Memorial Day morning, and at some point today, will track down four or five songs (of many) which remind me of summers past: the Stones' "Memory Motel", Tom Waits' "Jersey Girl", Walter Egan's "Hot Summer Nights", Peter Case's "Satellite Beach", NGDB's "Let it Roll"...
Gorgeous day again here north of Manhattan, so we'll be outdoors, and not back on line until Game 2 tonight, when the question is whether the Big Red Machine can be derailed by Pittsburgh's reshuffled lines (Malone on 1st line) and the addition of Gary Roberts. Please swing by for some in-game reaction/discussion, as we did for Game 1.
The Pens will certainly play with more desperation, be more physical and, I think, score on the power play. According to news reports, Detroit's Johan Franzen is close but won't skate. Nice to have him in your pocket for Game 3, though. UPDATE: Franzen, who has 12 goals, was cleared to play after the morning skate today and apparently will....
So we're leaving for now, enjoy the day and be thankful for the brave vets, fathers and sons, brothers and uncles, friends and neighbors, and (as I was correctly reminded) the women of war, as well, some alive and many gone.
Til later...
Comments (15)
Zip,
let's not forget the moms, aunts, sisters etc that have fought and died as well as the boys.
BNG,
Did a bit of research as I am trying to lose the hang over here...and I will eat some crow here as it looks like the rangers had a #9 (Lundmark of all people) and a #10 (the unfortunately injured Blackburn). but take a look at the following list and see if your teams absolute horrendous play has not lent itself to it's current status on top of the league...
'07 - Esposito 20th overall - no longer matters
'06 - Staal 2nd overall
'05 - Crosby 1st overall
'04 - Malkin 2nd overall
'03 - Fleury 1st overall - interesting here as you guys traded Samuelson and 3rd overall to Florida for there #1 and Samuelson burns Fleury in Game 1 of the finals...Karma?
'02 - Whitney 5th overall
'01 - Armstrong 21st overall - no longer matters unless you consider that you used Armstrong and Esposito to get Hossa.
'00 - Orpik 18th overall
So the main point...between '02 and '06 you guys had the opportunity to pick five straight top 5 picks with three in a row being top two (really almost four in a row). Now I know everyone says there is no such thing as a sure bet...but Malkin, Crosby and Staal right in a row? That set you guys up at center for at least the following ten years as long as everyone stays happy and agrees to contracts. I dare say that if the Rangers had 5 top 5 picks in a row then we might just be in the finals. And it will be argued for eternity how legit the "Crosby sweepstakes" were.
-Hey Joke
"And it will be argued for eternity how legit the "Crosby sweepstakes" were."
This is th reason the lottery was done for the first time behind closed doors. The league is dishonest let's face it. The crapbirds were going to be in trouble of folding so they got the pick, plain and simple.
Tha Rangers had a heavy weighted amount of BALLS in the drawing and got the what pick?
The Rangers fan's need no motivation to show support for their team, which is one thing I can't say for the Crosby sweepstakes winners.
Happy Memorial Day to all!
Absolutely priceless that B&G is on here constantly telling people what a "True Fan" is and he's already giving up on his team after one loss. Typical Pens fan. Nice to see the NHL's poster boy go down in flames too.
Shaking up the lines after one game, is that a panic move or what? While all the talking heads are busy rationalizing gm 1 as somehow the Pens didn't play well, it appeared to me that they actually played better that they did in any of the Philly gms, so that must of been their upgrade game. I don't see how they can play any better. To shake up the lines simply says to the players we can't do this straight up so we have to improvise something. By the ay Malkin was pretty much invisisble in gm 1, has he hit the wall of is he simply mesmerized by the stage of this series? It is only a matter of time before the Pens get frustrated. Better hope they don't get shutout again, at least they need to score in this upcoming loss. After tonight, there won't be any shakeups available so pulling this card out of the hat this early is what I would refer to as an emergency play, Therrien realizes 2-0 is the end of the deal.
Hey Joke, if you really want to see some drafting genius, look where most of these Det players were drafted. Talk about you value in lower rds, the Wings are off the charts.
SO Pens juggle the lines and Wings add Franzen to the lineup for gm 2, advantage Wings! Nice to add a Franzen to an already ass kicking lineup, guess they don't need to juggle lines!
Joke,
Good work on using the internet to find out who was taken in what round.
So what?
For years - before the new CBA - the Pens couldn't compete because of the horrible financial structure of the league. Teams like the Rangers bought championships ('94) by spending simply because they were in a large TV market.
So while you and other Ranger fans laughed at your teams ability to sign the Gretzkys and Messiers to buy your cups teams like the Pens languished at the bottom of the standings and accumulated top draft picks.
Now the chickens have come home to roost.
Hows that for karma?
Now the league is based on an organizations ability to scout, draft and develop players. Not on how deep their respective pockets are. So now the league is truly competitive and all you Ranger fans can do is whine about the great conspiracy.
Again, 'man up' and admit you lost to a better team. And quit being such wimps.
Really sad that B&G must post as several different people. All of the sudden new people come on who B&G refers to as solid fans, this poor bastard has to even have multiple personalities to boot. Sad, very sad.
I don't see where Joke made any cmments about some league conspiracy, he simply alluded to the fact that the Pens lost for a long period and got the high end of the draft for almost 5 years running, and the point is an organization should turn around at that point. Pitt has, yet teams like the Wings have continued to win and win and win and they build with very low draft picks and still build a consistent winner. They didn't need tohave high draft picks to find superstars, which speaks volume for their scouting, development and overall leadership of their franchise. No roller coaster ride in Detroit over the last 15 years or so. This is a solid organization and that is coming from a Ranger fan, there is no comparison between what Det has accomplished and what the Pens have done.
No question. Detroit is the best franchise in hockey over the last ten years, The Devs are a distant second. Detroit's run started with their hire of former Pens, Habs and Blues coach Scotty Bowman.
What's your point?
Bowman was St Louis, Montreal and then Pitt, please don't make it seem like Bowman was a Pitt creation, not even close. Bowman was a HOF coach long before he came to Pitt. Having a HOF coach is also a great asset in winning consistently. Not even sure what Queens is trying to say, he is obviously off his meds. Try a little lithium there buddy.
Just for the record. I think the Pens have a little better shot tonight than they did on Saturday night.
The key to the game for the Pens tonight will be to play a consistent defensive game and try to stop the Wings puck possession game.
The Pens best shot is if the game is a low scoring defensive effort.
Babcock has the advantage of line matchups in Detroit and he works that advantage like an artist works a canvas.
Tonights bet: I took the Under at 5.5 goals.
Queens,
While I understand your reasons for posting... please don't go there today, Memorial day, when we honor those who died in the name of freedom.
I spent my time in the US military and while my service never put me in the vicinity of combat, I'm thankful to all of those who died in the name of freedom.
Zip,
Offering one up for you and for my Pens tonight.
Richard Thompson - Shoot out the lights
In the dark, who can see his face?
In the dark, who can reach him?
He hides like a child. He hides like a child.
Keeps his finger on the trigger
You know he can't stand the day
Shoot out the lights. Shoot out the lights
Keep the blind down on the window
Ah, keep the pain on the inside
Just watching the dark. Just watching the dark
Ah he might laugh but you won't see him
As he thunders through the night
Shoot out the lights. Shoot out the lights
In the darkness the shadows move
In the darkness the game is real
Real as a gun. Real as a gun
As he watches the lights of the city
And he moves through the night
Shoot out the lights. Shoot out the lights
Shoot out the lights. Ah, shoot out the lights
Queens,
Apologies to you... I should have known.
Zip appropriately deleted the post anyway