Win, lose. Win, lose. Win, lose.

I could do this forever. Apparently the Canucks can, too.

They've now had something like 7 or 8 games alternating wins and losses.

Tonight they played host to Pheonix and the return of Ed Jovanovski. Pheonix had the early jump for the first 5 minutes, but we basically took over after that for the rest of the first period, scoring 4 times. Morrison, Bieksa, Bulis, and Ohlund (PP) scored the goals. Bulis now has 3 goals in 3 games since being put on a line with the Twins, after Canuck fans have been lambasting him all year for his floating and senseless plays.

In the second, Kesler had a tip in goal on a Bieksa point shot, making it 5-0. The game was really nothing after that, because the Canucks went into a 1-2-2 boring as hell shutdown mode. I swear, sometimes you piss me right off Vigneault. When you're up like that, you keep it coming. Pheonix scored halfway through the second, and once more with like 20 seconds left in a game (Canucks D didn't cover the stretch pass, sent Scatchard in on a breakaway.) Game ended up 5-2 Canucks. After being the last ranked team in goals per game, its nice to have 12 goals in the last 3 (7 on the previously struggling powerplay).

Bieksa - 1 goal, 1 assist
Kesler - 1 goal, 1 assist
H. Sedin - 2 assists
D. Sedin - 2 assists
Morrison - 1 goal
Ohlund - 1 goal
Bulis - 1 goal, and a post late in the game. >.<
Cooke - 1 assist
Krajicek - 1 assist

Luongo - 28 saves on 30 shots. (He quietly had a good game)

1st Star - Kevin Bieksa (1 goal, 1 assist, also led all players in ice-time)
2nd Star - B. Morrison
3rd Star - R. Kesler

*3 stars as per Sportsnet and NHL.com.

:wrong:It won't be the same. The capitals don't have the mighty JOHN DRUCE and awesome scoring power of Dino Cicerelli.

I'm glad they went back to East v. West for the All-Star Game.

I also get the feeling Rory Fitzpatrick will not be attending.

Well another downturn in the story regarding the fate of the Penguins' future in Pittsburgh.

TSN is reporting that Jim Balsillie has withdrawn his offer to buy the Pens due to unreasonable conditions put forth by the NHL.

The Isle of Capri vote is coming up next week on the 20th. Here's hoping they get their license. I don't want to see the Pens playing ANYWHERE but Pittsburgh.

Story: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=188556&hubname=

This is terrible news. I don't even want to imagine Pittsburgh without the Penguins; Hell, I can't imagine it. Everyone pray they manage to stay here, any damn way possible.

I don't see it as terrible news at all. Jim Balsillie probably wanted to move the team no matter what and the NHL just didnt allow him.

It all just rests on the IOC anything after that is uncertain.

I hope everything works out and the Penguins exist in 10 years.

That was by far the worst officiating I've seen in a long time. The entire second period was a joke, nothing Buffalo did got a penalty and everything we did landed us on the PK. I was impressed with Spezza's play and blown away with Emery. I'm super glad the Alfie's back and Redden is soon to follow Also, I'm going to the next two home games and I can't wait.

Alfie's back? That should help my pool, thanks. How did Vermette play tonight? He's one player that I like to keep an eye on. Another thing to note, is there a certain reason why Emery got the start tonight after 6 GA on 14 shots? I assume just because he's wanted more than Gerber to be in net right now and they figured that he'd be fine.

I didn't get to see any of the Canucks-Wild game tonight, but it is good that Luongo made 28 saves, we won the special teams battle and ultimately the game, 2-1. I still can't believe that Trevor Linden is on the first powerplay unit with the Twins.

Luongo was pretty good last night but he and the nucks dodged a big bullet in the second not too long after the Wild tied it up. Luongo was lying down after making a save and a rebound shot hit him in the mask. The puck in all likelihood crossed the line, but the refs didn't make any call one way or another. They went upstairs and reviewed it, but it was inconclusive so they called it no-goal.

Linden probably wouldn't be my first choice for the first powerplay unit, but the Sedins can make anyone look good. I mean hell, JAN BULIS is playing with them even strength and he's managed to find the scoresheet lately.

Linden doesn't have the shot or the speed that he once did, but he can still make some beauty passes. Granted, a disher isn't exactly who you need playing with the Sedins, but I guess it worked, and that's all I'm concerned with. =D

Thanks guys for letting me know how the game went.

Heres a little something for you Pens fans:

Report: D'Angelo wants to buy Penguins

Don't Canadians think this guy is a nutjob though? I read something like that on the Pens board.

Vermette's been...ok. Nothing spectacular from him in the past few games but I'm sure he'll come up with something sooner or later, he usually does in time.

We stuck with Emery (I assume) because has been outstanding on several occasions and he hasn't had a bad streak yet, Gerber, while seasoned and has more experience, has been amazing a few times and had a really bad streak when Emery got hurt. Although nothing official has been said, I think it's safe to say that Emery is our #1.

I'm working on some smaller signature bars if anyone is curious. Here's the preliminary swath:

http://home.comcast.net/~the66thdope...gbaryellow.gif
http://home.comcast.net/~the66thdope...sigbarblue.gif
http://home.comcast.net/~the66thdopefish/PITsigbar.gif

Ugh. Red Wings lost to Columbus tonight. Ugh. Sergei Fedorov had a good night too. Ugh.

And the Blackhawks have been on fire lately too. Detroit just doesn't own the Central Division like they used to.

http://www.covers.com/images/2006/18...tin061015a.jpg

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

According to the local news, Mark Cuban is again interested in purchasing the Penguins. =D

If he can employ the same magic touch he had with the Mavericks, then good.

Add to that the fact that he's a native Pittsburgher, and you have a very promising team that would be all the more likely to stay put here in Pittsburgh.

Nevermind. When the NHL updates the Western Conference voting tomorrow, Fitzo will be #2, according to Versus.

Double Post:
Penguins looked bad against the Blues tonight, losing 4-1. Lots of Pens fans have been calling for Michel Therrien's head for a while, and this may get it.

Double Post:
Bruins put the hurt on the Sens, 7-2 win. The Sturminator got a hat trick, Patrice handed out 5 assists.

Great game by Bergeron. But in my opinion, he's been what everyone has expected (Which is awesome, by the way).

But the guy who is really surprising me is Marc Savard. 98% of the hockey world said that Savard would bomb without Hossa and Kovalchuk on the wing, with whom he was able to have a 97-point year. When he signed for $5M in Boston, people laughed hysterically. Now look at him! 1G, 2A tonight, and that makes for 40 points on the year already in 31 games (10G-30A). He's on pace for a 106-point season on a so-so Boston club. This guy is quickly scoring (Or assisting) his way into my good books (And apparently those of Bruin fans as well). I figure I'll check out a couple Bruin games on NHL Google.

Gentlemen! Behold! The Internet!
The Pens did look terrible, but I think it's far too early to get rid of Therrien. If we finish this season with a sub-.500 recond, my senitments may change a bit, but the season just started. Fans of all sports call for the firing of the coach way too early, and way too often. They can only do so much.

LOL sign Lemieux as coach so those thrilling Penguins-Coyotes matches can have even more excitement!

Pittsburgh Casino Update: Isle of Capri did not win the casino license in Pittsburgh which means no arena for the Penguins.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=189123&hubname=nhl

I cannot tell you how fucking pissed off I am at this bullshit state. The city of Pittsburgh could have received a free arena and now there is so much uncertainty to if the Pens will stay in Pittsburgh now. Fuck Pennsylvania and it's bullshit fucking politics.