Well, this is pretty much what everyone saw coming in the Eastern Conference.

The Penguins and Bruins will take the ice at Consol Energy on Saturday in game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in a battle that, though anticipated by most, has people justifiably excited. There are some pretty noteworthy storylines built into the series: Jarome Iginla’s decision to play in Pittsburgh instead of Boston (because, um, he knows what’s up [Which got the Bruins an arguably as good player, and let us keep second round star Matt Bartkowski.  So hey, thanks, Jay Feaster’s complete incompetence]), Jaromir Jagr’s second series against the Penguins since coming back to the NHL, the Matt Cooke/Marc Savard incident of yore… Oh, and they’re kind of great hockey teams [Matt Cooke is still a festering boil on the ass of hockey. Just ask Eugene Melnyk and his CSI squad].

Let me say this right off the bat: the Boston Bruins are the best opponent the Pittsburgh Penguins will face in the Eastern Conference, hands-down. The roster, from Bergeron to Seidenberg to Krejci to Chara to Rask and errrrrybody in between, is loaded with pretty tremendous talent. They’ve won the Stanley Cup recently, clearly know what it takes to win hockey games (even if they arrive late to the party. Sorry, Toronto.) [This was in fact deliberate and exquisite timing.  It’s a fundamental rule of hockey that Leafs fans must have their hopes crushed at the moment of victory.  The Kerry Fraser non-call in 1993.  Wade Dubielewicz.  And now, surrendering a 2 goal lead in the last 2 minutes.  It totally wasn’t the Bruins almost blowing it, ok?].

The Boston Bruins are also the best team in the Eastern Conference that will lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference in 5 or 6 games [Dream on, sunshine.  This series is going 7.  And I seem to recall a couple of years ago the Bruins had quite good luck with a 7 game first round, easy second round, and 7 game conference final]. In fact, I think that the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs were the two teams in the East that, in terms of how they matched up with Pittsburgh, made me sweat the most. While they might not have the same names and star power of, say, the Boston Bruins, their style of play posed a bigger threat [So what you’re saying is you have a gut feeling and can’t really justify it. Right.]. In short, I kind of like the way Pittsburgh matches up, and if the regular season was any indication of what’s to come, the games will be tight, but ultimately the Penguins come out on top. But why?

Well, we know the Penguins can score. They’re doing it at a near-historic rate, actually. But in their previous games against Boston, there were some pretty, um, notable absences: Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Kris Letang were all out for at least one of the games against the Bruins. Pretty sure their defensemen are going to have their hands full when they realize that after Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis finally comes off the ice, they’ll see the smiling faces of Jarome Iginla, Evgeni Malkin, and James Neal. Oh, and then their BFF Matt Cooke with Brandon Sutter and Pittsburgh’s favorite runt (sigh) Tyler Kennedy. Did I mention that Brenden Morrow and Jussi Jokinen are on the FOURTH line [This is surprising? At this stage of their careers they’re basically 4^th liners on a good team] ? No? Oh, okay, well…they are. Good luck with that, guys. Did I mention Tuukka Rask’s horrible record against the Penguins, as well? [Stupid narratives about Tuukka Rask have had such a good record these playoffs. Please, keep indulging in them]

The Penguins defense has had its ups and downs, to put it mildly [More down than up]. But they’ve seemed to right the ship after finding which pieces fit where, and they’re getting the job done at both ends of the ice. Kris Letang is on an absolute tear, Paul Martin’s allowing fewer even-strength goals per 60 minutes than all but Slava Voynov and Rob Scuderi, and Douglas Murray (yeah, really, though) will just run you over if you don’t like it [Douglas Murray is also terrible at hockey, but hey, don’t let that stop you pretending he’s a strength.  In fact, stop pretending that the Pens D can actually defend. They can’t (honorable exception of idiot Pens fans whipping boy Paul Martin aside).  Pittsburgh’s made an industry of winning 8-6.  This doesn’t suggest competent D in their own end].

Ah, but there’s goaltending, right? The infamous Achilles heel of the Pittsburgh Penguins these past few years in the postseason has seen a new addition in the form of Tomas Vokoun, and he’s a big reason the Pittsburgh Penguins will go to the Stanley Cup Finals. Sure, he ain’t glamorous, and sometimes you wonder if, like the wobbly hubcap on that old-ass Caprice Classic you see parked outside, he might just fall apart, he somehow manages to keep the puck out of the net. His numbers are  better than any goalie not named Jonathan Quick, and that guy sets the bar kind of…high. Two of the Penguins’ three victories over Boston saw Vokoun in net, and in one of the games, the Bruins only made it a one-goal game on a throwaway marker with under 20 seconds to play.

In Boston. The guy’s calm, confident, and unflappable [He also leaves massive rebounds right up the slot.  During the regular season, our crease crashing line of Lucic-Krecji-Horton were playing like utter crap.  Note that they’ve been our best line in the playoffs. Enjoy the free rebounds lying uncleared in the slot by your crappy D and being potted by a rampaging Lucic]. You also have to think he’s motivated by the fact that he spent so many years on absolute dirtball crappy teams in Florida praying for a chance to win this. As much as people want to see guys like Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow hoist the Cup, I’m all-in on the Tomas Vokoun hand [This I actually have to agree with. Aside from the fact that they Pens are in the B’s way for a second trip to the SCF in 3 years, Wouldn’t mind seeing the long-suffering Vokoun and Iginla win a cup.]. I want this guy to win the Stanley Cup more than anyone else. THAT IS A NARRATIVE.

The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t lose many games this year, but most of them were against teams that didn’t make the playoffs. They elevated their game against the big-name opponents, and I think that’s exactly what we’re going to see in this series. Again, there are going to be some tough, tight games (wouldn’t be surprised if they were all 3-2 Penguins victories, in fact), but I just like this Penguins team and matchup too much [I understand the reason for your confidence; the Pens forwards are an intimidating, fantastically talented group.  However, I think you underestimate just how bad the Pens D is 5 on 5, and overestimate the stability in goal.  I wouldn’t be surprised for a similar series to the 2011 SCF, with the Pens playing the role of the Canucks. Hopefully with less rioting].

The Boston Bruins are a really, really good team. It’s going to be tough to say goodbye [Agree totally. Will shed many a tear when the Pens choke on their own complacency and hit the golf course]. 

I wouldn’t begin to approach either performance as  perfect, and there are certainly aspects of their game that need to be  cleaned up and worked out, but I want to be extremely clear about one  thing: the Pittsburgh Penguins beat themselves last year, and they  won’t do it again this year. If these two games are any indication of  what’s to come, this season could be one hell of a ride.

