Quick Ratt Shot:

Ok, I'll probably replace this post with a post game one after the Dallas game, unless I've passed out from too many Phillips Screwdrivers. In that case, ya'all are on your own. All four of the closest teams in the standings have played their games and unless the Raggers somehow fall into the Pit of Despair and are lost forever they're the only one to win their game. Which means if the Pens win tomorrow they'll be in 8th place in the Conference with Florida still having 2 games-in-hand.



Every time I mention the game-in-hand thing someone looks blankly at me and says 'wtf?' so I'll explain it to those who don't understand, and for those that do.... what can I say? You just have to put up with it, or skip the next line or two. If the Pens win tomorrow they'll actually be tied in points with 7th place Florida, but the Cats will have the same amount of points having played 2 fewer games so that would place the Pens behind Fla. in the standings. And that's about as simple as I can make that without using crayon drawings and Sesame Street characters.




With 18 or so games left in the season, this doesn't mean much but another milestone. 8th place is not a good one to be in and the Pens can't just coast and even remotely think that they'll stay there. But if things play out in a similar fashion to the last couple of weeks it's remotely, remotely I say, possible for the Pens to end up with a 6th or 5th place finish to the season. (8th place would suck, we DO NOT want to face the Broons in the Play-offs) In case anyone forgot, Big D is where Daryl Sydor went when we traded for Boucher who we haven't seen since forever. The holy Schedule can give and it can take away. All but 3 of the remaining games are against Conference or Division rivals. Which is good when your winning, but can drop you like an anvil if you're not. So stock up on the MOM and vodka and have a Phillips screwdriver (3 parts MOM to 1 part vodka)and watch the games with me. And someone pass me that bowl of Quaaludes while your at it. As my friend Bette used to say, "It's going to be a bumpy night."