PREGAME

Again, all that boring hockey the Devils plays really shows up in their attendance. The official attendance is 14,862. They're lucky if 9,000 are there.

Our man Dan Potash interviews Sergei Gonchar who we called a jerk last week for stiffing him. Potash cleared everything up in an e-mail: "Sergei did apologize (twice)... he is not a jerk. But thanks for having my back. -- Potash" ... No need to cut Gonchar's brake lines now, we guess.

Gonchar: Not a jerk. But a questionable dresser.

And we're that tight with Dan too. He's just "Potash" to us. And none of you.

Good point by Paul Steigerwald that this might be the final Penguins game in Brendan Byrne Are--, err ... Continental Airlines Arena.

FIRST PERIOD

20:00-The energy line of Gary Roberts-Maxime Talbot-Colby Armstrong starts the game again.

19:05-Colin White gives Sidney Crosby a good check to the ice.

17:33-Cam Janssen gets his first shot on goal this decade. Thibault shakes off the shock of the event and makes an easy save.

11:52-Roberts takes a feed from Armstrong in the slot and fires off a quick shot that Brodeur denies.

8:14-A turnover by Ryan Whitney leads to a chance for Scott Gomez. Gomez's shot hits the post however.

7:46-Great stat from FSN Pittsburgh showing us that the Penguins have a chance to become the first team since the 1959-60 Chicago Blackhawks to have the leading overall scorer and the top point-men among rookies and defensemen. Right now, Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Gonchar are doing the trick for the Penguins. Bobby Hull, Bill Hay and Pierre Pilote did it for the Blackhawks. Guess who won the Cup the next season?

3:17-Zach Parise lets loose a quick shot that Thibault knocks down and tries to cover. The puck comes loose but the referees blow a quick whistle.

3:04-Bob Errey talks about Brad Lukowich flying Lou Lamoriello's private jet from Pittsburgh to New Jersey last week. For some reason, this is how we envision what that "jet" looks like.

0:00-End of period. We get an opportunity to stop gnawing our elbow. Devils 0, Penguins 0.

FIRST INTERMISSION

A Ken Wregget sighting. Always good.

SECOND PERIOD

15:55-According to Errey and Steigerwald, Orpik gets away with a slash to Janssen.

12:50-Jarkko Ruutu passes up a clean shot on net and makes an awful pass attempt to Ronald Petrovicky that hits the far boards.

12:43-Former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin fires a shot on net that Thibault kicks out.

11:22-Malkin tries to charge on net with the puck against two Devils and White thumps him to the ice with a good check.

11:11-A laser on net by Rob Scuderi is snatched out of the air by Martin Brodeur. The game is opening up a tad.

11:10-Malkin's spectacular breakout goal against the Devils on Oct. 24 is shown again. Never gets old.

8:11-Hallelujah! Brad Lukowich is called for holding.

8:00-Apparently using an old pair of Francois Leroux's skates, Gonchar takes the puck at the point and simply falls down. John Madden steals it and is off on a breakaway.

7:56-Madden, as we stated last week, apparently has issues with dealing with the puck once he goes past the opponent's blue line with it. He fires it over the Penguins' cage.

7:33-Noted Penguin killer Jay Pandolfo clears a puck into the face of Crosby who leaves the ice to receive repairs.

5:46-Ruutu takes a bad penalty as he runs Lukowich along the boards.

5:25-Armstrong tries a wrap-around but Brian Rafalski holds him off.

4:45-Mike Rupp tries to whack a loose puck past Thibault but is unsuccessful.

3:52-On a two-on-one, Parise misses a good opportunity and fans on a shot.

3:31-Ruutu gets away with a trip on Johnny Oduya.

2:42-Worst. Goal. Ever. Again. Ruutu, on the ice only because he had just come out of the box when his penalty ended, takes a pass from Crosby along the goal line. From the corner he throws the puck on net and Travis Zajac accidentally deflects it past Brodeur in net. Penguins 1, Devils 0.

2:28-Malkin backhands a pass through traffic to Jordan Staal who shoots the puck right into the mid-section of Brodeur.

1:24-Roberts kicks out the skate of Martin accidentally tripping him. No call.

1:03-As Rupp is going to the bench, he gets tangled up with Roberts. Roberts is 6-foot-2, 212 pounds. Rupp is 6-foot-5, 230 pounds. Roberts doesn't care. After they throw a few punches, Roberts proceeds to dump the larger man into the Devils' bench.