That whole, uhh, “extended offseason” gave folks a lot of time to  think about everything that happened in the spring and summer. The  lack of discipline, the terrible penalty kill, Marc-Andre Fleury’s  inability to track anything smaller than Pierre Maguire’s ego. The death threats against Paul Martin, the salary dump of Zbynek Michalek  (I already miss you, boo), the confusion around who would play with  James Neal and Evgeni Malkin.

Who would the Penguins be if and when  the new season started?   This past Saturday and Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins were focused, confident, authoritative, and truly didn’t give a fuck.   In some ways, I think starting on the road, particularly *that* road  in Philadelphia (and MSG, to some extent), was beneficial. Playing  hockey on the road requires that extra bit of mental fortitude,  keeping you locked into the game and the details of what you’re doing out on the ice.

After the embarrassing end to last season, this kind  of strong start is at least a little bit encouraging. Getting the crowd at Madison Square Garden to boo their own team the first time you step into their barn is priceless and will never, ever get old.  Ever.

As I said before, though, these were not two perfect performances.  Mental lapses, sloppy passing, poor timing – the Penguins will need to  work on these things as the days pass, even if some of the sloppiness  and timing can be attributed to the understandable amount of rust for  some players.

I could do without Geno basically handing the puck to Rick Nash on a platter, and I think it’s going to take Simon Despres  some time to find his stride (yeah, um, can people please finally shut  up about him being a replacement for Martin, by the way?).

I will be  watching the James-Neal-on-the-point power play with a close and  skeptical eye. But you have to like some of the things that have come out of games 1  and 2. James Neal is picking up right where he left off, demonstrating  his uncanny chemistry with Evgeni Malkin. Paul Martin is playing  confident, smart hockey and anchoring a top-2 pairing with Brooks  Orpik. Brandon Sutter has made me forget that guy who looked like Big  Bird’s hotter and kind of trashy cousin. Marc-Andre Fleury and Tomas Vokoun turned in some solid performances, and I imagine 92 will start  around 24 more times.

What I like most, though, is that we’ve got a 4-point lead over two  division rivals in a shortened season. The worst thing in the world is  having to rely on other teams to lose, and these two games could prove  to be huge as the playoffs approach.

The Penguins open at home on 1/23 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, so we can basically be assured that their road dominance will be followed  by a puzzling performance at home against a team that should be blown out of the building and into the Allegheny. That could be the cynic in  me speaking who’s afraid to believe the hype that I saw with my own two eyes. It could also be me bracing myself for injuries that could derail a team that has the makings of a locomotive (one that can win the whole thing, I mean – sorry, Vancouver and Washington).

I approach the rest of the 2012(ha)-2013 season with cautious optimism. The Penguins basically ran shit against two of the best  teams in the league, and Sidney Crosby wasn’t a dominant player in either. When Stella gets her groove back, along with the rest of these flightless birds, one would have to think that things will only get  better. Or, to continue with the “Move Bitch” theme, in Mystikal’s words:  ”Better not walk in front of their tour bus.”

“Paul Martin supports cancer. #PaulMartinSmearCampaign”

“Paul Martin thinks that you’re supposed to pass it to the other team. #PaulMartinSmearCampaign”

“#PaulMartinSmearCampaign was just trending for me. And people say flyers fans are too harsh on their players, this never happened in philly”

When Philadelphia is calling you goony, you know you’ve got a problem.

I really have felt like Susan Powter many times when reading and hearing much of the conversation surrounding Paul Martin this past season. Instead of trying to remind people that diets don’t work, though, I’m trying (despite it being a gross exercise in futility) to remind people that he isn’t the worst defenseman in the world or even on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Not even close to it, actually.

While anyone who’s spoken with me can attest to the fact that this has been a season-long struggle of mine, and while I’ve touched on this in some of my previous entries, I never felt the need to dedicate an entire post to Paul Martin and his perceived suckiness, for lack of a better word. The newly hatched #smearPaulMartin campaign that popped up on Twitter this past week was the final straw that broke this bitch’s back, and it’s time for some real talk about the unwarranted and disproportionate amount of hate being heaped on #7’s shoulders. To borrow from my muse, Lady, in her song “Garbage Ass”: the way you hatin’ I would think you gettin’ a check to do it/you’re dedicated, you’re loyal, I mean you’re so into it.

I’m here to tell you what’s really hood, and what’s really hood is that the PaulMart hate is pretty out of line and that, at least in part, its magnitude can be linked to our ideas about masculinity and how they translate to play on the ice.

The hate he gets certainly isn’t justified if we’re looking at numbers and statistics. For the uninformed (and that would be an embarrassingly -large portion of the Pittsburgh Penguins fan base, it would seem), those are the pesky bits of information that can be tested and verified and confirmed and stand up to repeated analysis. Because there are some wonderful people out there on the internets, I don’t have to present them; you can read these posts to see why, from a statistical standpoint, it’s pretty obvious that Paul Martin is the Penguins #2 defenseman behind Kris Letang (and for good reason).

Please note that I am not saying he has been perfect, nor am I suggesting that his play during the beginning of this past season was up to par. Martin has also acknowledged shortcomings in his game this past year. What I am, however, attempting to do with these links is once and for all dispel the notion that he’s even close to as bad as a lot of people believe and want you to believe.

Even the folks behind Pensblog, not exactly the most Martin-friendly guys out there, engaged in a statistical analysis that showed that, hey, maybe he isn’t making anywhere near the amount of mistakes that are attributed to him. (Note: I do, however, think that a direct comparison to Sergei Gonchar is flawed in and of itself since they aren’t even the same type of defenseman. “Puck-moving defenseman” isn’t the same as “offensive defenseman,” and I think a Letang/Gonchar comparison is far more useful and relevant, especially in terms of their roles on the roster. I realize that letting Gonchar go and bringing in Martin/Michalek lends itself to a head-to-head comparison, but I think that’s because it’s easy and lazy above all else.)

Oh, and for the people who are playing the he-makes-$5 million-so-he-should-be-X-Y-Z: take his contract up with Ray Shero if you don’t like it. I’d be cool with him making less, but let’s once again keep it real – if Shero didn’t pay it, someone else would gladly have paid that or even more to have him. Dennis Wideman’s in the same money league as Paul Martin, so y’all can just simmer down on that. And considering some of the folks making more than PaulMart, I’m fine with his cap hit.

I really don’t like calling people out individually, and I am not doing this to publicly shame anyone, but I think we need to take a look at some of the examples of the Martin-bashing that are out there to help illustrate my point. This blog post is perhaps one of the best recent examples upon which I can draw.

