Fight 'til the end, fellas.

We were in beast mode as the game began. Two power play goals early on, and the puck seemed attached to one of our guys. I'm not sure where we went downhill or what shifted. It could have been that we let a lead get the best of us and they wanted it more. That certainly was the case after the "no goal" call (which even a Pens fan would agree was the wrong call). I hated that we had lost the lead, hated that we were headed to overtime. Didn't predict that Sid would head to the box and with 3 seconds remaining the Stars would take the 2 points. Just proves the point: FIGHT 'TIL THE END.

Despite everything, the loss didn't matter as much as Pascal Dupuis dropping to the ice and laying there, players and staff surrounding him, for felt like eternity. Was he paralyzed? We didn't know a thing. The puck hit him so awkwardly where there was no protection. All of this after basically a season out. But... what came next I would only expect from (Super) Duper.

Thumbs up. He'd be OK. Not only OK, but he'd be in full gear for practice today.

Almost paralyzed? No big thing. This only confirms what I already know as fact: Hockey players are tough the toughest of any mainstream sport. Broken jaws/hands/feet/legs/noses, missing teeth, torn MCL, ACL, strokes...Men who sacrifice their bodies for their teammates, and for the love of the sport. Men whose only question after an injury is "when can I get back on the ice?" I'm in awe of these athletes.

So, the Pens were handed their first lost last night. Tough to swallow, but an entire season ahead of them and a NY team on the horizon who deserves THEIR first loss. Who would have believed the Islanders would be 4-0?! Not this LI-born girl.