I live in Pittsburgh.  Those of you that also live in Pittsburgh and frequent bars here know how things can go.  I went to the same bar for game 7 as I had for game 5 and game 6.  On this particular occasion I had the distinct pleasure of discussing hockey with a 64 year old man who "knows every hockey number" and is, by his own words[sic]"a rangers fan".  He told me tonight that Sidney Crosby is not a "team player".  My response, naturally, was that a kid doesn't get a "C" on his jersey by not being a team player.  His response to that, drunkenly, was "oh F*$% the letter on his jersey. Crosby and Ovechkin, they aren't team players."

Crosby is a team player.  In his defense, Alex Ovechkin is too.  We are lucky to have such meteoric talent in Pittsburgh as Crosby and Malkin, but we are also lucky to have such a worthy opponent in Alexander Ovechkin. 

Meteoric doesn't even begin to describe him.  He is not only meteoric, he's also determined and opportunistic.  When Marc-Andre Fleury made a miscue tonight, Alexander Ovechkin jumped on it and it cost Fleury his first shutout of this playoffs.  I watch him, and I do think that some of his hits are dirty, but I also see what he brings to his team.  He is a fierce competitor, and as much as I don't like to admit it about someone like Alex Ovechkin, he is an asset to the game and to the league.  After reviewing his hit on Gonchar time and time again, I find it difficult to say that it was an illegal hit.  He did try to get his shoulder down first.  Nasty?  Yep.  Intent to injure?  Well yeah...isn't this the playoffs?  I was pissed at first...but put in his position, I'd probably have done the exact same.

And if it was dirty, he got the worst possible punishment he could have been given.  His team was absolutely dismantled in Game 7, on his home ice, after he guaranteed a win.  He got to skate off his own ice the loser.  Not only the loser of the series, but the loser of a 6-2 drubbing, during which his only goal was a gift from the opposing goalie.

I could not be happier with the Pens' victory tonight.  Next round, here we come.

p.s. I knew the series was going to come down to Ovechkin vs. Fleury eventually, and it did, with game 7 tied at 0.  Fleury came through with flying colors, and before he was challenged again it was 5-0.  My hat is off to Marc-Andre Fleury(even in spite of the fact he had no business out of the net on OV's goal).

GO PENS!!