Starting in 1995 the New York Yankees have made the playoffs 14 out of 15 times.  With Yankee Stadium II having ended operations after 2008, I felt it fitting to reflect and list my top 12 playoff moments at The House George Renovated before they christen the new yard with post season baseball for the first time.  With apologies to Reggie Jackson and Chris Chambliss, I'm naming the moments I've seen in my lifetime.

# 12.) 2001 ALCS Game 4, Seattle Mariners @ New York Yankees: After getting blown out in game 3 of the series at home 14-3, the Yankees led the best of seven 2-1.  In game 4 the Yankees had been held scoreless for seven innings, while the Mariners got on the board with a run in the top half of the 8th on a Brett Boone solo HR making it 1-0 M's.  However in the bottom of the 8th with one out, Bernie Williams took Arthur Rhodes deep to knot it at 1-1. 

  Then in the bottom of the 9th with one out and one on, Alfonso Soriano homered off of Kaz Sasaki to win the game 3-1, putting the Yanks up 3-1 in the series.

 

With their 116 win season on the line, the M's were clearly pressing, prompting manager Lou Pinella to boldly state they would be going back to Seattle for game six. 

 

# 11.) 2001 ALCS Game 5, Seattle Mariners @ New York Yankees: After this game the M's would be going back to Seattle, however there would be no game six.  New York which had suffered through the horrific attacks of 9/11/2001, seemingly let out all off their emotions and grief and the Yankees took it out big time on the Mariners.  The Yankees sent the Mariners packing 12-3 on the back of three homers by Bernie Williams, Paul O'Neill and Tino Martinez.  The Yankees won their 4th AL Pennant in a row, the first and only AL team to do so in the modern playoff era.  It was the last HR for Paulie, but not for Tino... that's later down the list.

# 10.) 1999 ALCS Game 1, Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees: The first playoff series ever for the two blood rivals.  Seemingly tamer than recent years but intense nonetheless.  The Red Sox led most of the way, 3-2 going into the 7th until the Yankees tied the score.  The two sides then took it to the bottom of the 10th without scoring, until Bernie Williams went boom, leading off the 10th with a walkoff solo shot to dead center for the 4-3 win.  Other than a blip on the radar in game 3 at Fenway Park, the Yankees rolled up the competition in 1999 going 11-1, but their walkoff magic wasn't done as you'll see down the list.

 

# 9.) 2000 World Series Game 1, New York Mets @ New York Yankees: The first Subway Series, World Series game since the New York Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in game seven of that series at Ebbets Field.

 

This was a game in which the Mets mental errors cost them dearly.  In what was the first of two great pitching duels between Andy Pettitte and ex-Yankee Al Leiter, the game was ultimately decided with the team having better concentration.  In the top of the 6th the Mets had Pettitte on the ropes, when Todd Zeile doubled off the top of the leftfield wall.  With Timo Perez loafing around the bases, David Justice picked up the ball fired it to Derek Jeter who cut across and gunned it to Jorge Posada who tagged out Perez at home plate.

 

  Sparked by this the Yanks notched two in the bottom half of the inning making it 2-0.  The Mets however struck right back with 3 in the top of the 7th.  In the bottom of the 9th Paul O'Neill worked the biggest walk of this dynasty this side of Wade Boggs, off of Armando Benitez. 

 

Consecutive singles by Luis Polonia and ex-Met Jose Vizcaino set the stage for a bases loaded game tying sac fly by Chuck Knoblauch, making it 3-3.  Vizcaino would comeback to haunt the Mets once again in the bottom of the 12th with a bases loaded single to left, driving in Tino Martinez for the 4-3 victory. 

 

# 8.) 1995 ALDS Game 2, Seattle Mariners @ New York Yankees: Sure the Yankees eventually lost this series but for Buck Showalter's boys this was the biggest, craziest post-season win Stadium fans had seen in a long time.  It was a seesaw affair between the two clubs with the M's leading 2-1 in the 6th.  In the bottom half of the 6th Ruben Sierra the homered to tie the game up at two a piece.  Then it was bedlam in the Bronx as The Captain Don Mattingly smacked his first post-season HR to put the Yanks in front 3-2, sending the Stadium crowd into a frenzy, showering the field with debris and prompting manager Lou Pinella to pull his team off the field. 

 

After the back to back HR's in the 6th, Seattle struck back with two runs in the 7th to take the lead 4-3.  That didn't last for long, when in the bottom of the 7th, Paul O'Neill took Norm Charlton yard making it a 4-4 game.  Each team would trade runs in the 12th and played on until the 15th.  In the home half of the 15th Jimmy "The King" Leyritz took Tim Belcher deep with a two-run blast in the late night driving rain to cap off a late October win in the Bronx.  This of course was only a precursor of clutch October HR's to come in the career of Leyritz.

