Happy Birthday Mario
First off, on the FSN/DirecTV front, we received this email from Jason M. today:
"I got a call from Jim H. from FSN Pittsburgh this morning and they said the Pens' pre- and post-game shows were blacked out by error and that they have no intentions on doing so going forward. It should be fixed by Wednesday."
Second, Happy Birthday Sir Buries It.
More after the jump.
Business
Is it too early in the season for a game to be a trap game?
The Pens play Phoenix on Wednesday at home.
Then go to the House That Crosby Destroyed on Thursday.
Whatev. There's nothing else to talk about.
Some cool stuff after the jump.
Say It Ain't So
Jason M. sent this in:
FSN Pittsburgh is blacking out pre- and post-game Penguins shows on DirecTV unless you live in PA, OH and WV. They haven't done this in years past, and it's pissing me off. That's the whole reason I pay for the sports pack, to get the Pittsburgh shows. DTV said that it's FSN's call. I'm calling them Monday to complain, but I've noticed other people in c-blog have mentioned it. With enough pressure, maybe we Pens fans that live out of the immediate area can get their pre- and post-game fix. Thanks.
FSN Pittsburgh 412-316-3800
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
After the jump, an unreal video from the Devils-Flyers game.
It involves a fan fight.
Bring It
Thanks to everyone who sent us photos.
We'll be contacting the t-shirt winners by email for their info.
Let There Be Lighthouse. PENS WIN.
It's not an official NHL season until Trent Hunter comes out of the woodwork to score a big goal.
But the Pens took over in the third period despite Hunter's near heroics.
The Pens were down heading into the third period.
They scrapped and were able to tie it up.
Late in a third, a Guerin penalty brings you to your feet.
We'd be lying if we said we didn't miss that feeling.
The Pens survived it and were able to get into overtime and the shootout.
And it looks like Bing is starting to perfect the ways of BURIES IT.
GAMEDAY 2 - ISLANDERS
7:00 PM
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
In many ways the Islanders are a lot like the Penguins a few years ago.
They had their glory years, won some Stanley Cups, and then plummeted to the bottom of the league.
Their arena is old and if they don't get a new one they may have to move.
But they do have some hope.
They just drafted a young star with the first overall pick and they hope to make him the centerpiece of their organization.
"I think it is clear, and I say this perhaps as a matter of observation, and as a matter of fact: There is probably no worse major-league facility right now in North America than the Nassau Coliseum."
-- Gary Bettman
The people of Kansas City have been licking their chops throughout the whole ordeal.
7:56. PENS WIN.
Should try to iron this picture onto your girlfriend's underwear.
Sick job. Dennis Miller stuns the world.
And then the banner goes to the roof.
Someone jobbed in Mike Lange's call.
If Steiggy never says "raise the roof" ever again, life will be all right.
Unreal choice of the theme from "Backdraft."
If Kurt Russell walks out in his fireman uniform, the pregame wins an Oscar.
We'd actually have something resembling a normal recap
if we didn't become incapacitated last night.
GAMEDAY 1 - RANGERS
7:30 PM
Mellon Arena
Here we are.
Tonight the banner goes up.
Tonight the road back to glory begins.
Tonight is the final home opener in Mellon Arena history.
And this was the first:
Almost 42 years ago the Pittsburgh Penguins played their first home opener at the Civic Arena.
Tonight they will play their last.
But this will not be a solemn occasion.
Because tonight isn't just the final home opener at the Igloo.
It's also the day the third Stanley Cup banner is raised to the rafters.
There isn't a more fitting way to begin the final season in this historic building than by raising that banner.
And there is no better way for us to salute everything the Igloo means to us than to fill it with cheers.
Jean Pronovost, Les Binkley, Andy Bathgate, Rick Kehoe, Michel Briere, Bob Johnson, Herb Brooks, Kevin Stevens, Tom Barrasso, Paul Coffey, Joe Mullen, Ron Francis, Bryan Trottier and many, many others have called this building home.
We have called this building home.
And so do they:
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Marc-Andre Fleury, Brooks Orpik, Sergei Gonchar and everyone else who steps into that arena with a skating penguin on their chest does as well.
This is their team.
This is our team.
This is our team.
When Mario Lemieux looks up at the rafters and sees his number 66, his Art Ross Trophy victories, his Hart Trophy victories and a third Stanley Cup banner he'll know what he's done for this team.
When he looks across the street and sees a beautiful new arena nearing completion, he'll know what he's done for this city.
Last night he was part of a Team Canada ceremony in Toronto, but tonight he'll feel at home.
It's the final banner raising at Mellon Arena.
It's the beginning of another season.
It's the chance to show the hockey world what this team - and this city - is made of.