The author starts by assuming that the reader thinks Paul Martin is a joke, which speaks to the degree to which the Martin-bashing has caught on (or is perceived to have caught on) among Penguins fans. She also notes that she wished she had the time to include more statistics but couldn’t due to lack of time (hey, I understand that) to prove her point that the #smearPaulMartincampaign is justified.

Underneath all of the made-up stats and fabrications (seriously, just read the CBS article I linked to earlier and cross-reference that with her analysis of his play with regards to his concussion…and when it actually occurred) and her repeated mentions of how she “feels” that Martin’s a bad player, her main point and problem with Martin is simple: Paul Martin isn’t physical enough.

Let’s also take a look at some comments left in response to the above-referenced articles, as well as from around the internet. It’s admittedly a little hard to find anything more substantial than, “Paul Martin sucks,” or, “Paul Martin is terrible and the worst,” out there that would indicate why, exactly, they have arrived at such conclusions, but those that do echo the sentiment of the above author:

“Yeah, sorry, I couldn’t find the ‘soft play’ statistic anywhere, darn it.”

“He is certainly a whipping boy within the fan base because of his soft/finesse style.”

“…his most physical play is the poke check.”

“I rather believe that it is Martin’s style of passive, positional defense that seems to offend many.”

“let me tell you the main reason I hate paul martin. He looks like ellen degenerous. (sp?)”

That last one was just too ridiculous to not include. Sorry.

Let’s not forget the mentions of him being quiet and soft-spoken, too. While these characterizations aren’t done to paint him in a negative light – they’re simply ways to describe his personality – they become important when viewed within the larger context of the ways in which he’s criticized and the reasons for said criticism.

Now, these critiques obviously aren’t new in hockey, and they aren’t only leveled at Martin. Rather, these should sound extremely familiar, particularly to anyone who’s ever had a European player on their roster. How many times have we seen the word “soft” used to negatively characterize a player (often from Europe), after all?

With all of this in mind, it is my firm belief that Paul Martin wouldn’t be the subject of nearly as much criticism if he played a more physical game and if he were a bigger hitter. Just as Brooks Orpik gets a free pass for his numerous mistakes (and, uhh, there have really been plenty of those this year, guys) because he doesn’t hesitate to lay someone out in the neutral zone, Martin absorbs even more finger-pointing because he doesn’t engage in those highlight-reel affirmations of masculinity. Martin also doesn’t have goal-scoring and flashiness to fall back on like his most recent defensive partner, Kris Letang, who also regularly throws the body (and who also somehow escaped the wrath of fans after his playoff meltdown).

He’s an anomaly in the Penguins defensive corps with regards to hitting, especially with the departure of Zbynek Michalek (who was often the subject of similar criticism and performed far worse than Martin over the course of the year but never became the target of such concentrated hatred and ire).

Again, I don’t mean to suggest that Martin be immune from legitimate criticism (Paul, might want to mention your concussion symptoms right away and not hold the puck so long sometimes…). But what we’ve seen happen is an irrational fan hatred whose flames were fanned by social media and fueled by our bias, especially in Pittsburgh, toward more Orpik-style hockey. And it’s really, really embarrassing. Here’s a guy who has stated he wants to remain in Pittsburgh and acknowledged that things didn’t always go as planned this past year, and instead of fan support, he gets a slew of disgusting personal attacks in the form of a trendy hashtag. Way to go, guys.

Ray Shero came into the NHL Draft saying he’d like to trade 1 or 2 defensemen, and to the dismay of many, Zbynek Michalek was sent away while Martin remained. Shero has stated he’s not “actively shopping” Martin despite other teams’ inquiries, but we’ll see what the future holds. The numbers, as well as public statements, would seem to indicate that Ray Shero and Dan Bylsma have faith in Paul Martin, and those same numbers tell a story that will disappoint his haters. If he’s back in Pittsburgh in the fall, I’m fully confident he’s going to play steady, solid defense – even if it’s never going to be enough to satisfy a lot of people here in Pittsburgh. And if he’s gone, I sincerely hope he lands someplace where the fan base will know better than to engage in such disproportionate, disappointing scapegoating.

I’m sure you’re probably laughing, but I really don’t care. Joke’s on you. #knowledgeispowerbabygirl

In a great turn of events, my ears have finally stopped ringing from the boos that flooded the arena whenever the Philadelphia Flyers were on the board to make their next selection. Nail Yakupov was taken first overall, as was expected, and the weekend was full of an excitement and energy I’d never before experienced firsthand. And now that the dust has had a little time to settle, let’s take a look at what the Pittsburgh Penguins did, ‘cause they certainly made some noise of their own.

The Penguins were slated to make their opening selection with the 22nd pick. After the Minnesota Wild were called up to make their first-round choice with the 7th pick, I left the media area to rejoin some friends with whom I’ll be sharing a season ticket package this coming year. We chatted for a while and caught up, getting ourselves ready for the Carolina Hurricanes’ pick. And then Gary Bettman approached the podium as he had done earlier to announce deals like Višňovský to the Isles and Ribeiro to the Capitals. He had, it seemed, another announcement to make, one “of particular interest” to the crowd on Friday night.

At that moment, Jordan Staal, who had earlier in the week rejected a contract extension that the Penguins put in front of him, was shipped to Raleigh, North Carolina, where he and his brother, Eric, will suit up together in the fall.  The crowd roared, partially in disbelief, partially in celebration of what the Penguins got in return in the form of Brandon Sutter, defensive prospect Brian Dumoulin, and Carolina’s 8th pick. It was a truly electric moment that I felt lucky to be able to experience from inside Consol.

Oh, and it was also Jordan Staal’s wedding night. (Side note: girl, why you gettin’ married on a Friday?) With that 8th pick, the Pittsburgh Penguins selected defenseman Derrick Pouliot, a puck-moving defenseman who doesn’t have a ton of size but possesses quite a bit of skill. He fits right up in the same class as Despres, Morrow, and Harrington, all recent draft choices made by the Pens. As I told my friends, Ray Shero certainly has a type.

When it came time to choose again, they nabbed Olli Määttä, yet another defenseman. He’s bigger, he’s stronger, and he’s going to need to work on his skating, but he was, in my view, a pretty solid choice.

I was frankly a little surprised he was still available when the 22nd pick came around, but there were certainly plenty of surprises in the department of folks who went lower than anticipated (see: Forsberg, Grigorenko).

