Listen to the game at [WXDX]

If you have any questions for Mike Lange, Phil Bourque or Bob Grove join the Penguins Radio Network Facebook page.

You can submit questions via the discussion tab for the Crash the Net segments or Penguins Hotline after the game.

It's third jersey night in Florida.

The Panthers will be wearing their third jerseys for the first time tonight.

Icethetics has more.

The Penguins came from behind to beat the Panthers in a shootout on October 23rd in Pittsburgh:

We were doing some blog catching up this past weekend, and we noticed a post on [MONDESI'S HOUSE] about the story of the Renegade song played at Steeler games.

[ too bad they can't play renegade on the road..wooooo]

We've been watching, following the Steelers all our lives and we've heard mentions of this Renegade shit but never heard the full story.

It is pretty cool:

If you search "Steelers Renegade," alot of cool fan videos in the crowd on youtube.

We were at a Pens game last year when Renegade was tried out. Some people got it, some didn't. If memory serves us right James Farrior and someone else might have been at the game.

Now, that was great and everything but we got the same feeling we do when people bring their terrible towels to Pens games. Just whatev. Sans special occasions when the Steelers are in the superbowl, no reason to ever bring your terrible towel to a Penguins game.

But back to the point, it would be nice for the Penguins to have something of there own, but it can't be forced. Which makes it seem unrealistic to think it is going to ever happen.

The only reason we were upset when Hossa left was because Fiesta Mexicana could have become our Renegade.

Just incase you forgot about it:

Played after Hossa scored, it was on its way to becoming legendary. We got tipped off about it from a Rangers blogger long ago when the Pens got Hossa. The blogger told us that when Hossas brother scored while playing with the Rangers, MSG would play it.

The ever in touch Penguins gameday operations teams picked this up, and did play it when Hossa scored.

Now the Steelers aren't the only team with a video scoreboard iconic symbol, the Boston Celtics have the legend of "Gino"

For our money, though mundane, we'd enjoy seeing a little Andy and Red late in the third period of a tie game or the Pens trailing:

But like we said, these things can't be forced. They just have to happen.

With that said, any suggestions?

Go Pens.

Ted Leonsis is at it again:

Hockey Gods are Angry

Clank! We hit the post. Clank! We hit the post again.

We lost by one goal. We lost yet another player to injury.

Last year, we were fourth in man games lost to injury. We are giving it a good run again this season to be a leader in man games lost.

Tom Poti was hurt in the first period. Hence we didn’t have Poti, Jurcina and Morrisonn on D in the lineup. We didn’t have Semin, Knuble, Gordon, Laing and Nylander in the lineup front. We didn’t have Theodore either in goal. That is goofy, huh? $25 million in payroll NOT playing.

We still could have won that game but missing this many players does scramble the game plan and the rhythm of the team. No one feels sorry for us. We can’t use injuries as an excuse. We just have to tough it out.

And because the hockey gods are angry, we play yet tonight - in Toronto - back to back games.

I shall make my sacrifices to the hockey gods this afternoon. Try to appease them and make them take pity on our mortal souls. As is said, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Go Caps!

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You know what real NHL players do?

They produce.

Martin Skoula has done that. And for that he should be celebrated.

How pumped were you when he scored his second goal and did his little celebration?

That is what we are talking about.

What a human.

Skoula's two goals led the Pens to a 3-2 win. Don't let it fool you though. The game was not that close.

First class scumbag Chris Thorburn broke Malkin's stick then proceeded to score a goal.

Such a joke.

Afingejokov scored with like 17 seconds left. Whatev.

MAF had to bounce back and he did.

The Penguins had the world championship swagger back tonight and it showed. Passing was crisp, breakouts were cash, and all the wheels were turning. Against the Senators Gonch was just getting back, so was Talbot. First game back is a whole different world. Getting back Free Candy made all the difference in the world.

The Pens didn't respect Atlanta. They know they cannot play with them.

That is what the world champs do.

And you have to love the whining coming from Atlanta tonight.

Especially from their moronic coach who accused Matt Cooke of slew-footing Kovaldouche.

Whatev. Did he slew foot him?

You're goddamn right he slew footed him. That's what Matt Cooke is paid to do.

Kovaldouche got all jammed up and fought Matt Cooke. Too bad Kovaldouche forgot he can't challenge people to a fight when he has a visor. Great job by Cookie to take Kovaldouche off his game. Every time the Pens play the Thrashers we are reminded on how big of a baby Kovaldouche is.

