Pittsburgh Penguins face off against PETA after team uses live penguins during pre-game festivities

The rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers may be one of the most physically brutal NHL series but, after Saturday's Stadium Series matchup at Heinz Field, there may be some harder crosschecks on the horizon.

On Thursday, PETA — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — sent a letter to Pittsburgh Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse, criticizing the team and the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium for using live penguins during pregame festivities before the game.

Specifically, PETA took exception with a video clip that went viral, showing a group of penguins flinching and scampering in confusion after a fireworks display at the stadium

Everything about this is terrible. pic.twitter.com/RRYJSDaCeh

— m g (@kikkerlaika) February 26, 2017

The Pittsburgh Zoo responded Thursday afternoon in a statement, discounting many of PETA’s claims.

“The loud pop from the pyrotechnical display temporarily startled the penguins and their first reaction similar to a human’s when startled, they flapped their wings,” the statement reads, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “It was less than 10 seconds and the penguins were back to normal and exploring and playing on the ice.”

PETA pointed out that the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium “is no longer accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums” and therefore “no longer has to maintain the AZA’s minimal standards or care for penguins and other animals.”

“It's inherently stressful for wild animals — who naturally shun contact with humans and are extremely sensitive to environmental changes — to be hauled around, used as props, and exposed to noisy crowds, with or without explosives going off,” John Di Leonardo, a campaigner for PETA, wrote in the letter to Morehouse. “Hockey fans come to see talented athletes compete, not shy animals terrorized.”

The Pittsburgh Zoo said the penguins that participated in Saturday’s pregame entertainment were the same penguins that appear in the Penguins on Parade event, which allows the public to view the animals every Saturday and Sunday from late November through the end of February.

“They are very comfortable around people and noises,” they also claimed in their statement.

You have to admit the little guys did seem a little startled by the loud boom (who usually isn't) but it still can't be as scary as being stranded on an ice floe, staring down the mouth of a killer whale.

Spectator threw a shoe after Bruins’ Frank Vatrano's hat trick

The Boston Bruins stomped all over the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-2, on Friday night, handing them their third consecutive loss.

But it was a hockey official left holding a shoe.

A big reason for the Bruin's romp was rookie Frank Vatrano's first career hat trick. But because it happened on the road, where you don't expect a lot of hats thrown in tribute, a couple of caps did make their way down to the ice — along with the shoe.

Yup. A shoe.

The size 12 was probably a hint from a disgruntled Penguins fan sitting in the Consol Energy Center stands who had seen enough of the 21-year-old Vatrano.

In other words, take a hike.

Frank Vatrano nets his first NHL hat trick in #NHLBruins 6-2 win--WATCH: https://t.co/D0n3mJX2St

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 19, 2015

Disbelieving officials scooped up the wayward shoe which was hopefully claimed at the exit because it was snowing and about 20-degrees in Pittsburgh last night.

Mean old dude snatches souvenir puck from young Penguins fan (VIDEO)

They don't call Pittsburgh Steel City for nothing. But, after this old jerk with the Homer Simpson comb over almost ruined a young Penguins fan's night, they might want to change the spelling and call it Steal City.

During a stoppage in play, Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma tossed a puck over the glass, intended for a little boy in a Pirates hat — only to have it snatched away by the old dude.

This mean old man took a puck from a little kid: https://t.co/caWyw18jvZ https://t.co/8WNEVXcJdc

— SB Nation (@SBNation) October 30, 2015

After fans complained and word about the d-bag spread on social media, Bylsma tossed the kid another puck. Only this time, the coach first tossed it to an usher, who then made sure it ended up in the kid's hands.

And things got even better for the youngster, Iceburgh, the Penguins’ mascot, gave the kid another puck PLUS a Sidney Crosby sweater.

You deserve it, little man! pic.twitter.com/vSVPEPtWpL

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 30, 2015

Not to mention that the Penguins won too.

