Malone, Roberts Traded

Mike Adams | Faceoff Factor News

Saturday June 28, 2008

The Pens have traded Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts to Tampa Bay for for a fourth round draft pick in 2009. Should the Lightning sign Malone, the Pens would get a third-rounder instead. It has been obvious for quite some time that neither would be back with the Pens. It’s highly doubtful the Lightning will sign either, but stranger things have happened.

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Shero's Rose In Full Bloom

Mike Adams | Pittsburgh Penguins

Tuesday June 24, 2008

Last October, I wrote a blog asking, Is the Bloom Off Ray Shero’s Rose?. Today, I answer emphatically, no, it is not.

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The Penguins/Lightning Comparison

Mike Adams | Pittsburgh Penguins

Monday June 23, 2008

Many people are comparing the Penguins of today to the Tampa Bay Lightning of 2003-04, and coming to the conclusion that the Pens would be better off not following the Lightning model. While I agree that you don’t want to descend into oblivion like the Lightning did, I disagree with the reason most people cite for their fall from grace.

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Grading the Pens' Forwards

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Friday June 13, 2008

Today, I grade the seasons of every Penguin forward.

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Grading the Penguins' Defensemen

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Thursday June 12, 2008

The other day, we looked at the goalies. Today, the defensemen are under the microscope.

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Grading the Pens' Goalies

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Monday June 9, 2008

All season long, I have been grading the Pens game by game. Today, I begin a look at the season as a whole, and how each individual player, as well as management, fared. I start by looking at the goalies.

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If Orpik Leaves

Mike Adams | Pittsburgh Penguins

Friday June 6, 2008

I suspect Brooks Orpik has played his last game for the Pens. There are too many stories out there about his dislike of Mike Therrien, and he stands to get a huge payday. My guess is somebody is going to offer him more than Shero is willing to pay (a la Scott Hannan, Jay McKee, and we know how those turned out). So, operating on that assumption, what does Shero do?

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Open Letter to Stephen Walkom

Mike Adams | National Hockey League

Thursday June 5, 2008

Dear Mr. Walkom,

Almost three years ago, as the lockout came to an end, the “New NHL” was born. You announced, to much fanfare, that officials were being instructed to enforce the rulebook as written.

Gone were the obstruction tactics of teams like the New Jersey Devils. Hooking and obstruction away from the play were regularly called. Open ice was the rule. The skaters were allowed to skate, the passers to pass, the shooters to shoot.

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Pens/Wings Game 6 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Thursday June 5, 2008

It is over.

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Pens/Wings Game 5 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Tuesday June 3, 2008

Today, I bring you no grades. How can you grade something like that? Every single player gets an A, because each and every one of them gave every last ounce of energy they could muster.

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Pens/Wings Game 4 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Sunday June 1, 2008

It’s all over but the shouting as the Wings take the penuntimate game.

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Pens/Wings Game 3 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Friday May 30, 2008

Better late than never, right?

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Pens/Wings Game 2 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Tuesday May 27, 2008

Series over.

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Pens/Wings Game 1 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Sunday May 25, 2008

You can’t win if you can’t score

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Pens/Flyers Game 5 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Monday May 19, 2008

Perfection!

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Pens/Flyers Game 4 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Friday May 16, 2008

When your best players aren’t your best players…

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Pens/Flyers Game 3 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Wednesday May 14, 2008

A defensive masterpiece

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Pens/Rangers Game 4 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Friday May 2, 2008

When your best players aren’t your best players…

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Pens/Rangers Game 3 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Wednesday April 30, 2008

They continue to amaze

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Pens/Rangers Game 2 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Monday April 28, 2008

Two down, two to go

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Pens/Rangers Game 1 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Saturday April 26, 2008

A comeback for the ages

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The Voice of Dissent (Or Reason?)