# 7.) 1999 World Series Game 3, Atlanta Braves @ New York Yankees: Upon getting roughed up in first two games down in Atlanta, the Braves were primed to do what the Yankees had done to them in 1996, come back and win the series in four straight after dropping the first two.  After knocking around Andy Pettitte early, just as they had in game 1 in 1996, the Braves had jumped out to a 5-1 lead through four innings.  The Yankees as they did on numerous occasions in the 1990's started to chip away.  Chad Curtis homered off of starter Tom Glavine, cutting the lead to 5-2 in the 5th.  In the 7th Tino Martinez added a solo shot of his own off Glavine, slashing the deficit to 5-3.  Then Chuck Knoblauch who'd tormented the Braves in the 1991 World Series as a member of the Minnesota Twins, also tagged Glavine with a two-run game tying blast to rightfield. 

 

Finally in the bottom of the 10th, Curtis clocked his 2nd HR of the game for the winner off Mike Remlinger to deep leftfield, circled the bases and on behalf of Pete Rose, promptly told reporter Jim Gray to stuff it. 

 

# 6.) 1998 World Series Game 1, San Diego Padres @ New York Yankees: If they didn't win this World Series they would've accomplished a lot for naught.  Having won 114 games in the regular season, anything less than a title to this group would've been an abject failure.  Ricky Ledee who ripped Padres pitching in this series, got the ball rolling in the bottom of the 2nd with a two-run double to rightfield off Kevin Brown.  Surprisingly though the Yankees ace that year David "Boomer" Wells, allowed five runs through the 5th including HR's to Greg Vaughn and Tony Gwynn putting the Padres out front 5-2.  In the bottom of the 7th though it was two moments of atonement which spurred the Yankees on to victory.  Chuck Knoblauch hit a game tying three run blast off reliever Donnie Wall making it 5-5.  Tino Martinez then took Mark Langston upper-tank for a grand slam, giving the Yanks a 9-5 lead, capping off a seven run seventh.  The Yanks went on to win 9-6 and swept the series 4-0.

 

# 5.) 1996 ALCS Game 1, Baltimore Orioles @ New York Yankees: After their first playoff series victory in 15 years, the Yanks made their first trip back to the ALCS since 1981.  On this day October day at the Stadium there was plenty of magic, mystique and Maier.  Setting the stage, Baltimore on the strength of HR's from Brady Anderson and Rafael Palmeiro, led 4-3 heading into the bottom of the 8th.  That's when all hell broke loose.  A child shall lead them and if that's not enough another one will help him.  Now I'll always maintain that if there had been no interference, given the trajectory of the ball it would've gone off the top of the wall for at least a double, because Tony Tarasco didn't leap for it.  But Derek Jeter with an assist from 12 year old fan Jeffrey Maier, tied the game on what was ruled a HR to rightfield, off Armando Benitez and as a result we see where both post-season careers of Jeter and Benitez have gone since.

With the game tied at 4-4 Bernie Williams went boom, leading off the bottom of the 11th taking Randy Myers deep to left to give the Yanks and exciting walkoff win.

 

# 4.) 2001 World Series Game 5, Arizona Diamondbacks @ New York Yankees: Between games 4 and 7 this one seemingly gets lost in the shuffle but shouldn't.  The Yankees off a comeback victory in game 4 made a sort of deja vu history once again.  Unfortunately their offense couldn't muster anything for eight innings against D-Backs pitching.  Rod Barajas and Steve Finley had taken Mike Mussina deep, spoiling his brilliant ten strikeout performance.  With the D-Backs about to steal back momentum and the series lead heading back to Arizona, the Yankees struck back for the 2nd night in a row in the bottom of the 9th.  Jorge Posada doubled to left to start off the inning, then with two outs and the Yanks on their last leg, Mr. Clutch since his arrival in 1998 Scott Brosius clocked a game tying homer to left off of Byung-Hyun Kim tying the game at 2-2. 

 

 As the game moved to the bottom of the 12th, Chuck Knoblauch led off with a single, Brosius bunted him into scoring position and Alfonso Soriano continued his 2001 playoff heroics with his single to right off Albie Lopez to plate Knoblauch for the 3-2 win.  The Yankees took the series lead 3-2 and this win gave them a record 10 straight World Series home victories.  It was also Paul O'Neill's final game at Yankee Stadium.

 

# 3.) 2001 World Series Game 4, Arizona Diamondbacks @ New York Yankees: While game 5 is great on its own, the magnitude just isn't the same without game 4.  With the game tied 1-1 the D-Backs took the lead 3-1 in the top of the 8th.  Things were looking pretty dire for the Yankee offense, until Tino Martinez made his first hit of the series his best one.  After Paul O'Neill had singled to left, Martinez drilled the two-out offering from Kim who as mentioned would be victimized a night later in the same scenario by Scott Brosius, over the wall to tie the game at three a piece. 

 

The very next inning in the bottom of the 10th also with two outs Derek Jeter became forever known as Mr. November hitting one into the short porch in right off Kim for the 4-3 walkoff win.

