Organization: Penn State University
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 00:19:40 EDT
From: <RAP115@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey
Subject: 2 shows in 1 night!!!!!

Last night's Pens-Isles game in review.
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First, it was a SPECTACULAR 'beam me up scotty' show before the game.  It was
truly a touching moment and to see those banners come up again was just
incredible.  Brought back a lot of memories from the Historic playoffs - 11
game winning streak.  It appeared Rick Tocchet enjoyed it the most - you know
first time's a charm.  The only thing I don't like about it is that there
should have been 4 banners last year and 3 this year.  It should be
differentiated between Patrick Division Champions and Patrick Division Playoffs
Champion.  If I'm not mistaken, the Bruins have Adams Division Champions and
Adams Division Playoff Champions in the Garden.  The way the Pens do it gives
no credit to the Rangers, and you can't take away the fact that the Rangers
had the best record in the league last year....Troy Loney carried the puck
away from center to the locker room before the opening faceoff.
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SHOW No. 2 -PENS (1-0-1) 7, Islanders 3.  My review :
PERIOD 1 - Both teams seemed to show emotion from the ceremony.  The Penguins
           though fizzled out midway in the first and the Islanders seemed to
           take control.  The Penguins special teams kept them in it and
           a pretty power play, working the puck very good, allowed the
           Penguins to tie it 1-1 after one.  SLIGHT EDGE - ISLANDERS.
PERIOD 2 - Again, another period of fine hockey.  The Islanders took the lead
           Pens tied it up, Islanders took the lead again, and appeared to
           have control of the period until the Pens got a late break and
           Lemieux made a fine pass to Stanton to tie it up with just under
           a minute to go in the period.  This, as I predicted, was the
           turning point of the game.  It allowed the Penguins to go into the
           locker room sky high.  EDGE - NONE.  Tied 3-3.
PERIOD 3 - Mario puts on a show.  The Penguins clicked throughout in the 3rd.
           The Islanders looked dazed.  Lemieux looked like Sports Illustrated
           Title of Mr. Hockey.  Especially the wrap around goal he scored
           from behind the net - again one of the greatest goals he's ever
           scored - the list keeps growing.  With 2 goals and 3 assists, Mario
           has scored 7 points in 2 games.  And it looks like Lemieux is in
           fine form - you haven't seem him feel this good and start this good
           since his junior year in the NHL.  Or maybe No. 66 is just happy
           with being the 6 million dollar man!!!!!!!!!!
                              OVERWHELMING EDGE - PENGUINS   Win 7-3
                                                             Scotty gets no.779
THOUGHTS - Yes, we've seen it before against the Islanders.  The Penguins come
           to life in the 3rd period.  Remember last year when the Pens trailed
           at the Island 6-2 in the third and won 7-6 in overtime?
           The Penguins have the Islanders and Flyers number.  In the last 10
           against the Flyers, the Penguins are 6-0-4.  Against the Islanders
           in the last eight, the Pens are 6-1-1.  The Penguins have 80 shots
           on goal in their last 2 games and matched the 1-0-1 start just like
           last year..........BUT the Penguins defense is not very solid as
           usual.  Kevin Allen on a scale of 1-5 gave the Penguins team
           offense a 5.0 (next best Rangers 4.5) but the defense is a
           staggering 3.5.  There were a lot of leaks in the defense tonight.
           Grant Jennings misplayed a few, Kjell Smauelsson, and there were
           others.  Barrasso is playing a lot better in the regular season so
           far, but if the defense continues to falter, the Penguins are once
           again going to have an awfully difficult task of beating the
           Rangers, and will certainly have their hands full with the Capitals
           and Devils again this year.  The Penguins have proved the can play
           defense - they just don't want to during the regular season.  They
           like to free wheel and deal...only time will tell if the Penguins
           want to vault into first or stay in 3rd and 4th place like they did
           last season.  If the Pens play defense like the Rangers do, this
           will be an incredible team pushing 60 wins.  Everyone knows defense
           beats a great offense.  The Penguins didn't remember that 'til game
           5 of the playoffs last year.  Montreal is up Saturday night - should
           be a good test early in the season.
BALDWIN  - Before the game, there was an interview with Baldwin and they asked
           him about all the owners criticizing him paying Lemieux so much in
           a small market town.  (But a note here - this is a small market
           baseball town - not a small market hockey town.  The season ticket
           waiting list is 3 years for hockey.)  Baldwin stated that "Mario's
           the best in the world, and if you're the best in the world, you're
           entilted to be paid the best."  He then said what he did isn't bad
           for hockey.  Responding to criticism from one owner, he said,  I do
           what's in the best interest for the Penguins.  I don't think I did
           anything wrong for hockey.  I'm trying to improve the game.  He has
           his team and should do what's best for them, and I have my team I'm
           doing what's best for mine.  My goal is to make Penguins fans happy
           and I can do that with only a modest ticket price increase.
                So, yes Baldwin can do what's best for him, but other players
           aren't going to see this and think they are comparible to Lemieux.
           I dread to see Hull's new contract.  He's going to want megabucks
           too.  I don't know if St. Louis can afford $5.0 a year.  Hull's
           going to say he's comparible to Lemieux, and he is if Lemieux's
           getting $6 then Hull has a right to get at least $5.  The problem
           is Mario's contract was undisclosed - not broken down year by year.
           USA Today believes it's at 4.5 per season, but nobody knows for
           sure.  If hockey grows like everyone wants to, it'll be okay.  But
           a salary cap will be needed soon.  Everyone can see that.
FINALLY :  Did anybody hear McCarver's quote on Wednesday night?  From what I
           heard he said something like, "Since we gave the hockey scores
           last night, we'll give the chess results tonight."
           What kind of quote is this?  Wake up Timmy!!!!  Baseball is a
           (snor) borrrrrrrrrring sport compared to hockey.  People like
           McCarver give hockey a bad name.  No wonder it's taking so long to
           grow.  Thanks Timmy - we all apprectiate that.  Just because your
           beloved Mets lose over 90 games, you have to take it out on
           someone else.  Well, if you'd watch the Rangers - you'd be watching
           a winner - since you only like winners!!!!!!!!!!!  Show some
           decency - there are 4 MAJOR  PRO SPORTS IN AMERICA!!!!!
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* Rob *        GO PENGUINS!!!!!! DID IT! DID IT! DO IT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!