Watch out all Penguins, the Mule is back!
The one they call the Mule, Johan Franzen, has finally been cleared to return to the playoffs. Still tied for the scoring lead, even though he has sat out six straight games, he is a welcome addition to the Detroit line-up. I'm not saying that because the Red Wings are lacking anything up front, on the contrary. However, the Pittsburgh Penguins have their hands full trying to solve the Wings solid defense so to them Franzen's return is all but positive.
I wonder what kind of odds they give on the Mule scoring in Game 2.
***
As expected, veteran Gary Roberts returns to the line-up for Pittsburgh. Just one year ago, as the Ottawa Senators rolled past the Penguins in the playoffs, John Paddock told Roberts he should have been with them instead. The Senators had offered Roberts a contract but the veteran ultimately chose Pittsburgh. I doubt he regrets that decicion today.
Showing posts with label Gary Roberts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gary Roberts. Show all posts
5/26/2008
12/12/2007
Returning Penguins pounded
Sidney Crosby and his Pittsburgh Penguins returned home to Pennsylvania after wrapping up their successful tour out west, only to get a more than warm 'welcome home' from the Philadelphia Flyers, who gave the Pens an early Christmas pounding they won't soon forget.
Joffrey Lupul scored a hat trick and had six points. The last time a Flyer scored six points in one game was against Toronto ten years ago. That time it was Eric Lindros. R.J. Umberger added to the Penguins misery as he also notched three for a hat trick of his own.
The only Penguin to really stand up in this game was the forty-one year old Gary Roberts, who gave Ben Eager (who is half his age) a really good ass-kicking. I am not a big fan of fighting in hockey (I don't think it belongs there more than it belongs in football, baseball, or any other essentially non-fighting sport), however, I can't say enough how valuable a guy like Roberts is to his team. After some twenty odd years in the NHL he has gathered more experience than half the team put together, and he is putting it to use every night, on every shift he plays. He plays with heart and will always back up a teammate and as we saw last night he will also never back down from a fight.
Unfortunately, the Penguins weren't ignited by the incident and the Flyers could maintain their momentum and cruise to a 8-2 victory. The win snapped a five-game winless streak at home for the Flyers.
Joffrey Lupul scored a hat trick and had six points. The last time a Flyer scored six points in one game was against Toronto ten years ago. That time it was Eric Lindros. R.J. Umberger added to the Penguins misery as he also notched three for a hat trick of his own.
The only Penguin to really stand up in this game was the forty-one year old Gary Roberts, who gave Ben Eager (who is half his age) a really good ass-kicking. I am not a big fan of fighting in hockey (I don't think it belongs there more than it belongs in football, baseball, or any other essentially non-fighting sport), however, I can't say enough how valuable a guy like Roberts is to his team. After some twenty odd years in the NHL he has gathered more experience than half the team put together, and he is putting it to use every night, on every shift he plays. He plays with heart and will always back up a teammate and as we saw last night he will also never back down from a fight.
Unfortunately, the Penguins weren't ignited by the incident and the Flyers could maintain their momentum and cruise to a 8-2 victory. The win snapped a five-game winless streak at home for the Flyers.
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