Stanley Cup Final - Game 4: Red Wings - 2, Penguins - 1

It is a dark day in Penguins Nation. They are down 3-1 in the Stanley Cup Final. Though not impossible, any comeback now seems like an incredibly daunting task. They now have to win 3 straight games, two of which are in Detroit. They have to win three straight against a team that has shown such poise and unflappability. The Red Wings have simply too much experience. They are too smart. They remain calm in every situation. They simply do not break from their game plan. To give them a lead is to watch them shut down and suffocate your team. They have played like champions. The Penguins, though showing much grit, passion, and character, do not have an answer to such experience. The most frustrating thing about this is that the Penguins can play to their level. They can beat the Red Wings. They showed it in Game 3. But that didn't carry over to Game 4. The intensity wasn't there. While there is always hope, our dream of hoisting Lord Stanley Cup is growing more faint with each loss. What an amazing journey this season has been... I'm not going to bail on them now. Penguins, we started this together. We'll end it together. If Monday is our swan song, we'll go down together... but we'll go fighting.

Stanley Cup Final - Game 3: Penguins - 3, Red Wings 2

What a game! That was so intense! Game of the Year candidate right there! And guess what, folks? The Pittsburgh Penguins have finally showed up. With the energy of the Mellon Arena crowd behind them, they answered the bell and struck back against the Red Wings. Coming into this game, Detroit simply looked invincible. Tonight, the Penguins proved that they aren't. Not only did the Penguins show that they can play with the Red Wings, they can beat them. It wasn't easy though. They had to fight for everything. Sidney Crosby showed tonight why he is the face of the league and the best player in the world. Hossa was great with him. The Malkin line finally looked visible. Brooks Orpik was a beast all over the ice. Darryl Sydor, in his first game of the playoffs, didn't look out of place and provided much help on the attack. Fleury was solid in net. This is how you play Detroit. Speed across the neutral zone, finish your checks, and keep throwing the puck on net. Do not relent! Also, it's a great idea to get the first goal. Detroit can't clamp down on defense if they're trailing. Take this win to heart boys. Learn from it. Build on it. We're back in the series. We still have a shot at the Cup!

13 wins down, 3 to go!

Stanley Cup Final - Games 1 & 2

Game 1: Red Wings - 4, Penguins - 0
Game 2: Red Wings - 3, Penguins - 0

Wow... what can I possibly say? It sure seems like the Penguins have met their match. Detroit has completely imposed their will on the Pens through the first two games. It's like watching a more mature and experienced version of the Penguins that just doesn't make mistakes. Their speed is incredible. The positioning is perfect. Their passes are deadly. Their puck control is just smothering. It's like anytime there's a loose puck, a Red Wing is always there. It's like there are 15 of them out of the ice. The Penguins can't do anything! And when they somehow get a chance, Chris Osgood is there to shut the door. How can a team be so dominating? The Penguins breezed through the Eastern Conference and now they're being surgically picked apart by the Red Wings. Is the West that much better? It's like watching a machine killing the Penguins with precision. What the hell happened to Evgeni Malkin? Where is Petr Sykora? The Red Wings are sending their shutdown line against Crosby's. The Malkin line simply has to pick it up, big time! I don't know what the Penguins can do. We're going home now where we are unbeatable, so we have that going for us. But will it be enough? I'm just left stunned and shaking my head, much like the entire Penguins bench.

Come on, guys. Someway, somehow, we have to come back. We've come so far, we can't let it end like this. Game 3 is a MUST WIN!

The Cast Experience

With such a long break until the Stanley Cup Finals, I thought it would be nice to make a Disney post for once. I've been a cast member for a few months now so I thought I might share a little of what my cast experience has been like. You know, I had been such a fan of Disney. That magic meant so much to me. There was a fear that by moving to Orlando and becoming a frequent visitor, my view of the magic would change. There was a fear that it could fade, that it wouldn't mean as much. But that wasn't the case. The magic stayed as strong as ever. In fact, I couldn't imagine going back to just taking vacations to Disney. Becoming a passholder kind of spoiled me. I could visit Disney pretty much whenever I wanted. But you know what? Although I got to visit more often, the experience wasn't that different. It was still the same old magic I was always used to. That view would finally change when I joined the cast.