• Dupes-Malkin-Feds is a legit line right now. Big time chances.
• Only reason this game was close was because Hedberg was playing circa 2001 playoffs.
• Talbot had a penalty shot.

Interesting.

• From Paul P.

Brutal.

• Hope Chris Thornburn falls down a flight of stairs.

• Dive of the century:

Everyone thought this the penalty on the play, but actually Chris Bourque got called for tripping behind the play.

UPDATE. thanks to XLilNico21X who noticed that this was the penalty on the play and the Ref put his hand up as soon as the dive took place. No idea why Bourque got called for a penatly. Hopefully it was because he likes Journey.

Journey sucks.

• Bourque missed a wide open net.
  

The standoff continues. Trust us, we are committed to our Bourque demands. wW'll make the Waco standoff look like a charity event

P.S. how come no one told us Don Cannon got arrested week? [kiss fm]

We need to know these things.

 

 

 

p.s.s. No spell check or grammar checks. suck it

 

Go Pens.

Listen to the game at [WXDX]

If you have any questions for Mike Lange, Phil Bourque or Bob Grove join the Penguins Radio Network Facebook page.

You can submit questions via the discussion tab for the Crash the Net segments or Penguins Hotline after the game.

Heeeeeeeeeere's CANDY!

It's weird seeing players return to the line-up, after watching so many players drop out due to injury.

Brooks Orpik is back tonight.

The Thrashers are decent this year.

They'd won four in a row before losing to Boston in a shootout on Thursday.

They're 6-3-1 in their last ten and 10-6-2 on the season.

Rich Peverley leads the team with 23 points.

Kovalchuk has 21.

From [Empty Netters]

Last night in Carolina, another talented group of NHL officials displayed their incredible skill:

Finally, clear evidence that the NHL hates Toronto.

Either that, or Gary Bettman desperately wants the Carolina Hurricanes to succeed.

NHL officiating is an inconsistent joke.

From "even up" calls to refusing to suspend superstars to the "intent to blow the whistle" rule, NHL refereeing is poor at best.

It's not because the league is out to get any particular franchise or because Gary Bettman favors any one team.

It's just poor.  Across the board.  And that's sad.

Of course, it sucks when a bad call hurts your team.

It hurt Buffalo fans in 1999, it hurt Red Wings fans on Wednesday and it hurt Leaf fans yesterday.

We've even heard that a referee may have made a bad call before Gary Bettman came to the NHL.

But that's not the point.

It doesn't matter when it happens or how it happens or what team it happens against.

What matters is that it happens.

Of course, referees are human and it's understandable that they make mistakes.

Often times the referee can't see the puck, or he doesn't have the right angle on a penalty call.

It's unfortunate, but it's understandable. 

Sometimes the difference between a goal counting and a goal being disallowed is a fraction of a second and referees need to make the right call quickly.  And sometimes they make mistakes.

That's not to say it's right, though.

The NHL should be doing whatever it can to improve the quality of their referees so that they make the right calls more often.

However, bad judgment calls are not the only issue with officiating in the NHL.

Things like "make up calls" are conscious decisions made by referees.

They're not calls made in the heat of a fast-paced game.

They're not the result of being out of position or having a puck lost in a crowd.

NHL referees, in almost every game, try to "even up" penalty calls.

It's gotten to the point where it's expected.

How many times have you heard a coach or GM complain that one team received more penalties than the other?

The NHL has established the fact that both teams will have a similar number of chances on the power play and, when they don't, the referees will do their best to even things up.

It's ridiculous and it's essentially an NHL standard now.

Those calls are not caused by an incorrect decision made in a split second.

They are caused by an ingrained mentality among NHL referees.

A mentality that should change.

Anyway, after the jump, NHL.com talked to Ray Shero about the Penguins' depth.

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Via every hockey blog on the internet this morning.

Scott Niedermayer throws his stick over the boards to a fan. And well it is not pretty.

[Puck Daddy] has this video which we agree shows some big time punches being thrown.

Have to score the fight for the dude in the flannel shirt.

No idea why he was that angry.

Go Pens

P.S. If you are wondering why we aren't talking about the Pens. We're not concerned.

Any analysis anyone could do is immediately rendered gay because of injuries.

So suck it.