As Penguins fans, we hated the 2011 Winter Classic, but loved HBO's 24/7 series. One of the better parts addressed Sidney Crosby's many superstitions, including his 5 pm peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I wanted to do this drink in his honor, and then his season ended in early January. But, his doctor's cleared him for his usual summer workout routine. This made me pathetically happy after that depressing 2010-11 season. So, celebrate the fact that we (knock on wood!) have Crosby on his way back to us with this shooter. He can't have it at 5 pm on game day, but that shouldn't stop you this fall. It's better than putting on a nasty old cup, anyway.

Sidney's Superstition

1 ounce Castries peanut liqueur
1 ounce strawberry vodka

Shake ingredients together in a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice until well-blended. Serve in a shot glass immediately. Recipe can easily be multiplied for a group.

NOTE ON INGREDIENTS: I don't specifically endorse Castries, and I'm certainly not getting paid by any liquor company. I simply don't know any other peanut liqueur. (My first "peanut butter and jelly"-ish shooter was actually made with Frangelico.) This one's very creamy, intense, and rum-based.

The wound of last night's game may still be raw to you. Maybe for you, hockey is over until September. But many others will still be watching, because we love hockey in general and because there are other teams (or at least other players) which we like for whatever reason.

I realize that some of these options seem, well, more thinkable than others to most Penguins fans, but decided to give all possible choices. Fandom is a strange and unpredictable thing.

Poll

Which team do you hope wins the Stanley Cup?

5%

Boston Bruins

26 votes

7%

Washington Capitals

34 votes

3%

Philadelphia Flyers

17 votes

7%

Tampa Bay Lightning

38 votes

25%

Vancouver Canucks

123 votes

22%

Nashville Predators

108 votes

5%

Detroit Red Wings

25 votes

10%

San Jose Sharks

52 votes

12%

Forget them all; this season's over as far as I'm concerned.

60 votes

483 votes | Poll has closed

My Cocktails with the Penguins blog, which is probably my most unusual expression of sports fandom, came about because I shared cocktail recipes to honor various Penguins' accomplishments here early last season. The recipes were about to take over the FanPosts column, and people here and elsewhere suggested that I collect them in blog form. I've done everything from a tuned-up Bloody Mary for Eric Godard to naming my favorite cocktail ever "Crosby Sucks" after my favorite player. One can literally drink a new cocktail every week using the recipes I've posted. Most of them are mine.

I kept wanting to make something worthy of being called the "Pittsburgh Penguin." There are cocktails named after the Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars. Several teal cocktails, such as the Sharkarita, have been invented for the San Jose Sharks. I created another teal Sharks cocktail, and decided that I really needed to make a Pittsburgh Penguin drink happen.

This is it! Should anyone else have suggestions, I'm open to reading them. However, I really loved this when I put it together last night. I share it here because it's *the* Pittsburgh Penguin, and because I'd like to give anyone who wants to make one tonight a chance to get ingredients.

Pittsburgh Penguin

1 1/2 ounce Kahlua
1 ounce cream of coconut
1 ounce Goldschlager
crushed ice

Shake all liquid ingredients in a shaker. Fill an old-fashioned glass about two-thirds of the way with crushed ice. Pour the liquid over the ice.

Years ago, there was a terrific Simpsons episode, "Homer at the Bat," in which Mr. Burns hired big-name baseball talent as ringers for the company softball team. Unfortunate things happened to most of these ringers. I couldn't help thinking of it lately when it came to our forwards.  I also couldn't resist rewriting "The Softball Song" in my head tonight. So to celebrate tonight's win against the Kings:

The Wilkes-Burgh Penguins Hockey Song

 

Well, Disco Dan had done it.

The Wilkes-Burgh Penguins won it.

With Fleury making big saves all the while

Matt Cooke's four-game suspension made us smile

While Jeffrey limped back down the dressing room aisle.

 

We're talkin' hockey

From Pittsburgh to L.A.

Talkin' hockey, Adams and T.K.

