NFL Network announces new Quantum Sunday Ticket

NFL Network, DirecTV announce new Quantum Sunday Ticket for 2012 season

The NFL Network, the #1 source for news and information about America’s #1 sport, and DirecTV, the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, have announced a breakthrough in sports viewing technology which will once again change forever how fans view their favorite teams.

For over 10 years, NFL Sunday Ticket has been an immensely popular add-on to DirecTV subscribers, allowing fans to see nearly every Sunday game from wherever they are. Then the Red Zone Channel permitted viewers to not miss a single big play or touchdown. But as exciting as all this is, there was still something missing.

“Frankly, the problem was bad teams”, said Bill Jameson, NFL Network’s Director of Technology. “If you are a Rams, Seahawks or Jaguar’s fan, how much fun is it to be able to see them lose from anywhere you happen to be. Clearly, whoever came up with the phrase Any Given Sunday wasn’t a Brown’s fan! And even good teams go through painful strectches, and it was driven home when 87% of Colts fans dropped their Sunday Ticket subscription this week. We had to find a way to give these fans more.”

And so, scientists at NFL Networks and DirecTV, in association with NASA’s JPL labs and the Men’s Wearhouse, have developed Quantum Sunday Ticket, the most advanced entertainment delivery system of it’s kind.

“Let’s say you are a Bill’s fan,” explained Jameson, “and its week 3 and you are down by 21 to the Pats in the 2nd period. BEfore now, your only two choices were to switch to a game you didnt care about or just keep drinking until you didn’t care about this one either. But now, the “Q” button on your remote will search all adjacent alternate realities until it finds a universe in which the Bills are winning, or at least within a field goal. It’s very entertaining, in our testing last season I saw Drew Brees lead the Cardinals to an undefeated season. You really never know what to expect when you hit that “Q” button, except that your team will be winning, or close to it. With careful viewing, your team can win the superbowl every year!”

NFL Networks acknowledges that there are problems with the technology. “It can get confusing. In one reality the Boise Rockets beat the Los Angeles Packers in last year’s superbowl. Rules change between realities, of course, as do uniforms and sometimes the shape of the ball.” Jameson admitted that the technology tries to edit out alternate realities where disasters have changed the face of the country. “Realities where the country has been ravaged by Nuclear War, Alien Invasion and Jimmy Carter winning a 2nd term have largely been blocked,” said Jameson. “Although there are a few out there we haven’t been able to remove yet where Brady Quinn wins the MVP. This is a work in process, but well worth the money”.

To handle the reporting, DirecTV has located 43,916 versions of host Andrew Siciliano where he had not turned evil or gone mad, and they have hired all of them to cover all the various game viewing permutations.

Reported safety concerns are no longer an issue, according to a DirecTV spokesman, who chose to remain anonymous. “Incidents like where the one tester got sucked into a game where players ride on carniverous dinosaurs have been almost completely eliminated,” he assured several passers-by.

Pre-orders are being taken now, with the 1 year subscription price being $1,999.99.

Taking Offense: Keys to the Steelers loss to the Saints

1) The goal line stand in the 1st half had so many problems I don’t have time to write about them all. Tomlin went back to being a coward this week by not going for it on 4th and inches… when you have the NFL’s best defense. Kicking the field goal was a chicken play, and I knew at that moment we were going to lose the game. He disrespected his offense AND his defense on the same decision.

2) Again, same drive, Mendelhall clearly scored on the 2nd down play. It would have been overturned. But Tomlin didn’t throw the flag, because, he said later, “Visitors never get good looks on the replay”. Really? Home teams are somehow conspiring to hide replays that are harmful to them from the replay booth? Give me a break, you let the game get away from you and didn’t want to risk a 2nd challenge on the same series. But if you had, your team probably would have won that game.

3) As we all know, helmet to helmet blows are now completely forbidden in the NFL, it is an extreme point of emphasis and there is now ZERO TOLERANCE for helmet to helmet hits. OK so… why was the helmet to helmet hit that jarred a touchdown out of Hines Ward’s hands in the 2nd quarter not called? The NFL Referees have to be damn glad there are NHL referees and linesmen cause if there weren’t, they would be the worst set of officials on the planet.