The Penguins weren’t done, though, after the first round had come to a close. While most folks were leaving (or had already left) Consol for the night, Ray Shero was making trips back and forth between his seat and the Phoenix Coyotes’ table on the floor. Speculation seemed to point to a deal for Keith Yandle, but he wasn’t part of the trade that was concluded. Alas, one of my favorite Penguins, Zbyněk Michálek, was sent back to the desert in exchange for Harrison Ruopp, Marc Cheverie, and a 3rd round pick. It’s clear that this was a move to free up cap space. If there were whispers of the Penguins trying to land Parise and/or Suter after the Staal move, this trade certainly dispelled any doubts about it.

On Saturday, which was rather anti-climactic after Friday’s insanity, the Pens grabbed the following players in the remaining rounds: Teodors Blueger (C), Oskar Sundqvist (C), Matt Murray (G), Matia Marcantuoni (C), Sean Maguire (G), Clark Seymour (D), Anton Zlobin (RW). Heavy up the middle, another defenseman, and a winger with their final pick. No real complaints from me, save the question of whether or grabbing a winger a little sooner might have been beneficial. But, hey, this is all a guessing game on some level, anyway, so there you go.

On a personal note, I’d like to thank Craig and Doug, and the NHL for allowing me to attend the Draft on my home turf. It was full of unforgettable moments and experiences (you know, like meeting Patrick and Brian Burke and thanking them for their efforts, which tops the long list), and I hope to be fortunate enough to attend again sometime in the future. I’d also like to send a shout-out to all of the lovely people that I met and to those whom I was very, very happy to see again after meeting in Toronto last month.

Before signing off, I’d also like to thank Jordan Staal and Zbyněk Michálek for their contributions to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Jordan Staal was an integral part of the Penguins roster; he will be missed. He helped bring the Stanley Cup back to Pittsburgh, and his tireless work at both ends of the ice will never, ever be forgotten. And he deserves a special mention for doing all of these things with Tyler Kennedy on his wing much of the time. Just a couple pieces of advice, Jordan: never let your hair get that long again, keep rocking that backhand shot high to the glove side, and try not to hurt anyone who’s standing 2 feet to either side of the net when you inevitably miss a one-timer from the slot or circles.

Zbyněk Michálek spent 2 years with the Penguins and, in his first season, displayed the kind of shot-blocking, stay-at-home defense that the Pens were sorely lacking. His second season was rockier; he never quite found the same form that he had during his first year. That said, I know I’ll miss him back on the blue line or, perhaps more accurately, sprawled out on the ice at the edge of the crease in an attempt to block a pass or shot on the penalty kill. He’ll do well back in Phoenix just as he did before he came to Pittsburgh. I have to think he’ll enjoy being back out in Czech Republic West and wish him nothing but the best.

Next up for me? Giving Penguins fans a serious tongue-lashing in response to the whack-ass, embarrassing #smearPaulMartincampaign that set Twitter aflame.

We will be there to cover it, assuming there are no hitches when we go to pick up our credentials. “Ummm… PuckBuddys? PuckBuddys? There seems to have been a misunderstanding, Mr. Knoerzer.”

1. How does this draft class compare to previous years? 

Based on what the scouts have told me, this Draft is very good for about the first 20 picks and then with each round the talent level drops somewhat significantly. Essentially this draft is as deep as some years past, meaning it is going to be harder for teams to find value in the later rounds. The guys that most people have pegged for the Top 5 picks are as good as any in recent years, though. Should be a very fun first round.

2. By all accounts, the consensus seems to be that Nail Yakupov is the clear #1 prospect in the 2012 NHL Draft. Is it justified? If not, who else should be in that conversation? 

“Well, it’s certainly justified as he is a pretty special talent. In that first overall pick, you want a guy that’s going to be guaranteed to produce and I think Yakupov’s skill set is one that will produce a lot of goals at the next level. He’s an exciting player to watch. I think too many people counted out Mikhail Grigorenko way too early, and it seems like he’s been beaten to a pulp in the media with the narrative that it’s risky to draft Russians.

He’s a big kid with terrific hockey sense and loads of skill. Yakupov has the speed and the goal scoring prowess, but Grigorenko might be the more complete player. Also, if Alex Galchenyuk wasn’t hurt all year, there’s a strong chance he would have been in the No. 1 overall conversation this year, so him slipping is going to really benefit a team drafting lower in the top 5.”

3. With that in mind, despite their obvious needs on the blue line, does Edmonton still take Nail Yakupov?

“That’s a great question. I really don’t know what Edmonton is thinking as far as their needs. The NHL Draft is almost always one where a team takes the best player available regardless of position or need. A lot of the advanced stats folks, and probably conventional wisdom say that drafting a defenseman within the first few picks is a bit of a risk, especially when there are a handful of impact forwards available.

Ryan Murray is a great option for a team drafting early, but I don’t think he’s the type of player you take with the first overall pick. There are going to be other ways for Edmonton to shore up their D.” 

3. As far as defensemen are concerned, Ryan Murray appears to be the leader of the pack. Can or should anyone supplant him?

“I think Ryan Murray is the leader, but the one guy that has a shot at supplanting him is Matt Dumba. Murray is a very steady, smart defenseman with enough offensive ability to do some damage. Dumba on the other hand is an offensive force, he’s physical and he’s responsible enough defensively to not be considered an all-or-nothing offensive defenseman. The only thing about both is that they’re right around 6-feet tall, which is almost a little small for an NHL defenseman. I think Dumba’s physical edge and high-end offensive tools might be attractive enough for some teams to have him over Murray on their draft boards.”

4. Is there a prospect whose stock is, in your opinion, a little overvalued heading into the Draft?

“I am probably one of the few people saying this, but I think Morgan Rielly has been overvalued. He was injured for most of the season, but despite that NHL Central Scouting ranked him the No. 5 skater in North America. I definitely see him as a first-round talent, but I think he’s a safer pick after the top 10. I don’t think he’ll last that long, but I think there are just too many questions about his all-around game for him to be a top guy.”

5. On the flip side, is there anyone who comes to mind that should go sooner than he will?

“It seems like Stefan Matteau, who is the son of Rangers hero Stephane, has fallen on a lot of draft charts. I think he’s a first-round talent, but it sounds like he has fallen off on a lot of lists. Matteau is a big kid, with loads of strength and has a nastiness to his game. His offensive skills have been underrated by a lot of scouts. He has really good speed and skates with power. Matteau also has a pro-level shot already. Where he lacks a bit is in the puck skills department. He’s not much of a dangler, but he knows what to do with the puck. I think he’s a pretty special talent and you don’t find too many forwards with his skill set that can score.”

OT: Finally, a noticeable amount of discussion centered on European players, especially Russians, during the post-season has been colored by a not-so-subtle xenophobia. Is there still hesitation to draft European players in the opening round? Have you noticed the conversation change over the course of the past few seasons?