Sid the Kid and his head injury

Geno and his right knee surgery

We're talkin' Staaaaaal-sy....Conner and Dupuis

 

Some people simply love their own team and hate all others. But many NHL fans have other teams that they like just a little less than their favorite, teams with players they'd happily poach for their own, teams they hate so badly that they'll cheer on any other team they play against, etc.  Sometimes we end up hating a team based on a player or our experiences in the city where they're based. Sometimes other fans' behavior will affect our feelings--for instance, New York Rangers fans were incredibly rude to me when I first started learning hockey, and I encountered a lot of hilarious blogs by Toronto Maple Leafs fans. It's not rational, and it doesn't have to be.

It's been suggested to me, usually facetiously, that I rank the NHL teams based on my levels of fandom and hate. So since we have to suffer through another 24 hours without Penguins hockey, I decided I'd do that. I'm sharing my list, complete with some quirky categories, in hopes that you'll share yours in comments. Have fun with it!

My Personal NHL Rankings

Absolute Favorite Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

No matter how I feel about the following teams most of the time, I will hate them for a few hours whenever they play against the Pittsburgh Penguins. I need no other reason.

I Also Really Like and Wish I Could Watch More Often: San Jose Sharks

Team I Feel a Little Guilty for Not Liking More Because They're Near My Hometown: Tampa Bay Lightning

Tolerate to Maintain Peace in My Home: Detroit Red Wings

Hate with An Undying Hate: Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Anaheim Ducks

Teams I'll Cheer for Out of Pity: New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Phoenix Coyotes

Mostly Neutral, Leaning Negative: New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars

Mostly Neutral, Leaning Positive: Atlanta Thrashers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Carolina Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets

I need to note that I had a bit of help from my Beloved (a Kyle Busch fan) and my mother (a Kurt fan). Also, if anyone's foolhardy enough to actually try this, sips are less likely to send you to the hospital than shots.

The Busch Brothers Drinking Game

Take one sip/shot when:

• It is mentioned that the Busches are brothers. (This right here tells you the "sip" method's best.)
• It is mentioned that they are from Las Vegas. 
• It is mentioned that Steve Addington (Kurt's current crew chief) has worked with both Busches.
• Any variation of the words "mature," "matured," or "maturing".
• Someone refers to Kurt's tempestuous past.
• The phrase "sibling rivalry".
• They're racing for the same position.
• Their stats are compared (either by an announcer or graphic.)
• The announcer notes not only that Kurt has a championship, but that Kyle doesn't.
• The announcer notes that they're racing each other hard.
• The announcer seems to expect them to cooperate (especially on restrictor-plate tracks.)

Two sips/shots when:

• You see an "Anyone But a Busch" or similar sign.
• Their mother is shown.
• They get pit stalls close together (just do this once).
• The Busches are leading 1-2 in the race.
• They're compared to old-school racing brothers (Allisons, Labontes, etc.)
• Announcer tells a story about how the Busches' competitiveness can cause them problems (like the infamous "Thanksgiving at Grandma's" story).
• One Busch taps the other to get him out of the way.
• A Busch refers to his brother by car number rather than name. ("The number 18 got me loose, and...")
• Kurt is asked his opinion about Kyle's latest rivalry/escapade.

Three sips/shots when:

• They actually do cooperate (draft each other, block another driver for his brother, etc.)
• One Busch wrecks the other. 
• You see a sign supporting both Busches.
• Someone calls Kyle "Shrub".
• Kurt's wife and Kyle's fiancee are shown talking to each other. 
• They're starting in the same row (just do this once).
• Their mother is interviewed.
• Their mother hugs one of them.
• One congratulates the other.

I was already predisposed to dislike Chris Conner just for not being Bill Guerin.  I also remembered that Conner's performance with Pittsburgh had been less than stellar when he was called up in November. So he was on the first line with Sidney Crosby. Damn it all to hell...