 

# 2.) 2003 ALCS Game 7, Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees: Given the scope, intensity, rivalry and nature of the game and its outcome, this may well have been the best baseball game I've ever watched and boy did it live up to the hype.  Everything was on the table, bragging rights, "The Curse of the Bambino," and more importantly the AL Pennant and a trip to the World Series.  In what was starting to look like Roger Clemens' last start ever, The Rocket got lit up for two homers by Jason Varitek and Kevin Millar that staked Boston out to a 4-0 lead in the 4th. 

 

Of course in game seven as far as pitchers, all hands are on deck.  In that 4th inning with two on, Clemens exited and Mike Mussina came on for his first ever career relief appearance.  Mussina struck out Varitek and got Johnny Damon to ground into a 6-6-3 inning ending double play, keeping the Yankees in the game. 

 

The Yankees then chipped away off Pedro Martinez when Jason Giambi connected for two solo HR's in the 5th and 7th cutting the lead to 4-2. 

 

When it finally looked as if the Yankees were back in it, the Red Sox came back with a solo shot of their own as David Wells surrendered a HR to David Ortiz making it 5-2 Boston going into the bottom of the 8th.  That's when the Yankees caught fire off Martinez.  With 1 out Derek Jeter doubled to center. 

 

Bernie Williams followed suit with a single to center of his own, knocking in Jeter and reducing the lead to 5-3. 

 

Hideki Matsui then roped a double to rightfield and Williams advanced to 3rd. 

 

With runners in scoring position, Jorge Posada blooped a two-run game tying double to shallow left-centerfield making it 5-5.  Posada was pumped and the Stadium roared. 

 

 Mariano Rivera then added to his Hall of Fame playoff legacy with three epic shutout innings of relief, that would eventually earn him ALCS MVP honors. 

 

Then with the game still tied 5-5 in the bottom of the 11th, the improbable Aaron Boone, Willie Randolph's sleeper pick, hit a lead-off, walkoff pinch hit homer to win the Yankees 39th AL Pennant and a trip to the World Series.  The Yankees won the game 6-5 and the ALCS 4-3.

# 1.) 1996 World Series Game 6, Atlanta Braves @ New York Yankees: Ok so I said the last game was the best I've ever seen, but the number one game to me has the most special meaning and significance.  It was the night the underdog Yankees completed their improbable run which included a slew of human interest stories and ultimately what was to be the birth of a dynasty. 

 

Everyone had counted them out, every step of the way.  They'd just come off a crushing series loss the year before, Joe was supposedly clueless, Doc and Darryl were in the baseball waste bin, Coney was fighting for his life and of course there was no way they could win with that rookie kid Jeter starting at SS.  Even when they made it to the World Series, the doubters said no way could they beat the defending champion Braves, the "team of the 90's," and there was no way after losing their first two at home in ugly fashion that they could sweep the Braves on the road and come back home to win it, beating three Hall of Fame pitchers in Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Greg Maddux along the way.  But they did.  After sweeping out the Braves in Atlanta to go 8-0 on the road in the 1996 playoffs, the Yankees came home to try and clinch title number 23, their first in 18 years.  The first one I'd seen in my lifetime.

Jimmy Key went against Greg Maddux in a rematch of game 2.  Key, one of the first early 90's Yankees to help create the winning culture in the Bronx was more than solid allowing just one run in 5/1/3 innings. 

 

The Yankees struck for 3 in the 3rd off Maddux and it would be all they'd need, as Paul O'Neill doubled to right, Mariano Duncan moved him to 3rd on a grounder, Joe Girardi then tripled to center off his former Chicago Cubs battery-mate, plating O'Neill for the 1-0 lead and the Stadium absolutely shook.  Derek Jeter then singled Girardi home for the 2-0 edge.  After stealing 2nd, Jeter scored on what turned out to be the game winning RBI, a line drive single to center by Bernie Williams, as the two emerging young cornerstones of this Yankee dynasty gave the Bombers a 3-0 lead.  The Yankee bullpen was sharp once again, including getting two scoreless innings out of Mariano Rivera late. 

 

Eventual World Series MVP closer John Wetteland in his typical fashion made things interesting in the bottom of the 9th.  The defending champs wouldn't go quietly as Marquis Grissom knocked in Ryan Klesko, cutting the lead to 3-2.  Then with the tying run in scoring position and the go-ahead run at first, Wetteland got Mark Lemke to pop into foul territory along the 3rd base side by the stands and Charlie Hayes gloved it for the final out of the game and series.  Wetteland's World Series record 4th save and the Yankees won their 23rd title, in what would become their next dynasty, eventual team of the decade, team of the century. 

 

The question now stands, will the ghosts still emerge this October at The New Yankee Stadium?

Big Night For Blueshirts/Blue Jackets

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A light night in the NHL but a good night if you're wearing blue.  The New York Rangers found themselves in New Jersey taking on the Devils, while Columbus was out west facing the Vancouver Canucks.

It was the Devils in Newark who pounced on the Rangers extremely early with a goal a little more than a minute into the action.  Rob Niedermayer put New Jersey out front with his first as a Devil from former Albany River Rats' Jay Pandolfo and David Clarkson.  This prompted Rangers coach John Tortorella to go absolutely ballistic on the bench, lighting into his players.  From that point Rangers youngster and defenseman Michael Del Zotto caught Marty Brodeur out of position on the power play and locked things up at one in the first. 

