by RxBandit66 on Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:11 pm
If the Penguins can muster up enough guts and psyche and get enough healthy bodies on the ice, they might just finish their nightmarish January with a 7-7 mark. They would have to win the remaining three games this month to accomplish that. It would be quite a feat considering everything that has transpired since the new year began. But here are some phrases I never want to hear again:
1) "The Penguins turn the puck over in that gray area again...."
2) "Letang shoots it......MISSED THE GOAL!"
3) "Crosby had it poked off his stick, now it's turned back the other way on a 3-on-1"
4) "The Penguins are being outshot 11-0 to start the period."
5) "Sykora had a wide open net but just couldn't finish the play."
6) "Whitney tried to clear the puck but just couldn't get enough mustard on it."
7) "Now Fleury comes out of the net to play the puck."
8) "Penguins' powerplay 6 for their last 66."
So let's see if these guys have what it takes to finish the first month of the new year with a .500 record. Winning these last three January games will be critical; the six points will certainly put them in the 7th or 8th playoff spot, and they can begin February with new life. By the way....a little side note to Sidney Crosby and Max Talbot....I just watched a game I recorded back in the 2006-2007 season....and you guys used to score goals when you drove to the net. 85% of hockey goals are hard-work goals, the ugly kind that bounce, deflect, or come off of rebounds. A team that generates minimal shots on goal has practically zero chance of ever scoring those type of goals. The entire team should spend the five day break watching videotapes of Mark Messier and Dino Ciccerelli.