Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Boston Bruins [Open Thread]
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (19-13-4) vs BOSTON BRUINS (27-5-4)
MELLON ARENA @ 7:30
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BRUINS BLOGS: The Bruins Report | Boston Blueline| Bruins Hockey Blog
NOTES
Get your SPG picks in before the puck drops for a chance to win a Penguins wall clock, courtesy of Carrolls Cove.com.
Marc-Andre Fleury in net for Pens
Boston.com says Tim Thomas for the Bruins.
Comments
Dear Frank,
My boy is having favorite hockey team identity crisis. He has been a Flames fan for the longest time and has just recently switched to being an Oilers fan which I think it has to do with a little girl, not sure, hope not, as he is not allowed to like girls until he is 18. Anyhow, good Santa gave him an Oilers jersey along with two tickets to tomorrow night’s Battle of Alberta game at the Dome. I guess Santa figured a good way to test someone’s allegiance. This morning he pulled out his Flames jersey and his Oilers jersey and informed me that he shall switch jerseys at the game depending on who is winning. I was like W*F, are you my son? I guess he is raised in the province of fan bandwagon jumpers. When asked why he told me that he was scared of getting booed in his Oliers jersey, being 9 years old, I thought, fair enough. So in order to make him feel more comfortable at game, I agreed to cheer for the Oilers with him, god help me, not that I would have cheered for the Flames but neutral would have been ok. Here are my questions and concerns that you could help me with.
1. Why would he not want to be a Penguins fan like I, i’ve tried believe me.
2. If the Flames and Oilers were the last 2 teams in the NHL, which one would you cheer for?
3. How can I convince/coherce him to become a Pens Fan?
4. How the hell do you pretend to cheer for the Oilers and keep your sanity?
5. How am I going to avoid getting beaten-up?
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 7:13 PM EST
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Sounds like quite the predicament. Dr. Frank to the rescue.
1. Your son is clearly a masochist. Please don’t take his failure as a hockey fan as your failure as a parent. You’ve done everything you can and from here it’s up to him. Your only hope is that one day he will see the light of day (or too many dark days as a Calgary/Edmonton fan) and convert to the one true being.
2. I’d become a fan of the AHL – I hear those Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are pretty good.
3. I’m afraid there is little you can do to make him like your favorite team. I say edu-makate yourself to the best of your abilities so that when he says, “Jarome Iginla scored a hat trick last night” you can say. “Yeah, but did he ever score five goals in one game every way possible (short hand, penalty shot, even strength, empty net and power play) like Mario Lemieux? I didn’t think so.” Also I’d suggest he read Pensburgh as often as possible. If mom doesn’t want him to interact that is perfectly fine, but the boy should be educated at the least.
4. In the right atmosphere you’ll be surprised what you can do. I once cheered for the Devils during a Rangers/Devils game, then turned right around a week later and cheer for the Penguins over the Devils. Sometimes you have to choose between which team you hate less (if at all possible) and go with that approach.
5. Speak softly and carry a big hockey stick. You will go far.
Anything else, don’t hesitate to ask.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 7:51 PM EST
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that stick save was incredible
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 7:51 PM EST
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There we go – Peter Gunnnnnn
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 8:06 PM EST
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er, Petr. Sometimes you try to be cool and just fail. Sigh.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 8:07 PM EST
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ah, not like your in the player name spelling bee, so far aside from Flower and Sykora’s goal I don’t see a whole lot goin’ on. oh, and thanks for the advice, I will be sure to have a few beers as well, it may help numb the pain.
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 8:16 PM EST
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Yeah it seems kinda laid back, but if the Pens can take the early lead like this and perhaps pad it with a goal or two I’m pretty confident Fleury can hold up to the pressure.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 8:24 PM EST
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Some of the pens plays look like something out of Dr. Suess. In a good, hunh, kinda way.
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 8:31 PM EST
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That’s what happens when you try to get too cute with your team. Less pass, more shot. But I will admit, they are looking pretty good on offense right now. Tough break for Fleury before.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 8:41 PM EST
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Wow Savard. That was a sick shot.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 8:46 PM EST
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water bottle flying off=lookin’ tres impressive
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 8:49 PM EST
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Dupuis just has an insane slap shot. He cranked back and unloaded. Insane.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 8:55 PM EST
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Should he not be used more at the point on PP’s?
