Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin vs. Malkin debate

Mill Grove 8 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:13:04 -0000

So Tyler Kennedy scored again. It was no doubt the biggest goal of his live and a huge goal in terms of this series. He's the man. The word is out. Marc-Andre played the best game of his life and overshadowed everyone but Kennedy's goal was important. Moving on...

I watched the Capitals play the Rangers last night since the Penguins didn't play and I want to jump on board this Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin vs. Malkin debate. Undoubtedly there are other players to through into the mix of "who is the best player in the World right now," my short list would include several goalkeepers who are playing out of their gourd right now, at least three Red Wings and Wayne Gretzky, whose numbers are so unbelievably untouchable that AO, Crosby and Malkin will be lucky to come close. Throw his old ass into someone's power play and I guarantee he still lights up the scoreboard like a fireworks display, with all due respect to Mario Lemieux, of course.

Ovechkin sucks. Or at least he did last night. I saw the highlights of him finally playing playoff hockey on Monday night, and he looked good. He hustled. He played some defense. But who cares? That's playoff hockey he was playing. Kennedy plays with that kind of passion on a Wednesday game in Albuquerque.

AO wasn't even the best player on the ice yesterday, let alone the world, Henrik Lundqvist was. And no, it wasn't because AO's shots were so amazing they spawned flames, on ice, while traveling at the speed of sound. AO's shots were predictable and blocked, save one, but if any of the aforementioned players shot 11 times at something, they'd hit it too. They would not only hit it - they'd kill it and eat it.

AO turns the puck over more than Brooks Orpik, who turns more things over than a pair of tongs.

Question: who turned the puck over on the play that was all over every sports medium Monday night and Tuesday where AO made that diving back-tracking steal? Ovechkin.

Sergi Federov played better than AO, and he was drafted in '89, when AO was turning over toys in the sandbox at the age of four.

On a serious note, AO and the Capitals remind me of the Penguins back in '07 when they needed to just make the playoffs and get some experience. The Penguins are winning close playoff games now because they took those lumps. The Capitals, while they looked very dangerous heading into this year's playoffs, just don't have that playoff gear.

Pittsburgh Penguins SuckFest was worth it

Mill Grove 8 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:11:15 -0000

The first time I saw the Penguins live this season was in the Boston Garden, as their only trips to Tampa, where I live now, were on Tuesdays (March 3 and April 7). They sucked, and they lost to the Bruins, who led the league in pregame glitter and intro shows, 5-2. At least I saw some goals. The only thing I liked about how the Penguins played was that Brooks Orpik spent two minutes off the ice in the penalty box, which actually improved Pittsburgh's chances of scoring since Orpik turns the puck over like he is playing hockey with a live hand grenade.

The Pens continued to suck until about mid February, but during that period of poverty, players like my boy Tyler Kennedy, soaked up minutes playing against first line defenses. When they got to Tampa on March 3, Kennedy continued to impress me with his relentless pace and superior desire to have the puck.

Kennedy reminds me of my dog. Whenever I bounce a ball the mutt goes nuts, it needs to get that ball. Kennedy is the same way - diving head-first for loose pucks, persistently getting the snot knocked out of him whilst chasing the thing. He never even stops to check the jersey number of the guy that just knocked him, and the guy in the first row's beer, into a 30 dollar seat.

So when he scored the game-winner last night, who was surprised?

Not this guy, even though it was the weakest shot ever caught on video. That thing trickled by Martin Biron like a slow motion golf putt. I am still not convinced that he even intended to shoot it. I think he's still trying to decide whether to pass to Jordan Staal or Matt Cooke (who pissed off every Flyer except Darroll Powe (Powe was pissed at Rob Scuderi)).

Regardless, Kennedy scored, and I don't know the guy's contract situation, but let's get him locked down for several years quick. He has grown as a player by 120 percent this season. Watching him and his new-found wrister and confidence fly through enemy territory lately, I can't tell if it's Kennedy or Sidney Crosby. Thanks to the Pens mid-season SuckFest, Kennedy got some first-line experience and boy is he taking it out on Philly's third line.

SB Nation User Blog: Mill Grove 8

Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin vs. Malkin debate

Pittsburgh Penguins SuckFest was worth it