The Penguins have announced their 2011-12 schedule. As a full season ticket holder I have already started looking at which games I will be attending.
But I noticed something odd. When I went to the page on the Penguin’s website about ticket info for next season they state that half season plan holders will get their normal ticket to one preseason game. But it also says that they are only getting tickets to only 19 regular season games.
If I remember correctly, when I was a half season ticket holder we got 20 games and I am pretty sure that last year my buddy who sits next to me got 20 regular season games too.
This year the Penguins are cutting back? That seams a little cheap to me. This now gives the Penguins a bunch of tickets to three home games to sell since half season holders only account for 38 of the 41 home games to be played.
Their choice to do this of course. Just seems sort of scummy to me though. Unless I am mistaken about the number of home games half season packages got in the past.
This NHL is really pumping out its “History will be made” commercials and promos right now. Fleury’s “History Stops Everything” after his shutout in game 1 against the Bolts was good. But James Neal has now gotten one just because he finally scored a goal. What a reward! Come on, not that I am not happy for Neal for salvaging game 4 in double OT, but has Double AA, Arron Asham, aka The Chief, who has already scored 3 goals and tallied an assist gotten a commercial yet? How about Tyler, that’s Mister Kennedy to you, Kennedy who has 2 goals and help carry the team down the stretch? What about these guys?
Anyway, congrats to Neal. Take a look at his commercial. Now here’s hoping he fills the net a little more in coming games.
This NHL is really pumping out its “History will be made” commercials and promos right now. Fleury’s “History Stops Everything” after his shutout in game 1 against the Bolts was good. But James Neal has now gotten one just because he finally scored a goal. What a reward! Come on, not that I am not happy for Neal for salvaging game 4 in double OT, but has Double AA, Arron Asham, aka The Chief, who has already scored 3 goals and tallied an assist gotten a commercial yet? How about Tyler, that’s Mister Kennedy to you, Kennedy who has 2 goals and help carry the team down the stretch? What about these guys?
Anyway, congrats to Neal. Take a look at his commercial. Now here’s hoping he fills the net a little more in coming games.
Ok, Crosby will not skate today with the team. I have been told that he has not skated since Friday. He is instead working out under physician supervision.
That means one of two things.
The first thing it could mean is that he is having symptoms. I doubt this because I’ve seen the videos of him working out on the ice and he looks happy and healthy. Also, people whom I have talked to who have seen him skate say he looks healthy.
Second it could mean Crosby is getting checked out to see if he is ready for contact. According to two doctors I spoke with and relayed this information to, both who deal with sports related head traumas, they said this would be standard practice where they would bring in the athlete and subject him to controlled, rigorous workouts to test their ability to take a hit.
Now I know! The Pittsburgh Penguins today released ticket prices for season ticket holders for the upcoming 2011-12 season. And once again we are going up, up and away faster than Superman!
My tickets in section 201 behind the cut point where the price jumps even higher for center ice tickets are going to be $4,257.00 for a full season of 41 games plus two preseason games. Last year was $4,042.00 and the year before that was $3,848.50.
After a 5.03% raise this year we get another 5.32% this year and a per game price of $49.50 per ticket.
Come on Mario! Can’t you at least buy me dinner first?
Twenty-one games into the season Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are pacing the Penguins in scoring. Sidney Crosby is on top with 33 points (14 G & 19 A) and a +4. Evgeni Malkin, who has struggled at times, is second with 20 points (7 G & 13 A) but is a -3. Kris Letang is taking over Sergei Gonchar’s spot on the scoring list at number three with 18 points (3 G & 15 A) and is an impressive +9 as well.
There is one distinct disappoint however beyond Malkin’s spotty play until lately. Zbynek Michalek who was touted as a shut down defenseman is a -5 on the season. It is hard to see him not finishing the season with much better numbers but his performance does bear watching.
Have you seen me?
In 2008-09 Eric Goddard played 71 games for the Penguins. In 2009-10 Goddard played in 45 games during the season. This year Goddard has played in just 6 games. He is a +2. If this trend continues, the Penguins enforcer is on pace to appear in just under 25 games this year. His diminishing role can be attributed to the accession of other players willing to drop the gloves. In particular Deryk Engelland who has proven himself a serviceable sixth defenseman and who has appeared in 19 games. Engelland has shown the ability to take on the opposition’s tough guys and stand up for his teammates. All this points to Goddard’s days with the Penguins pretty much ending unless something catastrophic happens such a injuries.
