I Freakin' Love Max Talbot

I decided to stop back in to Max's blog (horribly translated from French), to see if he had anything to say about the epic 7-6 OT win over the defending champs. I told you about his blog a few weeks ago. Max updates about once a week, so I don't have to furiously refresh the page every day.

I missed last week's offering, what with getting ready for my sister's wedding. Let's take a peek into the past two posts, and see what's on Max's mind.

11-4-08, I Think Semin is Jealous of Sidney:

On a rough opening month to the season - "Before the last game of our journey, against the Blues in St. Louis Michel Therrien made us understand that it was time to turn the page in our head at the same time as the calendar page. The month of October was over and even though our results were not disastrous, we could be lucky to have a winning card and it was time to start from new, find our positivism."

On Alexander Semin's now-famous diss of Crosby - "According to [Semin], Crosby is a good player among many others and [receives] more attention than most stars of the League. I think Semin is lack of attention, [and] is a little jealous of Sidney."

On having no respect for Sean Avery - " If only this guy could concentrate on playing hockey. I really have nothing against the role of agitator it is supposed to perform and I know he is not a bad hockey player. He can count, he skates well, it is able to fight and disrupt the opponent. But that's all that surrounds it, the character he himself created around him, which I have no respect for him."

11-12-08 A crazy match and my chronic TV:

On the ridiculous 7-6 OT win - "It was truly a part of hockey, comparable to the intensity found in series. I would venture to say that this is one of the best regular season games in which I had the chance to participate. We learn from behind 4-2 after the second period before starting a rebound en route to the win of 7-6 in overtime. Such a game could seduce anyone does not passion for hockey, it was a very catchy (ed. - awesome description!)."

On Hossa - "Of course, this match became the first rendezvous against Marian Hossa in his uniform Wings. Unsurprisingly the media have created a great excitement around this story. It should be noted that the Penguins fans have not yet forgiven the decision. On the side of players, we have no choice but to accept his decision.It remains satisfied that he was not a big factor in the party even if one of the best players in the NHL (ed. - translations rule!)."

On having dinner with Hossa - "The day before our party face the Red Wings, some of my teammates went to dinner with Marian Hossa and this story was circulated in the media.For me, this is an acceptable phenomenon regular season."

On being featured on Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh - "It makes me happy to slip a few words about an experience that I am lucky to live once week with the television network FSN (Fox Sports Net) which broadcasts our parties."

On being on the first line (trio) with Sid and Satan - " For four games, I have the chance to complete the first trio with Sidney Crosby and Miroslav Satan and I am very pleased that the experience works. I was able to collect three goals and one assist during these four parties. I can not hide that it is good to participate in scoring and that is always nice to produce offensively. That said, I love fill my role when I am employed on a third trio, but I appreciate every moment with Sid and Satan."

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I love when athletes blog, or at least allow the fans to see a candid side of them. Max is a great character on and off the ice, and his blog mirrors his unique personality.

You should bookmark the shit outta it.

Hal Gill Rules

(hat tip to TSW on this post for the image)

Hal Gill had a quite fulfilling Game 2.

Honestly, I can't remember another player being filled with such agony and ecstasy is a playoff game without recording a point.

With such a dynamic offense, the defense was the one aspect of the Penguins that I wanted to see locked down in the playoffs. Not that its been terrible throughout the season, just that no matter how well your offense plays in the playoffs, you need a defense that's willing to match up with another dynamic offense and alter their gameplan.

Gill anchored a solid defensive showing in Game 2, but his efforts were nearly negated with the cross-check to Sean Avery in the final minutes, setting up a torrid finish that no one saw coming.

Gill said it was the worst feeling to be in that penalty box, watching as the Rangers pulled Ludqvist for a 2-man advantage with the game nearing its end and Pittsburgh nursing a 1-goal lead.

But redemption came as the penalty was killed. From the lowest of lows, Gill flies out of the box, only to accompany a clearing pass off the glass all the way into the empty net. I jumped out of my chair in front of the T.V. with what can only be a fraction of the joy Gill must have felt.

And how does one celebrate such a dramatic exit from the sin bin? By flinging your gloves off faster than humanly possible and laying a beat down on Avery as he cowers away.



Gill had his words with Avery during the game as well. Piere McGuire said he heard Gill tell Avery (ed: that story by Joe Starkey is awesome):

You just weren't hugged enough as a child. That's why you've got issues.

