By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
The pages here this morning are filled with wonderful memories of the best games and best moments at Mellon Arena. That's cool, but I'd rather look forward than back. I like to think the best games and best moments in the old barn still are ahead.
Tell me you haven't thought about it.
Tell me you haven't imagined the Penguins ending their marvelous run at Mellon Arena in style by doing something they've never done in the building.
Tell me you haven't closed your eyes and pictured captain Sidney Crosby hoisting the Stanley Cup on the Penguins' logo at center ice.
I'll tell you that you are lying.
Peter Diana/Post-GazetteSidney Crosby celebrates throws a jersey back to a fan that he signed at the end of Thursday night's victory against the New York Islanders.
That's why it was hard to get too emotional about the festivities at Mellon Arena Thursday night. Yes, the Penguins' 7-3 win against the New York Islanders was the final regular-season game there. Yes, there was a moving, tasteful pregame ceremony involving more than 50 former players and staffers. For me, it was neat to see defensemen Paul Coffey and Larry Murphy together again on the ice, just as they'll be for eternity in the Hall of Fame. For everybody, it was really neat to see Mario Lemieux in a No. 66 sweater one more time.
But this night wasn't the end of anything.
There's still more hockey to come.
Maybe a lot more hockey.
That thought made this closing ceremony so much different than the one the Pirates had at Three Rivers Stadium when they lost the final game, 10-9, to the Chicago Cubs on Oct. 1, 2000. They were hopelessly buried in the National League Central Division standings. Everybody knew the final game was the final game.
The same thing was true when the Steelers played the final time at Three Rivers on Dec. 16, 2000. They beat the Washington Redskins, 24-3, but it was too late to save their season. They missed the playoffs.
It's frightening to believe we're coming up on a decade since they turned out the lights for the last time at that hallowed stadium.
Man, the memories.
Isn't it nice to think they won't lock the doors at Mellon Arena for the final time until mid-June?
You know, after Crosby lifts the Cup after Game 6 or Game 7 of the final?
The Penguins have won three championships in franchise history but never took the deciding game on home ice. They won Game 6 in Minnesota in 1991, Game 4 in Chicago in '92 and Game 7 in Detroit last season.
They're due at Mellon Arena. This is their last shot.
The odds say it won't happen, that it's nearly impossible to make it to the Cup final for a third consecutive season let alone win the darn thing a second year in a row. But the Penguins' talent and experience might say something much different. Despite their maddening inconsistency since they started the season 9-1, they are one of a handful of clubs with a legitimate chance.
This win against the Islanders can't do anything but help, coming so quickly after a deflating 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals Tuesday night that left the Penguins 0-8-2 against the New Jersey Devils and Capitals, two other clubs among that handful of legitimate Cup contenders.
Crosby had a four-point night, including a goal that gave him 49 for the season, a staggering number and one that he has worked so hard to attain. People said he didn't shoot enough? He ranked seventh in the NHL in shots going into Thursday night. They said he didn't score enough? At this point, he's the favorite to win the goal-scoring title.
Now if Crosby can just will the Penguins to make another long Cup run ...
Peter Diana/Post-GazetteMarc-Andre Fleury makes a save against the Islanders.
Teammate Evgeni Malkin appears ready to help. He missed the game against the Capitals Tuesday because he was sick and missed seven of the nine games before that with a foot injury, but he looked playoff-ready when he blew by Islanders Andrew MacDonald on a rush and beat goaltender Martin Biron with a wrist shot.
The Conn Smythe winner as postseason MVP for a second year in a row, perhaps?
Not that Malkin would mind finishing behind goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury in that voting.
Fleury's game still needs work, still isn't as sharp as it was the past two springs. But he was mostly strong against the Islanders, making 32 saves, many way above-average.
"You saw a lot of guys gain some confidence with that performance we had tonight," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said.
Just in time. Only two home playoff games are guaranteed.
Maybe I'm feeling overly optimistic this morning, but I'm thinking the Penguins will have many more than that.
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com. Ron Cook can be heard on the "Vinnie and Cook" show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan. More articles by this author
First published on April 9, 2010 at 12:00 am
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