I’m not sure how I can describe how good the current Pens passing game is and how relentless their attack is, but when I was playing club lacrosse in the NCLL for WVU in 1995 and we went 22-1 and won damn near every game by a 15 point margin, we got absolutely crushed by another club team from Green Turtle with folks like Steve Scheck (sp?) who could unload 110 mile an hour shots at will. These guys would win a faceoff at midfield, make four behind the back passes and then scored on us with a behind the back pass to a cutter who made a behind the back shot. They were that good. We eventually recovered from that beat down and went to the national championships (again, club), and lost to the Navy.
The Penguins are as good as Green Turtle was then. I don’t recall passing like this in years. It’s inspired.
NobodySpecial
Here come the Hawks, the mighty Blackhawks….
dr. bloor
Bruins fans are jumping off bridges today about you guys swiping Iginla out from underneath our noses.
mclaren
When you talk about the pens, I’m guessing you’re not referring to writing instruments.
This is some kind of sports team? What, shuffleboard? Whist? Badminton perhaps?
raven
Unbelievable is right.
mellowjohn
lacrosse was the sport i was going to take up when i got too old to play rugby.
unfortunately, by the time i was too old to play rugby, i could barely walk.
raven
@mellowjohn: I was lucky, I broke my back in a car wreck in my 20’s so I could only be a social member of the Blind Pigs RFC.
nodakfarmboy
While I’m happy to have the Jets back, this has been a less than impressive performance.
Oh well. Luckily they’re playing in the weakest division in hockey. The playoffs and a three seed look like a good bet. If Pavs can get hot at the right time, all bets are off.
The playoffs are all about goaltending. As Pens fans know. See: Marc-André Fleury, 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
condorcet runner up
@NobodySpecial: Hahaha. You beat me to it.
Comrade Mary
@dr. bloor: Look north. Look waaaaay north. Even more sad people up here.
Redshirt
Go Red Claws!
Bob In Portland
The Sharks not so much.
Bob2
I’m not a soccer fan but watching Spain’s passing is amazing.
Redshirt
Red Claws win! Red Claws win! Red Claws win!
Suck it Bayhawks!
MikeJ
@Bob2: It’s always weird to hear from people who don’t like tiki taka. What, you don’t like ball control and passing? Nah, let’s just put it up in the air in front of the goal and if we do it often enough we may get lucky.
SiubhanDuinne
@Bob In Portland:
When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way.
Highway Rob
@SiubhanDuinne:
Tim Tebow, circa spring 2012.
newtons.third
Try to find “tape” of the Russian 5 from the late ’90s to early aughts. I have never seen better passing from a group. And that was in the old clutch and grab NHL.
And yes, Barca can hold the ball, and can be a thing of beauty, but when a team can pack it in, they seem to get their best scoring chances from giving up the ball, and letting the other team start a counter, which inevitably gets them out of their shape. Barca then tends to steal and get a decent attempt. Watch their loss to Arsenal in last years’ UCL.
raven
I know exactly why you people like this hockey shit better than hoops.
different-church-lady
Screw you Iginla-nappers!
OK, actually I don’t care that much. But it would have been fun…
raven
@efgoldman: Uh huh.
different-church-lady
@raven: You know who else didn’t like basketball?
raven
It didn’t used to be like that here.
raven
@different-church-lady: I was born at night but not LAST night.
raven
@efgoldman: When I started here four years ago there were beaucoup thread all through the tournament. Now we get people talking about fucking meaningless “footy” games instead. spit
raven
@efgoldman: I think so, I got banned from FDL after Hamsher hooked up with Grover.
yep
“Why I Reached Out to Grover Norquist on Fannie/Freddie
By: Jane Hamsher Wednesday December 23, 2009 6:00 pm”
dedc79
Hate the pens
raven
@efgoldman: Jane. I stay in touch with some folks and then we have our little ex-pat group here. I was bummed when the Southern Dragon died. And the Norske Flamethrower, what a guy!
Corner Stone
“Hey Penguins! Penguins, huddle up guys!”
“Listen, great job passing today. Really nice, all of you.”
“Guys, you’re the best in the world at what you do. The best! But just keep working on it a little more and one day I know in my heart some fat guy with a fatter cat may eventually compare you to a college club league from 20 years ago named Green Turtle.”
“It’s a dream, boys! But I believe you gotta fucking dream big if you’re ever gonna get anywhere!”
