Happy Thanksgiving Week — you’re forgiven if you’re not feeling too festive. What transpired at PPG Paints Arena over the weekend was the hockey equivalent of turkeys falling from the sky.
There’s no way to sugarcoat losses at home on consecutive nights by a combined score of 10-2. Even Sidney Crosby’s 600th goal — an achievement only Mario Lemieux has accomplished with the Penguins — wasn’t enough to brighten spirits.
He scored it on Light Up Night, the annual event where people flock to downtown Pittsburgh to kick off the holiday season and party as surrounding buildings stay lit into the evening’s darkest hours.
Speaking of dark, here’s where things are for the Penguins:
- They are guaranteed to be at least three points out of a playoff spot by Thanksgiving.
- Their points percentage is third-worst in the NHL.
- Their goal differential is the worst in the NHL.
Things are bleak.
Story time with Uncle Rossi
In honor of Crosby’s 600th goal, let’s go back to the night he scored his first: Oct. 8, 2005.
Crosby made a sellout crowd wait to witness history that night. He scored his goal late in the second period.
I was relieved.
I had spent most of the first period scouring the event level’s musty hallways in Mellon Arena — desperately trying to chase down Christina Aguilera. The Penguins had flown her into Pittsburgh as a surprise to perform the national anthem.
The newspaper I worked for at the time staffed this game like a Stanley Cup Final, and nobody wanted to give up a seat in the makeshift press box and risk missing Crosby’s first goal. But one of the editors insisted somebody write about Aguilera’s unexpected appearance, and I was the only reporter who had previously interviewed her.
It took about 10 minutes of my looking into empty rooms and around corners, but I finally tracked her down near a small, scarcely known room near a public men’s restroom at the old Igloo. As I approached to ask for an interview, one of her bodyguards intervened.
I flashed my media credential, explained my situation, and poured it on by offering that I’d spoken with Aguilera once for a story about the late Mister Rogers.
“Yeah, pal, she’s not talking to you,” the bodyguard said. “But nice try.”
I could see Aguilera talking with a couple of people in the room. I tried to get in her sightline by learning around the bodyguard while holding up my credential and loudly telling her I worked for one of her hometown newspapers.
She smiled politely and waved, but then the bodyguard ended my quest.
“So, you’ll be leaving now,” he said.
Never did get that story, but I was back in the press box to see Crosby score his first goal.
Down on the farm
A bright spot for the Penguins is the early-season success of their AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
A 6-3-1-0 run in the past 10 games has the AHL Penguins in second place in the Atlantic Division. The juggernaut Hershey Bears have a tight grip on first place, but they’ve also played five more games than Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
AHL Atlantic Division standings
| Place | Team | Games played | Points | Wins | Losses | OT losses | Points % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Hershey Bears |
19 |
28 |
13 |
4 |
2 |
0.737 |
|
2 |
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |
14 |
19 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
0.679 |
|
3 |
Charlotte Checkers |
15 |
19 |
8 |
4 |
1 |
0.633 |
|
4 |
Providence Bruins |
17 |
18 |
8 |
7 |
2 |
0.529 |
|
5 |
Hartford Wolf Pack |
17 |
18 |
8 |
7 |
1 |
0.529 |
Joel Blomqvist was the Penguins’ best goalie in the NHL, so it’s probably no surprise that he surrendered only three goals in two starts since returning to the AHL. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton roster is comprised of a nice mix, as is evident by the club’s scoring leaders.
Veteran Emil Bemström is tops with 15 points in 14 games, while prospect Ville Koivunen is second at 11 points. Tristan Broz’s seven goals pace the club.
It’s been too long since Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has iced a Calder Cup contender. Kyle Dubas oversaw a competitive AHL franchise in Toronto. So far, Dubas’ greatest success with the Penguins has been doing something similar with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
See, it’s not all gloom and doom!
History n’at
Before the Penguins, Pittsburgh had an NHL team called the Pirates. And it’s a good thing, too; if not for that precedent, the Penguins may never have wrestled their black and gold colors from the Boston Bruins.
But that’s a story for another day.
On this date in 1925, the Pirates played the Bruins in Boston. It was the Pirates’ first game, and they won, 2-1, with captain Lionel Conacher scoring the franchise’s first goal.
His nickname was “L-Train” because, believe it or not, there was a time when hockey nicknames weren’t just surnames with a “y” or “er” attached to the end.
As always, a stick tap to our friends over at PittsburghHockey.net for the historical information.
Don’t miss
• Here’s what Josh Yohe is hearing about Mike Sullivan’s situation. Sullivan’s status is the No. 1 topic among agitated Penguins fans, so Josh provides some insight — even if it might not please bloodthirsty fans.
• Would the Vancouver Canucks make a good trade partner for the Penguins regarding Marcus Pettersson?
Pettersson is having a rough season, but all of the Penguins defensemen are. A change of scenery probably will do him good, and it will be interesting to see how long Dubas holds onto Pettersson before the March 8 NHL trade deadline. With an abundance of veterans who would make sense to trade, holding onto the biggest chip until the deadline is a risk.
(Photo: Justin Berl / Getty Images)
