Winter Classic 2011 Announced

The Winter Classic has been announced for next year. Source

Apparently there will be a more formal announcement tomorrow than I will link here then.

The game will be played on JANUARY 1, 2011 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

between our hometown PITTSBURGH PENGUINS and our hated rivals the WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Luckily Matt and I have season tickets. There better be no way that we get screwed out of this like how we couldn't get tickets for when it was in Buffalo. I was on the website and the phone from 30 min before ticket sales started to 15 after and they could not get us 6 tickets. Needless to say I was not happy about that. I have faith though that since it's in Pittsburgh this time we will find a way to hook up with tickets. We'll have to book a room down Pittsburgh that night and have ourselves a New Year's party for the ages!!

LET'S GO PENS!!

2010 NHL Playoff Tracker - Round 3

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#7 Philadelphia Flyers v #8 Montreal Canadiens
Game 1 Canadiens 0, Flyers 6
Game 2 Canadiens 0, Flyers 3
Game 3 Flyers 1, Canadiens 5
Game 4 Flyers 3, Canadiens 0
Game 5 Canadiens 2, Flyers 4
#7 Philadelphia Flyers WIN 4-1

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 San Jose Sharks v #2 Chicago Blackhawks
Game 1 Blackhawks 2, Sharks 1
Game 2 Blackhawks 4, Sharks 2
Game 3 Sharks 2, Blackhawks 3 OT
Game 4 Sharks 2, Blackhawks 4
#2 Chicago Blackhawks WIN 4-0

Marc's Penguins Playoff Beard Progress

2010

Playoff Beard Week 3
Playoff Beard Week 2
Playoff Beard Week 1

Well I guess I don't have to keep doing this since we lost. It didn't seem to work this year. :(

2009

The playoff beard worked last year here is the video of me shaving on the successful 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins playoff run beard off.

Pens vs Habs Game 7 POST

Well I feel like saying 'I can't believe it!!' but for some reason I can. Getting beat in Game 6 must have prepared me for this. Truthfully I don't even feel as bad now as I did after Game 6 even though the season is over. No Stanley Cup for us this year. All the top seeds fell and we had a clear, easy shot to the finals but we couldn't get it done. We can't even make fun of the Caps fans that much now because we lost too. It's crazy! We all need to root for them to win the Cup now so neither of us look that bad.

From what I saw the Canadiens just wanted it more. They had nothing to lose so they just went for it. We could not win any battles in their end. It was extremely disheartening to watch. We could pound away at them over and over and with their collapsing five guys around the net strategy we could not get to any rebounds. Eventually the puck would squirt loose and they race away down to our end and put a wild shot on net and score. I love Fleury as much as the next guy and I don't want to pick on any particular player or call anyone out but the Canadiens just had Fleury's number this round. No one can deny that. They were just putting the most wild shots on net and somehow picking corners on Fleury. In any other game against any other team Fleury would be stopping those shots. I don't understand that either. Whatever it was I can only think what if we would have pulled him when it was only 2-0? At 4-0 it was just a little too much to come back from. I think everyone could just feel the security when Beej went in. Now we could concentrate on offense and not have to worry about some random flopper shot getting in. I hate saying that but it was true. What were you going to do? I have faith though that Fleury will work hard during the summer and be even better next year.

Very disappointed is the only way I can describe this year's playoffs. We had a great season but we wanted the Cup. We were supposed to win. :( At least it's only ~140 days till next season starts. I'm going to have a lot more time on my hands until then to get stuff done.

Pens vs Habs Game 7 PRE

Well on 05/12 there will be a game 7. I can't believe it. I have been in a mega sour mood since the loss last night but I am hoping to snap out of it soon. I don't know how the Habs are doing this to us. I didn't know how they did it to the Caps either but at least then I thought it was funny. I don't like it going on to us though. Fleury looked like he let in another couple of softies but for the most part we played a good game. It's just mind blowing to me. We've played excellent all series. It shouldn't even be close. We are dominating them for 5/6th of every game but it seems like one teeny tiny mistake and they get an amazing rush of it and score. Their goalie can't hold up like that to us for much longer. We will crack him and be victorious. All I can hope for is the Win one, Lose one game keeps playing because it should be our turn to win one next and that's all it will take. We will not go down like this!!