Who wouldn't relish the opportunity to say that to Avery's face? I wouldn't because I'm a wuss, but you gotta believe you'd say that to his face if given the opportunity.

This sets up a beautiful backdrop for Game 3 tonight. Gill, Laraque and the boys stayed focused in Game 1 and physical in Game 2. Now, Gill and Laraque have a full 60 minutes and a 2-0 lead to "work with."

Here's hoping they put their time to good use.

/wink, nudge.

MAF > Complaining About Diving

For those of you not up to speed on this current Eastern Conference semifinals series, with our Penguins up 2 games to none on the New York Rangers, I'm offering a few links to assist.

John Dellapina is a joke. Sean Avery is a joke. Tom Renney is a joke. 5hole is a joke. The NY Post is a joke. Blueshirt Bulletin is a joke.

The London Free Press out of Ontario rules.

With all the stupid shit coming out of Rangers fans and the New York media, The London Free Press gives an unbiased view on why the Penguins remain the team to beat in this series.

MAF.

The Flower is upstaging regular Vezina-finalist Henrik Lundqvist, showing determination in Game 1 and domination in Game 2.

While the NY media is readjusting their panties over nonsense accusations and non calls, The London Free Press is actually looking at the real difference in this series. If not for MAF's re-emergence in the latter stages of Game 1 and his sick play in Game 2, Pittsburgh is heading to MSG tied at 1s, or even down 0-2. And with our recent struggles at the Garden, the series would be over.

So I'll express my extreme disappointment in guys I've always admired like Shanahan and Jagr, who are buying into the "Crosby is a diver" and "the refs are giving preferential treatment to the Pens" junk. Both guys were huge proponents of the league-wide changes against clutching and grabbing, giving offensive players more wiggle room. You can't impede an offensive player without the puck. Straka did that to Crosby in Game 1. You can't put a glove on a guy's chest and shove that player to the ice, as Dellapina suggests is legal, which happened in Game 2.

You can't board Rob Scuderi when he doesn't have the puck, as Avery did early in the game...with no whistle. The Rangers might have an argument if blatant penalties against them weren't called.

Also, you can't win by bitching. I've never seen a bitch score a goal. However, Sean Avery did score in Game 1.

And finally, you can't beat MAF. Even with more Power Plays (yeah, the refs are squarely in the Penguins' pockets), the Rangers couldn't get one past the Flower. The dude is 6-0 this postseason for a reason.

NY Media, Rangers fans and bloggers, coaches and players...shut up and play. The only thing worse than diving is complaining about diving when its not even happening. You come off looking like babies. Or girls. Or baby girls.

How about try to solve MAF instead. It obviously hasn't worked to this point.

Congrats To Sean Avery

(picture blatantly stolen from here)

PSaMP would like to congratulate Sean Avery on shis recent accomplishment.

With a 2nd period tally, Avery became the first girl to score a goal in a traditionally male-dominated, NHL Eastern Conference semifinals game! She might be a little misunderstood, but since she broke a barrier, I had to give props.

Warm congratulations from PSaMP.

P.S. Nice goal celebration.

We're celebrating the win.

I Am Cool With BethRawks

Yes, you heard that correct. BethRawks is cool in my book. And as I've said before, my book is so badass that you would totally buy it if I had it published.

I had been waiting patiently to see who would be the Penguins opponent in the 2nd round. I mean, we haven't played in about a minute, so any opponent is a good opponent at this point.

Had Boston won, Pittsburgh could have played the 8 seed and been assured of home-ice for the remainder of the Eastern end of the bracket.

Had Washington won, Sid and Co. would play A.O. and Co., a team that we've had little to no problem dominating.

Turns out, neither of those scenarios went down, and we play the team in my current hometown, the New York Rangers.

I spend most some of my day commenting on sites like Deadspin and The Big Lead, and actually said that I wanted the Penguins to play the Rangers for one reason...

...For somebody (hopefully with a name that sounds like Feorges Faraque) to murder Sean Avery.

So it was with great pleasure that I found these pictures (click for bigger view) from BethRawks on Webshots. There are no pro-Penguins pictures drawn up, but BethRawks does diss every possible Penguins Eastern Conference opponent in pictorial form. These are old (I think from last season), but its always good to see someone hating on the Habs and Phlyers, as well as the Islanders and Senators.

These two are my favorites, simply because Sean Avery looks like a fool in both.

BethRawks...well done. You are cool with PSaMP.