In the last few months, I have not only visited Disney frequently, I've been exposed to the world behind the scenes at Disney. In fact, I've seen the inner workings of the part of Disney that's the most magical of all. It is a completely different world behind the curtain. There's this belief that working for the mouse destroys the magic. For some, perhaps that's true. I had that fear myself. But something unexpected happened when I became a cast member, the magic became stronger than ever. Through being a part of making that magic and getting to know the other people who do the same, I've gained such a greater appreciation of what goes on at Disney. Walt Disney World feels so different to me now. I no longer feel like a guest, even when I'm not working. It no longer feels like I visit Disney. I now am Walt Disney World and people visit me. This world is mine. I am a part of making the dreams that happen to people every day. And in the process, I've become very protective of Disney and its magic. It's my duty now to help it live on. I am still very much awestruck at the things I get to see and be a part of. The experiences you get as a cast member can't be obtained anywhere else. Last weekend, I stood in the Main Street train station with the performers preparing to welcome thousands of guests into the Magic Kingdom. On one side of us was a massive crowd of people waiting at the entrance of the park. On the other, a completely empty Main Street, U.S.A. It was untouched, pure, and so enchanting. At the end of it stood the object that's held my heart for the last seven years, Cinderella Castle. It just glistened in the early morning's light. I remember just standing there, marveling at this beautiful scene and realizing that all those people behind me, paying all this money, don't get to see this. That just made me realize how special it is to do what I'm doing now. I love working for Disney. In fact, I prefer working there over just visiting there. It feels weird to be at Disney and not do something for them. I get to experience a version of the magic that many will never see. And at least for me, it makes the magic all the more real. It all seems more real to me. My character friends are as real as you and me. The pixie dust that flows all around Disney is real... because we make it real.

The Final Dance

This is it! The Penguins have vanquished 3 opponents. Only one remains... the Detroit Red Wings. This is a Stanley Cup Final that the NHL could only dream of. They have not had a championship matchup this good in over a decade. Two incredible teams. Two huge hockey markets. Two teams that were the dominant powerhouses of the 90s. Two teams that seem so evenly matched. But how ever much they are alike, they do have some differences. They each took different routes to get here. At the turn of the century, the once-proud Penguins faded away and suffered under a broken economic system. They spent years at the bottom of the NHL standings. But in doing so, they were able to rebuild in a way no one has seen in 20 years. They were able to stockpile premier prospects and, through maturity beyond their young years, arrive at the dance much sooner than anyone could have expected. The Red Wings on the other hand never left contention. Through excellent scouting, they were able to defy a system meant to support weaker teams. They haven't won the Cup since 2002 but have been a part of the picture each and every year. Contrary to popular opinion, they are not that old of a team. With guys like Zetterberg and Datsyuk, the Wings have formed a strong young core that will be around for years. Both teams have deadly offenses, but I would give the Penguins the edge there. They just have too much firepower in guys like Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, Malone, Sykora, Staal, and Gonchar. The Penguins have a great and very underrated defense but with guys like Lidstrom, Rafalski, and Kronwall, Detroit has the edge there. Osgood and Fleury have been the best goalies in the playoffs, but has Osgood really been tested? I'll give the Penguins the slight edge in net. On special teams, the Penguins have the advantage there. The Red Wings have excellent special teams as well, but the Penguins' powerplay has been scary and their penalty killing unbelievable. Coaching may be a push. Mike Babcock is a renown coach but Michel Therrien has displayed a remarkable ability to have the Penguins adapt in any kind of situation possible. They can play any type of game, from playing run-and-gun to traps, and win. That's a sign of a great coach. With intangibles, the Penguins have more skill and speed, but the Wings have a lot of experience. Which will win out? I don't know! This is the toughest opponent that Penguins have faced yet. This is the final that I predicted. Come on, Pens! Let's have it end as I predicted too!

The journey so far...



Four more wins till immortality!

ECF Game 5: Penguins - 6, Flyers - 0

May I present your...