I wasn't going to post this cocktail. It's so good, but the composition is similar to the Happy Goalie (named after Marc-Andre Fleury, of course), and I've already posted lots of recipes involving citrus-y flavors. I wouldn't have posted anything for Conner, either. I don't know much about him, and he's not technically a Pittsburgh Penguin. But the thing is, I hate the Rangers with an undying hate. I live in NYC, and there are some very vocal Rangers fans at my office who love to point out anything wrong with the Penguins, real or imagined. My 9-year-old "niece" (actually, a good friend's daughter) gets teased by Rangers fan classmates for being a Penguins fan, too.

Conner totally endeared himself to me last night by scoring two goals on the Rangers! Sure, he had Crosby as his center, but we all know that's not always a guarantee of success for a winger. Because Conner allowed me to hip-switch into the break room at my office and grin like a Cheshire cat at a Rangers fan exec, who held up his hand and told me not to say a word, I absolutely had to post something for him. Therefore:

Conner's Comeback

About 4 ounces sparkling blueberry juice
2 ounces citrus-flavored vodka

Pour vodka into champagne flute. Top with sparkling blueberry juice. Shake gently; don't stir.

The sparkling blueberry juice is available at health food sections of supermarkets and Trader Joe's, and these flavors play very nicely together.

Earlier recipes, as well as some food and drink recipes never posted at Pensburgh, can be found at my Cocktails With the Penguins blog.

Well, we haven't done this here in a while! Sometimes I kinda have a cocktail matched with a player in my mind. Like, Jay McKee's is going to involve many shots of liquor, and I've got one that can fairly be called "Free Candy" on deck for Brooks Orpik. Kris Letang's was almost certain to be a chocolate martini. Yeah, I know they're common. Hear me out: chocolate martinis seem sweet, even deceptively harmless, but can kick your ass. Both Letang and chocolate martinis have lots of female fans. And then there was the big basket of chocolate associated with him during the Penguins' holiday gift basket auction this season. It seemed obvious. Plus, Valentine's Day is coming up.

I post it tonight because Letang demonstrated why the Penguins are such an awesome team this afternoon. The Flyers' Darroll Powe appeared to hurt Alex Goligoski some with a check from behind. Letang swooped in and jumped Powe. Not only did Letang stand up for his teammate, but he got the better of Powe. So, tonight we celebrate the way Letang out-bullied one of the Broad Street Bullies.

Letang Stands Up
1 1/2 ounces Stolichnaya Razberi or other raspberry-flavored vodka
1 ounce creme de cacao

Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker; shake with a handful of ice. Strain liquid into martini glass.

Part of a series.  Earlier recipes, as well as drink and food recipes never posted at PensBurgh, can be found at my Cocktails with the Penguins blog.

Last night's win against the Toronto Maple Leafs put me in the happy position of being unable to choose which of two Penguins players I wanted to celebrate. So, to make up for a recent lack of cocktails, I am going to post both.

Sergei Gonchar came roaring back from a leg injury with a vengeance last night. Two goals, including a power play goal! Yes, that power play goal was awfully weird, the way it bounced off the back of the net. Yes, it sucked that there was a dispute with the referees and that Gonchar wound up spending two minutes in the penalty box for hooking. But it counted! Soon after Gonchar left the box, he scored a much clearer and more decisive even strength goal that not even the referees could doubt.

Here, I am basically trying to replicate the taste of Orangerie, a Scotch infusion with orange and clove flavors that I can't find anywhere.  Gonchar appreciates the finer things in life, so I can't help but think he'd like it if I got out the top shelf liquors and fixed him this slightly tweaked Scotch and soda:

Gonchar's Revenge
(a/k/a "I'm Blind, I'm Deaf, I Wanna Be a Ref")

1 1/2 ounce Scotch
1/2 ounce orange liqueur
1 dash orange bitters
1 dash cloves
About 3-4 ounces club soda

Put all of the ingredients except the club soda in a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice; shake like crazy for a minute. Pour the Scotch mixture into a highball glass, straining out ice. Fill glass with club soda.