Oh, and Hines Ward, next time you are hit anywhere near the head you need to do what everyone else is doing and fake a convulsion for a couple minutes. Watch Scotty Hatnell from the other night’s penguins game if you need a pointer. Roo says its also called the Mohammed Mossaquiver,

4) Offensive line: really? We’ve decided we’re not really interested in pass blocking at this time? House Democrats felt safer last night than Ben Rothelisberger.

5) It took 6 games for the Saints to remember how they played last year. And unfortunately the same can be said for our cornerbacks.

6) The Steelers got outcoached… it happens. Here’s one bit of advice, if you are playing a team who is rushing 8 guys, and you have 3 receivers out in patterns, you got, at least, single coverage. And if one of them is Mike Wallace, he’s open. Throw the ball, Ben.

Poor poor Bengals, they are going to have a world of hurt put on them next week…

Pens Preds 10/20 Recap by Roo

note: sorry for running behind on some of these recaps, very busy time here at Hun Sports Central!

The Pens looked great in every facet tonight except for goaltending. The goaltending was just ok. It led, however, to a 4-3 victory in OT, and the first win of the season for streaky goalie Marc Andre-Fleury.

At a Glance-

Our beloved flower let a screamer in on the first shot of the game… Unfortunate, but it came about more from good shooting than bad goaltending. Nashville was ready for this game, and they played hard. For the first time this season I can say, I left this game a bit sad for Nashville. They played with a tremendous amount of heart, and I am glad they are walking away with a point. The usual suspects really took over the goal scoring in this game, though it took awhile to find a stride. Crosby connected twice, and Malkin once, before defenseman Kris Letang rocketed the winning goal past Nashville’s ace goalie, Pekka Rinne.

Momentous Moment-

Whoever talked to the Pens between the 3rd period and 1st OT break did a wonderful job. The Pens were firmly in control of overtime. Nashville scarcely threatened, and when they did, Fleury came through with big stops.

Penguins Player of the Game-

Sidney Crosby is the best player in the National Hockey League. It takes a night like tonight to realize that even the best players are sometimes dormant. Crosby was all over the ice tonight, in fact, it’s tough to think of a big play in which he did not contribute, either directly, or by applying pressure on a previous shift.

Not Pulling Their Weight-

This dubious distinction does not apply tonight. Every Penguin, and in fact, every Predator, played a tremendous game tonight. This was the best game of the year so far. It was two competitive, and talented clubs, going at it head to head. Everybody stepped up.

Worth Another Look-

Mark Letestu is a scary rookie. He didn’t make much of a splash this game in particular, but he has proven himself to be a franchise rookie, moving up the the second line, and contributing to Malkin’s success tonight. He is an early contender for Rookie of the Year.

Lessons Learned-

After a disappointing and nerve-racking start, the Penguins are looking like a hundred point team again. Who know what the future holds, but if this club stays healthy, good things are in store over the course of the entire season.

Next up? –

The Blues in the Gateway City. This Penguins road trip is a pivotal one, as optimistic reports suggest that Jordan Staal, Arron Asham, and Zbynek Machalek may rejoin the team during it’s duration.

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Editor’s Note: With no Eastern teams showing dominance in the early going, this is the perfect time for the Pens to pull ahead of the pack

This Blog Calls BS on the James Harrison Fine

As I write this, James Harrison is so upset about the $75,000 fine he was given for a hit on the Brown’s receiver Massaquoi that he is reportedly considering retirement.

I cannot blame him. I don’t think he will retire and I certainly hope he does not, but I cannot blame him for considering taking his ball and going home.

There were a number of helmet to helmet collisions Sunday. Harrison’s paled in comparison to the others. But Harrison got a $75K fine and the others got $50K. Because the NFL has decided that other than Breast Cancer Awareness. preventing concussions is the #1 goal of the NFL. (I think providing the fans with entertaining, exciting football is #12, right after #11, making sure Chad Ochocinco has no fun at all on the field).