Midway through the first New Jersey struck back with a power play goal of their own with a nifty pass from Clarkson in front of the crease back to another former Albany River Rat Travis Zajac to light the lamp on Henrik Lundqvist.  Zach Parise who also played in Albany picked up an assist on the play as well.  But New York who went oh-fer their first two games on the power play, put another one past Brodeur from way out off the stick of newly acquired Ales Kotalik for his first as a Ranger.  The former Buffalo Sabre Kotalik who assisted on Del Zotto's PPG picked up his goal this time around from Del Zotto and Ryan "don't call me Tommy" Callahan to tie things up once more.

Early in the third it was Matt Gilroy the rookie and former captain of last year's Boston University National Championship team putting home his first career NHL goal off a brand name goaltender.  The latter two goals were not typical of shots that followers of Martin Brodeur are accustomed to seeing let up.  In any event that was enough to garner the Rangers a victory 3-2.

Out west Columbus goalie Steve Mason continues so sparkle between the pipes after being pelted with 43 shots from the Canucks and stopping 40.  Henrik Sedin got the Canucks going late in the first but with under a minute to go the Jackets answered back with a score by Antione Vermette, so it was 1-1 after one.

In the second Columbus kept that momentum going beating Roberto Luongo three more times, including twice within a span of 22 seconds.  Kristian Huselius, Rostislav Klesla and Nikita Filatov all scored chasing Luongo from the game.

Midway through the second and third Vancouver tried to chip away with Christian Ehrhoff and Willie Mitchell bringing the Canucks back within one at 4-3.  Mitchell the former Albany River Rats defenseman had that goal and an assist on Ehrhoff's goal on the night.

However Fedor Tyutin's power play goal late in the third for Columbus gave them all the insurance they needed to roll onto a 5-3 victory.  Rick Nash also had a big influence on the Blue Jackets win with three helpers.

Nightly Notables: Erik Cole of the Carolina Hurricanes is out 4-6 weeks with a fractured leg, which could result in either the call up of Brandon Sutter or Pat Dwyer for all you Albany River Rats fans out there who are curious.  Habs top defenseman Andrei Markov will be out another four months after getting cut on his ankle.

Sid The Kid vs. The Lighthouse Project

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As far as 15 year contracts go on the Island, I'm not saying you want to lock up John Tavares just yet but I'd give it a few more games.  However it was Sidney Crosby from start to finish saying not so fast there Sparky! 

Crosby got Pittsburgh on the board in Uniondale with his second of the season, past Dwayne Roloson.  Then the Islanders went on the power play where their most consistent player from a year ago Mark Streit lit the lamp and was assisted by Kyle Okposo and Tavares to tie things at 1-1.  In the second Tavares got a PPG of his own, the first of his NHL career, staking New York to a 2-1 edge.  Then the Pens really turned up the heat in the third, out shooting the Isles 18-5 and after being down 3-2 knotted it up on a Ruslan Fedotenko goal.  After OT it was all Penguins in the shootout on goals from Kris Letang and Crosby.  Former Albany River Rat Michael Rupp picked up a five minute fighting major.  Pittsburgh will be sad not to play against either New York team until Thanksgiving (and I'm not talking about the Canadian one next Monday). 

From the Island of Long to the Island of Manhattan where the New York Rangers looked to rebound against the Ottawa Senators.  Rangers got on the board early in the second when my cousin Vinny Prospal who played for the Sens about a decade ago, put New York up one.  Then Brandon Dubie-Dubie-Doo (enjoy the bud light but uh beware of the penguins) Dubinsky netted one of his two tallies on the night for a 2-0 advantage.  Old reliable Daniel Alfredsson also responded in the second from Jason Spezza, cutting the lead in half.  Imagine if the Islanders had Spezza and Tavares on the same line?  Moving on Blueshirts rookie Michael Del Zotto who has impressed thus far, got that one back for the Garden faithful near the end of the period.  Marian Gaborik (imagine if this guy stays healthy) notched his second goal as a Ranger midway into the third.  From there it was pretty much a foregone conclusion as the Rangers rolled 5-2.  Former Albany River Rat Aaron Voros fought with the Sens Mike Fisher at the end of regulation.

Heading down the turnpike where if you didn't think the New Jersey Devils were a dynasty in demise yet, it may be going that way after getting smashed by the Philadelphia Flyers.  Jeff Carter and Mike Richards may be the most underrated tandem in the league.  The two who scored in a 2-0 blanking of the Hurricanes, helped build up a 4-0 mountain climb for the Devils and Marty Brodeur (where are you Scott Clemmensen?).  Former original Albany River Rat Brian Rolston broke the shutout in the third on the power play and was assisted by ex-Rat Nicklas Bergfors and by Dainius Zubrus who had two on the night.  Philly then struck back with Matt Carle who was assisted by Chris Pronger, Pronger's second assist on the night as well as the Flyers rolled 5-2.  By the way Anssi Salmela scored for Atlanta against Tampa Bay.  And Jaques Lemaire was brought in to shore up the defense?  Yikes!