“I don’t think there’s hesitation to draft Europeans anymore, especially with the mountain of Swedes that has been taken in the first round over the last three or four years. There is still a load of hesitation to take a Russian and a lot of it has to do with the fear of the KHL. The Capitals are still waiting on Evgeni Kuznetsov, who would be an impact-type player in the NHL, but chose to stay in the KHL a few years. However, more Russians have come over to play in the Canadian Hockey League, trying to show NHL teams they are serious about playing hockey in North America. 

Not too many of those kids, even if they didn’t make the NHL right away, have gone back to Russia. If the Russian in question is playing in Russia right now, there’s a much higher risk than taking one of the Russians that played in the CHL. I think this first round is going to be at least half European picks. There are too many highly skilled kids from Sweden, Finland and Russia this year. This could be a year where we see more Europeans than North Americans selected in the first round, which hopefully puts the whole European-hesitation to rest. The conversation hasn’t really shifted too much, but with the high-profile Russians in this draft, it seems the narrative has intensified.”

Shootout:  What sites, pundits and wise guys should we follow to best track the talent?

“Well, there are a ton out there, but Corey Pronman over at Hockey Prospectus is a great guy to follow on Twitter and read, due to his breadth of knowledge and he’s very well-connected with scouts and GMs. Also, everybody follows him anyways, but Bob McKenzie’s TSN list that he comes out with the week of the draft is almost always the closest to what actually happens, as he compiles his info from scouts from just about every team. Then there are plenty of other sites that follow the draft pretty closely and have a lot of free content like Future Considerations and HockeyProspect.com. Everyone has different opinions on players, so if you really want to get an idea of a prospect, it’s best to read more than one thing.”

Thanks Chris. USA! USA! USA!

Yeah, there used to be a ton of steel mills here and the population dropped dramatically starting in the 60s. It, along with places like Cleveland, Buffalo, and even Baltimore to some extent, was lumped into the ‘Rust Belt’ bucket and forgotten. It was just another town whose economy fell apart as manufacturing and heavy industry moved abroad. It was crumbling, grimy, and depressed. Why the hell would anyone go to Pittsburgh?

Well, ’cause the city figured out a way to transform itself and is, in my opinion, probably one of America’s best-kept secrets. For whatever reason, people still see Pittsburgh as what it was in the 70s, and that’s just flat-out wrong. But word is slowly getting out that it’s, you know, kind of a great city. It’s always at or near the top of livability surveys and rankings, its economy is now based in high-tech industries and thriving (you know, consistently adding jobs — including new Google offices — while the rest of the country lost them), and it has reclaimed the title of City of Champions thanks to a certain Sharon Needles, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 4.

The film industry has seemingly found a new home in Pittsburgh, too, with more and more studios popping up and more movies being filmed in our streets. It’s got world-class universities, a housing market that was unaffected by the housing bubble and its subsequent burst, and still boasts an arts and culture scene that few US cities can match. For the first time in decades, Pittsburgh’s population actually has increased. Hell, even National Geographic named it as one of the 25 must-see places in 2012, one of only 2 North American locations. In short, the city is doin’ the damn thing.

More Fleury, Less Furry

But the NHL draft almost didn’t happen in Pittsburgh. You see, the furries of the world have traditionally convened in Pittsburgh for Anthrocon, their annual convention, for years now. The draft was slated to take place at the same time. Luckily, the city of Pittsburgh was able to convince the organizers of Anthrocon to change their dates in exchange for some hotel rooms, and all was right in the land. (Note: I’m so, so sad that I’ll miss it. But gay hockey calls and I’ll be in New York playing in the NYCGHA’s Chelsea Challenge with the Pittsburgh Tigers.)

But, you ask, where does the hockey fan, gay or otherwise, go when the festivities at Consol Energy Center cease for the day? Where can he or she go to get away from it all and enjoy what the Steel City has to offer? Well, yinz guys, let me be your guide.

The options I present are a result of my personal bias, of course, and I’m trying to factor in convenience. I’ll give options within walking distance, then those that require wheels of some sort. There are buses that will get you to Lawrenceville and Bloomfield/Shadyside and other East End joints listed below (91, 86, and 87), but if you’ve got a car, all the better. Note that taxis aren’t exactly plentiful on the street, so you’ll need to call ahead (Classy Cab is one that comes to mind). For reference, Lawrenceville and Bloomfield are around a 10- to 15-minute drive from downtown (double that for the bus), and Shadyside’s likely just another 5-7 minutes more.

Drinking

Let’s start with the most important piece of information: where to get a good buzz. Consol Energy Center is on the edge of downtown, so let’s take a look at what dahntahn has to offer:

• Sharp Edge (922 Penn Ave.): Beer, beer, and MORE BEER — seriously, check out the menu. You absolutely cannot go wrong here if a good brew is what you want, and they’ve even got some good grub to soak it all up. This place is on Penn Avenue, and it’s only a 10- or 15-minute walk from Consol. (I tend to do it in 7, but I’m a former New Yorker who walks with a purpose.) Bonus points: non-smoking!
• Images (965 Liberty Ave.): A bar for teh gays on Liberty Avenue just around the corner from Sharp Edge. A rather large, good beer selection (although they just stopped carrying Pilsner Urquell), regulars who flock, and some truly awful carpeting. Unfortunately, they do allow smoking here (as do most bars in Pittsburgh) since they don’t make enough money from food services.
• 941 Saloon (941 Liberty Ave. – imagine that): Another gay bar on Liberty, it’s also home to an after-hours bar upstairs called Tilden, which is members-only (but those can be purchased upon entry).
• There Ultra Lounge (931 Liberty Ave.): Yet another gay bar just down from the other two mentioned above, it’s got plenty of drinks to sling your way. Nothing particularly outstanding about it, but it’ll get the job done.
• Real Luck Café (1519 Penn Ave.): If you find yourself in the Strip District (right outside downtown and walkable) and feel like a dive joint that will likely have some naked dudes dancing around on a bar whose structural integrity might be questionable at best, look no further. Popular on Sunday nights.
• Cruze (1600 Smallman St.): Technically in the Strip District, too, but easily walkable from downtown, Cruze is part lounge, part dance club. Bonus points for a lovely outdoor deck, too. Saturdays tend to be far busier.
• Damon’s (600 Grant St.): Your run-of-the mill sports bar in the US Steel Building. Ultra-convenient.
• TGI Friday’s (1001 5th Ave.): I didn’t want to mention it but it’s attached to Consol. So, you know.