The other player I'd like to thank for the Penguins' win last night is Marc-Andre Fleury. The Penguins' goalie has been in a bit of a slump. (I may have used the phrase "Swiss cheese" to describe his recent performance.) But he was awesome against the Maple Leafs. The Leafs kept throwing rubber at him, especially during the third period--22 shots in that period alone. He allowed one goal by Matt Stajan. There could have been so many more. His performance was one of the big reasons why the Penguins won by a wide margin.

There exists a drink called the Depressed Goalie. That's not our Flower, not even when he's a sieve, and certainly not last night! This is a very simple drink with a really nice flavor, and it might put a big Fleury-esque smile on your face. Look for the sparkling pear juice in health food aisles at the supermarket, Whole Foods, or Trader Joe's.

the Happy Goalie

2 ounces amaretto
About 3 ounces sparkling pear juice

Pour amaretto into a champagne flute. Top with sparkling pear juice. Don't stir--a light shake is plenty. (You don't want to break the bubbles!) Sip slowly.

Tenth in a series.  Older recipes, as well as a few that won't be posted at PensBurgh, can be found at my Cocktails With the Penguins blog.

This is a recipe I sat on for a while. I can't take credit for it. My brother invented it and shared it with me on Thanksgiving weekend. What I can take credit for is always having chai-flavored tea bags and vanilla vodka around the house...oh, and the fact that I taught him enough about Penguins hockey that he's perfectly okay with my naming it after Evgeni Malkin, or any player but Jordan Staal. (My SIL said that Staal is, quote, "fine as hell." She's very glad that his face will heal up okay from its meeting with the puck on December 21. So am I.)

Anyway. December 23 found me at Joe Louis, suffering through the Chicago Blackhawks' shutout of the Detroit Red Wings with the only Wings fan I'll ever kiss. Meanwhile, over in Pittsburgh, Malkin was roaring back to life with a vengeance, scoring a hat trick against the Ottawa Senators. Of course. I think it's time to bring this out for him.

Geno's Hat Trick

1 bag Bigelow Vanilla Chai, or other chai-flavored tea
1/4 cup milk, more or less
1 ounce cinnamon schnapps
1 ounce vanilla-flavored vodka
1 teaspoon brown sugar

Use a large coffee mug for this. Steep the tea bag in 8 ounces of very hot water for 3-5 minutes.

When tea is done, take bag out. Slowly stir in milk, then brown sugar, then liquors. Drink warm.

This is good for sipping and contemplating things like why our timing sucks so badly that we haven't seen either of our favorite teams score even one goal in person this week, whether we are jinxes to our favorite teams, and whether I can put together a warm cocktail that does not involve cinnamon schnapps.

Oh, and it's Christmas Eve! Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates, and a good weekend to everyone else!

Ninth in a series celebrating individual Penguins players and their accomplishments through almost the only creative medium in which I can make something worth sharing--alcohol.

The Penguins' power play may still need work, but we've got a pretty awesome penalty kill, and we've got Jordan Staal. His shorthanded breakaway was the third Penguins goal in the first period of the December 15th game against the Flyers. The Flyers would never recover from that two-goal deficit. Staal further dashed any hope they had with an even-strength goal in the second period. It was beautiful, and so is this cocktail.

Actually, this is a personal favorite of mine that didn't have a name. I fixed it again for myself last night because a NYC winter had me feeling a little homesick for Florida. It is a spin on the classic Brazilian caipirinha, twisted and twisted again until it squealed. I think the blue curacao really adds something--like, you know, blue color and orange flavor. Some of you may not like tiki-ish blue drinks, and that's okay. But what Penguins fan doesn't love the sight of something orange getting crushed?

Staal's Shorthanded Breakaway

1/2 ounce blue curacao

1 ounce light rum

2-4 orange wedges (depending on your taste and the size of the orange)

2 teaspoons sugar

Place orange wedges and sugar into an old-fashioned glass and muddle together. (A wooden spoon works best.) Fill the glass with crushed ice. Add rum, then blue curacao. Stir the liquids together.