Or maybe the Devils should have tried to hang onto Brian Gionta, as we shuffle off to Buffalo for the Sabres and Montreal Canadiens.  Tim Connolly (imagine Connolly, Spezza and Tavares on a line Islander fans) busted through for Buffalo in the first on the power play.  Then Travis Moen, buy it for looks buy it for life, bought himself and the Habs a shorty and a tie game midway through the second.  Buffalo out shot Montreal 11-1 in the third, but hey the Canadiens toppled the Leafs in OT after getting out shot that game too right?  And so it was to be, the Rochester Rocket back in Western New York for the 2-1 winner!  Gionta the former Albany River Rat was assisted by the other one third to make up the old New Jersey "EGG line," Scott Gomez.  How long is it until the final third Patrik Elias wants to join them? 

Other Nightly Notables: Former Albany River Rat Brendan Morrison picked up his first goal and assist with the Washington Capitals while one time Adirondack Red Wing Mike Knuble netted his first as the Caps beat Toronto 6-4.  Former Rat defenseman Jeff Finger picked up an assist along the way for the Leafs.

In Boston where the Carolina Hurricanes were routed 7-2 by the Bruins, former Rats goalie Michael Leighton turned away 11 of 14 shots in "relief" of Cam Ward and speaking of Ward, Aaron the former Adirondack Red Wing defenseman and Boston Bruin himself registered an assist on Scott Walker's (irony much?) first goal of the season.  

Down in Dallas former Albany River Rats star Steve Sullivan scored his first goal of the year in the second to put Nashville out front 2-0.  The Predators went on to beat the Stars 3-2 after a 2-1 shootout victory.

AHL Notes: Big night for AHL action in the greater Capital District with the Albany River Rats and Adirondack Phantoms drawing a combined 11,918 on Saturday night.  Unfortunately both clubs lost, Albany dropping a 6-3 decision to Manchester and Adirondack in the last minute to Worcester and Clifton Park native Nick Petrecki 3-2.  The Rats valiantly tied things at three in the third (Drayson Bowman and Zach Boychuk impressed me the most on the night) but were only one of six on the power play and looked a couple of steps behind the Monarchs when it came to their defense and goaltending and they may want to recruit another enforcer.  Albany's new black alternate jerseys (poor Zack Fitzgerald got his torn up) reminded me of the Buffalo Sabres circa 1999, good stuff.  Hopefully Mike Angelidis is alright.

But hey hockey's back, gotta love that!

Banner Night For Pens, Not So Much The Original Six

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Eurotrip was not kind to the original six, nor was Pittsburgh on Friday night. 

Starting in Finland where Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane proved why he belongs on the cover of NHL10 with a goal and an assist on the day.  Both the Blackhawks and Florida Panthers traded goals from the second period on.  Finland native Ville Koistinen who came over to the Panthers from the Nashville Predators to play on their blue line added a goal in the third, more on him in a bit.  After Patrick Sharp put the puck by Tomas Vokun who had 52 stops in the game, to give the Blackhawks the 3-2 edge the Panthers had an answer late from David Booth sending it to OT.  From there it was the homeland hero Koistinen netting the winner in the shootout past Cristobal Huet for a 2-1 shootout win and a 4-3 victory overall.

Next to Sweden and a clash between Central Division rivals the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues.  After falling behind early, the defending Western Conference champs roared back with three of their own from Jonathan Ericsson (assisted on by former Adirondack Red Wing Kris Draper), a shorty by Kirk Maltby, followed by a PPG from Ville Leino in the third taking a 3-1 lead on former Albany River Rats goalie Chris Mason.  Mason had 31 saves on the night.  But then it was welcome back to the National Hockey League Paul Kariya!  Kariya who missed the last penalty shot for Canada against Sweden in the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics had a much sweeter return this time around.  Kariya scored two of the Blues next three goals (the first of which came on the power play) in a five minute span including the eventual game winner.  Blues Jay McClement also had a big night scoring St. Louis' first goal an assisting on the tying tally and the winner.  Former Adirondack Red Wing goalie Chris Osgood had 19 saves in the 4-3 loss.

Back state side a couple of clubs whose AHL affiliates are only a mere 40 or so miles away in Albany and Glens Falls, the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers in Raleigh.  For the Flyers it was the usual suspects with Jeff Carter who scored 46 a year ago and Mike Richards who ended up with 30 of his own pushed Philly past the Canes with two quick power play goals within the first minute of the second period.  Newly re-signed Cam Ward was solid, but welcome back to the NHL Ray Emery was better.  Emery the former Ottawa Senators netminder was on his game turning away all 28 shots he faced for the first shutout of the young season.  Flyers blank the Hurricanes 2-0.  Former Adirondack Red Wings defenseman Aaron Ward played over 21 minutes in his second stint back with the Canes, registering one shot on net.  Flyers backup keeper Brian "don't call me Bobby" Boucher was placed on the IR.

