3/22/2012 Predators v. Penguins- Official Game Thread

[Rocco]

Preamble

Evening everyone. It's late in the season and every game takes on a bigger meaning. A month ago, the division looked signed, sealed and delivered for the Rangers. Then the Pens decided to get serious. And the Rangers cooled off. And the Pens have slowly crept up on the Rangers and now are quite large in the rear view mirror of New York. Despite missing Crosby for most of the season, the Pens lead the NHL in goals and have a PP in the top 10. The latter is baffling, given how bad the PP looks at times, but when it's clicking it is lethal.

Tonight's opponent is Nashville, a team solidly in the middle of the conference. This has seemingly been their lot for the last 5 years or so. This year's version actually has a decent offense though, so there's hope that maybe they will be more than early-round fodder this season. While it's strange to think of a team in Nashville being a Cup contender, it's no less absurd than "Carolina Hurricanes, 2006 Stanley Cup Champions".

Standings? http://espn.go.com/nhl/standings/_/group/2 With 10 games left, if the Pens want the Eastern Conference they need to win tonight and stay within a point of the Rangers before New York comes to the CEC. Tonight's performance will tell us if the Pens want the #1 seed, or if they're okay with the #4 seed and the Flyers in the first round. The Flyers have a huge game as well against a Capitals team that needs to get points before Buffalo rolls into DC for a must-win battle royale.

As always I expect a vocal crowd here. I've moved the NCAA games onto the smaller TV here- that's how much this game matters. Show some enthusiasm.

[Gaucho]

LET'S GO PENS!!!

[profpolisci]

GO PENS

[shafnutz05]

LET'S GO PENS!!!

[Fire0nice228]

LETS GO PENS

SULLY STAAL CROSBY to start nice!

[DMcGrew]

derp

[Kaizer]

[duke66]

is this sids first game wearing the third since well u know when??

[NashvilleCat]

This is the most talented team this Predator franchise has had. They have more offense than they've ever had and are holding their own in a very, very tough division. They are consistently in the top of the power rankings. They may not be in the top of the West standings but I bet no one wants them in the first or second round.

That said - LET'S GO PENS!!

[shafnutz05]

Ugh can't stand Tootoo

[columbia]

Go Pens!

Spoiler:

I've moved the NCAA games onto the smaller TV here- that's how much this game matters. Show some enthusiasm.

Great to have a bartender running the GDT. Is there a drink special?

[NashvilleCat]

Ugh can't stand Tootoo

He's a huge dirtball.

[The Snapshot]

I can't believe I have Hockey game tonight and a meeting center city Philly tomorrow morning.....ugh! I'll watch 2 periods, play, drive home to watch the 3rd on DVR and then drive to Philly late tonight.

Don't want to miss this game.

[Rocco]

Go Pens!

Spoiler:

I've moved the NCAA games onto the smaller TV here- that's how much this game matters. Show some enthusiasm.

Great to have a bartender running the GDT. Is there a drink special?

Cost of shots reduced by every goal the Pens score. I actually rolled my older TV into my living room.

[brwi]

Watching the Preds' feed and wished they didn't give such softball questions to Radulov, but oh well. I wanted them to ask him how he felt about his parents living in Nashville and going to Predator games regularly while he left them behind to play in the KHL

[shafnutz05]

I can't believe I have Hockey game tonight and a meeting center city Philly tomorrow morning.....ugh! I'll watch 2 periods, play, drive home to watch the 3rd on DVR and then drive to Philly late tonight.

Don't want to miss this game.

Whoa... Do you live in pittsburgh? That's a long night

[The Snapshot]

Crap, the Winter Classic uniforms......why, oh why?

[brwi]

Ugh can't stand Tootoo

One of my favorite players and would love to see him on the Pens.

[It'sagreatdayforhockey!]

Oh, thank goodness it was a mistake on NHL on the fly. I thought the pens added Bryzgalov and were starting him in net.

[Rocco]

Steigy calling this is a Finals preview? Pump the brakes, fella.

[shafnutz05]

Ugh Steigy seriously? Preview of the SCF?

[DMcGrew]

**** YRAH

[duke66]

MEAN GENE!!!

[Fire0nice228]

))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))



f you predators

[Rocco]

Geno Malkin, human fireball.