FINALLY ! ! ! ! !

Just like Sykora raining down powers from the heavens to call his shot in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup yours truly called upon some heavenly vision to foresee Petr Gun earning his first Hat Trick in a Pens jersey at Mellon Arena just over a week ago from today. Forty-Four tries short. Forty-five was so sweet. It was this night that he went a step beyond and added that third goal thus earning his first career Hat Trick.

It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy and one of the team's constant hard workers. He's a blue collar player of sorts. The kind that fits with this city and thus with it's hockey team. Fittingly Petr Gun's third goal came while in front of the net off a feed from, who else, the Pittsburgh Kid, Sidney Crosby who fed a beautiful pass across the middle on the tape of Sykora's stick blade. It was a one of a kind pass that only Sid consistently makes in the league.

Petr Sykora finished it off and on cue the intelligent hockey fans of Pittsburgh rained hats down from the Mellon Arena rafters. But Petr was not alone. Another consummate worker named Pascal Dupuis earned his first career Hat Trick on a pretty move after a beautiful feed from Matt Cooke during four on four play during the third. The fans showed him their love too tossing whatever they had left towards the ice.

It was the kind of blitzkrieg offense that we've been waiting to see from this team of superstars (yes like you Max Talbot). The final score of the game, 9-2. Thirteen different Pens recorded a point against the Islanders. The three stars of the game ended up being 1 - Sykora, 2- Dupuis, and 3- Satan. It's not often that you don't call Sid the Kid one of the stars after a three point night but I doubt if anyone will try to argue this one.

Other notes around the Pittsburgh world:

-The Pirates trade catcher Ronnie Paulino to the Philadelphia Phillies for prospect Jason Jaramillo. Apparently the Phillies recent success has frightened so much that they are trying desperately to return to their losing ways.

-The Pens next game is in Philadelphia against the Flyers at 1:00.

-Malkin now has 48 points to lead the league. Crosby is at 44 points and Ovenchkin is third with 37.

Sy-Skora

If Petr Sykora hits 50 2-goal games in his career without notching a hat trick he might earn the nickname 'Mr. Lightning Strikes Twice'. But after his 42nd game tonight, where he lit the lamp twice in Carolina, I'm sure he doesn't want that to happen. And I'm positive Pens fans don't either. I was really pulling for him after he got his second. Malkin knew the situation too because the rest of the game he did all he could to set up 'Petr Gun' (as Errey and Steigerwald love to call him). But alas it was not to be. Part of me felt disappointed for Petr but another part actually was happy it didn't happen in Carolina. Wouldn't it be great for Sykora to get his first in the black Pens sweater with penguin ball caps raining down from the Mellon Arena rafters and all of Steel Town cheering his name? That's what I'm hoping and I'm predicting that it happens this year. Petr Gun will get his first hat trick this year and it will happen in the Steel City. You heard it here first.

But Peter Sykora wasn't the only star of the game or even the number one star of the game. In fact I may have even put Sabu in front of Sykora if only by a little bit. It was Crosby who played out of his mind. He was everywhere the loose puck was tonight and then some. Crosby had four assists in the game and is on a torrid scoring pace with 14 points in his last 5 games. Sabourin faced 36 shots saving 34 of them. He now sits second in goals against average and fourth in save percentage.

On a side note it slightly irks me that Steigy and Errey are calling Sabourin Sabu as of lately. I've been using that nickname for awhile now (dating back to last year). At least my reason is cool. They're just playing off his name. I'm playing off his name while honoring one of my favorite old ECW wrestler's who's actual ring name was Sabu.

But that's another point. Back to Sykora and the Pens. Sykora now has 7 goals, 8 assists for 15 points this season tied for fourth on the team with Tyler Kennedy. Crosby is now two points back of Malkin in the scoring race with 39 points and five points ahead of third place Ovenchkin. The Pens finish up their road trip in Ottawa on Saturday. Game time is 2:00.

Fire on Ice: The New 'Pittsburgh Kid'

A few days ago Sidney Crosby was 4th in the league in scoring, projected to finish at about 110 points. It was said to be an off year for the Pens Captain thus far and that he hadn't looked like he hit his stride yet. For anyone else 110 point projection and 4th in the scoring race would be an exceptional year (with exceptions to Malkin and Ovenchkin). But for Sid it was more of a letdown.

I was telling Runhigh before the Sabres game how I felt that Sid needed to pick up his scoring. Not just the points but I was dissappointed that he wasn't putting the puck in the back of the net enough and I wanted to see him taking some more shots instead of trying to set up his teammates more. I couldn't even recall the last time he had a Hat Trick. As if the new 'Pittsburgh Kid' heard me he buried two goals in the back of the net against Buffalo. While I was hoping he'd bury one more and tie the game I was still impressed with the way he just put the pressure on the Sabres defense the whole game. He had taken over and they had few answers.

Saturday night the Devils didn't have any answers to Crosby. He was everywhere. He backchecked on defense, moved the puck through the offensive zone at will and he shot the puck on net when he wanted. At the end of the game Sid was responsible for all four of the Pens goals getting a hat trick and putting an assist right on the waiting stick blade of Peter Sykora. He even came close to adding the Gordie Howe Hat Trick when he got into a scrap during the game. It never amounted into a full on fight and both men were thrown into the penalty box for roughing. Not shabby for the All-Star.

Sidney Crosby's dominance has stretched across the last 5 games. He has had goals in 4 of the last five with the exception being the defensive battle with the Canucks. Over the last five games Sid has notched 7 goals, 5 assists for 12 points. And Sid has overtaken second outright in the scoring race right behind Pens star and teammate Evgeni Malkin.

Sidney Crosby 23 games, 13 G, 21 A, 34 Points, 11 +/-

Evgeni Malkin 23 games, 10 G, 29 A, 39 Points, 11 +/-