Finally to the new title town (minus the Pirates of course) the Pittsburgh Penguins taking on the New York Rangers.  Did anyone catch Mike Keenan on MSG during the intermissions?  Was that Rangers Cup really 15 years ago?  I digress as the man playing the modern day Jaromir Jagr to Sidney Crosby's Mario Lemieux got the Pens going.  Evgeni Malkin who had 35 of these last year, re-directed a shot from Sergei Gonchar on the power play to make the Igloo roar.  Then the heavyweights decided to lock horns as newly acquired Donald Brashear went up against former New York Islander Eric Godard.  Brashear got in a solid left to the jaw of Godard but Godard also gave Brashear a cut to the head, so pretty even scrap to say the least.  After that it was the Blueshirts captain Chris Drury who knotted things up at 1-1.  Then in the second Pens captain Sidney Crosby who scored 33 last year, was left in front to give Pittsburgh the edge.  Shortly after it was Tyler Kennedy netting the eventual winner.  New York did get an encouraging sign in the third as Marian Gaborik picked up the puck on a fanned shot and put in his first of the year, but the Rangers fell to the Penguins 3-2.  The Staal brothers Marc and Jordan each picked up an assist and former Albany River Rats Aaron Voros and Michael Rupp suited up for the Rangers and Penguins respectively.

Nightly Notables: The defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins are the only team thus far to out shoot their opponent and win on the young season.

Capital Region Hockey: Where Are They Now

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As we embark upon the 2009-10 hockey season I thought it would be interesting to see where players who have come through this area are still playing as of this year.  Throughout the season I will undoubtadely try with due diligence to update the happenings of players who were either born in this area or player their collegiate or professional hockey in the region.  With the Albany River Rats and now Adirondack Phantoms around, there should be a whole lot more making their way to the National Hockey League.

Nicklas Bergfors (New Jersey Devils): Bergfors has finally cracked the New Jersey roster after getting a cup of coffee last season scoring one goal in eight games.  Bergfors played 65 games for the Albany River Rats during the 2005-06 campaign totaling 17 goals that year.

Johnny Boychuk (Boston Bruins): Boychuk is another guy who has paid his dues in the minors scoring 20 goals on the blue line for the baby B's in Providence last season, good enough to win him the Eddie Shore award for best AHL defenseman.  Johnny played in all 80 games for the Albany River Rats in 2006-07 as an Avalanche prospect, where he netted ten goals that year and racked up a career high 125 penalty minutes.  Boychuk got up to Boston for one game last year, hopefully there will be many more to come this season and beyond.

Dan Bylsma (Pittsburgh Penguins): No Bylsma doesn't play defense anymore but the former 1993-94 Albany River Rat coached the Pens to a Stanley Cup title last season.

David Clarkson (New Jersey Devils): One of the few bright spots in the dark days of the Rats under New Jersey's stewardship.  Clarkson a true blue collar hard nosed hockey player, skated for the Albany River Rats in 2005-06 scoring 13 goals adding 21 helpers and piling up a career high 233 penalty minutes.  Clarkson now in his fourth season with the Devils, after scoring a career high 17 goals last year will be asked to take on a much larger role this season with the departures of Brian Gionta and John Madden.

Scott Clemmensen (Florida Panthers): Clemmer who saved the Devils bacon last year filling in for Marty Brodeur, essentially resurrected his career posting 25 wins and an impressive 2.39 goals against average.  Those numbers obviously impressed the Florida Panthers enough to sign the former River Rat.  Clemmensen played parts of five season's in Albany from 2001-2006 where he won 35 games and picked up three shutouts.  Clemmer has 33 wins in the NHL between New Jersey and Toronto.

Mike Commodore (Columbus Blue Jackets): Commodore was a solid fixture on the Jackets blue line in what would turn out to be the franchise's first playoff apperance.  Commodore played 81 games and totaled 18 PIM in four playoff games last season.  From 2000-2002 Commodore played parts of two seasons for the Rats, compiling 90 PIM.  Commodore won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005-06.

Tim Conboy (Carolina Hurricanes): After a scrap in Raleigh they play "we've got a great big Conboy."  Tim Conboy was an enforcer in his time down in Albany from 2006-2009 racking up 481 PIM.  On a team not known for its sizable players, Conboy has changed the complexion of the Hurricanes with 97 career PIM in 47 NHL games.

Kyle Cumiskey (Colorado Avalanche): Now a regular defenseman on a young Avs team, Cumiskey played in Albany during the 2006-07 season, scoring 33 points with 32 PIM.

Patrick Elias (New Jersey Devils): Elias one of the bigger stars to play in Albany had a rebound season last year with the Devils scoring 31 goals.  From 1995-1998 Elias amassed 54 goals, 79 assists and 161 PIM.  Elias has been a part of two Stanley Cup titles with 40 playoff goals and is just five shy of 300 in his career.