Brewery debuts 'Barn Rocker' beer for Islanders' last season at Nassau Coliseum

A Long Island-based brewery has partnered with Nassau Coliseum to offer a barley and hops tribute to the New York Islanders' last season inside the soon-to-be-vacated cement slab out in Hempstead.

“Barn Rocker” ale made its debut during Friday night's game against the Penguins. The beer's name commemorates the team’s final season at its current venue — known as "The Old Barn."

Oyster Bay Brewing Co. co-owners, Gabe Haim and Ryan Schlotter, who are fans of both the Islanders and beer, created the brew as a way to "do something special" for the final season at the 42-year-old Coliseum, where "Rock the Barn" has been a rallying cry. It debuted at the brewery earlier this month and was poured during a viewing party there for Tuesday's Islanders-Rangers game.

Haim said it was "created and brewed especially for the purpose of pouring it at a sports event . . . It's very light, really easy to drink, but with a lot of flavor. You can sit there and have a bunch of them."

OBB is not an official partner of the team, which means the keg will probably be dry when the Islanders move to the Barclays Center next season.

Not to worry beer guzzlers. It won't be hard finding another craft brew in Hipsterville, Brooklyn.

Sidney Crosby takes a skate blade to the crotch (VIDEO)

During the Pittsburgh Penguins game in Montreal on Saturday night, Sidney Crosby was briefly shaken up after he took a accidental hit to the groin by the skate of Montreal Canadiens forward Jiri Sekac.

A boot to the boys is bad enough but when it has a sharp blade attached to it — we're talking instant vasectomy.

Crosby went down in a heap but was at least able to ice it down immediately.

"@Sportsnet: Sidney Crosby gets kicked right in the ... ouch. http://t.co/82jvDmDiIV" Same thing happened to @petedalliday during #BoroBoys
— Scott Arnold (@ScottArnold12) January 11, 2015

After groaning in soprano for a while on the bench, not only did Crosby stay in the game, he scored the winning goal to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 overtime victory.

Young Flyers fan disgusted about getting Sidney Crosby jersey as Christmas gift (VIDEO)

A little Flyers fan looked pretty excited when someone in his family handed him a nicely wrapped Christmas gift on the big day. But, as the kid, wearing a Flyers jersey, slowly unwraps his present, that smiling face turns to disgust when he notices it was a Pittsburgh Penguins' jersey with No. 87.

"Eeeeew," the boy yells as he disgustedly pushes the No. 87 black and gold Sidney Crosby retro jersey across the table before walking over to his father to sulk.

"That's my boy," the father said. "We'll use that for toilet paper."

Guess we know where the kid stands in this NHL rivalry.

Penquins deny Sidney Crosby has mumps, but face tells a different story (PHOTO)

Although Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby will sit out the next two games as a precaution, the Pittsburgh Penguins refuse to say whether or not their star has the mumps.

General manager Jim Rutherford says it does not appear the star is dealing with the mumps even if his visibly puffy right cheek says differently. Medical specialists did recommend that Crosby not play for a while.

The right side of Sidney Crosby's face was ... different ... today: pic.twitter.com/8gVmXU8c19
— Seth Rorabaugh (@emptynetters) December 12, 2014

Multiple players on multiple teams throughout the NHL have come down with the mumps, an illness more typically associated with children.

While Crosby will not suit up Friday night against Calgary or Saturday at Columbus, the two-time NHL MVP participated in Friday morning’s skate but acknowledged not feeling well recently. Additional tests are pending.

Crosby leads the Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins with nine goals and 26 assists in 27 games.

Martin St. Louis gives emotional speech after Rangers Game 6 victory (VIDEO)

The New York Rangers impressive Game 6 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday night was heartwarming rather than heartbreaking in more ways than one.

While the Blueshirts kept their playoff hopes alive with the 3-1 win — their second W in a row — it was particularly emotional for star forward Martin St. Louis whose mother unexpectedly died of a heart attack on Thursday.

St. Louis rejoined the Rangers in time for Game 5 after a brief visit home to be with his family. Then, on Sunday — Mother's Day — St. Louis scored the game's first goal and helped the Rangers stave off elimination on home ice.