“Now get out there and chase that God Damn Green Turtle Magic!”
raven
@efgoldman: Nah, I mean I remember that day very well. I was in Lynchburg, VA in a coffee shop and I went nuts. I just attacked the shit out of them till the pulled the trigger.
geg6
GO PENS! Jeebus, the puck handling has been just amazing stuff. Fourteen in a row! Is it true that the record streak is 17? And did I hear that the current record holders are the Pens? I’m too lazy to google but that would be awesome.
Yutsano
@Comrade Mary: I can’t even bring myself to talk to work Dawg about it. He’ll be insufferable. Damn Yinzers.
raven
Meanwhile 3 pt game, 45 to go OSU_UA
Corner Stone
@raven: This place used to be a vicious jackal environment of sports loving thread humpers.
Cole brought some FP’ers in that drove those sports minded people away. And then he vanished during key sports related points.
I’m paying him good money to post threads I care about commenting on.
raven
Another last second shot by the Bucks!
raven
@Corner Stone: And West by God Virginia is BY-FUCKING-GOD_AWFUL
Corner Stone
Fucking OH ST.
raven
Aite I’m taping this shit for 5am.
Schlemizel
49-0-0, repeat national champions at a game played entirely with speed, passing and play making – no goonballs (well, outside of UND)
You have not seen great passing and play making until you have seen the U of MN womens team play the game.
@NobodySpecial:
the blackhawks went 24 games without a loss? Thats cute!
49-0-0
Keith G
@raven: Back from the bar. A few pints and good game under my belt. Thrilling close.
the Conster
Of the Jesuit schools in the dance, the answer to Who Would Jesus Pick is Marquette.
Schlemizel
@efgoldman:
The mens side has become all about how to get to the NGL (National Goonball League). Its still a better game than the pros but it is not what it was 15 years ago.
As for the Gopher men – I can spend $35 and hope they bother to play 3 periods with a good chance they sleepwalk through at least 1 or I can spend $8 and see a bunch of hockey players give 100% for 60 minutes. Its no competition. I only have two words for them ‘Holy Cross’
different-church-lady
@Schlemizel:
It’s not a competition.
Oh, wait…
Schlemizel
@efgoldman:
BTW the second and third best hockey teams in the country play at BU and BC. Next season you should stop by and watch them. With the Olympics a lot of their stars will be gone but they should still be very good.
I hope some day they will have an American on their teams but I suppose Canadian women need a college education too B-{D
Southern Beale
The Predators had the worst meltdown on the ice I’ve ever seen. Let the Coyotes score three goals in the first three minutes of the game. Score ended up being 7-4. We arrived 10 minutes late and we couldn’t fucking believe the scoreboard. Left after the second period.
It was so bad the fans were booing their own team.
Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason
@Corner Stone: Eggcellent snark, Smithers!
SFAW
@efgoldman:
That’s kinda surprising, that someone with the name “goldman” would not go to BC. I mean, “BC” is Brandeis College, right?
{At this moment, somewhere, one of the Berrigans is face-palming. At least in spirit, may Philip requiescat in pace)
SFAW
And what’s with all the lacrosse talk? We’re ‘Muricans, dammit, don’t be talkin’ ’bout the national sport of Canada.
SFAW
@efgoldman:
Good point. Amazingly enough, I hadn’t considered the possibility. But, as the early risers on the Nawth Shaw say, “Light dawns on Marblehead.”
So if it’s a nym (or nom or whatever it’s called): is yours a portmanteau of Hutton and Goldman Sachs?
Central Scrutinizer
In their last 10 games the Pens have only given up 9 goals. I’d say that’s pretty good defense/goaltending.
SFAW
@efgoldman:
Thanks for the explanation. I’d never heard of Goldman before this (not being a band geek, although certainly a geek in other ways).
EF Hutton may be dead, but you’re certainly old enough to remember them. It’s kinda like the Big Seven accounting firms are now the Big Five (or something like that), but you probably know who the “C” in “PWC” used to be.
ETA: You probably even remember the EF Hutton commercials that went the equivalent of viral for that era. (What was it, the late ’70s?)
Ash Can
“Almost as good as the Blackhawks.”
There. That’s how.
Redshirt
@efgoldman: Fido?
Also, the current condition of UMaine Hockey has left the entire state ashamed. And increasingly angry!
Redshirt
@efgoldman: Drink heavily.
I heard nothing! I’ve got fond memories of old Devonshire.
SFAW
@Ash Can:
I think you mean “Almost as good as the NY Jets with
PenningtonSanchezTebowAvelliniToddMirerKlecko”SFAW
@efgoldman:
I hear Winthrop can be nice, when there are no flights.