Don’t get me wrong, intentionally trying to injure someone on the field is and always has been illegal and punishable by fines and suspension. But incidental helmet to helmet contact? Sure, if the referee thinks that it was out of line, throw a flag. But these are big boys, playing a dangerous game. Let them settle it on the field. Fines like the one given to Harrison and suspensions like those that are being threatened starting next week are just “aw we really care” political BS by the NFL league office.

Here are the minimum salaries for NFL players for 2010, based on years in the league:

0 $325,000
1 $400,000
2 $475,000
3 $550,000
4 $635,000
7-9 $760,000
10+ $860,000

Of course, many make much more. This is big money, and one of the reasons these people make big money is that every single one of them knows that the next snap of the ball could end in a snap of one of their bones. Thats the trade-off of today’s NFL. If you want to pity someone, pity the 50s, 60s and 70s era players who are both cripped, addled and broke. There are your NFL heroes. Instead of splitting fines between the league’s “feel good” charities all fine money ought to be given to them. But I digress.

Let me make the point this way. Give me $325,000 and a regulation NFL helmet. I will stand in a field and let James Harrison, Dunta Robinson, and Brandon Merriweather each take a shot at me helmet to helmet. It’ll hurt like hell. I will get a concussion. But in the end of the day I will almost certainly be fine and the $325K, invested, will do me nicely for the rest of my life. Thanks.

But back to James Harrison. Look at this still frame of the hit. Its a little blurry because its been blown up, but it exonerates Harrison:

Look at Harrison’s body… knees bent, slightly leaning forward… he is trying to make a mid-body hit just like they are taught to do. In no way is he coming in high at helmet level. Now look at Massequoi. He also went low, and his posture caused the helmet to helmet blow. In the last tenth of a second there was no way for Harrison to change his angle of attack.

If the referee had wanted to throw a flag on it, let him. (Although based on this picture, the ref made the right call by not). But let it end there. It was not an attempt to injure on Harrison’s part, it was tough rock’em sock’em football.

So why the 75K fine? Because the kindler gentler NFL needed a poster boy and since no Raiders had any head shots this week, the NFL went with its other whipping boy and crapped on a Steeler. If you go back almost 40 years you will see many rules changes that were “blamed” on steelers… the earliest I can remember was the “one chuck rule” which was enacted in the 70s because no mortal wide receiver could get 10 yards off the line of scrimmage against Mel Blount and the other Steeler’s tough defenders. New restrictions on downfield blocking? Hines Ward was the poster child for that one. And – I know this is controversial – don’t forget that Ben Rothelisberger was the 1st NFL player to be suspended for just an allegation.

Here’s hoping that this terrible decision on the part of the NFL doesn’t rob the Steelers and the NFL of one of its most exciting players.

P.S. Shame on the sportswriters for the Post Gazette for turning on Harrison. Shame.

Pens Flyers 10/17 Recap

Ladies, and Gentlemen, your 2010-2011 Penguins have arrived. They do apologize for the delay. Those guys who ran around in Pens uniforms for the first 4 games are mostly gone. And lets hope they stay gone. With the Pens at .500, the season starts anew.

At A Glance-

Stifling Defense, Stellar Goaltending, and Relentless Pressure by the Offense. This game had it all, and by the end the Flyers fans (the most obnoxious fans in hockey) had even forgotten to boo when Crosby got the puck. It was as close to a perfect game as the Pens have pitched in quite a long time.

(Editor’s note – the most obnoxious fans in hockey may in fact be the the supports of the Moosejaw Warriors, who have been known to throw live kittens on the ice in order to trip up opposing players. But the Flyers fans are a close second).

After giving up the 1st goal to the Flyers (an almost impossible goal for Brent Johnson to stop) the Pens responded by bringing their game up a notch on every level. Sidney Crosby found the back of the net twice, with Kunitz, Goligoski and Cooke also getting into the act. Martin, Letang, Letestu, Lovejoy and Engelland played almost error free defense, and even the lumbering Andrew Hutchinson managed to stay on his skates and not run into any of his own teammates (at least while on camera).

