Game #35 Panthers W5-2

Keep on rolling

We had a set back last week when we faced 2 of our division rivals but we started off this week just fine and continue to roll with another big win heading into our first match up against our hated rivals (and Winter Classic opponent) Washington Capitals.
I knew my friend Drew Carter was coming up for holidays and I asked him a while back if he wanted to go with me to this game. Of course he did but he needed to work out his trip schedule as this would be a day or so earlier than what he originally anticipated coming up. Luckily he was able to swing this and he left the day before so he had plenty of time to get up here and get back into sorts (after the 12 hour drive). He was right on time picking me up and as usual we loaded up on foods and drinks and headed down to the lot.

NHL.com recap

• Ben Lovejoy scored the first goal of his NHL career (31 games) and added his first fight for good measure before leaving the game after taking a shot to the face.
• Matt Cooke scored in consecutive games for the first time since March 27-28, 2010.
• Brent Johnson earned the victory and was credited with an assist before leaving after the second period with a groin injury.
• Beej also let up a goal on the first shot as we seem to be doing a lot this year.
• Crosby kept his scoring streak alive (22 games) with a rare blow-it-by-him slapshot down the left wing that beat Tomas Vokoun.
• Vokoun was pulled in the 1st period after Cookie made it 3-0
  

Drew was pumped to get his face in an All-Time Team picture. He loved the new arena as well. I was glad he was fit enough to book it up all those steps. I think he even bought me a beer or two when we were in there. I was super pumped he was able to make it out with me to see this game.

uwvark27's 2010-11 record: 6-2

Game #30 Leafs W5-2

We Are Unstoppable

Originally I had invited Matt Weyandt with me to this game for his birthday but he told me the week before that he needed to work so he couldn't make it. I had Nate scheduled to ask for a later game but after I told him I had an opening for this game he was all too willing and we were set. Since Nate was working in Moon today I didn't have to really go anywhere or wait for anybody so I shot right down to the lot. So quickly in fact that it was too early for me to get in at the reduced price! I had to go kill some time so I found a spot on the side of the road and read some Harry Potter on my phone until I could get in. Once I got in I started drinking and chatting with Ale waiting for Nate. Unfortunately for him he was stuck in Pittsburgh rush hour traffic on the wrong side of the tunnel and I couldn't wait any longer. I walked down to the Souper Bowl and got a table and ordered food. I saw a Toronto fan in there and asked them if they were here for the first game but they were not. Things in the standings were a lot different then at that time. As soon as our wings got there Nate walked in. Perfect timing. We ate and walked over to the arena.

NHL.com recap

• It only took about 8 mins for Crosby to get going with his first goal of the night he finished with 2 and I was worried I was going to lose another hat.
• Letestu also had 2 goals, his first since his season opening hot streak stopped (22 games).
  
• Orr and Engelland had a rematch fight and Engelland pounded the crap out of Orr for real. The NHL fighting torch has been passed. (Actually it was kind of close but still a win for our guy)
  
• There were a ton more fights too that kept the excitement level high the whole game.
• Some idiot behind us said something in the 3rd period about Fleury getting a shut-out. We both turned around and yelled at him and sure enough not 2 mins later Toronto scored. I should have kicked the shit out of that guy.
  
• We this victory we took over the #1 spot in the NHL with the most points (42).
• This was the 3rd game in the row Malkin sat out with a knee injury.
• Nate met and got a picture with Gene Simmons
• Dupuis had an amazing 2-on-0 shorthanded goal.
• I finally saw a win against Toronto!! (previously 0-4)
  

Since no one really reads my blog I decided to make an album in Facebook with all these pictures as well so more people can see them. Now when people come with me they should know that this action is required and I didn't have any issues dragging Nate over to the kiosk.


uwvark27's 2010-11 record: 5-2

Game #21 Hurricanes W5-4

Staying on top!

I asked Jason to come with me to this game. We haven't hung out in a while but like my other buddies I know he is a hardcore Pens fan and I knew he would love to see a game with me and check out the new arena.
I had to go back to the Sheetz in Murrysville to pick him and up after work since he did not drive. I was okay with that since they saved me from going the whole way top Greensburg. We loaded up on some food and drinks and shot down to the lot. It was Light-Up Night tonight in Pittsburgh and there was a little extra traffic. After we parked and bullshitted a bit we finished off our drinks we went over to Pizza Milano to meet up with some other buddies. We chilled there for a while and had another beer until it was time to walk over for the game. I got a huge souvenir cup too!