SFAW
@efgoldman:
Re: Tebow: I’d think he’d walk on water, not ice, but that shows what little I know.
SFAW
@efgoldman:
Deer Island? Or is there another one that I’m over
smellinglooking?Redshirt
@efgoldman: I was there in 96 and remember exactly what you’re talking about. It was a big deal because the firm was so committed to Boston for so long.
I miss the Christmas party specifically. My gods, the luxury! And the expense account. And Boston Coach. And…. well.
SFAW
Devonshire! Finally sunk in. Boy, I’m denser-than-usual tonight.
Corner Stone
@SFAW:
Hmmm. Seems about the same. Yep! Bout the same.
Redshirt
@efgoldman: Did you ever go the WTC party? One year they had one room made up to look like the Cheers bar, along with look alike actors. And that was but one room of dozens.
It’s hard to stay liberal when you’ve got limos waiting for you all the time, let me tell you!
SFAW
@Corner Stone:
Hmm … seems to be an inconsequential buzzing in my ear. Must be a gnat …
SFAW
@efgoldman:
Nice!
ETA: If only the asshole who employs me were so generous.
Corner Stone
@SFAW: No. Look lower. Above your shoelaces, but below your knee-highs. That’s me.
Redshirt
@efgoldman: No way! They’re leaving Devonshire? A dark day indeed. I worked on that street with two different companies for 12 years. Great location to work – so many lunch choices!
Redshirt
@efgoldman: FMR was a whole different world.
SFAW
@Corner Stone:
Nehi? Do they still make that?
SFAW
@efgoldman:
“Yo, Ned! How’s it hangin’?”
ETA “And by the way, is Abby free tonight?”
Redshirt
@efgoldman: Ha! Ned was seriously an awesome guy. Swell office too – he had a private zen garden on one of the top floors. I spent a good deal of time with Ned directly, and I was always amazed how decent he was, being at the time like the 4th richest man in the world or in that range.
SFAW
@Redshirt:
For a second, I thought you were talking about Larry Ellison.
Except for the awesome part. (Well, he IS awesome, but probably not in the way you meant re: Ned.)
Corner Stone
@SFAW: I figured you still wore them cuz you’re old. Really fucking old.
Redshirt
@SFAW: I’ve heard some second hand Ellison stories and he sounds like a creepazoid.
Redshirt
@efgoldman: Definitely not me answering phones. I was Ned’s report guy. It was awesome and yet I was too young to appreciate it at the time. More shame on me.
SFAW
@Corner Stone:
Whatever knee-highs are, I’m sure you gave yourself a good laugh over it.
Yes, you certainly have to hand it to yourself. So to speak.
SFAW
@Redshirt:
As I said: not in the way you meant re: Ned.
But Larry’s a pretty amazing guy. Whom I wouldn’t want to piss off.
Redshirt
@SFAW: I heard all this nasty sexual harassment stuff about him. He may be smart, but definitely creepy.
Corner Stone
@SFAW: Why can’t you just have a good time with this nonsense? Why do you have to be such a douchebag.
This is tiring me out.
SFAW
@Corner Stone:
Look, SFB, I was minding my own business, so to speak, when you decided to attempt who-knows-what to bust my stones. Oh, right, a “good time.” And when I responded in kind, you got bent.
One would think, after all your time here, you’d either have a thicker skin, or learn that if you dish it, you gotta be able to take it.
Or not. You wouldn’t be you, I guess, if that were the case.
In any event, I guess I should lay off for the night, too.
Corner Stone
@SFAW: Fuck. Who cares?
You’re a douchebag. Lates.
SFAW
@Redshirt:
Hadn’t heard about harassment, but guys with egos as large as his … probably better if I don’t generalize. For a change.
SFAW
@Corner Stone:
I expect something indicating an IQ higher than a Teabagger’s, you’re not there yet, unfortunately.
But you obviously care, otherwise you wouldn’t persist.
Sleep tight, sweetums.
Redshirt
@SFAW: Not many people hear/heard about his other “passions”. Well kept secret I guess, yet here I am, spilling the beans! I better check my DB.
John from Minneapolis
@newtons.third: Even better — the old Red Army teams in the ’70s. They’d whip 8 passes, and the 9th would be to someone standing wide open next to the pipe, who’d tap it in.
JenJen
@efgoldman: Rather, Bruins fans ought to be jumping off bridges after that defeat my beloved Habs handed you guys on Wednesday. ;-) (ducking)