2008 NHL Eastern Conference Champions - The Pittsburgh Penguins!!!

What a game! What a show! Learning their lesson from Game 4, the Penguins put their foot on the gas this game and did not stop for one second. They absolutely blew out, brutalized, and humiliated the Flyers. And in the process, sent their arch-rivals home with a bitter taste that will never leave their mouths. This was as dominating a performance as you could get. In the 3rd period, you could pretty much see the Flyers' spirits crushed. There was no fight left in them. Everyone came to play today for the Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury got his 3rd shutout of the playoffs. The superstar trio of Crosby, Malkin, and Hossa all came up big. Ryan Malone and Jordan Staal are becoming playoff beasts. The ending was amazing. I have never seen the Penguins go this far before. I was too young to remember the Stanley Cup years. What a feeling! The crowd serenading the Flyers with the "Good-bye" song. Then switching to "We want Cup!" chants. The Penguins celebrating on the ice but following tradition, ignoring the Prince of Wales trophy. What a thrill! I am so proud of these guys and how far they've come. But you know what? It's not over yet! There is one more obstacle. There is one more foe in the way of the ultimate prize. Penguins...

YOU ARE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP FINALS!!!

12 wins down, 4 to go!

ECF Game 4: #%&#@$ - 4, Penguins - 2

This was an extremely frustrating game on so many levels. In terms of gameplay, it was a story of three periods. The first was disastrous for the Penguins. It should have been expected though. The Flyers were desperate, playing to save their season. The Penguins, on the other hand, looked like they were getting ready for the Red Wings. As mature as they have become, lapses like this show that this team is still very young and has much to learn. The second period seemed like a stalemate, while the Penguins we knew came alive in the third. But two goals by Jordan Staal wouldn't be enough to make up for that horrible first period. Another source of frustration came from the officiating. Now I'm not gonna whine about it like a Flyer fan. But did they just decided to leave their whistles at home today? A game this brutal and penalties were virtually non-existent, except for the ones that burned the Pens in the first period? The last and probably biggest source of annoyance is Versus itself. It was a little noticeable at first but now it's just ridiculous how biased they are for the Flyers. Versus might as well be Comcast Sportsnet. Seriously! Every other word was heaping praise on the Flyers. They pretty much recited love poems to the Flyer fans all night. Any moment they got, they would show the Flyer fans. In Game 1, the Penguins staged a white-out with their fans. But instead of showing the Penguins fans celebrating in the thousands unified in white, they would cut away to some bar in Philly showing a few Flyer fans celebrating. WTF?! Yes, Versus is owned by Comcast, which owns the Flyers.. but come on. If you want to be a respectable network, you can't do this kind of stuff. That's why Versus will always be second rate and never be anything like ESPN. And one more correction, I am tired of people commenting on what a remarkable turnaround this Flyers team had, going from last place last season to the 3rd round here. Normally, yes, that would be an amazing story. But this isn't the same Flyers team. They gutted half the team and replaced them all with high-priced free agents. They bought this team. It's nothing like last season's team. It's not like last year's players got better, they bought players that were better!

Penguins, I know you're angry. Good! Use it, end this series on Sunday and never let it go back to Philly or Versus. Let's shut them both up!

ECF Game 3: Penguins - 4, Flyers - 1

Dear Flyers,

You are pathetic! Go ahead, whine about the officiating. Cry about the injuries. Make all the excuses you want. But face it, you cannot handle us. How does it feel that the most offensive team in the league unleashed a neutral zone trap on you, suffocated your team, shut up your fans, and still managed to drop 4 goals on you? BTW, Steve Downie is a worthless piece of crap. We love that he is on your team. Please keep him. He makes us laugh. When he gets what's coming to him one day, we'll laugh harder. Three-to-none. Thanks for coming, Flyers. We're going to Detroit!

Sincerely,
The Pittsburgh Penguins

11 wins down, 5 to go!