I cannot say enough about Brent Johnson. We have an official Goaltender Controversy ™ in Pittsburgh. And it will make both men better.

Momentous Moment-

Crosby’s power-play goal from just to the left of the Flyers’s netminder made it 3-1 and the Flyers lost their composure for the remainder of the game.

Penguins Player of the Game-

Most might say Crosby, with his two goals. I say Brent Johnson. He made several top-notch saves in the 1st period that could have given the Flyers a big lead. OK, call it a tie.

Not Pulling Their Weight-

As my friend Seamus said tonight, you miss 100% of the shots that aren’t on net. Malkin appears to not be able to hit the goalie with a basketball right now. Several of his shots seemed to be more dangerous to beer vendors than the opposing goaltenders. He needs to calm the heck down and get the puck on-net as good things tend to happen that way. Like most Russian players, Malkin can get depressed when he doesn’t play well and can go into a month-long self-fulfilling funk. Someone needs to sit him down and tell him to relax and just play his game. My fear is that the only three players who have been able to do that (Gonchar, Fedotenko, and briefly Ponakarovsi) are long gone. We have no fellow Russians left for him to commiserate with.

Worth Another Look-

Matt Cooke has become a major disruptive force (in a good way). With Malkin shooting worse than Dick Cheney right now, perhaps they should give Cooke some more ice time. And lets hope they keep playing Johnston as long as he is hot.

Worth Yet Another Look-

I was a little surprised at how quickly the Flyers fans gave up on their team, a 3 goal deficit in the 3rd period is not the end of the world, but the arena was eerily quiet.

Lessons Learned-

We can dominate a game even without Orpik, Mahalik and Staal. But lets get them back soon anyway.

Next Up?-

Monday at Ottowa. I am sure Gonchar and Jarko Ruutu will be happy to see their old friends come to town.

Pens Islanders 10/15 Recap by Roo

In a game plagued by bad decisions, stupid penalties, missed shots, and terrible officiating, the Pens somehow, against all odds, pulled out a 3-2 OT victory. The grounds of the Consol Energy Center are officially not cursed.

At A Glance-

After a great showing of secondary scoring to begin the second period (Rupp getting his first goal of the season, and Tangradi getting his first NHL goal), it looked like it was going to be all Pittsburgh tonight. But two goals were scored in direct consequence to a blown call later into that period helped the Islanders rally back. Kris Letang was given a major penalty, and game misconduct, for attempting to hit a defenseless player in the head. Problem is that every single replay showed that the hit was 100 percent clean. The Islanders scored once on the major, and again seconds after it expired (note that the referees failed to call a much more blatant trip on Max Talbot shortly before the second goal was scored.) Two goalie interference penalties by Matt Cooke would end up yielding no goals for the Islanders, in fact, the second offered an interesting edge to the Pens. The fans at the Consol Energy Center took exception to the way the New York netminder flopped over for the second penalty. From that point on they drowned him out with boos every time he handled the puck. Did it get in his head? It’s very possible. The Pens brought it home in overtime on an Alex Goligoski touch shot.

Momentous Moment-

With the score tied an less than three minutes left, the Pen’s Deryk Engelland was called for interference (another questionable call). The Penguins survived a nail-biting penalty kill with ease. It set the tone for overtime, and let Pittsburgh come out with confidence to begin the extra play.

Penguins Player of the Game-

Alex Goligoski. This one was way too easy.

Not Pulling Their Weight-

Any Penguin who missed the net on a one-timer. That goes double for you, Chris Kunitz.

Worth Another Look-

The mammoth hit by Kris Letang will surely be water cooler debate material tomorrow. It is an obvious repercussion of the Cooke-Savard clash, and subsequent fracus from last year. The question now is: If hits like this are such a big deal, how did players manage to play without helmets for so very many years? I’m not saying that hits to the had aren’t a big deal but–… wait, no, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Improve the helmets, call fair penalties, and let these guys play.