Around town:

• The Blue Moon (5115 Butler St.): One of my favorite gay bars in Pittsburgh, it’s the dive that Sharon Needles and the Haus of Haunt call home. Cheap beers ($2.75 Yuengling draught, I do believe). There’s a little deck out back if you need a break from the insanity and smoke inside. Located in Lawrenceville, it’s also not too far from all of the other establishments that line Butler St.
• 5801 Video Lounge and Café (5801 Ellsworth Ave. – notice a trend here?): The more popular of the two gay bars on Ellsworth St. in Shadyside, 58 (as we call it) has a fantastic roof deck out back. Probably Pittsburgh’s most consistently popular gay bar, and it’s often got a nice mix of girls and boys.
• Spin (5744 Ellsworth Ave.): The other gay bar on Ellsworth, it’s smaller but more sleek. There’s also an outdoor area, but the plus to Spin? Non-smoking.
• Cattivo (164 44th St.): Many of Pittsburgh’s queer girls come here to work it out. It’s in the middle of the action in Lawrenceville, too, which is great. Sadly, though, Pittsburgh hasn’t got much in the way of predominately lesbian establishments, but this is where to go if that’s what you’re lookin’ for.
• Donny’s Place/Leather Central (1226 Herron Ave.): If you’re feeling a little bit like being a freak-a-leek and want to see what happens in a dark maze created by barrels and stable-like partitions, head over to Polish Hill. The ground level is Donny’s Place where you can have a seat at the bar and shoot some pool. Downstairs, though, is Leather Central. I don’t think I need to say anything else; y’all get the picture.
• Brillobox (4104 Penn Ave.): Not a gay bar (but decidedly gay-friendly), this place sits on the edge of Lawrenceville and Bloomfield and packs the house. Good drinks and there are often performances of all kinds.

Eating

Downtown and its environs

• Primanti Brothers (46 18th St.): This is a Pittsburgh institution and you kind of have to go. This is the original location in the Strip District and open 24 hours. You choose the meat (or egg, I guess, if you’re one of those), they pile on a mountain of slaw, tomatoes, and fries between two slices of Italian bread. If you don’t at least try it, you’re a jerk.
• Seviche (930 Penn Ave.): Feel like Latin American food and drink? This is your destination downtown.
• Meat and Potatoes (649 Penn Ave.): Solid ‘gastropub’ (I hate that word) in the heart of the Cultural District.
• Nine on Nine (900 Penn Ave.): More upscale, but if that’s what you want, you’ll get it here. New American.
• Eleven (1150 Smallman St.): Bordering the Strip and Downtown, this is where you can blow lots of money on very good food. New American.
• Kaya(2000 Smallman St.): Caribbean restaurant in the Strip that really does things right. Fantastic cocktails, good food, and I’ll even go for brunch. And I hate brunch.

  

Around town

• Tram’s (4050 Penn Ave.): You want pho? Go to this place in Lawrenceville. Cash-only establishment with terrible decor and absolutely no frills, but it’s packed for dinner. You ain’t here to look at the walls, you’re here for the solid Vietnamese cuisine.
• Thai Gourmet (4505 Liberty Ave.): The girls here know me because I’m always here. One of two Thai joints on Liberty (Thai Cuisine is just down the road) in Bloomfield, it’s my favorite of the two. Kitchy decor that feels like a 50s lunch counter, cheap and delicious food, and enormous portions? Sure thing.
• Tamari (3519 Butler St.): Latin American and Japanese fusion. On the edge of Lawrenceville and the Strip, always a good meal.
• Piccolo Forno (3801 Butler St.): Really, really, really good pastas and pizzas. BYOB. A favorite of mine for sure. Lawrenceville.
• Avenue B (5501 Centre Ave.): A great BYOB joint on the Friendship/Shadyside border. New American.
• Legume (214 N Craig St.): A real gem of a restaurant in Oakland right by the University of Pittsburgh. Menu changes daily, not exactly cheap, but if you’re lookin’ for something you know will impress and satisfy, faut y aller, yo.

Other stuff that isn’t (entirely) centered around eating and drinking

I tend to eat and drink my way through cities, but sometimes you need to go places and do things to fill the time in-between. And if you’re here for the draft, you’ll likely have very little of that time, anyway, and will need things you can do close to Consol. With that in mind, I offer up a few suggestions:

• Mt. Washington/Duquesne Incline: This is a must for fantastic views of the city. Located just across the river from downtown, you can take the old-fashioned funicular up to the top of Mt. Washington and take in the stellar scenery. And while you’re up there, stop in Grandview Saloon on Grandview Ave. and have a drink outside on the patio for the best views in the city. (Sorry, had to include food/drink.)
• Andy Warhol Museum: Just across the river north of downtown, this museum is, of course, all things Warhol. Another must.
• The Mattress Factory: Also located north of downtown, this is a great place for modern art. Frequent programs to check out.
• PNC Park: The Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t exactly a great baseball team, but they play in the best park in the league. And it just so happens they’re playing at home on the afternoon of June 24. If you’re all hockeyed out after Saturday, I strongly suggest you pick up a cheap ticket (trust me, they’ll be available) and take in a game with spectacular city views and wonderful concessions. You can walk across the river or take the T (which is our lame-ass version of a subway) from 2 locations downtown.
• Rivers Casino: Maybe you feel like blowing all your cash on table games or slots. If so, you can do that just across the river from downtown. Located next to Heinz Field and a stone’s throw from PNC Park, you can walk from downtown or take the T.
• Strip District markets and shopping: Head down Penn Ave. on Saturday afternoon and see the Strip District come to life. All sorts of vendors, definitely a highly-enjoyable experience.

What I suggest is hardly comprehensive, of course, but I hope that visitors to my fair city, be they gay or straight or somewhere in the middle, will have an enjoyable time. Pittsburgh is a dynamic place that’s just getting better, so come check it out before everyone else finally gets the memo.

My Porch. Only 1st Round picks get an invitation here

A lot of these teams should be playing (and have, in many cases) in C and sometimes even B League, and, as y’all readers know, we’re an island of misfit and (mostly) gay toys that has parts and pieces of varying skill levels and rustiness. Some games were a battle to put a single goal on the board.

Some games were a battle to clear the puck out of our own zone. Some, it seems, were a battle to hop over the boards because of the burning legs and lungs that can be attributed to a short bench on a late night.

Instead, the roar can be heard and felt in our locker room, for starters. A couple of weeks ago, I was lacing up my right skate and stopped to take it all in. Here was a group of strangers that was laughing, talking, trading stories, and dancing to the music blaring from the iPod player one of our players so graciously brought with her. In a short period of time, we really bonded and became a family of sorts, and that night in the locker room made that crystal clear. No more awkward, shy hellos as people trickled into the room — this time it’s jokes about that whiffed clearing attempt, losing an edge at center ice, falling over the boards when coming on for a line change. Say what you will, but I like to think we just might have the most fun, social locker room I’ve ever been in. It might be the best one in all of gay hockey.

