Since the age of five, I have enjoyed highs, lows, teams of historic proportion and teams I wish I could forget. Nevertheless, I have stuck by the Pens for over two decades. During my span of worship, and all depending on who you ask, I cannot recall a team more potent of talent than the one that takes the ice as of late. They have the best player in the league, along with arguably the second best player in the league. Plus, much to the disagreement of fans, the Pens have one of the most successful goalies presently playing, and their depth cannot be explained enough.
Actually, they really have every possible route for a championship.
The Penguins bring post season experience, a definitive coaching core, a general manager who has made it evident that he is willing to do almost anything to run as deep into June as possible and you cannot forget the young guns looking for the first bite of action and veterans looking to lead the way. To most of you fans of not just the Penguins, but more importantly, fans of the sport of hockey, this is not breaking news. For most, this is what draws you to the team. However, there are some fans who just don’t get it. Some fans just don’t appreciate what’s in front of you, and they don’t realize the caliber of team that’s supporting the city.
Now, I don’t mean to take this into a negative tone, or an anti-Pittsburgh approach. This is more of a “rally up the troops” pep talk, if you will. It’s just these simple things that bother me, and by various reactions by others, it bothers more than just myself. Each year, the Penguins are consistent in consecutive sellouts. For those who have lost count, Tuesday’s game against Edmonton, was No. 290. Yes, that’s right. Two-hundred-ninety consecutive games at CONSOL have been “sellout crowds.” Also, as awarded in previous years, the Penguins this offseason were crowned as having “The Best Fans in Hockey.” Now, with these two pieces of information alone, some would question my issue. But refer to my previous statement of others who agree with me, and are aware of where I am going.
First, the sound. As a hockey fan, I have another game on yesterday evening between the Rangers and Capitals. The Capitals this year are sub-par at best, and prior to last night, are 2-4-1. Alex Ovechkin is really the only Cap to show up thus far, and the team just finished off a three-game losing streak. Yet, with all that being said, the crowd was electric at puck drop. They were vocal, loud, intense and in unison. Now Wednesday’s game was against the New York Rangers, and to the non-hockey fan, that is a rivalry that can be comparable to Pens and Flyers. So a buzz in the air would be present, and probably more present then Pens vs. Oilers, as seen last Tuesday. However, we are comparing red apples to green apples.
Again, I don’t mean to be pushing any buttons on this, I am not pro-Capitals, but a minor example of what’s out there that we don’t have. Spoiler alert: the Capitals went on to lose via shutout, 2-0, and it was a full house until the end. Seriously, the Pittsburgh crowd seems non-existent at various points in every game. Now, some debate the acoustics in CONSOL are not hockey friendly, to which I say this is not an architectural debate. It is pulsating when that three beat bass goes in CONSOL, trying to get the crowd together to chant “Let’s Go Pens!” Why doesn’t that amp anyone else up?
Regardless of acoustics, CONSOL should be rocking more often than not. Maybe, the acoustic debate can be related to television feeds picking up sound, so maybe we really cannot debate that factor. However, those of you who attend the games frequently know that some points, that crowd is dead. Flat out dead. If it’s letting the fans know at home your there to support this city’s hockey franchise through the television, or making the opposing team know they are playing against a club of 18,000, that, to me, is home ice advantage. It’s something we should be taking in favor of Pittsburgh at least 41 games a year.
Second, the early departures. Now, this is the one I can see if you’re an agreeing reader, shaking your head yes to. Personally, this is my biggest issue with my fellow fans. I found myself fortunate to attend Tuesday’s game. It was a hard-fought game to be honest. I know the potential caliber of Edmonton, and I personally feel their record doesn’t reflect their talent as a franchise. They were in that game every step of the way. Post whistle scuffs, winning in various numbers games and never back down attitude made a great game to watch. The game went down to the final seconds. The Pens had themselves a 3-2 lead with less than five minutes left in the game. “Alright, an exciting finish, here we go,” I thought to myself. Then, like clockwork, at 3:27 left in the third, we have a stoppage in play.
Without exaggeration, Tuesday’s announced crowd of 18,410, dropped to about 10,000 within seconds. Thousands scurried to the exits like ants toward sugar. The aisle steps were filled with Pens fans exiting before Elvis was dismissed by Mike Lange. I overheard a young fan ask, “Dad, where everyone going?” I never did hear the dad’s rationale behind the fans behavior. Others used to the scene, such as myself, sat and either smirked in disbelief, or shook their head in disappointment. It was 3-2 Penguins. What is the rush, folks? What could have happened within those three-plus minutes if you stayed?
Several scenarios come into mind.
You see a Penguin goal in an open net, and you celebrate yet another mark on home ice. Or, you see Edmonton score, and you get a very exciting overtime and possible shootout. Perhaps nothing, as was the case on Tuesday, and you have a very exciting end to a game. Worst case scenario, the Pens blow it and lose. If you left at three minutes left, or when the clock read zero, the Pens would have still lost, correct? What about the Boston Bruin fans last postseason who stayed for all the reasons I am explaining now?
Boston Bruins versus Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 7 of the Eastern Semifinals, were down 4-1 with roughly nine minutes left. Boston came back to win the game in dramatic fashion in overtime, 5-4. A game that included two goals in the last 1:22 of regulation went on to be arguably one of the greatest Game 7’s of NHL postseason history.
I use this example, because it’s not just the most recent, but reality tells the average supporting-to-my-theory fan, majority of the crowd would have been gone by now, or at least headed for the exits. Think about that for a moment. What if you would have missed that as a Pens fan? You could miss a great comeback by Pittsburgh and win a playoff clinching game because you assumed the ending. Do you leave with five minutes left in a movie just because you assume the ending?
The common rebuttal to Penguin fan early dismissals is that fans are trying to beat traffic. I cannot see how this is successful in two cases. One, nearly 9,000 people do it at once. Second, when I leave at you know, games end, the traffic outside is already backed up. Again, what’s the rush? You realize what that makes the Penguins fan base look like? The TV feeds pick that up. What about the Pens point-of-view? They fought hard for 56 minutes, and their fans leave early? Now, I am all for leaving early when they come out flat, and get destroyed 7-0. This, I feel, sends a message to the team that the fans don’t like what they are bringing, and things need changed. So why give that impression when the team is 200 seconds from yet another home win? I watch a lot of hockey during the season, and all I have to say is it tough to see the same fan reactions at other venues, especially when their team has capabilities such as ours.
Guys, gals, kids, fans since 1967 or fans since 2007, stick together on this. The Pittsburgh Penguins are undefeated at home so far this start of the season. Crosby is on pace for about 100-plus points (again), and Fleury is living and facing all the expectations and critics of a long summer. The Pens have depth that continually gets chances. Depth that you can follow as they blossom into great players for your team. Let’s face it, this city’s beloved Bucco’s had one heck of a ride, and the city shall see them again in April. The Steelers, at best will start pulling ahead (in Week 7), and will share the spotlight with the Pens, a typical position for both clubs. But what if Pittsburgh’s Steelers don’t? Winter is long, Yinzers, especially in the ‘Burgh.
Please don’t approach this season like other “fans” that state the first 82 games don’t matter, only the post season matters. These 82 games do matter. They matter to me, and should matter to anyone who calls themselves Penguins fans. It’s your team, its Pittsburgh’s team. Penguins’ fans have been spoiled and blessed with a fantastic, successful, and promising franchise. Let’s thank the team, players, owners, and even Iceburgh, by doing the jobs as fans, in supporting them every way possible. I will be right there until mid-June…fingers crossed.
