In case anybody thinks the Pens are "easy".
Mar 30, 2002 11:29:08 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 30, 2002 11:29:08 GMT -5
Here is an article in the Tribune. Honesty is badcompany right now, but I don't like our chances. Okay, so I have the spine of a wet noodle, but look at the Caps, look at our schedual, look at the stars...............and prey.
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www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/penguinslive/s_63978.html
By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, March 30, 2002
The Penguins fully understand their situation as it relates to the legitimacy of their postseason hopes.
They're determined to come up with a strong finishing kick over the regular season's final nine games, anyway.
"If we're not going to have enough points to make the playoffs, at least we can have a good run," winger Alexei Kovalev said. "That's what we're worried about right now."
By winning tonight at Montreal and again over the Canadiens on Monday night at Mellon Arena, the Penguins at least can continue to believe a miraculous turn of events isn't out of the question. Should they lose one of their next two games, only mathematics will suggest the playoffs are still technically within the Penguins' reach.
Standings aside, however, there's nowhere defenseman Jamie Pushor would rather be than on the ice tonight at the Molson Centre. He wants to make the playoffs as badly as anyone, but what he wants to do more than anything is play.
"In the NHL, every time you step on the ice it's a privilege," Pushor said.
Perhaps that's the reason Pushor has played on in support of teammates he barely knows after breaking his nose in his third game with the Penguins on March 20 against Phoenix.
He's had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup as a member of the Detroit Red Wings, and he's endured expansion as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. And through it all, Pushor has come to understand that maintaining a sincere respect for the game and generating an honest effort throughout a contest are far more important on a night-by-night basis than any particular game's significance.
"I won a Stanley Cup my first year in the NHL as a rookie and then, I got traded to Anaheim," Pushor said. "I think that was a real learning experience for me.
"You see a lot of guys come into the league, they don't treat it as a privilege. It really is tough to make it in the NHL, but it's twice as hard to stay in the NHL; I think that's what a lot of guys find out. Some guys get second and third chances, others don't. When I talk about a privilege, that's what I mean."
Pushor, a second pick by Detroit in 1991 (32nd overall), made stops in Anaheim, Dallas and Columbus before being acquired by the Penguins from the Blue Jackets on March 15 for a fourth-round draft pick in 2003.
Although he hasn't been with the Penguins long, he's already developed an appreciation for what the organization has been through this season and where he believes the Penguins are headed.
"It's been a real struggle for the Penguins this season," Pushor said. "Coming off the season they had last year, when they had 96 points, and then being at 67 right now, it's a big change. But this is a team with a really good future. There are some good young players and a lot of guys that are injured that are very talented."
Three of those, Mario Lemieux, Martin Straka and Robert Lang, where rehabilitating at Southpointe on Friday while their teammates were on the ice.
That was inspiration enough for Pushor to give his all tonight against the Canadiens. Then again, so was the fact that a game against the Canadiens had been scheduled.
"You compete as hard as you can," he said, "every time you step on the ice."
<><><><><><><><>
www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/penguinslive/s_63978.html
By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, March 30, 2002
The Penguins fully understand their situation as it relates to the legitimacy of their postseason hopes.
They're determined to come up with a strong finishing kick over the regular season's final nine games, anyway.
"If we're not going to have enough points to make the playoffs, at least we can have a good run," winger Alexei Kovalev said. "That's what we're worried about right now."
By winning tonight at Montreal and again over the Canadiens on Monday night at Mellon Arena, the Penguins at least can continue to believe a miraculous turn of events isn't out of the question. Should they lose one of their next two games, only mathematics will suggest the playoffs are still technically within the Penguins' reach.
Standings aside, however, there's nowhere defenseman Jamie Pushor would rather be than on the ice tonight at the Molson Centre. He wants to make the playoffs as badly as anyone, but what he wants to do more than anything is play.
"In the NHL, every time you step on the ice it's a privilege," Pushor said.
Perhaps that's the reason Pushor has played on in support of teammates he barely knows after breaking his nose in his third game with the Penguins on March 20 against Phoenix.
He's had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup as a member of the Detroit Red Wings, and he's endured expansion as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. And through it all, Pushor has come to understand that maintaining a sincere respect for the game and generating an honest effort throughout a contest are far more important on a night-by-night basis than any particular game's significance.
"I won a Stanley Cup my first year in the NHL as a rookie and then, I got traded to Anaheim," Pushor said. "I think that was a real learning experience for me.
"You see a lot of guys come into the league, they don't treat it as a privilege. It really is tough to make it in the NHL, but it's twice as hard to stay in the NHL; I think that's what a lot of guys find out. Some guys get second and third chances, others don't. When I talk about a privilege, that's what I mean."
Pushor, a second pick by Detroit in 1991 (32nd overall), made stops in Anaheim, Dallas and Columbus before being acquired by the Penguins from the Blue Jackets on March 15 for a fourth-round draft pick in 2003.
Although he hasn't been with the Penguins long, he's already developed an appreciation for what the organization has been through this season and where he believes the Penguins are headed.
"It's been a real struggle for the Penguins this season," Pushor said. "Coming off the season they had last year, when they had 96 points, and then being at 67 right now, it's a big change. But this is a team with a really good future. There are some good young players and a lot of guys that are injured that are very talented."
Three of those, Mario Lemieux, Martin Straka and Robert Lang, where rehabilitating at Southpointe on Friday while their teammates were on the ice.
That was inspiration enough for Pushor to give his all tonight against the Canadiens. Then again, so was the fact that a game against the Canadiens had been scheduled.
"You compete as hard as you can," he said, "every time you step on the ice."