The roar is also felt on the ice, in perhaps unexpected or under-appreciated ways. Despite not winning many games, we never have had a negative attitude on the bench. No matter what the score, what the situation, we’re always supporting each other. We congratulate each other on jobs well done, even if it’s simple as a nice outlet pass. We tap our sticks when our goalie bails us out (yet again). We bump fists and thank people for their hard work in the corners.

We smile. We laugh and we smile.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m probably the most intense and competitive player on our squad (Those to whom this comes as a surprise, party of zero — your table’s ready). My perfectionism sometimes gets the best of me, and I realize I’m far too hard on myself out there (as in everything else, really, but this ain’t Sally Jesse Raphael so we won’t even go there). But when I skate back to the bench and curse myself out en français, I realize that no one is pointing any fingers at me. No one’s pointing fingers at anyone else, either. Everyone’s just happy to be playing the game that we all love so much, the game that some stopped playing because they weren’t comfortable being who they were in their locker rooms and with their teammates. That roars louder than a winning record right now.

We hope that the roar is heard outside of the rink, too. We’ll be marching in Pittsburgh’s Pride in early June, and we’re hopeful that we’ll get most of our skaters to participate. This might be the first time that a gay hockey team has participated in Pittsburgh’s Pride, for all I know. But, really, it doesn’t matter if we’re the first — the goal is that we’re not the last. We want to grow and develop our community and let folks in Pittsburgh (and beyond) know that we’re here to stay, we’re here to play, and, yes, we are, indeed, gay.

And if you’ve got a problem with that, Brooks Orpik and his piercing gaze would like to have a word with you.

Ed. note: After filing his copy, Adam reports that on Sunday night, the Tigers lost to the Hounds in the first round of the playoffs, 7-4. A first round exit by a Pittsburgh team isn’t all that unheard of actually.

Carson Daly was minding his own business and hosting TRL on MTV back when, you know, I guess people still cared and watched MTV. Everything was normal and going as scheduled, but a moment before cutting to commercial, a woman started to sing. Carson and the audience were obviously surprised, and from behind the curtain emerged Mariah Carey, dressed in an oversided t-shirt she probably got from the airbrushing stand at Six Flags while eating a giant turkey leg and pushing an ice cream cart she likely stole from a terrified and perplexed vendor on 41st and Broadway.

And for the next 3 to 4 minutes, she meandered about the studio discussing how this was her much-needed moment of therapy and, naturally, disrobing and making absolutely zero sense. You could see Carson and the audience begin to fear for their own safety as she passed out half-melted Drumsticks.

Mariah Carey was having an epic meltdown live and in front of everyone’s eyes, and it was a God damn mess.

And, really, that’s kind of what happened to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs: a meltdown. The Pens were poised for a deep playoff run, and many experts touted them as Cup favorites (which is a sure way to curse a team, but hey). Everyone knew the series against the Flyers was going to be tough, but nothing went down the way anyone expected.

Game 1 started out in promising fashion with the Penguins jumping out to a 3-0 lead. They were skating, they were hitting, they were going north and not giving up much the other way. In short, they were playing the kind of hockey that made the experts seem like the oracle at Delphi. Maybe the series wasn’t going to be so tough after all, you know?

False. Leave it to Danny Briere to give the Flyers life, despite the fact that he was obviously offside. The Flyers put another behind Fleury to make it 3-2, and things suddenly got a lot more interesting. Jordan Staal hits the pipe and fails to put the Penguins up 4-2, and the Flyers even it up. Letang and Staal stand around in OT and Voracek pops home the winner. The Pens lose a home game in the playoffs after being up by 3 goals. Oh, here go hell come.

Really, that set the tone for the whole series. For whatever reason, the Penguins forgot how to play team defense and Marc-André Fleury turned in a Gigli-like performance in net which led to them bowing out to the Flyers in 6 games. The series didn’t look anything like the others that were being played. The Pens somehow managed to put ten goals behind a combination of Flyers goalies in game 4 to avoid elimination.

The team to score first lost every game before game 6. The Flyers power play cashed in on over half of their (numerous) chances. The Penguins gave up a ton of shorthanded goals. Again, nothing made any sense.

I waited a while to post something because I wanted to take the time to just sit back and watch what would happen after the Penguins got bounced.

Between the finger-pointing and moaning of Penguins fans and the pants-creaming of the rest of the league, it sure has been an interesting week. I’m not going to go on at length about it all, but I want to touch on a few key points:

1.) Marc-André Fleury played like he did the last few weeks of the season. Which, you know, was like crap. I mentioned it in my previous post, and it didn’t get any better. My take is that he was tired, frankly. We didn’t give him much rest this year with Johnson hurt and a reluctance to play Thiessen, which came back to bite us in the cul.

To be sure, this isn’t all on his shoulders, but this wasn’t the same guy who made back-to-back Cup runs a few years ago. Even so, the amount of criticism from pundits and fans alike is laughable. It was the series his haters were waiting for so they could scream, “TOLD YOU SO!” from the mountain tops. Which, fine, feel free and have a good-ass time doing it. But I’m pretty sure this is an exception, not the rule, going forward.

2.) The Penguins forwards didn’t bother doing a damn thing in their own zone. The centers were especially bad, actually, and Jordan Staal being lazy and out of position for the OT goal in game 1 was a perfect illustration of this.

Letang and Fleury

3.) Kris Letang was embarrassing. He was the worst Penguins defenseman not named Ben Lovejoy, yet he’s somehow escaping criticism. For all the fingers pointing at Paul Martin, it was actually his partner in crime who was making most of the positional mistakes and, more importantly, losing his composure. Just disappointing, and note that the same problems persisted even after Martin went down with an injury and didn’t play in the final 3 games of the series.

Remember how I said the Penguins could win in 5 if they did three things, the most important of which was to stay out of the penalty box? Yeah, well, they didn’t do that, and look where we are now. The complete and utter lack of discipline came back to bite them, and they only have themselves to blame. I really don’t have any problem saying it, and it’s not like they aren’t painfully aware of it, you know?

GM Ray Shero

The offseason will, per usual, lead to some interesting discussions and changes. But the funny part is, to me, that the adjustments that need to be made are more mental than anything.

