Pens Update

Because I'm sure everyone out there is simply drooling over a chance to hear about the latest Pens news, I feel I must appease the masses. So I'll cut right to it...

The Pens started off the year blazing hot. I even blogged about it once. I hadn't really expected that level of play to continue out of a bunch of kids that all seem to be 20 years old or younger. Alas, it would have seemed I was correct. The Pens tailed off for he next few months, playing roughly .500 hockey and sitting just outside the last available playoff spot.

Apparently, though, they got something going right around the all-star break. In their last 14 games, the Pens have gone 12-0-2 and climbed from outside the playoff hunt (the top 8 teams get in) to 4th in the conference. They haven't been on a streak this good in about a decade. Also of note - during that streak, rookie Jordan Staal became the youngest player in NHL history to net a hat trick (including the overtime game winner) in the Pens win over the Leafs. Also, 2nd year phenom Sidney Crosby leads the NHL points race by 10, with 88 total points. The last time a teenager won the points race (Crosby is a whopping 19 years old), it was by a guy that goes by the name of Gretzky.

Will they keep it up all the way to the playoffs? I don't know, but it's fun to follow. Tonight's a big game for the Pens as they take on the division leading New Jersey Devils. I'd love to say that I'll be home watching the game, but I won't get it. State of Hockey, my ass.