ECF Game 2: Penguins - 4, Flyers - 2

Want proof that the Penguins' skill is far superior to the Flyers? This was the game to show it. The Penguins seemed to just own the puck. The Flyers could do nothing but chase them around their own zone all night. On a night when Evgeni Malkin was off his game, Sidney Crosby put on a spectacular performance. And welcome back, Max Talbot! Mad Max scored the game winner. I love how Marian Hossa and Jordan Staal just pick people's pockets with ease. Marc-Andre Fleury was solid once again. And how about that beating Tyler Kennedy put on Upshall? The Flyers are getting chippy, but the Penguins seem to be winning through it. Alright boys, win Tuesday and the series is pretty much ours.

10 wins down, 6 to go!

ECF Game 1: Penguins - 4, Flyers - 2

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see this game live. I was busy making magic and spending the evening with my favorite person in the whole world! Watching the playback though was awesome. Best moment of the night. Malkin get drilled by Mike Richards only to get a breakaway and score with a 15-foot slapshot a few seconds later. That's how you respond to the Flyers' tactics! Wish I could say more but Disney calls!

9 wins down, 7 to go!

Timonen Out!

In what is horrible news for the Philadelphia Flyers, Kimmo Timonen has been diagnosed with a blood clot and declared out for the rest of the playoffs. This is a huge blow to the Flyers, who now have to face the deadliest offense in the league without their top defenseman. Timonen was also a big part of their powerplay. This is something the Penguins need to pounce on. The Flyers now have an open wound, strike!

There Will Be Blood

In the film "Gladiator", there is a scene in which Russell Crowe yells at the bloodthirsty audience, "Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?" Well, the fans of the NHL have gotten their wish. The Eastern Conference Finals will pit mortal enemies against each other, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. To call this rivalry hostile would be an understatement. This makes Yankees - Red Sox look like a petty disagreement. The players hate each other. The fans hate each other. Heck, even the journalists throw objectivity to the wind when these two teams are involved. This will be an intense, emotional, and grueling series. The winner may not even make it out in one piece. You want playoff hockey, this will be playoff hockey! Penguins and Flyers fans will lose much sleep during the next two weeks. What does all this drama and brutality bring the victor? A berth in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Penguins are, and rightfully should be, the favorites in this series. They have home-ice. They have the better team. They should win. But the Flyers are a resilient, gritty, and not to mention dirty bunch of players. They can and will try to make a fight out of this. The Penguins will not leave this series unscathed. But they have to win. Yes, a win takes them to the doorstep of the Stanley Cup and brings us closer to a dream 16-years in the making. But they also have to win for the league and for hockey fans everywhere. The Flyers do not deserve to be here. To have a team like the Flyers to make it to the Stanley Cup would be a disgrace. The Penguins are the flag-bearers of the NHL, the Flyers are the exact opposite. This as much an ideological war as much as it is a battle on the ice. I hate the Flyers more than anything. I hate their fans. I hate what they stand for. And now, they are in the way of our dream. You want some, Flyers? Come get some!

ECSF Game 5: Penguins - 3, Rangers - 2 (OT)

At this year's trade deadline, Penguins GM Ray Shero made a bold move in acquiring superstar winger, Marian Hossa. It was a move many labeled risky. Tonight showed why that move was a great one. Hossa scored two goals, including the series-winner in overtime. The Rangers had their backs against the wall and played hard, but the Penguins were able to weather the storm and pepper Lundqvist with shots. Although the Pens won this series in 5 games, it was a lot harder than the length suggested. Give credit to the Rangers, they were a great team and played hard. They gave the Penguins a fight every night. It just so happened that the better team prevailed. Congratulations, Penguins. You are going to the Eastern Conference Finals!

8 wins down, 8 to go!

ECSF Game 4: Rangers - 3, Penguins - 0

Well, so much for 8-0. The Penguins were bound to lose a game. It was just disappointing to see them lose in this way. This was lazy hockey. The Penguins were pretty much looking ahead and not at the team in front of them. Fleury played well. The defense played well. The penalty kill was again excellent. But for what seems the first time that I can recall, the blame falls on the Penguin superstars. What on earth was wrong with Crosby and Malkin? I have never seen them play so poorly. They made some incredibly bone-headed moves. They lacked effort and were arrogant. What kind of effort was that on Malkin's penalty shot? That was pathetic. And where the hell was Gary Roberts?! You guys better get your act together and end this Sunday.