St. Louis' family was in the building for Game 6 and a loud Madison Square Garden crowd showed their affection for him by changing "Marty" throughout the game.

The emotions continued to pour out after the game in New York's dressing room.

It is customary for the Rangers to give their player of the game “The Broadway Hat." St. Louis earned it in Game 5, so it was his task to give it out on Sunday. He couldn't narrow it down to one player, though.

St. Louis delivered an emotional speech to his teammates, awarding the hat to the entire team for their effort.

“Great win, boys,” St. Louis said to the room full of Rangers. “You've gotta picture it, ya know. You gotta believe it. You gotta see it in your head that every thing's possible.

"Everybody pushed tonight. I can't pick one guy, I gotta give it to the whole team. You guys have been nothing but unbelievable for me these past couple days and I'll never forget that. This was a team [expletive] win tonight. I couldn't be prouder to be a [expletive] New York Ranger with you guys.”

The Rangers will undoubtedly take these heartfelt words into Game 7 Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.

Martin St. Louis status uncertain after mom passes away: Report

The Rangers were blindsided by terrible news on Thursday: Veteran forward Martin St. Louis’ mother, France, unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack at the age of 63.

The team confirmed the report but was not prepared to discuss St. Louis’ status for Game 5 Friday night in Pittsburgh, when the Rangers face elimination from this second-round playoff series against the Penguins, trailing three games to one.

The 38-year-old St. Louis, a 5-foot-8, 180-pound future Hall of Famer, originally born in Laval, Quebec, joined the Rangers at this year’s deadline in a major trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He tied for the team scoring lead in the first round of these playoffs with six points but has struggled mightily against the Penguins.

Slumping Rick Nash heartily booed by Rangers fans (VIDEO)

While Sidney Crosby was getting his first drink of water inside the net, Rangers Rick Nash‘s playoff goal scoring drought continues and is getting pretty intense.

Nash has no goals in 11 playoff games this year and has scored just two goals in 27 career postseason games. Only one of those scores have come with the New York Rangers.

For a guy that typically gets at least 30 goals per season — he finished with 26 in 2013-14, but was limited to 65 contests. 

“I understand it. It’s tough,” Nash said of being booed. "It doesn't matter what you do all year, it matters what you do in the playoffs when things count. Obviously I've been struggling."

And his glaring scoring deficiencies didn't go unnoticed by fans at Madison Square Garden where he was booed every time he had the puck Wednesday night.

Alain Vigneault think the Rangers might need a change — a wardrobe change.

"Their big boys put on the big boy pants," the Rangers coach said after a crucial Game 4 loss to Pittsburgh. "I need mine to do that."

Then he was asked if he needed to relay that message to his big boys.

Vigneault smirked and said, "I think they've picked up on it."

Lightning winger Ryan Malone arrested for cocaine possession and DUI: Report

Tampa Bay Lightning left winger Ryan Malone was arrested early Saturday morning under suspicion of cocaine possession and driving under the influence early Saturday morning in Tampa.

Malone's BAC was .112 and .116 according to his booking information, which is over the legal limit in Florida of .08.

Malone was booked at 5:40 a.m. and is being held on $2,500 bond.

"We are aware of the situation concerning Ryan Malone this morning," Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said in a statement. "Ryan will not travel with the team to Washington today, but beyond tht we cannot comment further at this time."

Malone is still in custody at the Hillsborough County Jail as of 8:19 a.m. according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department website.

According to WFLA-TV, a Tampa police officer saw Malone hit a curb while driving and pulled the Lightning forward over at 3:23 a.m.. The officer then found cocaine in his pants pocket.

Malone was a scratch in the Lightning's 3-2 win vs. Columbus on Friday night at home and hasn't played since April 5. He has five goals and has 10 assists in 57 games with the Lightning this season.

Malone has played 10 seasons in the NHL, including four years with his hometownPittsburgh Penguins and the last six with the Lightning. He was part of the U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey Team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Penguins’ Robert Bortuzzo and Predators’ Colin Wilson in bloody ice brawl (VIDEO)

A first-period brawl between Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo and Nashville center Colin Wilson Tuesday night left both skaters a bloody mess.