2010 NHL Playoff Tracker - Round 2

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins v #8 Montreal Canadiens
Game 1 Canadiens 3, Penguins 6
Game 2 Canadiens 3, Penguins 1
Game 3 Penguins 2, Canadiens 0
Game 4 Penguins 2, Canadiens 3
Game 5 Canadiens 1, Penguins 2
Game 6 Penguins 3, Canadiens 4
Game 7 Canadiens 5, Penguins 2
#8 Montreal Canadiens WIN 4-3

#6 Boston Bruins v #7 Philadelphia Flyers
Game 1 Flyers 4, Bruins 5
Game 2 Flyers 2, Bruins 3
Game 3 Bruins 4, Flyers 1
Game 4 Bruins 4, Flyers 5
Game 5 Flyers 4, Bruins 0
Game 6 Bruins 1, Flyers 2
Game 7 Flyers 4, Bruins 3
#7 Philadelphia Flyers WIN 4-3

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 San Jose Sharks v #5 Detroit Red Wings
Game 1 Red Wings 3, Sharks 4
Game 2 Red Wings 3, Sharks 4
Game 3 Sharks 4, Red Wings 3 OT
Game 4 Sharks 1, Red Wings 7
Game 5 Red Wings 1, Sharks 2
#1 San Jose Sharks WIN 4-1

#2 Chicago Blackhawks v #3 Vancouver Canucks
Game 1 Canucks 5, Blackhawks 1
Game 2 Canucks 2, Blackhawks 4
Game 3 Blackhawks 5, Canucks 2
Game 4 Blackhawks 7, Canucks 4
Game 5 Canucks 4, Blackhawks 1
Game 6 Blackhawks 5, Canucks 1
#2 Chicago Blackhawks WIN 4-2

Last Regular Season Game @ the Igloo

Marc's Adventures of the last regular season game ever at the Igloo.

For some reason while I work I noticed that I forgot to bring my camera. Did I think that my iPhone camera was going to be sufficient enough? Not sure where my head was at when I left this house this morning. Now usually I don't ever go the whole way back to my neighborhood on the day of a Pens game because it's a waste of gas and time but the more I thought about it the more I knew that I was definitely going to need it. I planned that if I shot out of here a bit early I could make it back before Matt even left the area. It would actually be easier this way because we wouldn't have either of our cars at a mid-point destination. So I called Matt and let him know what was up. I made it home got my camera that I knew I had recently charged. I grabbed my booze and made a quick drink while I waited for him to show and shortly we were on our way. First stop was Sheetz to get some drinks and grub.

I saw a funny thing as we walked in the Sheetz. Some lady in a huge SUV decided to park her self right on the lined off space where the handi cap ramp was. This always get my goat for some reason. Why do these SUV driving a-holes think it's ok? Because no one has the guts to call them on it? I stood right in front of it though and pulled out my camera. I made sure to speak loudly as I tapped Matt on the shoulder as I started taking pictures and said 'Hey good thing my wheel chair bound grandma isn't here'. As the lady got out and walked towards the door, that made sure she knew she was busted. I heard her mutter something like 'I didn't even notice' and to her credit she did get into her vehicle and move to a properly designated spot. Consider my civic duty done for the day. ;) We got our supplies and headed down 22 to the arena.

We parked in our normal parking area and got out to start tailgating. It was a little rainy but it wasn't too bad. We stuffed our faces with our Sheetz and got into a Pens game kind of mode. It's almost game time. Time to walk down.

We knew we were getting these commemorative tickets but I didn't realize how awesome they were going to be. They ran a video later between periods that showed the company that made them and how they did it. It was all very impressive. I was glad to get one. I saw berfore the game how much tickets were going for but I knew I was never going to sell these. Included was a coupon to go back to the company and get our actual section, row and seat engraved on. I might do that someday.

Since this was the last game they had a whole ceremony planned out. Mario invited 50 former Penguins back for this event. They laid out some carpet on the ice and called them all out together. There were some good memories stirred up. I recorded some video of it.

As for the game, that was awesome too. I have never been to a Pens game where we have played the NY Islanders and lost yet. First Pd we score 30 secs in and just rolled from there. It seems when I get in a groove I just give off good energy and the crowd around me knows it. In the 3rd period they played an arena favorite, Coton Eyed Joe, and even though I'm not a dancer I got up and started jamming. A few seconds later there I was on the Jumbrotron in front of every one getting down. Everyone around me went nuts as they all saw it and I got plenty of high fives and pats on the back. The guy next to us commented that he hopes we stay seated next to each other when we move to the new arena because he loves sitting next to us. I think the camera guys have learned where I'm at too because I have discovered if I just make an idiot out of myself, they film me. This was not the first time I was on the screen but it was the best. The absolute perfect memory for this arenas send off.

After we destroyed the Islanders 7-3 we stayed for the famous last game of every year post game ceremony, the Shirt 's Off Their Backs. All the Pens come out still wearing their jerseys and in numerical they take a photo with the winner, remove their jersey and sign it, and then give it to you. So far I've been to 3 last games in a row and not won yet but it's still exciting.

I ended up going 8-4-1 this year in games I attended. I'll post my lifetime numbers here when I have them readily available.

I'm sad to see this arena go. It's the only one I've ever really known but it is kind of crappy and falling apart. It's a bummer to think about but after a season in the new arena I won't even remember it that much. I'm glad I took a lot of pictures over the years. I know some people are trying to save it for some reason but we need to move on. The new arena will be kick ass and I can't wait for it but thanks Civic Arena (I never switched what I called it) for hosting our Pens all these years!!