Jeff Finger (Toronto Maple Leafs): Finger has shown to be a steady defenseman in his three seasons with the Avalanche and Maple Leafs.  Finger played for Albany in 2006-07 with 13 points and 65 PIM in 44 games.

Brian Gionta (Montreal Canadiens): It sure is strange seeing the Rochester Rocket in a Canadiens uniform.  Gio has one Cup (2002-03) and one 48 goal season in the NHL.  During his time in Albany Gionta scored 14 goals in 52 games.

Ben Guite (Nashville Predators): Guite has been a useful role player in parts of the last three seasons in Colorado.  In his short stint in Albany, Guite netted ten goals in 36 games during the 2006-07 campaign.

Cam Janssen (St. Louis Blues): Janssen has developed a reputation as an absolute beast of a fighter in the NHL.  Just do a Youtube search of Janssen taking on Ryan Hollweg a few years back during an exhibition game or any other video and you'll see what I mean.  In 96 games with Albany from 2004-06 Janssen piled up 454 PIM including one season of 337.  Between his time with the Devils and Blues, Janssen has over 354 PIM in the NHL.

Andrew Ladd (Chicago Blackhawks): Granted Ladd only spent two games scoring one goal in Albany during the 2007-08 season.  But Ladd already has a Stanley Cup from his Carolina days and set a career high for goals with 15 last season in Chicago.

Mike Leighton (Carolina Hurricanes): Some of you casual observers may have heard of a little five OT game a couple of years back between the Albany River Rats and Philadelphia Phantoms.  You also may have heard about Mr. Leighton's exploits, where he notched an astounding 98 saves!  Leighton followed that up with a road shutout in Philly in game six of that series.  Leighton's legendary 2007-08 season in Albany saw Leighton win 28 games with a 2.10 GAA, 1,634 saves and seven shutouts.  Leighton is currently backing up Cam Ward in Carolina.

Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (New Jersey Devils): LucLeblond played parts of the 2005-06 season with the old Adirondack Frostbite of the UHL and Albany River Rats in the AHL.  Between the two stops he developed a reputation as a bad boy with 295 PIM.  Now he'll take his act back to New Jersey.

John Madden (Chicago Blackhawks): Much like Brian Gionta it is strange to see Mad Dog in another jersey.  Madden was originally signed as a free agent out of Michigan because the Devils were scouting Brendan Morrison.  The former Selke Trophy winner was quite the scorer in Albany.  From 1997-99 Madden picked up 58 goals, 96 assists, good enough for 154 points in 149 games.  One season in Albany Madden netted 38 goals and 98 points.  On the Rats last playoff team to advance in 1997-98, Madden ended up with 16 points in 13 games.  Madden has two Cups and will look to put the Blackhawks over the top this year.

Cody McLeod (Colorado Avalanche): Cody skated in 73 games for the Rats during the 2006-07 season netting eleven goals while racking up 180 PIM.  McLeod set career highs for goals (15) and PIM (162) for the Avs last year.

Willie Mitchell (Vancouver Canucks): Willie is one of the toughest customers in the NHL on the blue line.  Mitchell suited up for Albany from 1998-2001 where he garnered 194 PIM.  In 12 NHL seasons Mitchell has 108 points and 573 PIM.

Jay Pandolfo (New Jersey Devils): The BU product, Pandolfo is now in season number 13 with New Jersey.  Pandolfo has remained a gritty role player for the Devils and a part of two Stanley Cup championships.  Pandolfo is five goals away from 100 on his NHL career.  Jay played 68 games in Albany from 1995-98 with one 18 goal season.

Zach Parise (New Jersey Devils): Fans in Albany were not disappointed during the lockout season of 2004-05 when Parise shined, scoring 18 goals with 40 assists in 73 games.  Parise continues his evolution as an elite NHLer, posting three straight 30 plus goal campaigns.  Last season Parise set career highs in goals with 45 assists with 49 and points with 94.

Ilkka Pikkarainen (New Jerey Devils): Pikkarainen is back in the states after three years in Finland and has finally cracked the Devils lineup.  From 2003-06 Ilkka 29 goals and 305 PIM in Albany.

Joel Rechlicz (New York Islanders): Rechlicz the Isles enforcer picked up 106 PIM in 25 games for the River Rats in 2007-08.

Brad Richardson (Los Angeles Kings): Richardson played three games for the Rats in 2006-07.

Brian Rolston (New Jersey Devils): Another one of the most successful Albany River Rats.  Rolston an original has a Stanley Cup to his name.  Additionally Rolston has four 30 goal seasons and 301 tallies in his NHL career.  Rolston had 30 points in 35 games for Albany from 1993-95.

Michael Rupp (Pittsburgh Penguins): Rupp is best known for being a grinder who scored the Stanley Cup game seven game winner in 2003 for the Devils against the Ducks.  Rupp joins the defending champion Penguins this season and was one of the few who really hustled during the dark days in Albany from 2000-03.

Michael Ryan (Carolina Hurricanes): Ryan was the lone AHL All-Star for the Rats last season and totaled 25 goals in 40 games.

