Clemency

Vol. I, No. 31

The Florida Panthers showed no clemency in a 3 - 2 win over New Jersey, in the Devils' final road trip game of the season.  Or rather, Scott Clemmensen showed no mercy.

The ex-Devil netminder stopped 42 shots, as the Panthers took the lead in the third period.  After last season's stunning performance with New Jersey, Scott was traded away by the Devils organization. It figures that he had something to prove against his former team.

New Jersey is now tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins in points (99 total) after the Penguins gained two points tonight, at their final regular season game in the Mellon Arena.  Their home has been one of the oddest in the league, originally built 48 years ago as Pittsburgh's Civic Arena, with a retractable aluminum dome roof.

The Civic Arena in later years came to be known as "the house that Lemieux built", and more familiarly as "The Igloo". But its beginnings are tied to Pittsburgh and the metal industry. The massive aluminum  roof came to be - it did not hurt that the corporate headquarters of Alcoa were located just a few blocks away.

Next year, the Pens move into the brand spankin' new Consol Energy Center. That's Consol as in Consolidated Energy, er, COAL. The same company that started in 1860 and still mines black carbon from the Appalachians.   You did know, didn't you, that the black and gold colors stand for the coal and molten steel made in coal-fired furnaces.  But enough rambling about the Pens and where they play.

Despite the points tie, the Devils are ahead in league standings due to the season sweep of the Penguins. Both teams have two more games to play. The Devils play at home, facing the Islanders (#12 in Eastern Conference) and Buffalo (#3 in Eastern Conference) on Saturday and Sunday.  The Penguins are on the road, against Atlanta (#10) and the Isles (#12). 

One more weekend to go, and the playoff races are settled.  And for other hockey fans in the NY area, the Blue Shirts remain two points behind Philadelphia (and 3 points behind Montreal) for the 8th playoff spot. Keep your seatbelts fastened.

Hockey Rules.