Where is that dang contact lens?

In addition to fighting majors, Roberts gets two minutes for roughing. Frankly, he probably should've gotten an instigating penalty. He dropped his gloves first.

0:00-End of period. As the final seconds tick away, Crosby gets a chance in front of the net but falls down trying to make a play. Despite not being touched, Steigerwald claims Crosby was clotheslined by White while Errey says White got a right glove into Crosby's face. Penguins 1, Devils 0.

SECOND INTERMISSION

Whitney interrupts Potash's one-on-one with Ruutu. Jerk.

THIRD PERIOD

16:27-A blast by White from the point is eaten up by Thibault.

11:05-Steigerwald says there aren't a lot of negative things you could say about the New Jersey Devils this year. Uh... 1.) Cam Janssen mugging Tomas Kaberle. 2.) Boring hockey. 3.) Poor attendance. 4.) Claude Julien's head.

10:36-Petrovicky gets a chance in front but misses the net.

10:29-Erik Christensen gets a chance right from the left faceoff circle and buries it behind Brodeur. Penguins 2-0.

9:38-Rupp dumps Gonchar behind the Penguins' net.

8:58-A big drive to the net by Martin from the point is knocked away by Thibault.

8:30-Steigerwald hints that Gonchar could be a Norris Trophy candidate and immediately blows his argument out of the water by noting that Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom is a plus-38 while Gonchar is a minus-7.

8:38-There is a Devils fan dressed completely in goaltender equipment sitting behind the Penguins bench in a Brodeur jersey. Either that or it's really Brodeur grabbing a soft pretzel in between the four quality scoring chances he usually faces during a game.

7:54-An NFL game breaks out as we go to commercial 34 seconds later.

5:35-Crosby takes a stick to the face off the face off. Say that last part three time fast.

5:25-While trying to leave the ice, Crosby plays the puck with is skate and the Penguins are called for too many on the ice.

2:36-Staal grabs the puck in the crease, dekes past a poke check by Brodeur and smoothly backhands it up high into the net. It is his 28th goal of the season. Penguins 3-0.

"I've got more goals than the Devils have fans!"

2:24-Steigerwald uses the "S" world and essentially begins Staal's Selke Trophy candidacy.

0:00-End of period. Thibault gets his first shutout since 2003. Penguins 3, Devils 0.

POSTGAME

Shelly Anderson's recap.

Mark Eaton is on his way back.

Game summary.

Hill District residents want a say in plans involving a new arena.

Penguins now sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

Though he wasn't forced to make any spectacular saves, Thibault played a good game.

The ice in Continental Airlines Arena looked a lot like this:

No Zamboni's fixing that.

The Roberts-Rupp fight reminds us of a fight a few years ago between Eric Cairns, then of the Islanders and Kelly Buchberger of the Penguins. Cairns literally bent Buchberger over the bench and punched him in the back of his bald head several times. We would pay someone our next car payment to find a video of it.

Did anyone else have their retinas burned by how the ice showed up on their television?

EMPTY NETTER ASSISTS

Detroit takes control of the Western Conference with their sweep of a two-game "series" with Nashville.

Paul Stastny's case for the Calder Trophy gets better.

The Flyers give interim general manager Paul Holmgren a two-year extension. Holmgren has done a good job of managing the mess the Flyers are when they were dumped in his lap after Bobby Clarke resigned. Plus he's finally stopped whining about the officiating in Super Bowl XL. Oh, wait ... wrong Holmgren.

John LeClair might get an opportunity to retire with the Flyers. One could argue he was already retired while playing for the Penguins.

While we were pretty proud of our coverage of the arena deal here at the PG, we'd be remiss not to give credit to our chief competitor, The Carbolic Smoke Ball. They have some great stories here, here, here and here.

EMPTY NETTERS E-MAIL INBOX

We came to the conclusion that you guys were really interested in that arena issue. Because you committed assault on our e-mail. We apologized if we couldn't respond to each of you. Attempting to do that would've caused us to lose one of our phalanges.

Here were some more of our readers' comments:

"I admit I'm an old fan remembering when the original Penguins played in uniforms that were two shades of blue in their inaugural season, 1967-68. Then they came to their senses and became real Pittsburghers and changed their colors to black and gold. We lived in the Pittsburgh area but two years but my heart, my soul and my very being is in that wonderful city alongside the three rivers. God bless everyone who had a hand in keeping the Pens where they belong and are loved -- PITTSBURGH -- America's best kept secret." -- Alan De Petro, now living along the hurricane prone coast of southwest Florida.