NHL.com recap

• Fleury let up another first shot goal in the first minute of play.
• TB's Steven Stamkos had a huge night the day before (8-7 win over Flyers) and pulled away from Crosby in the scoring races. Crosby stormed right back with a goal and 3 assists to continue to keep it close.
  
• Malkin had 3 assists putting him over 400 points in his career.
  
• This is the fastest Crosby has gotten to 14 goals.
  
• Fleury let up another last shot goal in the last minute of play which sent the game to overtime.
  
• Fleury did not let up a shootout goal.
• Tanger and Crosby scored shootout goals FTW!!
  

I made sure we did the picture thing. I was scared for a bit because it never got sent to my email until the next day. Usually I get it right away and when I didn't I thought there was a problem and I wasn't going to get it. When it finally showed up in my email the next day I was extremely happy. Now I realize how much I love these pics.


uwvark27's 2010-11 record: 3-2

Game #7 Senators W5-2

Now we are rolling!

I asked Joel to come with me to this game. He works at the Tribune Review so he is going to trade me the complete Penguins All-Time Team Medallions Set for his ticket. He gets some kind of special email to get a set since he is an employee. I think that's a fair trade for a ticket.
I got home, ate something and made a drink and then he showed up before I was even expecting him. That was a change of pace from what I usually get from the people I know (everyone is always late). Not too much traffic so we got there well ahead of schedule. We hung out in the parking lot for a bit and then went down to Shale's for a beer before going in.

NHL.com recap

• Sergei Gonchar's first game back to Pittsburgh since he left us via free agency on July 1st.
• Brett Johnson's 3rd consecutive start (and win)
• He's now 4-0
  
• Power play was clicking tonight : 2 for 3
• Mark Letestu is leading all rookie scorers with 7pts (4G, 3A)
• Ottawa pulled Brian Elliot after we notched our 5th goal.
  
• Deryk Engelland had another fight. This time with Chris Neil. Was not as good as his fight the other night. Score this one a boring draw.
• We're still tied for 1st with the Islanders in the Atlantic with 8pts but they have played 2 fewer games.
• First time both Geno and Sid scored goals in the same game in the new arena
  

Joel has seen the arena before because he went to the Paul McCartney concert that was the first event here ever. He said he used this kiosk to take his picture then but he must have typed his email in wrong because he said he never got it.

uwvark27's 2010-11 record: 2-2

Game #5 Islanders W3-2

YES FINALLY A WIN!!!

Mr Isaac Michael accompanied me to the game this evening. This was part of his birthday present I guess you could say. He must be good luck because we finally got victory #1 in the new arena. That makes me feel good because now not only can he say for the rest of his life that he did attend a game in the old Civic Arena (which he says he sort of remembers) but he also attended the very first victory ever at the new arena! No one can take that away from him.

NHL.com recap

• Eric Goddard has a good fight with Trevor Gillies early on. He was dominating at first but didn't win the 2nd half of the fight I'd say.
• We sucked big on the power play 0-7 until the PPG in OT, they did start listening to our cries of 'SHOOT THE PUCK' about after 4-5 power plays.
  
• People were booing the Pens. Those people should not be allowed to go to any more games.
  
• Kris Letang got kicked out of the game when he leveled Blake Comeau. The refs thought it was a hit to the head which it clearly wasn't when you saw the replay.
  
• The refs were absolutely horrible all game.
• I discovered that the prize blimp never goes an where near the upper bowl.
• Apparently neither do the cameraman. Isaac was dancing like a nut all game to get on the screen and was not rewarded for his efforts.
  
• He did do fantastic cheering and screaming throughout the game. All the people sitting around him thought he was funny the stuff he was yelling.
• He did get delirious towards the end of the game though. He was up way past his bedtime.
• The girl sitting in front of us totally biffed it when she was walking back to her seat at one point. I don't know if she was drunk or what but she almost had a bad, bad fall. Luckily the dude in the next row caught her on his lap but he was not happy she spilled his $8 beer.
  
