Ho, Ho..Doh

Well, Sidney Crosby gave Penguins fans a nice Christmas present, a tying goal with 15 seconds to play and an unexpected point in the standings. But the Atlanta Thrashers left coal in Joceyln Thibault's stocking in the shootout handing the Pens a 2-0 shootout loss as the Pens fell 4-3 in the final game before Christmas break.

Jordan Staal scored a key shorthanded (what else) goal and Ryan Malone chipped one in during the 3rd after the Pens went down 2-0 early.

Michel Thierrien keeps trying to give Thibault wins but he can't seem to take them, And lets be honest he looked like the duck in "Duck Hunt" during that shootout. Erik Christensen had a great chance to give the Pens the first goal in the shoot out but Atlanta goalie Kari Lehtonen made a key save just stretching his skate far enough to stop the puck.

The Pens have hit a rough patch lately but they're only a point out of the last playoff spot. And Crosby, Staal and Malkin (who had two hit off the post last night) give them a chance to win every night.

Mario Says He's Fooled Around Long Enough

In a carefully worded statement meant to, in my opinon, give him the maxium amount of leverage in negotiation with the state on a new arena, NHL Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux states that:
- He's no longer selling the team
- He's going to explore moving the team to another city
- He's going to talk to the politicians about plan B after he's no longer obligated to IOC.

From Dave Molari's article in Post Gazette

Statement from Mario:

"Recent developments, including yesterday's decision by the
[Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board], and the recent termination of
the purchase agreement by Jim Balsillie have convinced us that it is
time to take control of our own destiny. Accordingly, starting today,
the team is off the market, and we will begin to explore relocation
options in cities outside Pennsylvania," Lemieux said in a prepared
statement. "After seven years of trying to work out a new arena deal
exclusively in Pittsburgh, we need to take into consideration the
long-term viability of the team and begin discussions with other
cities that may be interested in NHL teams. As soon as we are no
longer restricted by our agreement with Isle of Capri from
negotiating an arena deal here, in the next few weeks, we will also
begin discussions with local leaders about a viable Pittsburgh arena
plan."

The IceBurgh Returns...PA Politicians Say No to Free Arena

After an extended hiatus, The IceBurgh returns on a day with big Pens news, unfortunately its bad news.

To the shock of no one the Isle of Capris didn't get the slots license. Somewhat suprising is that neither did the Harrah's Forest City group long considered a lock due to reported connections with Pa Governor Ed Rendell.

The PITG/North Side group headed by Detroit business man Don Barden won the bid.

The Post Gazette has the gory details.

Where does all this leave the Pens? Well with no public money available for an arena and the Balsille bid gone, Mario is left with a team with an expiring lease in a crappy old building.

And the press in Kansas City has wasted no time in trumpeting the improved prospects of the talented young Pens moving into their already built Sprint Center arena.

Will the politicians be able to come up w/ a plan b that is more viable than an offer from another city? And now there is talk that the Steelers and the Rooney's have some claim to the land that Barden wants to use on the North side and that may further confuse the issue.