Both Bortuzzo and Wilson were hit with five-minute majors for fighting in the final minute of the first period.

The bare-knuckled bout was a draw, but the Penguins skated away with a 3-1victory.

Female fan propositions Sidney Crosby with sign from stands (PHOTO)

There's no shortage of Sidney Crosby fans waving signs in Pittsburgh but this female admirer gave crashing the boards a whole new meaning with her's.

The woman holding this suggestive sign was captured by television cameras during the rivalry night game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night:

Too bad for her, Sid is already taken and gets concussed often. 

Kyle Okposo squares off with Matt Niskanen and sparks Islanders' win

The New York Islanders fought back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the favored Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, but it might have been one punch that set the comeback in motion.
With one overwhelming overhand right from Kyle Okposo to Matt Niskanen, the Islanders took matter into their own hands and forced the top-seeded Penguins to take them seriously.

The end result was a 4-3 triumph over a more talented Penguins team at Consol Energy Center, tying the teams’ first-round playoff series 1-1 with Game 3 tomorrow at the Nassau Coliseum.

“We wanted to let them know it was going to be a battle,” Okposo said, “and we’re not going to roll over.”

With 4:58 gone by in the second period, the Islanders were outplaying the Penguins, but were down 2-1. Okposo saw Pittsburgh defenseman Matt Niskanen level his teammate Matt Moulson, and the winger did not let him get away scott-free.

He instead grabbed Niskanen and tossed aside his helmet, swung a right hook and bloodied Niskanen’s face. The gash on his left cheek was deep, and the brawl seemed to ignite a fire and a new  attitude showing that this Islanders team — in the playoffs for the first time in six years and with the vast majority of its players skating in the playoffs for the first time — was not going to just lay down.

“It shows a lot of character and [guts],” said defenseman Travis Hamonic, on the ice when Evgeni Malkin gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead just 43 seconds into the game. “What Kyle did is a huge game-changer.”

Maybe a team changer too?

Carter and Bortuzzo drop the gloves four seconds into Devils-Penguins matchup

What do you usually get when NHL division rivals battling for first place meet on back-to-back days? Usually a lot of aching players with even sorer dispositions.

On Sunday night, New Jersey Devils' Ryan Carter and Pittsburgh Penguins Robert Bortuzzo didn't waste any time getting that fact across by dropping the gloves and tossing their helmets just four seconds after the opening puck was dropped.

Both players landed some powerful punches, but it was the bigger Bortuzzo who ended up on top of the Devils winger.



The Devils had the last laugh and went on to complete the home-and-home sweep over the weekend — both by 3-1 scores. It was the fifth straight win for the Devils.

These two teams do not like each other right now.

Brodeur appears in 1,200th game and makes goofy save

Martin Brodeur appeared in his 1,200th game for the New Jersey Devils on Saturday and led his team to a 3-1 victory over the streaking Pittsburgh Penguins in front of a sellout crowd of 17,625 at the Prudential Center.

In typical fashion, Brodeur stopped 24 of 25 shots on goal — as the Devils took over first place — but it was a unusual Brodeur moment at the end of the second period that fans will remember.  One that will probably never make the future Hall of Famer's highlight film, but will definitely be on his blooper reel.

The sequence starts with the Penguins on a power play, Brodeur loses his stick and has to chase it into a corner to retrieve it. The Devils goalie picks it up and as he heads back to the net, Evgeni Malkin fires a shot from the blue line at the empty net while Brodeur races over.

The puck hit the post, bounces off Brodeur's toe and slides across the net as he acrobatically tries to keep it from going in. Then he just falls over.

The goal wouldn't have counted because the Penguins were offside, but that's what makes it even funnier.

Even the old pro had a good laugh after that play.

Restaurant owner to Flyers: 'No ribs for you'

If the Philadelphia Flyers want to win in Pittsburgh on Saturday— and in the first round of their probable first round Stanley Cup playoff series— they will have to do it without their good luck charm— buckets of ribs from their favorite BBQ joint.

