Faceoff Factor

Let's Face It - 10/07/2009

Jonathan Farzalo | Pittsburgh Penguins

Oct 7, 01:36 PM | Hype this story!

Let’s Face It...Seeing the Penguins without all the ruff and scruff of the playoffs this past Friday night was almost sad. All the brusies, the black eyes, bloodied chins, the newly cracked teeth, the limps, and of course the rocking playoff beards. Ahhhh, I love hockey!

Let’s Face It...All this talk about Sidney Crosby’s “stick” is starting to make me a little uncomfortable.

Let’s Face It...Thus far (only 2 games I know), Marc-Andre Fluery has been darn good. I can think of at least 3 robbery-type saves he’s made already.

Let’s Face It...The “3rd line” looks great. Staal looks very strong on the puck and quicker this year (still not where people seem to think he should be though), and combine that with Kennedy looking especially fast and gritty, and you get something special. Those two along with Matt Cooke are creating havoc and will get rewarded if they can keep it up. Too bad Matt Cooke has no hands…and speaking of bad hands, Pascal Dupuis (this years whipping boy), is just not a top 6 forward, period….never ever ever never ever….ever.

Let’s Face It...Jay McKee hasn’t looked overly out of place. In fact, through two games I have to say I’ve seen him block a few great chances, and standing up for Fed-Ex against the Islanders…can’t ask for much more than that from a guy who wasn’t around last season to taste champagne from “The Cup”.

Let’s Face It...Having 3 days off after only 2 games was a bit much. That’s just rough. They gave us a back-to-back taste, and then ripped the season away for 3 very long days.

Let’s Face It...The Penguins are wearing their powder blue 3rd jerseys again this year. Let’s be honest, the only thing worse than wearing these 3rd jerseys is wearing these 3rd jerseys on a Saturday afternoon game. Instant loss.

Let’s Face It...Alex Goligoski hasn’t looked too bad eh? His offensive upside is very high, and will continue to climb as he becomes more and more comfortable. It has always been his defense that people questioned, the work in his own end. While still not where it needs to be exactly, he has shown great improvement, better decision making with and without the puck, and has learned more of what it will take to be successful on this team. Now if only Alex would put on a few pounds of muscle so he isn’t knocked off the puck so easily and so he can layout some of those pesky forwards from opposing teams who are you know, trying to score.

Let’s Face It...Eric Godard would probably fight his own mother.

Let’s Face It...It really sucks that we have to play Philly on the 2nd night of a back-to-back, with Philly getting a breather between games. I’m too lazy to research it, but I’d be interested to see if that evens itself out over the season.

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OTHERS
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Let’s Face It...Alexander Ovechkin is on fire to start the season, he has 5 goals already. And as was pointed out by many thus far, he didn’t score his 5th goal last year until sometime in November. That is just insane!! Love him or hate him…he is just scary good at this game.

Let’s Face It...Milan Lucic is tough. No, honestly. He just may kill a man before he retires. He is a hybrid of talents. But has size. Strength too. And doesn’t care who is in his way. He is nuts. Perhaps legally insane. Like Daniel Carcillo, only with actual talents for the game of hockey too.