Reporting from Pittsburgh Part 1: Penguins vs. Islanders

Not long ago (around an hour), I got back from the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders hockey game across the street at Mellon Arena. This is my first time in Pittsburgh and Mellon Arena "the Igloo."

My seat was in the D level, center ice, so the view was outstanding, it's a neat arena, even as the trend is to build new ones, replacing Mellon. More on the arena debacle in another post.

The Pens, I can say, haven't been doing too well, having a bad record so far in the NHL, plus with the second (and final) retirement of Mario Lemieux, and Sidney Crosby's bout with the flu, which caused him to miss Thursday's home game against Ottawa, which was lost 7-2.

Today's game against the Islanders would be more exciting - Crosby was back, and scored in the 1st period, which ended 2-1 Isles, but the Penguins would compete well, defend, and come back to end regulation with a 4-4 tie, plus a scoreless overtime period. The game would come down to an exciting shootout - Only the Isles would score two goals, none by the Pens. Another loss, but an exciting matchup.

Today was "Black & Gold Day" - not only for the Penguins, but also for the AFC Champion Steelers, who face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL tomorrow in Detroit. Some folks in my hometown want the Seahawks to kill the Steelers (bitter after a certain failed rhetorical question), but honestly with Shaun Alexander from Florence KY, I'd cheer for him a bit. But the surprise team this year is definitely the Steelers, having snuck past the heavily favored Colts in the playoffs at RCA Dome last month. It might be the finale for Jerome Bettis in his hometown of Detroit. And Ben Roethlisberger, what can I say? An exteremely impressive rookie season that we thought was followed by a sophomore slump. Go Steelers!

Later on, I'll head over to Station Square, and check out the sights, the Monongohela Incline, go eat, and ride the light rail. Pittsburgh has been impressive so far - I went into Kaufmann's earlier downtown. 11 floors are still used for retail space, and there are so many escalators, even some really old Otis wood escalators (with wood steps, although no longer in use). Hopefully Federated/Macy's won't kill it after they take over Kaufmann's parent company May Dept. Stores.

Pitts-off!