Sheldon Souray (Edmonton Oilers): Souray is one of the best scoring defenseman in the NHL.  Including that hard shot from the point, Souray has been known to mix it up as well.  Sheldon scored 23 goals last year for the Oilers.  Souray who played in Albany from 1994-98 is only eight away from 100 career goals and 45 penalty minutes away from 1,000.

Chris Stewart (Colorado Avalanche): Stewart played five games for the Rats in 2006-07 and scored a career high eleven goals for the Avs last season.

Steve Sullivan (Nashville Predators): Sully, one of the most popular and succesful Rats was a huge part of their Calder Cup run in 1994-95.  Sullivan twice had 30 goal seasons in Albany and has as many in the NHL.  After missing half of last season to back surgery hopefully Sullivan will be back to the form that has enabled him to score 239 goals on his career.

Petr Sykora (Minnesota Wild): Sykora had 55 points in 50 games in Albany from 1995-98, including one 20 goal season.  Sykora will be playing his first season in Minnesota after playing for the Cup champion Pens last year.  Sykora also won a Cup with the Devils.  Sykora has registered 300 goals and 32 playoff goals in 15 NHL seasons.

Aaron Voros (New York Rangers): Voros is an enforcer of sorts with the Blueshirts racking up 122 PIM last year.  In 153 games from 2003-06 in Albany, Voros scored 29 goals and compiled 414 penalty minutes.  Voros has 263 PIM in his NHL career.

Colin White (New Jersey Devils): Whitey, the modern day Ken Daneyko is now in his tenth NHL season with the Devils.  Colin has over 754 penalty minutes in the regular season and 117 in the playoffs.  White has two Cups to his name as well.  From 1997-00 White amassed over 676 penalty minutes with the Rats.

Travis Zajac (New Jersey Devils): Zajac only played in two games for Albany in 2005-06 but has blossomed with the Devils playing in 244 out of a possible 246 games the last three years.  Last year was Zajac's first 20 goal campaign.

Mathieu Dandenault (San Jose Sharks): Dandenault played four games for the Adirondack Red Wings in 1995-96.  Dandenault, a role player was a part of three Cup winners in Detroit.  Dandenault and his 203 career points will suit up for the Sharks this season.

Kris Draper (Detroit Red Wings): Draper who was sold from the Winnipeg Jets to the Detroit Red Wings for a dollar, has had a solid NHL career.  Back in 1993-94 Draper scored 20 goals and had 23 assists in 46 games with the A-Wings.  Draper has over 331 points with Detroit and over 750 PIM to go with his four Stanley Cup rings, Detroit has gotten its bang for its buck with Kris.

Shane Hnidy (Minnesota Wild): One of the last Adirondack Red Wings from their final season in Glens Falls.  Hnidy has been a servicable NHL grinder with over 565 PIM.  In Adirondack during the 1998-99 season Hnidy had 121 PIM in 68 games.

Tomas Holmstrom (Detroit Red Wings): Holmstrom didn't play very long in Glens Falls, scoring three goals in just six games during the 1996-97 campaign.  But he has been one of the most successful and is just eleven goals away from 200 on his career.  Holmstrom, like Draper has also been a part of four Cup winners in Detroit, scoring 38 playoff goals.

Mike Knuble (Washington Capitals): Knuble was part of a pair of Cup winners in Detroit and brings that experience to Washington.  Knuble has twice captured 30 goal seasons and has six 20 plus goal seasons to boot.  Knuble has scored over 215 goals in his career and played with Adirondack from 1994-97.  In his time with the A-Wings, Knuble notched two 20 plus goal seasons with 50 overall and 108 points in 148 games.

Vyacheslav Kozlov (Atlanta Thrashers): Kozlov has had an impressive NHL career.  Kozlov has 348 goals and two Stanley Cups to his name along with 42 playoff goals.  Kozlov a two time 30 goal scorer and eleven time 20 goal scorer was a member of the Adirondack Red Wings from 1992-94.  In that time Kozlov scored 23 goals in 48 games.

Pavel Kubina (Atlanta Thrashers): Kubina played for Adirondack in 1997-98 where he totaled 86 PIM in 55 games.  The steady scoring defenseman has 97 goals and 921 PIM in the NHL.

Daymond Langkow (Calgary Flames): Langkow played only two games for Adirondack in 1996-97 and has scored over 245 goals in his NHL career.

Chris Osgood (Detroit Red Wings): Perhaps one of the more underrated goalies of his era, overshadowed by Detroit's annual firepower.  Osgood has been a part of three Stanley Cups in Detroit and is just eleven wins shy of 300 with a career GAA of 2.47.  Osgood has six seasons of 30 plus wins and one of those came with the New York Islanders where he picked up 32 which should tell you something.  Osgood starred for Adirondack from 1992-95 winning 23 games during that span.

Aaron Ward (Carolina Hurricanes): Ward has had a steady NHL career as a defenseman, just five shy from 100 assists, Ward also has 674 PIM.  Ward who has three Cups, played with Adirondack from 1993-96 compiling 66 points, 307 PIM in 208 games.