Eighth in a series honoring individual Penguins players and their notable achievements through almost the only creative medium in which I can make something worth sharing--alcohol.

It was easy to criticize Pascal Dupuis for his inability to score goals last season. Fun, too. But he's worked hard to improve his scoring, and it shows in the 2009-10 season. During the December 10 game against the Montreal Canadiens, it was none other than Dupuis who scored the game-winning goal, a killer slapshot. The hand-reattachment surgery we Pensburghers have joked about all season long seems to have paid off!

This happens to be what I drank last night. I combined cinnamon schnapps and hot coffee simply because I was cold even in my burqa-fit powder blue jersey, penguin-printed pajama pants, and fluffy panda slippers. (I know, stylish, right?) This is a little harsh, but not at all bad. In fact, I thought it was pretty decent. Like Duper's slapshot, it gave this Penguins fan exactly what I needed.

Super Duper Slapshot

1 ounce cognac

1 ounce cinnamon schnapps

brewed black coffee

dash of cinnamon

sugar or Splenda to taste

Pour cognac and schnapps into coffee cup; stir. Fill cup with black coffee. Add cinnamon and sugar if desired; stir again.

 

Seventh in a series that celebrates individual Penguins players and their notable achievements through almost the only creative medium in which I can actually make something worth sharing--alcohol.

Before he came to us, Mike Rupp was known as a big guy who wouldn't back down from a fight, but never as a goal scorer. This began to change when he put on the sweater with the hockey playing penguin. His young son wanted Rupp to score a goal for his birthday. While other players were injuring their own goalies and taking themselves out with knee-on-knee hits, the man who is now known as noted goal scorer Mike Rupp got his first-ever career hat trick and broke the Penguins' Madison Square Garden curse. Since he didn't get to do it on hat night at his new team's home arena, he deserves more of a celebration. This, the result of my brother and I wondering why iced tea isn't used as a mixer more often, just seemed right.

The Noted Goal Scorer

1 shot Tanqueray Rangpur or other lime-flavored gin

About 6-8 ounces brewed Earl Grey tea

Teaspoon of lime juice

Sugar or Splenda to taste

Combine ingredients in a tumbler half filled with ice, stir. It gets no easier.

As you can imagine, the lime flavor is strong in this one, and we meant it that way. You can always use plain tea or gin, or leave the lime juice out.

Confession that won't shock anyone: Bill Guerin may bring out my inner puck bunny (I didn't even know I had one until he joined the Pens), but Sidney Crosby is my very favorite Penguins player. I was sitting on this one, saving it for a game where Crosby really, really brought the awesome. Maybe the hat trick and five points he got against the Rangers on 11/28 qualifies.

The following is my very favorite cocktail, except that I substituted Canadian whiskey for my usual bourbon. This gives it a somewhat edgier, less mellow and sweet flavor than the bourbon does. While Crosby was among friends on home ice last night--on hat giveaway day, no less--I couldn't resist naming this after the most hilariously ironic and moronic chant in all of sports. One of the things I love is his ability to use that fan hate and send 'em home with something to really be upset about. Speaking of upset, I can't wait to discuss hockey with the Rangers fans at my work come Monday morning!

Crosby Sucks

2 ounces good Canadian whiskey

1 ounce cherry liqueur

About 6-8 ounces vanilla cola, regular or diet

Fill a tumbler halfway with ice. Shake whiskey and cherry liqueur with two ice cubes in cocktail shaker, then pour it, ice and all, into the glass. Fill glass with vanilla cola. Stir slowly.

I really, really thought I wasn't going to be doing this for a little while! What I'm trying to do with these posts is a cocktail for each Penguins player, not for each game. (This will be the fifth so far.) But Martin Skoula had himself one hell of a game with those two goals against the Thrashers, and I thought I should recognize today.

If this looks familiar, that's probably because it's a spinoff of the Lynyrd Skynyrd. I think Lynyrd Skynyrds are a bit too sweet. Swapping out orange soda for ginger ale turned it into something I liked much better. It's not the prettiest color, but it does the job, the way Skoula did in Atlanta.