Worth Yet Another Look-

Brent Johnson did enough to win tonight, but not enough to create a serious goalie controversy. Some saw this as an opportunity for Johnson to make some noise, but instead, he made the Steel City Proud. He’s a lunch bucket, grind it out goalie, and he’s not a starter. I think he’s the only person perfectly content with that role.

Lessons Learned-

Officiating will be a completely different animal, this year, than it’s been in the past. The hope is that every team will feel it’s effects equally, and it won’t cost anyone to dearly.

Next Up?-

The Pens travel to Philly for an early 6 pm start tomorrow. The time was chosen as not the interfere with the Phillies-Giants NLDS game going on later tomorrow night.

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Editor’s note: We watched an NHL-produced video before the season which showed officials and teams how to call the new “to the head” penalties. One of the examples they showed of an allowable hit was almost exactly the hit tonight by Letang, Can the head linesman be fined and suspended? Mario was right 20 years ago, until officiating improves, the NHL is a “garage league”. I wouldn’t hire these guys to officiate roller derby.

Pens Maple Leafs 10/13 Recap

Another atrocious showing for the Pittsburgh defense erased a one goal
lead in the second period Wednesday evening. That period would be a
horror show, with a combination of classic Fleury apathy and
defensive mismatches allowing three goals in total. Even The Kid’s
first goal of the season wouldn’t be enough, and the Pens fell to 1-3
on the season. Fingers on your panic buttons, children, let’s break
this one down.

At a glance-

Toronto has been playing very good hockey, and it showed. For the
first time this season, the Penguins were not the dominant team out of
the starting gate. After taking a 2-1 lead at the first intermission,
it all fell apart. Fleury looked helpless, and his defense did
nothing to bail him out. Toronto scored three times to take a 4-2
advantage. With seconds left in the period, Sidney Crosby deposited a
lead pass behind the Toronto netminder. The CEC went nuts. It would
be the last goal of the game, however, and the Leafs skated away with
a 4-3 road victory, and a 3-0 record, a far cry from their awful start
a year ago.

Back Breaker-

This game’s back breaker doesn’t go to a goal, or penalty, but rather
to a period break itself. The second intermission struck right after
the Penguins scored. At this point the Pens had been clicking along.
After stepping back out on the ice to begin the third period, however,
they were flat, and disinterested again.

Penguins Player of the Game-

Deryk Engelland mixed it up with notorious bruise Colton Orr, and to
top it all off, he landed a vicious blow that toppled Orr. With
Machalek and Orpik out, the babies are stepping up in a big way.
Engelland played bad defense later on, but hey, so did the rest of the
team.

Not Pulling Their Weight-

Marc-Andre Fleury had an opportunity to silence the critics tonight,
and through the first period, it was looking as if he was doing just
that. You can’t really put a finger on what Fleury did wrong, it was
just bad goaltending. Bad fundamentals, bad intangibles, bad
communication, bad goaltending. Instead of quieting his doubters, he
has now started what really could be the first goalie controversy the
Pens have seen since Ty Conklin went on an incredible run in the
2007-08 season. Brent Johnson will start next against the Islanders.

Worth Another Look-

Time for more Fleury bashing. The final shot count for Toronto was a
staggeringly low 14 SOG. Let’s do the math. 14 shots. 4 went in.
That he only saved about 71% of the shots that came his way. He needs
to fix it.

Lessons Learned-

Have Orpik and Machalek healthy. Quickly.

What the hell?-

With every home game that rolls past, it’s looking more and more like
the Consol Energy Center is haunted. You could explain it away with
rational thought like: most teams play in arenas similar to the CEC,
and the Pens aren’t as used to that style of hockey yet. I choose to
belive that the ghost of Michel Briere is roaming the halls, unable to
figure out why Eric Tangradi made the team.

Next up?-

Islanders. Bring it.

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Editor’s note: Have you ever seen the Youtube videos of the bears in Russia that they teach to skate? If so, Andrew Hutchinson’s performance should have looked familiar to you. He was a hazard to everyone on the ice.

Pens Devils 10/11 Recap

Bravo. One monkey was firmly cast off the Pens backs with their 1st W. And one Gorilla was smacked off by beating the Devils for the first time since the Reconstruction. OK, I exaggerate but tell me it didn’t feel that long.