Peter Laviolette said the reason for the Flyers' recent success against the Penguins in Pittsburgh is because DeeJay's, a popular restaurant in nearby Weirton, W. Va., has been supplying the Flyers team with its favorite postgame meal.

The Flyers head coach claims that— since the restaurant has been delivering the food to the Flyers' charter plane— the visitors are 5-0-0 at the Consol Energy Center since its opening on Oct. 7, 2010.

When the owner of DeeJay's, Dewey Guida, started getting heat from Penguins fans for helping the cross-state rivals, he vowed not to serve the good luck take-out to the Flyers team anymore.

"No more ribs for them," said Guida.  ""And I pray, I hope, that the Penguins beat their skates off."

Guida, whose grill has hosted famous athletes, coaches and even presidents in its 24 years of business, is a die-hard Penguins fan, and said he's known Laviolette from his coaching days with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL in 1997-98.

"It started out so innocent," said Guida.  "Peter Laviolette and I have been friends for years.  We became friends, and we've kept the relationship up over the years, as I have with other coaches, like Scotty Bowman and Eddie Johnston."

Nothing comes between a friendship like a Stanley Cup playoff series spot— especially between two teams whose last minute brawl on Sunday cost already cost Laviolette a $10,000 fine.

"Those ribs seem to do the trick," Laviolette told reporters after Sunday's 6-4 win in Pittsburgh.  "Whenever the ribs are ordered, we win.  I want to thank DeeJay's."

This quote set off a firestorm of protests against the rib joint from Pens fans.  The controversy has Guida doing a lot of public relations— via radio, television and print interviews— to show Pittsburgh he won't support the enemy.

Looks like the Flyers will have to brown bag some cheesesteak sandwiches in the future.

Islanders TV Slug-Fest Cancelled: Fans Could Have Gone To Mets Hug-Fest Instead

Pressure from the NHL and a backlash from "purist" hockey fans has caused the MSG Network to scrap plans for the rebroadcast of a brawl-filled New York Islanders-Pittsburgh Penguins game at a "viewing party."  The infamous Feb. 11 contest was filled with fight after fight after fight.  Both teams combined for 65 penalties, 346 penalty minutes and 10 ejections in the 9-3 Isles victory.

Critics claimed this particular game shed a bad light on the sport.

Is it so bad that a hockey game actually had 12 goals, had more punches than a Wladimir Klitschko heavyweight fight and filled a normally boring arena with excitement?  The NHL thought so.  Anyway, here's a sample of what fans will be missing.

The Islanders/Penguins cage-match had 15 fighting majors and 20 misconducts.  It set records for both teams for most combined penalty minutes and almost left both teams with barely enough players to finish the game.

The NHL suspended Islanders Trevor Gillies for nine games, Mark Martin for four and handed the club a whopping $100,000 fine.

It's not every night-- actually it's not any night-- the Islanders can fill an arena-- never mind a bar.  The last time the team won a championship "Tron" was boring people at the theaters-- the original  Tron.

Tonight's viewing party is at a Champions in Long Island and was part of an eight-game series to promote the team and relive last season's few highlights.  MSG-Plus will now air a rebroadcast of an Islanders game against the Buffalo Sabres.  You remember that game...yawn.

It's just foreplay before the team joins the Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in a couple of years anyway.

Tonight, if fans wanted less thugs and more hugs, they could have headed over to Citi Field instead.

The first 100 fans who arrive at Friday's Mets game against the Milwaukee Brewers get free admission, if they take part in celebrity Nick Cannon's "Hug It Out," in an attempt to set a Guinness world record for most hugs in an hour.  I guess Johan Santana was considered too brittle.

Cannon, singer Mariah Carey's husband, should get home more often.  How else can you explain why the host of America's Got Talent and a NYC morning radio show would want to touch over 1,800 desperate Mets fans.  He'll be covered in tears.

So head out to Citi Field and hug the new Ryan  Seacrest and get a free T-shirt to prove it.