The Skoula Bus

2 oz bourbon
4 oz ginger ale, regular or diet
4 oz orange juice

Pour bourbon into a collins glass almost filled with ice. Build the drink--first orange juice, then ginger ale. Stir and enjoy.

 

I'm still doing a cocktail for each Penguins player. I was going to give it a rest (you know, for about 2-3 weeks), since we're entering do or die time for American home cooks this week. However, this one was just inevitable, and tonight's as good a time as any to post it. Eric Godard's fight late in the 11/19 game against the Senators managed to overshadow the returns of both Max Talbot and Sergei Gonchar. It's time to celebrate him.

I hate Bloody Marys and certainly didn't drink this during the game. While I'm being honest, I may as well admit that I initially put wasabi into a Bloody Mary that a friend of mine had made for himself to punish him for a joke that cut too deep. He liked it. We tinkered with the recipe and came up with this, which I renamed for my fellow and sister Pens fans.

Bloody Eric

1 1/2 oz. vodka

1 can V8 juice

1 dash ginger

2 dashes wasabi

2 dashes liquid smoke

Fill a highball glass with ice. Build liquid ingredients in glass, starting with vodka, then adding V8 juice until the glass is full. Add spices and liquid smoke to taste. Stir until spices are blended in.  Drink up.

I have it in my head to create a cocktail for each Penguins player by the end of the season, unless somebody begs me to stop.  (No way can I do it every game.)   I created one for Chris Bourque last night.  This one's better by far, of course.  It is the one I actually drank.

I wanted to make something blue to match the blue jerseys.  Plus, Matt Cooke deserves to be celebrated for his two goals!  The blue color and Cooke's name came together when I named this drink.  It looks a bit fussy, but essentially, it's a Sonic Ocean Water with rum, something I often enjoyed when I lived close to a Sonic.   I added a lower-calorie option because most hockey fans don't have the metabolisms of professional hockey players.

Cookie Monster:

1 shot light rum
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon sugar or Splenda blend
1 teaspoon imitation coconut extract
3 drops blue food coloring, give or take
1 12-ounce can cold lemon-lime soda
ice

Mix water and sugar in a small bowl. Stir to dissolve. Add coconut extract and food coloring to the syrup. Stir well.

Combine blue syrup with lemon-lime soda. Add rum. Stir. Pour over ice into tumbler.

(Promoted from Fanposts - FrankD)

Well, after the Cussing Penguin, Hooks said he hoped I'd be able to post a celebratory drink. I fixed this for myself during a commercial in the second period. I don't normally name the drinks I invent--as with most of the food I make, I just throw things together based on the season, what is in my kitchen, and "eyeballing." But I want to make this again, and last night's game deserves to be immortalized!

This is a good deal stronger than the Cussing Penguin. I named it after Bill Guerin, even though he would probably consider it too girly, because I've been crazy about him since last year's playoffs that was one hell of a time for him to snap his goal-less streak, and luck doesn't get much better than that.

The Lucky 13

1 shot bourbon

1 1/2 ounces pomegranate liqueur

About 5-6 ounces apple cider

Dash allspice

Shake bourbon and pomegranate liqueur with 2-3 ice cubes in cocktail shaker. Pour it, ice cubes and all, into a tumbler (plastic's fine). Pour in apple cider until the glass is about full. Add allspice. Stir, then sip.

Since it isn't my objective to kill myself or anyone else, I should probably note that I mean non-alcoholic/sweet apple cider, not hard cider. If I were trying to impress you with my bartending skills, I'd strain out the ice, serve it in a chilled glass tumbler, and garnish it with a few pomegranate seeds. But hey, it's just game night.

