Pens vs Blue Jackets (3/28/24)

[Pabst]

Sid knocking on the door of being a top 10 scorer all time. Frankly, that's the only reason to watch at this point

[fractalsteel]

Sid knocking on the door of being a top 10 scorer all time. Frankly, that's the only reason to watch at this point

I'm not sure about that being the only reason. Milestones are nice but pass with time.
I'm turning in to get a look at the young players. Maybe a laugh when the collapse happens and I can say 'told you so'.

I promised to limit my criticisms of the Pens TV announcers months ago and have kept my word. No more. They are worse now then they were in January with the ball washing.
I seriously doubt the Pens make a lot of changes to the team next year but a good place to start would be with 'Army' who is as lame an announcer as he was a player and Getzoff.

Think about all the legendary Pittsburgh sports announcers over the years. Now we are straddled with Getzoff, his monkey Colby and on occasion we have to tolerate that dolt Pompeani on the Steeler side.

As far as Sid goes, all the things he achieves are deserving. Can't think of a player in the game now who is more deserving of highest praise.

I never thought I would say this but he is the best Penguins player all time.

[fractalsteel]

Poulin took a bad penalty in the OZ. Sully was visibly pissed and it looked like he was trying to light him on fire with hie eyes.

[fractalsteel]

Wow

Malkin's first PP goal in 38 games.

Never thought that could or would happen.

[Pabst]

Missed the game because my fucking race was cancelled and spent my evening modifying flights and hotels.

On a positive note, the end result is going to be me heading back to Pittsburgh for the first time in 5 years. The Pittsburgh Marathon just happened to be the same day as the race I'd signed up for (Providence RI, if anyone cares). Hotel and flight is cheaper too

[fractalsteel]

On another note some 30 species of fish in and around the Florida Keys are spinning in circular motions and dying from such.

@Pabst good luck with your extended jaunt.

[bradshaw2ben]

Wow

Malkin's first PP goal in 38 games.

Never thought that could or would happen.

Amazing what happens when you take a guy with that shot and make him play with Karlsson vs Letang, and then when you demote him off the #1 unit, you move Letang up so that he can almost never feed Geno with incredible passes reight into 71's wheelhouse.

They literally had amazing chemistry last year on the back end of the PP and somehow the staff decided THAT was the problem with the PP.

[bradshaw2ben]

Missed the game because my fucking race was cancelled and spent my evening modifying flights and hotels.

On a positive note, the end result is going to be me heading back to Pittsburgh for the first time in 5 years. The Pittsburgh Marathon just happened to be the same day as the race I'd signed up for (Providence RI, if anyone cares). Hotel and flight is cheaper too

Hope the weather cooperates. It can be nasty hot/humid for the Pgh marathon.

[fractalsteel]

Wow

Malkin's first PP goal in 38 games.

Never thought that could or would happen.

Amazing what happens when you take a guy with that shot and make him play with Karlsson vs Letang, and then when you demote him off the #1 unit, you move Letang up so that he can almost never feed Geno with incredible passes reight into 71's wheelhouse.

They literally had amazing chemistry last year on the back end of the PP and somehow the staff decided THAT was the problem with the PP.

It goes back to the 'leak' that the Pens realigned the PP for Karlsson's sake when he came over.

2 of the top 3 ACTIVE PPP players in sheer points are Penguins (Ovie/Sid/Malkin).
Crosby has the highest average PPP with Malkin a smidge below him.

So you take two of the three best PPP players the last 20 years and reconfigure the PP around the newcomer? See why I'm down on Sully so much this year? How Reirden still has a place on the bench is troubling.

Then they benched Malkin on the PP. Basically had him on the ice for 30 seconds on the backend. Was he struggling? You bet but funny how his struggles were directly connected to playing besides 65 on PP.
When they benched 71 on the PP he was the leading PPP on the team.

Why do I have this sneaky feeling that if Reirden had been relieved months ago the Pens playoff plight might be stronger?

[Pabst]

Missed the game because my fucking race was cancelled and spent my evening modifying flights and hotels.

On a positive note, the end result is going to be me heading back to Pittsburgh for the first time in 5 years. The Pittsburgh Marathon just happened to be the same day as the race I'd signed up for (Providence RI, if anyone cares). Hotel and flight is cheaper too

Hope the weather cooperates. It can be nasty hot/humid for the Pgh marathon.

IIRC it downpoured last year. I always take the approach of 'cant control the weather so no use worrying about it'.

@fractalsteel - Thanks! This is the first time since about 2018 that I'm at the peak of my training cycle and haven't been injured (well, I was in March of 2020 too. Thanks, COVID). So, I've decided to go for broke and try for Sub-3:00.
There's a non-zero chance I'll collapse in a heap on Liberty Ave.

[bradshaw2ben]

Missed the game because my fucking race was cancelled and spent my evening modifying flights and hotels.

On a positive note, the end result is going to be me heading back to Pittsburgh for the first time in 5 years. The Pittsburgh Marathon just happened to be the same day as the race I'd signed up for (Providence RI, if anyone cares). Hotel and flight is cheaper too

Hope the weather cooperates. It can be nasty hot/humid for the Pgh marathon.

IIRC it downpoured last year. I always take the approach of 'cant control the weather so no use worrying about it'.

@fractalsteel - Thanks! This is the first time since about 2018 that I'm at the peak of my training cycle and haven't been injured (well, I was in March of 2020 too. Thanks, COVID). So, I've decided to go for broke and try for Sub-3:00.
There's a non-zero chance I'll collapse in a heap on Liberty Ave.

That second half is rough, uphill… if it’s hot it’ll get you.

I ran the first half in 1:13 ish in 1985. Felt great, too. Died in the heat when I couldn’t get enough fluids in me.

[Pabst]

That second half is rough, uphill… if it’s hot it’ll get you.

I ran the first half in 1:13 ish in 1985. Felt great, too. Died in the heat when I couldn’t get enough fluids in me.

Looks like the course is fairly flat until 12. Then its rolling hills around Pitt & CMU followed by a big downhill around 23.

I'm banking on getting to that downhill section before bonking

[bradshaw2ben]

That second half is rough, uphill… if it’s hot it’ll get you.

I ran the first half in 1:13 ish in 1985. Felt great, too. Died in the heat when I couldn’t get enough fluids in me.

Looks like the course is fairly flat until 12. Then its rolling hills around Pitt & CMU followed by a big downhill around 23.

I'm banking on getting to that downhill section before bonking

Up and over the two bridges, then up to Pitt/Oakland