At a Glance-

The Pens continued the basic formula of the 1st 2 games, they came out roaring against a Goalie who proceeded to stand on his head. Brodeur calmly turned aside everything until Goligoski rocketed a blast past him just before the 19 minute mark of the 1st period. A lucky bounce courtesy of Letang and Letestu put the Pens up 2-0 early in the 2nd, then the offense again went into hibernation. Luckily, Brent Johnson showed everyone why he should be a starter somewhere in this league by turning back 30 of 31 shots, some of them dazzling. Paul Martin’s empty netter… perhaps the most casual empty net goal I have ever seen… was an appropriate exclamation point.

Back Breaker-

No single moment felt like the turning point to me, it was the consistent play of Johnson and the Pens Defense that sort of strangled the Devils throughout.

Penguins player of the game-

Hands down, Brent Johnson was the key to this victory. Kudos also to Paul Martin for playing a fantastic 2-way game.

Not pulling their weight-

The “2 headed monster” of Crosby and Malkin HAVE to score. And to do that, they have to shoot. Crosby missed several golden opportunities, choosing to try and make a perfect pass instead. He needs to remember last year and just bury some pucks. This isn’t pee-wee hockey and everyone doesn’t have to touch the puck before anyone shoots. And Malkin seems to be skating too much with the puck. When he does shoot he’s missing by a mile. Just bury it, Geno.

I also saw Letang miss a lot of defensive assignments, leading to good shots that Johnson was able to stop. I think Kris is searching for his role on this new Penguins team with the loss of Sarge. He’ll get there.

Worth another look-

With Orpik out with a groin injury, I thought Martin and Lovejoy did a great job of defending (and both had a lot of time in the offensive zone as well). I also saw Comrie and Letestu help out with several great defensive plays in their own end. I am seeing a team defensive concept forming here, and I like it.

Lessons learned-

Brent Johnson can be the man if he has to be. It won’t happen, but I would love to see him get the start on Wednesday. Nothing wrong with giving Fleury some more rest.

What the hell?-

I saw both Cooke and Kunitz shy away from making big, legal hits on Devils players. I know its a long season, but especially with Orpik out someone needed to make a statement against the Devils and nobody ever really did.

Next up- Toronto.

Bye Week Observations

Some random observations from the Steeler-less week 5.

1) I hate bye weeks. I know they give your team a week to rest in the middle of a grueling season. I don’t care. Steeler football good. No Steeler football bad.

2) I am of the opinion that to succeed the NFL needs perennially strong teams in Pittsburgh, Green Bay, San Francisco, Dallas, Miami and Oakland. Only two of those franchises are pulling their weight.

3) That sound you heard, Sam Bradford, was the clock striking midnight, and the slipper did not fit. Ah well, since when has rushing a quarterback into the starting job when he wasn;t ready ever hurt anyone? Well except almost everyone.

4) If Carolina Panthers played Gateway High School next week I could only put them up as a 2 point favorite, and only if they were playing at home.

5) The Bills, in creating a team so bad that Buffalo won’t want them anymore, might have succeeded so much that Toronto won’t want them either. They’d probably be outdrawn by the Argonauts right now. They ruined J.P. Losman, and now they have ruined Trent Edwards. Mark my words, Ryan Fitzpatrick will be charting plays in Tampa Bay by this time next year.

6) I know the Ravens won but Flacco floats more balls than Nick Perry. (I do apologize for the 30 year old reference, ask your parents). I didn’t see many passes on Sunday that would have broken a pane of glass if they had hit…

7) Relatedly, Denver’s weakness in the secondary is and will be their undoing.

8 ) Carson Palmer’s days as an NFL starter are numbered, and its not a big number.

9) The Saints are learning the hard lesson the Steelers know so well… the year after you win the Superbowl, you are EVERYONE’s superbowl. And too bad about the kicking situation, guess their next call will be to Morten Andersen. Then Gary Anderson. If those don’t work I think Tom Dempsey’s still alive.

