Looks Like We've Got Ourselves A Cowboy

After more than 24 hours, I'm still bowled over by Petr Sykora's stunning announcement to Pierre McGuire that it would be he that scored the game winning goal - and then actually doing it. Here's what Syko said about his prophecy (from the Pens' website):

Sykora's teammates said he told them he was going to end the game.

"And about the shot, just between the periods, something stupid I said, just 'Guys, I'm just going to get one. So just don't worry about the game. I'm going to get a goal,'" Sykora said. "And luckily, I got a great pass from 'Gino.' I missed it one time before, probably by 20 feet. And it was kind of a lucky play. It hit the ref and went behind the net and 'Gino' got it, made a beautiful pass. I tried to put it upstairs, and the puck went in."


"Gino," the struggling Evgeni Malkin, was desperately looking for something to go right in this series, and got his wish, making the pass out from behind the Detroit net to Sykora as he skated into the right circle. Sykora's rising shot went over the glove of Chris Osgood to send the Penguins to not only an improbable victory, but another home game, Wednesday night at Mellon Arena.

Oh, and did you notice how author Phil Coffey spelled Malkin's nickname? Since this article is from the Pens' website, that's almost as good as getting him to write it himself, so GINO it is from now on.

Friend of The Show Bobby T. sent in this picture he took yesterday. Now, I'm no psychic, but do you think the hockey gods might be sending us a sign? Take a look at the street name, then follow the One Way arrow to the sign in the background:

(Click to enlarge)

Regardless of what happens tonight, this is the last home game until autumn. If you're going to be there, MAKE IT COUNT. I don't want to be able to hear Doc and Edzo all night!!!

DO IT.

GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check Out That Redirect

In case you haven't seen it or if, like me, you just want to see it again and again, Friend of The Show pxbrgdude sent us this (HD!) video of that sweet between-the-legs redirect the Saint pulled off at the Mellon Arena against the Flyers the other day:

Oh man, am I SO GLAD this guy plays on our team!!! Every time you think he can't possibly do anything else to dazzle the world, he just goes and does it all over again. Thanks so much for posting the video, pxbrgdude!! :)

Come back here in a few hours - I'm still working on that thing I told you about...

Video: Sidney Crosby's Top 5 Goals

Here's a great video clip of Sidney Crosby's Top 5 goals, complete with commentary from Sid himself.




(Thanks to the NHL Fanhouse for the linkage)

Penguins 7 - Coyotes 2: Coyote Ugly, Sidney Pretty

Last season, Alexander Ovechkin scored 'The Goal' during a game in Phoenix.

This season? Sidney Crosby returns to the scene of the crime and records a beautiful goal of his own. Check it out!



Beauty!!

It was that kind of night for Sidney Crosby and the Penguins as they routed the Coyotes 7-2. Sidney finished with 1 goal, 3 assists, and +1 in just 18:33 of ice time. Make that 6 points in 2 games since the big ZERO at the All-Star Game.

Crosby's 78 points now put him 10 ahead of Alexander Ovechkin (and in 2 less games). W00t!!

More importantly, the win gives the Pens an important two points as they try and keep their playoff spot for the rest of the season.

From NHL.com:

Another game, another highlight for Sidney Crosby.

Crosby scored on a backhand shot as he fell to the ice and added three assists, and Mark Recchi also had a goal and three assist, to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 7-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night.

With the Penguins holding a two-goal lead early in the third, Crosby gained control of the puck near the inside of the edge of the right circle but tripped backward over Fredrik Sjostrom's stick. As he left his skates, Crosby muscled a backhand shot over goalie Mikael Tellqvist to make it 5-2.

"I tried to pull the puck in and fell back," Crosby said. "I just tried to get a shot off. I just tried to stay with it. You can't go out there and try to do things like that. You just have to react. I was lucky enough to get my stick there."

Pittsburgh coach Michel Terrien added, "the guys on the bench couldn't believe it. That was another highlight goal."

The goal was Crosby's second point from a more-or-less horizontal position. He left his skates to lunge forward from behind the net and pass the puck to Ryan Malone in front of the crease for the game's first goal 24 seconds in.

Crosby said having such a performance in front of Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky was an added bonus.

"It's a unique experience for all of us," Crosby said. "We grew up watching him. I don't think you come up here with something to prove but it's a unique experience to play against a team coached by one of the best players of all time."

Gretzky said Crosby is an "exceptional hockey player and a great athlete."

"You can't stop people making comparisons," Gretzky said. "That's always going to be there and that's the good thing about the game. I was telling people today that it's pretty amazing how quickly the time goes. Here he is, he's 19 and he's going to be compared to guys for a few years. Before you turn around a new guy comes in and everybody says he's the new Crosby. It definitely happens quickly."

Yeah, well until the next Crosby comes along, we'll enjoy the current one.