I don’t think there’s any need to hit a panic button and completely overhaul things. I don’t think Shero needs to ship out Martin and Michalek (uh, remember 2 years ago?), and I don’t think they need to re-think the 3-center model. I do, however, think they need to consider their attitude and their approach going forward.

Now, as for the rest of the league in these playoffs? Kings and Coyotes will battle for the West crown, and the Flyers and Rangers will duke it out for the East (much to my chagrin since I’m pulling for the Devils). I do think (and hope) that the Cup winner will be the team that comes out of the West.

God, I hate being on the sidelines this soon.

Follow Adam on twitter. Do it now! @adamkno

Take the Flyers’ 19.7%-effective power play (and Hartnell’s 16 PP tallies) out of the equation and you’re a giant leap ahead. Ensure that your own 19.7%-effective power play converts on its handful of chances, that’s a series-changer.

Finally, remind Bryzgalov that he’s been average (at best) in the playoffs by planting a seed of doubt and reminding him he should fear 71, 87, 18, 14, 9, and 11 just as much as brown bears trolling the forest for fresh meat and drunken campers.

That being said, I don’t expect that it will play out quite as nicely as that. Realistically, I see this being a 6- or even 7-game tilt, and I side with my Penguins. I have a deep pit in my stomach when I think about this matchup because I don’t think any other team in the NHL matches up as nicely against us as they do.  In fact, I think that the winner of this series is probably going to be your contender out of the East and probably the Stanley Cup champion (sit down, Vancouver).

Last year I wanted to play Tampa and we went out with a whimper. Granted, our roster was a hot mess of injuries that landed Mark Letestu on the top line, so it’s not even a really fair comparison, but I tend to think that the Penguins step up to the plate when up against the best. We’ve taken out the Flyers very, very recently in the playoffs, and I expect the tone of this series to be quite similar. It’s going to be high-quality hockey from both sides, but I have to like a team whose core won the Cup a handful of years ago. And despite some kind of meh goaltending from Fleury in the closing week and a half (he was brilliant prior to that), he steps it up when it matters. Always. He’s due for one bad game per series, but he has a history of bouncing back from those in dramatic fashion.

I hate that one of these two teams won’t see the second round. I loathe the Flyers more than pretty much any other team in the league, but it will be a damn shame to see such a strong, talented team go home so early if they (hopefully) don’t survive against the Penguins. But, um, know what? Too fucking bad.

I want to roll over the Flyers so I can point at laugh at Bryzgalov’s giant contract, giggle at Jagr choosing them over the Penguins (even if I really don’t care that much and think he did what was best for him), and chortle as I remember that we’ve ended the Flyers’ Cup dreams yet again.

I’m wearing Penguins socks, my Paul Martin shirt (he’s going to score a key goal during the Cup run, just you wait), and I have a lawn sign taped in my front window above three statues of Mary. I’m ready for the best time of year to begin.

Oh, and what about those other series? Here’s my take:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. New York vs. 8. Ottawa

Ottawa could beat New York. They might get close. But I think Lundqvist shuts the door and the Rangers advance in 6.

2. Boston vs. 7. Washington

You know, I don’t think this will be the cake walk a lot of people think it should be for the Bruins if the Capitals just say, “Fuck it,” and fly. They should still move on in 6.

3. Florida vs. 6. New Jersey

Devils in 5. Sorry, I love you, Florida, and Fleischmann kind of makes me wet, but let’s be real.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Vancouver vs. 8. Los Angeles

Kings in 7. Shut up, I’m serious.

2. St. Louis vs. 7. San Jose

I actually struggle with this one. Blues in 7.

3. Phoenix vs. 6. Chicago

Mike Smith and Radim Vrbata send the Blackhawks packing and remind them why a good goalie is, you know, kind of a big deal.

4. Nashville vs. 5. Detroit

I can’t be the only one who thinks the Red Wings aren’t exactly done yet. Red Wings in 7.

No matter who you’re cheering for, Follow Adam on Twitter: @adamkno

When they aren’t cheering for their Penguins, Adam and Mike have been busy assembling a gay team in Pittsburgh. It seems fitting that on the day following the You Can Play launch, their Tigers took to the ice for the first time. They play through mid May and their next game is March 19. You can follow their progress here and hopefully with additional game updates from Adam, who wears the “A” and Mike, Tigers Captain.

As some of you know, one of the things that I, along with Mike, was looking forward to doing here in Pittsburgh was getting a gay hockey team together to play in local leagues. We tried for the fall, but no rinks had any available space, and we only had around 4 or 5 people who were definitely interested in lacing up.
 
Luckily, we were able to land a spot in a league in Warrendale, a little north of Pittsburgh (basically in the suburb of Cranberry). With recruitment that took the form of Meetups, word-of-mouth referrals, and even a Craigslist ad that resulted in 2 new players on game day, we put 11 skaters on the ice for the very first time on Monday, March 5. Mike and I got to the rink quite a while before the game to welcome folks aboard and catch the Pens game (Michalek SMASH, Phoenix!) since none of us really knew each other, with the exception of a girl who played with us in New York. And the name of our team, the Tigers, comes from the team in the New York Gay Hockey Association for which Mike and I played.
 
So, this merry bunch of strangers — native Pittsburghers, a Montréalais (but he’s Anglo, so I had to hassle him), and a Hoosier in myself — took the ice against what turned out to be a well-oiled machine of an opponent that has been playing together for quite some time. Us? I’m the only person who has been skating regularly, and some of the people hadn’t played in the last six or seven years.

Most hadn’t touched the ice in a year or two. But they all came out because they wanted to play on a team that made them feel comfortable, to play with people who understood them just a little bit more than previous teammates. 

We lost. The game was scoreless until around 6 minutes into the 2nd period when they scored. The Pond Stars added another to go up 2-0, but I was lucky enough to fire a wrister over their goalie’s glove from the left circle to pull us back within 1.

Unfortunately, they rattled off 8 more, despite our goaltender’s valiant effort. While we kept up early, the rust really started to show, and we frankly were tired. But despite the fatigue, despite the score, despite the refs somehow not calling at least a penalty (shot?) when I tucked the puck across the goal line as the defender deliberately knocked the net off of its moorings…not a single person held his or her head low.

It was honestly one of the most fun games I’ve ever played, and I think the rest of the team felt the same way. Once the game was over, we headed to the locker room for the usual tradition of beers while peeling off the sweaty, heavy equipment and hopping into a shower of questionable cleanliness.

We were men, women, and trans. Gay, bi, and a couple of straight allies. We were, in short, the Tigers. And we take the ice again in 2 weeks. Bring it on, folks, ’cause we’re just getting started.

You too, can be Tigers boosters. Follow Adam on twitter: @adamkno