten Bruce song for myself…