Do you smell what the Strak is cookin'?
Martin Straka has been layin' the smack down around the NHL this
season. His nine goals and 11 assists place him second on the
Penguins behind Jagr's 25 points (5 goals, 20 assists), but
there's no doubt that Straka has been the Penguins' top player
this season.
He put two goals past Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Daren Puppa
Saturday at the Igloo; his first being an incredible individual
effort. Killing a penalty In the first period, Marty took a lead
pass from Pens defenseman Brad Werenka and was one-on-one with
the Lightning's Craig Janney. Straka, using his amazing speed,
blew past Janney on the outside and had a virtual breakaway on
Puppa. Straka then skated in towards the net, cut to his
forehand, but tucked the puck in the net on his backhand. It
really wasn't even a shot. He just touched the puck with his
blade and stopped it, allowing it to slide along the ice and just
inside the left post as Puppa flopped to his side. It was
wizard.
Puppa never recovered. Straka added another in the third and the
Pens defeated the Lightning 5-2 to take sole possession of first
in the Atlantic Division.
I had the opportunity to sit down with the Penguin center earlier
in the week.*
LCS: How are you?
M.S.: "Yeah, yeah, yeah."
LCS: Do you mind if I call you Marty?
M.S.: "Yes."
LCS: What should I call you?
M.S.: "Sir, or...well...sir."
LCS: What do you attribute your early season success to?
M.S.: "Are you some kind of an idiot? Everyone knows it's the
magic lint brush I carry around, not the mention the gallon of
Mad Dog 20/20 I chug before each game."
LCS: Is that Mad Dog you're drinking now?
M.S.: "It ain't grape Kool-Aid, Chester"
LCS: You seem very bitter.
M.S.: "Will you get the $%#& out of here. Thomas, will you
escort our 'friend' outside?"
LCS: Thank you, Sir.
I was then shown the door by Mr. Straka's personal droogie,
Thomas.
* Celebrity interview simulated.
Nedved Trade?
The rumor mill around Pittsburgh is that the Penguins are about
to pull the trigger on a big deal that involves Petr Nedved. The
buzz around town is that the trade will involve the New York
Rangers. It breaks down like this...
New York Rangers would receive:
Petr Nedved
Kevin Hatcher
Pittsburgh Penguins would receive:
Alexei Kovalev
Niklas Sundstrom
$4 Million in cash
Would this be a good trade? With the cash the Pens could
receive, they'll be able to buy season tickets to their own games
for the entire year. That's 42 solid games, people. What a
deal!
Also of Note...
Tom Barrasso left Saturday night's game with a lower back injury.
Why do I bring this up? I'll tell you. Last Sunday, our (LCS
Staff, friends, and Dilweed) rosters had to be turned in for the
RHL league. I was quite content in starting Beezer and my second
goalie was going to be Ken Wregget. Enter Mike Dell,
Editor-in-Chief. He was like, "Man, start Barrasso. He's like
gonna kill the next two weeks. For real." Now for whatever
reason I listened to him, and now he's out...again! Thanks, Mike
Dell.
Peace.