• The old people next to us left with the game tied and over 10 min to go. WTF?! They shouldn't be allowed back either.
• I finally caught wind of the Cotton Candy Guy. I had not seen hide nor hair of him the 1st few games.
• Eric Tangradi got his first ever NHL goal.
• The 1st two goals scored by the Pens were by the two Penguins who have Twitter, Rupp and Tangradi.
• Goligoski scored his first ever game winning OT goal.
• I'm 9-0 when I go see us play the Islanders
• I'm 2-0 when Isaac is with me

I found that the parking lot (LC Parking I think it's called) over by Mercy hospital is big and usually half empty and although it's a few more blocks away thatn I'm used to walking - it's only $5. I think I might park here all the time then. Isaac and I parked here and ate our Sheetz dinner then walked over a bit early so he could look around in the stores at the Pens gear. We had to take this photo twice since he wasn't looking in the direction the first time around.

uwvark27's 2010-11 record: 1-2

Game #4 Leafs L3-4

I called my buddy David Gall to come with me to this game because I know he's a huge Pens fan as I am so I knew he'd be pumped. He brought a lot of good energy with him but unfortunately it was not enough and we dropped our 3rd straight at the new arena.

NHL.com recap

• Deryk Engelland had an intense fight with NHL tough guy Colton Orr and ended up taking him down hard. It was a really good energizing scrap.
• Crosby got his first goal in the new arena
  
• So did Talbot and Kunitz
• Toronto had 14 shots
• Fluery just isn't looking good like he was in the preseason. If he doesn't step it up soon the fickle Pittsburgh fans are going to turn on him
• This loss drops me to 0-4 when I go to a Leafs game
• The Dr Billy G was in Mario's box with him and got a standing O when they showed a video tribute to his time in da Burgh
  

We walked in down at the American Eagle gate which is one place I had yet to walk thru yet so that was cool. Since we were down low we got to use the kiosk before the game. This is probably the best picture so far. :D

uwvark27's 2010-11 record: 0-2

Game #1 Flyers L2-3

We lost the first game ever at the new arena. Can I say I still had a good time even though we lost this momentous game?

Instead of leaving work and trying to make it to the red carpet I had to go back to Monroeville to sit and wait for Matt to get there. At least I got to eat and follow some tweets about it as I started boozing for pregame. Lisa wanted Isaac to skip karate so she could watch the Pens game but I told her no. You can never tell what that woman has got going on in her mind.

Once Matt got there we took off and paid for our spot at the Crawford lot. It was packed. Matt spilled his drink like he does every time. Once we were in proper game form we headed down.

NHL.com recap

Here are some of the highlights:

• Danny Briere got the first goal ever in the new arena
  
• Tyler Kennedy got the first Pens goal ever in the new arena
• We lost the first game ever at the Civic Arena too back in the day
  
• Letang made a bonehead bad move resulting in a turnover that the Flyers got a shortie on to pretty much put it away.
• We did score like 20 secs later on the pp to bring it to within 3-2 but that wouldn't be enough
• Crosby and Malkin were scoreless
• This was not a typical Pens/Flyers game. There was almost no scrappiness or fights or anything. The Flyers just played hockey?!!? *SHOCK
  

I couldn't get my picture before the game started. We went in the Verizon gate and for some reason they wouldn't let us go down the stairs to the kiosk thing even though no one was using it. We ended up going out this way so this pic was after the game as you may be able to tell from my sourpuss.

uwvark27's 2010-11 record: 0-1

MARIO MOSAIC

Well the Mario Mosaic has been posted online as well as hung in the new arena (which I will see live tomorrow for the first regular season game ever!!)

It was up yesterday but I guess so many people were trying to see it the website was not working properly and then they just took it down and replaced it with a jpeg for a few hours. It is up now though and working fine. I found my pic too!! CHECK IT OUT!!

Pretty exciting eh!

Consol Energy Center First Look

Today I got to see the arena for the first time. It's definitely new and nice. I don't know how happy we are with our seats. I understand the upper bowl is UP more rather than BACK the way the old arena was but it seems like we are slightly more right than we were before too and that ain't cool. Plus we're 4 rows from the very back? Where the heck did all the section E & F people go? They stuffed them all behind us? I don't think so.

Since is was a free tour everything was open to us. We got to walk around in all the clubs and stuff that we will probably never have access to during a regular event so that was neat to see that.

They also have these screens at the entrance that they call the 'Interactive Hall Of Fame'. You can pick a player and touch the screen and see all their stats and videos of their greatest plays, etc. It's all pretty neat stuff.

There is also this one machine at the end with a circle on the ground that once you touch the screen it displays a countdown. You stand in the circle and pose and it will take your picture when it hits 0. You can then type in your email and it will send it to you. That is cool. I think I am going to try and do that for every game and make a collection. Here is the pic from the tour.


All in all I was very impressed. Definitely better than the poor old, falling apart Civic Arena. I can't wait to see some games here!! :D