I would like to thank Wayne Gretzky

[purelebo84]

and the Phoenix Coyotes for giving us Mike Zigomanis for basically nothing.

The dude has been great ever since he's been here, and these last two games have been his coming out party.

P.S. This may be related to another thread, or maybe not.

[The Snapshot]

Ziggy is a monster add to this team. He was a big difference tonight against a team that used us last year in their playoff wins. Getting the draws obviously disrupts their possession game - and tonight led to a huge goal directly.

Shero plucked a diamond in the context of our team's deficiencies from the waiver wire. Right-handed center who is a great guy in the circle and skates hard. How does a crap team like Phoenix not have a place for him?

[Zach6668]

I don't understand why everyone keeps saying we got Ziggy from the waiver... and it's not you, it's all the networks showing the games... officially, he was traded here for future considerations.

[PittPensFan]

How does a crap team like Phoenix not have a place for him?

Because Gretzky knows all. And, therefore, he knows faceoffs are meaningless.

[superconan]

9 / 14 total and 4 for 4 against Draper. Impressive.

[meecrofilm]

And 2 clutch ones at the end of regulation.

[Bob McKenzie]

Thinking back about the older Pens teams, he's definitely got some Randy Gilhen in him. Reliable on faceoffs and playing a solid game.

Great pickup RS!!!

[JoseCuervo]

it's not just his face-off play either. He contributes on the PK and even tonight on the PP...?

[Idoit40fans]

Thinking back about the older Pens teams, he's definitely got some Randy Gilhen in him. Reliable on faceoffs and playing a solid game.

Great pickup RS!!!

Ziggy Franchise.

[Zach6668]

it's not just his face-off play either. He contributes on the PK and even tonight on the PP...?

Yeah, they had him working the left side of the net on the 5 on 3, and I saw him on the second unit of a 5 on 4 as well.

It's all about his right hand shot for the cross-crease passes. They had Sykora or Satan on the right side, the other one in front of the net, and Ziggy on the left side, with Sid and Geno working the points.

The RH shot is the reason Letang was down low for most of the OT PP as well, as Crosby and Malkin were working the points for that one too, even if they only got switched up in play (they sure didn't try hard to get back to their normal positions, if this was the case).

[wallflower]

it's not just his face-off play either. He contributes on the PK and even tonight on the PP...?

He actually did pretty decent out on the power play; I figured he would've come off as soon as possible after winning the faceoffs. I wouldn't want to see them make a habit of putting him on the first unit but against puck possession teams like the Wings it's not an awful idea.

[Pitts]

I like gettin' Ziggy wit it! What a steal.

[maudineormsby]

Totally agree with the OP especially on the point about winning faceoffs being a missing ingredient. Also, Malkin seems to have stepped up his draws.

[Idoit40fans]

it's not just his face-off play either. He contributes on the PK and even tonight on the PP...?

He actually did pretty decent out on the power play; I figured he would've come off as soon as possible after winning the faceoffs. I wouldn't want to see them make a habit of putting him on the first unit but against puck possession teams like the Wings it's not an awful idea.

I like him a lot 5 on 3. He is good enough at moving the puck and just being a body in close that he is worth having for his faceoffs.

[JoseCuervo]

it's not just his face-off play either. He contributes on the PK and even tonight on the PP...?

He actually did pretty decent out on the power play; I figured he would've come off as soon as possible after winning the faceoffs. I wouldn't want to see them make a habit of putting him on the first unit but against puck possession teams like the Wings it's not an awful idea.

He looked fine out there on the PP. I wouldn't mind him working at it either; he's definitely earned his chance.

[wallflower]

it's not just his face-off play either. He contributes on the PK and even tonight on the PP...?

He actually did pretty decent out on the power play; I figured he would've come off as soon as possible after winning the faceoffs. I wouldn't want to see them make a habit of putting him on the first unit but against puck possession teams like the Wings it's not an awful idea.

He looked fine out there on the PP. I wouldn't mind him working at it either; he's definitely earned his chance.

As Therrien likes to reward guys for doing well when he puts them in situations like that, I'm sure he'll get at least another chance there.

[littlemoonboot]

The mantis quietly kills. One faceoff at a time.

[Idoit40fans]

The mantis quietly kills. One faceoff at a time.

Then consumes its opponents's head.

[helmespc]

I'm kind of surprised he's not stuck with a team thus far. He's obviously a 4th liner faceoff specialist, but he does all the little things and works hard, certainly a piece the Pens were missing. Glad to have him around.

[DocEmrick]

He's a Utility player, as the 2K Series would say. The good thing we're finding out is that his utility belt doesn't just contain one tool.

[WHITEY1]

[quote="DocEmrick"]He's a Utility player, as the 2K Series would say. The good thing we're finding out is that his utility belt doesn't just contain one tool.[/quote]


Ummmmm doc, could you please leave these type of comments at home back in your closet?

[canaan]

I don't understand why everyone keeps saying we got Ziggy from the waiver... and it's not you, it's all the networks showing the games... officially, he was traded here for future considerations.

from what i understand, the future considerations are the waiver fees spent on zigomanis--IIRC

[Bowser]

I've been saying it for years, Pens need a RH center who can win faceoffs. Thankfully it only took Shero a few years to realize it.

[It'sagreatdayforhockey!]

I've been saying it for years, Pens need a RH center who can win faceoffs. Thankfully it only took Shero a few years to realize it.

You are smarter than Ray Shero. Nice.

[Samsdog]

In all honesty, if Zigomanis isn't in the game last night, the Penguins don't win it. His faceoff win that ended up getting the tying goal was absolutely perfect, and if I'm not mistaken the draw was against Zetterberg so there was less than a 50-50 chance another center would have won it. Two assists as well, for those keeping track.

While Staal was the player of the game, Mantis was definitely number 2, just doing all the little things that kept the team in it.