Mike Adams | Pittsburgh Penguins

Friday April 25, 2008

In looking at the picks of the Faceoff Factor writers for Round 2, I noticed something very odd. Each and every one of them picked the Pens over the Rangers. Well, except for one lone wolf—yours truly.

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Wild Vs Avalanche Game 6 Preview

Mike Adams | National Hockey League

Saturday April 19, 2008

It was back to normal in Game 5, with Colorado notching the 3-2 win. Only Game 4 in this series was not decided by that score. It just shows how evenly matched these two teams are. Tonight, for the first time in the series, a team has a chance to close it out. That team is the Avalanche.

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Wild Vs Avalanche Game 5 Preview

Mike Adams | National Hockey League

Thursday April 17, 2008

In Game 4, one team finally dominated, with the Avs winning 5-1. That broke a string of three consecutive 3-2 overtime games between the two closely-matched rivals. The story of the game, aside from the score, was an ugly third period that prompted Avs coach Joel Quenneville to keep Peter Forsberg off the ice.

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Pens/Sens Game 4 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Thursday April 17, 2008

Revenge is sweep

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Wild Vs Avalanche Game 4 Preview

Mike Adams | National Hockey League

Tuesday April 15, 2008

Three games, three overtime games. Three 3-2 games. It doesn’t get any closer than this series. Colorado won Game 1 to steal home ice advantage, but the Wild reclaimed it with their Game 3 overtime victory. The teams are right back at it tonight.

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Pens/Sens Game 3 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Tuesday April 15, 2008

This series is over.

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Wild Vs Avalanche Game 3 Preview

Mike Adams | National Hockey League

Monday April 14, 2008

Most observers believed that this series was too close to call. They were evenly split on who they thought would win it. So far, they haven’t been disappointed. Both games in Minnesota went to overtime.

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Pens/Sens Game 2 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Saturday April 12, 2008

Total domination

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Pens/Sens Game 1 Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Thursday April 10, 2008

What rust?

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Minnesota Wild Vs Colorado Avalanche Playoff Series Preview

Mike Adams | National Hockey League

Tuesday April 8, 2008

A quick glance at the totals shows just how close these two teams are. Goals scored: Colorado 224, Minnesota 220. Goals allowed: Colorado 216, Minnesota 210. But there are subtle differences, too. Minnesota’s special teams were far superior to those of the Avs, and that could prove huge in a long series between evenly-matched teams.

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Pens at Flyers Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Monday April 7, 2008

It’s Ottawa!

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The Watch

Mike Adams | Pittsburgh Penguins

Sunday April 6, 2008

Clinch playoff berth 3/25
Clinch Atlantic Div. 4/2
Finish 2nd in East 4/6

Scoring Race:
Ovechkin: 112 pts
Malkin: 106 pts

Playoffs
Penguins (2) vs. Senators (7)

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Pens Vs Flyers Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Thursday April 3, 2008

Go home, Flyers!!!!!

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NHL Power Rankings (4/2)

Mike Adams | Inside The Numbers

Wednesday April 2, 2008

Setting sail: Boston, Minnesota
Sinking ships: Vancouver, Calgary, New Jersey

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Pens at Rangers Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Tuesday April 1, 2008

Fleury steals a point.

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Pens Vs Rangers Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Monday March 31, 2008

A workmanlike effort in a playoff-style game.

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Does Laraque Have a Future in Pittsburgh?

Mike Adams | Pittsburgh Penguins

Friday March 28, 2008

Last night’s game against the Islanders was rough-and-tumble, like most against this Ted Nolan team are. It was a game for the tough guys to shine. There was Jarkko Ruutu, smiling and jabbering his way to a three-point night. And there was Georges Laraque, putting up a goal and an assist. But something else was oddly missing from the scoresheet. And no, it wasn’t Sidney Crosby’s name.

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Pens Vs Isles Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Friday March 28, 2008

So, who needs Crosby, anyway, when you have Ruutu?

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Pens At Ruiners of Hockey Grades

Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews

Wednesday March 26, 2008

Great bounce-back effort

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