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 8:57 PM EST
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I’m all for that idea
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 8:59 PM EST
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The Bruins have amazing chemistry. That set up was great – Savard to Kessel was right on the tape.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 9:00 PM EST
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I’m happy to see the Pens are keeping pace with the league’s best team but I’d really like to see them make a supreme effort in the third. Let’s see one of those comebacks from earlier in the season.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 9:07 PM EST
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oh yeah, I had forgotten those : ) My my, let us see Crosby stop being Mr. Pass and score a few, just cuz he is gettin’ flak, and/or one from a d man, cuz there are so many of them.
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 9:20 PM EST
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That would definitely be nice, but I’ll take a goal or two or three from anyone at this point.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 9:25 PM EST
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Seeing Sabu in the hallway is sad. Being a back-up goalie has to be the hardest job on earth. You sit and watch and then when you do go in you are expected to play top notch after sitting and watching.
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 9:25 PM EST
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Myer and dweyer, sounds like… dumb and dumber.
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 9:27 PM EST
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That was the UGLIEST power play ever. Atrocious. Horrendous. Horrible.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 9:31 PM EST
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It seems like every time the Pens are on the PP they GIVE UP a goal. SCORE you F&^%S!
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 9:32 PM EST
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The PP is that bad, it creates the 3 on 1, are you kidding?
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 9:33 PM EST
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oh, and the announcer just said that they are ranked 15th on the PP, what the hell does 15-30th look like?
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 9:35 PM EST
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I don’t know, but whoever is 30th just double the suckiness of the Pens and that should probably give you an idea. I bet they put more shots on their own net than on the other team’s.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 9:37 PM EST
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I’m Mike Yeo, fend for yourselves, just go with anything and see what happens, no more ‘plays’, do what you want.
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 9:39 PM EST
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I’m Frank D – I’m speechless at tonight’s performance.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 9:41 PM EST
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Tell me what the chances are that they can tie it up? Last time I asked this it actually happened!!!
So is it possible?
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 9:46 PM EST
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No – this one is over. Pack up the bags and get ready for Thursday’s rematch.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 9:48 PM EST
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brat, you found the whiskey in the bag, didn’t you? It is possible, for true… but I do have plan B, see hopeful yet realistic, best of both worlds.
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 9:51 PM EST
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Well no hope for this game.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 9:53 PM EST
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terrible just terrible
Its five 2 halfway through the third
this is just sad
too many penalties
that wideman shot was a hell of a shot
by sdhman11 on
Dec 30, 2008 9:53 PM EST
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Agreed. This has been torture. Wideman’s shot was good, but so was the setup from Savard to Kessel looked like something the Pens SHOULD do but aren’t doing.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 9:54 PM EST
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Good job for Wallace to show up, but he got owned in that one.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 9:56 PM EST
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He stayed on his skates for a while. I’m sure deep down Lucic is at least admiring the kid’s effort.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 9:59 PM EST
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Alaska I reckon.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 10:04 PM EST
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Ah, yes, terrible me, Yukon-Alaska, Alaska-Yukon, America-Canada, Canada-America, really do/should live in igloos.
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 10:08 PM EST
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haha Well, I remember one of the games they cut back to a bar in Alaska where a bunch of his friends and such were cheering him on. I figured Yukon was Alaska in Canadian lingo, but I didn’t want to assume. It’s bad enough the Penguins made an “ass” of ‘u’ and ‘me’, far be it for me to do it again.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 10:11 PM EST
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Either you are quoting lines from film and/or play I do not know or I am just daft. What??
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 10:14 PM EST
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The old saying – when you assume you make an ass of u and me.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 10:16 PM EST
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30 years old, never heard it, maybe i’ve been living in a box.
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 10:19 PM EST
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Well, at least you’re not up in the Yukon.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 10:22 PM EST
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Took my blinder off to see the clock, ok for true, no chance.
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 9:59 PM EST
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Now this is just painful. Those shots should’ve been in – at least one of them and they can’t even capitalize on it.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 10:00 PM EST
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Wallow now with your whiskey, if you don’t already have it, The sun will come out tomorrow, gotta love Annie.
by AngelaMc on
Dec 30, 2008 10:11 PM EST
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Off on New Year’s Eve and Day, I think I’ll save the whiskey midnight tomorrow.
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by FrankD on
Dec 30, 2008 10:17 PM EST
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