Tonight, November 12, I planned to make classic cognac-based French 75 cocktails in my penguin-shaped cocktail shaker if the boys underperformed.  Unfortunately, I had the opportunity.  However, I didn't feel right about wasting champagne, not even the cheap and cheerful kind, on a cocktail on a weeknight.  Also, um, I have to work tomorrow.  So I substituted Lorina sparkling lemonade.  Chris Kunitz gave my tasty new cocktail its name.  It's bitter, like defeat, but with a slight edge of sweetness, like the knowledge that Evgeni Malkin will be back soon and Martin Brodeur didn't get to set a record for shutouts with our guys.

Cussing Penguin

1 1/2 ounce cognac
1 ounce lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
6 ounces sparkling lemonade

Mix cognac, lemon juice, and sugar in a cocktail shaker. Add crushed ice; shake until liquid is chilled. Pour cognac mixture in champagne flute. Pour in sparkling lemonade up to the top.

I've kinda wanted to do this anyway, but it seems more appropriate somehow after a loss.  This is just to ask, do you have any superstitions that you adhere to in order to "help" the Penguins win?  A lucky jersey, a certain place to sit, a phrase you say at a certain point in the game, a preferred drink?  Also, when it doesn't work, do you go on using the same thing for luck, or do you try to switch things up?

Here are some of mine that I've had.  This is not a comprehensive list--I am superstitious enough to make Sidney Crosby shake his head.

• I eat something black and white before the game, even if I can't watch.  I prefer a mini black and white cookie or vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate sauce.  I have eaten Oreos in a pinch, but only if nothing else is available.
• During the quarterfinals, I realized that I'd worn Ed Hardy's "Love Kills Slowly" perfume (yes, I know, it was a gift and it actually smells good on me) during the first two games when the Pens beat the Flyers.  I wore no other perfume on game days during the rest of the playoffs.  On a related note, I often wear Lucky You, but find that, ironically enough, it is not lucky for athletes that I like.
• Also during the playoffs, I kept a desktop wallpaper showing Crosby scoring a goal up on my work computer.  This was mostly to annoy Rangers fans, but since I didn't want to mess with success, it stayed up until the Pens won the Cup.

Your turn now!

There's no rule saying you can only follow your own home teams, especially not with today's technology.  I suspect this is particularly true of Pittsburgh's teams.  (Or maybe my feelings are colored by the fact that I am, as I state in my profile, a "Florida Cracker who moved to New York City for love.")  But some Pittsburgh Penguins fans actually have to be from, you know, Pittsburgh, right?  This isn't another "How did you become a Penguins fan?" thread, just a small and self-explanatory poll.

Poll

Which of these applies to you?

35%

I currently live in or near Pittsburgh.

25 votes

30%

I used to live in or near Pittsburgh.

21 votes

12%

I have family in Pittsburgh, but never lived there myself.

9 votes

17%

I don't have a connection to Pittsburgh.

12 votes

4%

Other (please explain in comments)

3 votes

70 votes | Poll has closed

Of course there are things that pretty much every Pens fan wants to see this season--our players staying healthy, sick goals and lots of them, Mellon Arena's last game ever ending with a Stanley Cup celebration. Then there are the less obvious things that we'd really enjoy if they ever actually happened. So, to help us get through this last long week before the season really starts, here's a fun question--what would you like to see happen with the Pens in 2009-10?

Some things I'd like to see:

* Evgeni Malkin admits that his English has always been better than he let on, but he wanted to avoid being interviewed by Pierre McGuire as long as possible.

* Bill Guerin becomes the new spokesbody for Wrangler Jeans. (Okay, I may be alone in this. But hey, better him than Brett Favre or Dale Earnhardt, Jr., right?)

* Sidney Crosby hat-tricks on hostile ice, then revisits his anti-planned celebration stance just long enough to adapt NASCAR driver Kyle Busch's victory bow, complete with counting goals on his fingers the way Busch counts the year's wins.

* Jordan Staal finally responds to a "brothers" question with a roll of his eyes and an aggrieved "Can we *please* talk about something else now?".

* A loud, spontaneous chant of "Stay in the net!" at Mellon Arena results in Marc-Andre Fleury staying in the net for the rest of the night.

So what would you like to see?