No noose is good noose

With 4:47 left to go in Game 6 of the series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets, I began to have serious flashbacks to another series from last year's playoffs (Leafs - Bruins). 

After the major faux pas that he committed in game 4 of the series, I wondered what kind of pressure Marc-Andre Fleury would have been facing had the Penguins gone on to lose game 6.

2007-08 Ultra #39

I read all sorts of interesting articles after the game 4 collapse, and many people believe that even if the Penguins do  have a solid playoff run, that Fleury's time in Pittsburgh should come to an end.

I don't see it like that, and here's why.  It doesn't seem like it, but Fleury's been in Pittsburgh for a decade.  I don't know how to put this any other way, but Fleury's results are a reflection of how the team has been built.  Remember Grant Fuhr in Edmonton?  Fleury in Pittsburgh is the same, only different. 

Has anyone out there thought of Pittsburgh as a team that could totally shut an opponent down during the Crosby era?   I didn't think so.  The numbers aren't great as far as save percentage and goals against average, but take a look at this little tidbit.

Every season that Fleury has played a minimum of 60 games, he's won at least 35 in each of those seasons. The man is a winner.  Patrick Roy?  5 35+ win seasons.  Ed Belfour?  He has 7.  The one guy that he probably will not catch is Martin Brodeur, who has 12 seasons of 35 or more wins. 

Fleury and Pittsburgh will forever be entwined.  Whether Penguins fans like it or not, I can't see the team giving up on him after his contract expires next year. 

Give it some time folks, you will probably see at least 1 more Cup, if not 2, by the time Fleury and Pittsburgh part ways.

At least the noose around his neck has loosened a bit.   We'll see if the Penguins can keep their intensity level high for the remainder of the playoffs.

thanks for reading, Robert

1995-96 Upper Deck Special Edition

Another one of the many busted insert sets that I started collecting back when I bought anything and everything, the 95-96 Upper Deck Special Edition set consisted of 180 cards.  While most of the cards are action shots, I found what probably is the best card in the set.

Especially if you are a Detroit Red Wings fan:

Paul Coffey with an octopus on his stick is a classic photo.  If you're not aware of the octopus legend in Detroit, take a look at this page on NHL.com for the story of how the octopus became a part of playoff hockey in the Motor City.


A quick look on Sportlots shows that most of the cards are priced at the base $0.18, although for some strange reason the cheapest Steve Yzerman card is listed at $1.49.  Thank goodness I already have that one.

I need about 80 of the 180 cards for the set, so I'll probably break down and buy the rest sometime and then show off the entire set for you. 

Thanks for reading, Robert