10) This continues to be the Year of Idiotic Officiating in the NFL. The celebration call against Dallas at the end of their game (the guy FELL DOWN!) leads the pack, and they can’t even get it right with replay (the “Catch” by Williams at the end). Its time to revamp the officiating. Past time, actually.

11) Note to the Cleveland Browns: If Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme are the answer, then you’re asking the wrong damn question.

12) Seeing Kurt Warner in a broadcasting booth makes me a little depressed. He should be back where he belongs, chasing after a defensive back who’s returning an interception.

13) Brett Favre definitally has the oddest way of signaling to his fans that he is Number 1.

14) I was going to make a cutting comment about the 49ers, but I cannot do anything to them worse than what they are doing to themselves. Although I understand that if you Google “Crushing Disappointment” their team picture comes up.

15) Next Sunday cannot come quickly enough!

Pens Canadiens 10/9 Game Recap (by Roo)

It’s hard to know what we’ve learned from this loss. The Pens snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. While the game was highlighted by the breakout of Mark Letestu, it was marred by disinterested goaltending, and, for the second game in a row, an abundance of missed opportunities. The Canadiens, on the other hand, took advantage of every mistake that came their way.

At a Glance-

Much like opening night, tonight was started with a bang of Penguin offensive dominance, diminished by the fact the couldn’t get the puck behind a stellar Carey Price. Price robbed almost every goal scorer the Penguins threw at him, none more stunningly than Sidney Crosby on a rising shot fired off a bad deflection. The Penguins battled through and scored two goals, the second of which gave them the lead early on in the third period. It wasn’t meant to be, however, as the Canadiens rallied for two late goals, the second of which found it’s way in through divine providence alone.

Back Breaker-

After allowing the Habs to tie the game up late in the third period, the Pens, who had been playing stellar defense for the majority of the third period, fell apart. No one seemed to know where they were supposed to be on the ice, and it was all capped off by Marc-Andre Fleury, who let a soft wrister slide between his pads from an impossible angle. Fleury was also well responsible for the first goal, an acrobatic pass through the goaltender’s legs which was sent into the back of the net on the opposite corner by Pen killer Mike Cammalleri. Fleury never saw the puck, and seemed absolutely non-plussed when the goal light went red.

Penguins player of the game-

Mark Letestu went above and beyond, playing stellar defense, putting heavy pressure on Price all night, and finally breaking through in the third period with his second NHL goal. Chris Kunitz could deserve this award for good defense, but his failure to bury a spectacular relay feed from Crosby and Dupuis when the Pens needed it most hurt his value in this game.

Not pulling their weight-

Marc-Andre Fleury really had a chance to be the turnaround for the Pens. After 2 and a half periods of lights-out goaltending he looked like an AHL backup in the final 10 minutes of the game. Crosby finally got a point, but his bad passing is becoming a real issue. At least twice he turned the puck over on risky passes. There’s such a thing as trying to make something happen, but Crosby’s decisions bordered on arrogant.

Worth another look-

Evgyeni Malkin got his first goal of the season, and it seemed to fire him up. Hopefully he can parlay this into a hot streak. We know now that Malkin is a streaky player, and the faster a streak starts, the better for the Pens.

Lessons learned-

No matter how early it is in the season, this is a fact: The Pens are two games under .500. This isn’t a place we’re used to being. Communication still seems to be a problem, but it a lot better in this game than it did against Philly. The Penguins have scored 4 goals in their first two games, and that isn’t nearly enough to feel good about our efforts. The pressure falls on Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz, and Dupuis to pick up the slack for the injured Jordan Staal.

What the hell?-

Where are the big hits from Brooks Orpik? Two games in and he hasn’t rearranged anyone’s face yet. Brooks… stop trying to go after the puck, and hand out some free candy. Same goes for you, Matt Cooke.

Next up-

The Devils in the garden state. Gulp.

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[Once again, agree on all counts. No matter what the Pens say, the 1st and 3rd goals were soft as butter, and the third was bad fundamentals, which is what Fluery was supposed to have worked with Goaltender Coach Gilles Meloche on all off season – editor]