April 11, 2012

• Dear Pittsburgh Penguins

  Dear Pittsburgh Penguins,

  The Columbus Blue Jackets may hold my regular season heart, but since they have only made the NHL Playoffs once in their 12 years of existence, you hold my playoff heart. I remember well when I was younger and Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr led the Penguins to the Playoffs every year. I don’t remember their Stanley Cup winning teams, but I do remember those two lighting it up each night and putting up so many points. There was a stretch in the NHL during which the Art Ross Trophy for most points rotated between only three players for about 15 or so years. The Great One, Wayne Gretzky was one. But you, the Penguins had the other two in Lemieux and Jagr.

  And now the team is led by a new dynamic duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Crosby, when healthy, is the best player in the league by far. Malkin, when he is on top of his game like he was this year, can lead the NHL in points(unless said Crosby is healthy). Sid, over your last 62 overall games played you scored a whopping 101 points. Geno, you led the NHL in points this season and hit the 50 goal mark for the first time in your career. You should run away with the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player.

  Tonight you two, and the rest of the Penguins, play your first playoff game in a best of seven series against the Philadelphia Flyers. I truly believe that if this year is meant to be a Stanley Cup winning year, that this team will be the toughest test you face during the four potential series. The Flyers have owned you in your own building, winning five out of six games ever played there. You have the home-ice advantage, but that doesn’t really mean much if another team you’re playing owns you on your own ice.

  But if you can get by the Flyers, as I think you will in six games, then I think you will be primed for a playoff run that can match what you did in 2009. If I remember right, Crosby led the league in points that year and won the Hart, and Malkin won the Conn Smyth trophy as Playoff MVP. This year it is Malkin’s turn to lead the NHL in points, probably win the Hart, and maybe see Crosby with Playoff MVP. As a matter of fact, 10 out of 16 experts on the NHL.com website have projected you, the Penguins, to be the Stanley Cup champion.
  http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=626836&navid=DL|NHL|home

  So I wish you the best of luck on behalf of Penguins nation. At the very least, keep the Rangers away from winning the cup. In 2009, the Steelers won the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. That was the first and last time that one city has ever held those two trophies. Now the New York Giants have won the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the New York Rangers have the #1 spot in the Eastern Conference. Stop them from doing what your city did three years ago!

  The best of luck to you with all my playoff heart!

  Shadowrunner81

  • 4:06 pm
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