"Now that Mario's patience has paid off, I only wish I had the money to buy the naming rights for the new arena. I would call it the Soixante-Six Center." -- Ann Vrabel, Baltimore

"Thank you for saving our Penguins. It has been a long and tough process I know but thank you for sticking with it. The Penguins are Pittsburghs team and that is how it should stay. Its good to Finally have this arena deal behind us and for the first time in a long time just worry about hockey. Now we can finally focus on the playoffs.I can't wait to see you guys again when you come to Washington on the 27th." -- Jeremy Doan, Baltimore

"Naming rights or no, there is only one name that should be affixed to the new arena -- that of Mario Lemieux. Time to start a campaign." -- Jim Hiscott, Washington D.C.

"I remember meeting a women from PITTSBURGH at the Atlanta Airport a few years ago. We were discussing some problems PITTSBURGH was having at the time, she said something I will always remember...."somehow and in some way, PITTSBURGH always finds a way to land on its feet." A great city with great proud and loyal people -- GO PENS...GO PITTSBURGH!" -- Bob Wurzer (Born In Etna) Living In Palm Harbor, Fl

"This is great news for all Penguin fans. Now only one thing is missing...Mike Lange. Hopefully Fox will do the right thing and get him back on television. In previous years, I was always disappointed when I got the opposing team's broadcasters on the satellite feed. This season, I pray for the other team's announcers. Paul Steigerwald is average, boring and brings no excitement to the games. Luckily, the team is good so people will still watch but if he were doing the games two years ago I would have stopped watching. Mike Lange made even a bad team fun to watch. Bring back Elvis!" -- Chris Rathke, Philadelphia, PA (proudly born and raised in Gibsonia, PA)

"In recognition of the cutthroat deal KC and AEG offered with the Sprint Center, all loyal Pens fans should use a different long distance carrier." -- Steve Roberts, Bovina Center, NY (Mt. Lebanon)

"Praise God! I have sweated this arena deal for so long. I am glad it is over. I can remember being stunned at the news the slots license did not go to IOC. I thought, "what do you have to be, an idiot, to get on the PA Gaming Board?" I popped a bottle of champagne during the game last night I was so happy. Now I don't have to become a Hurricanes fan. Are they going to call the new arena "the house that Mario built?" -- Brian Bennett, Richmond, VA

"First the Pirates, Steelers and now the Penguins, next on the agenda, the Pittsburgh Brewing Company (Iron City Beer)!" -- Stan Lubowicki, Brooklyn, NY

"To L. Smith, Kansas City: Pittsburgh fans have supported hockey for many more years than Kansas City. Didn't you lose a hockey team awhile back? Kemper Arena was no prize either, hence your KC Comets sat out until the new one is finished. You came close to losing the Wizards as recently as one year ago. I'm fairly certain the 'Burgh supports its teams just fine, thank-you!" -- Jon Jankovich, Bradenton, FL (formerly of Coraopolis)

"Now that the deal for the Penguins arena has been signed, I hope the arena and the other development are successful. But this deal further demonstrates that Pittsburghers can be duped by a strong willed politician, a popular team owner, and ravenous fans who do not comprehend when they have been taken." -- David Hoffman, San Pedro, CA

"All I can say is that I am glad that the Penguins, city, county and state officials FINALLY GOT THIS DEAL DONE. As a Pittsburgh resident who attends college at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire and an avid Pittsburgh sports fan I am glad that the bright future of this proud franchise will remain in the city it belongs. I am also glad that all parties came to their senses and were able to work this deal out. In conclusion all I can say is thank you for not making this the darkest night in recent Pittsburgh history. LET'S GO PENS!!" -- Malcolm B. Smith (Pittsburgh Resident & Member of Colby-Sawyer College's Class of 2008)

"You still don't deserve a team. Why the NHL did not lobby more for Lemieux to move the team to a real city is beyond me. The Penguins have always stunk and always will. Let's see how much hooting and hollering you'll be doing when your team is swept in the first round of the playoffs, that's if they even make it. I'm guessing once the people of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania realize the tax soaking they will get from this travesty, they won't be rejoicing so much. GO DEVILS!!" -- Gerry Mahoney, Newark, NY

(Editor's note: Your team is moving to Newark, N.J. dude. Newark.)

"Well scratch my back with a hacksaw! Even though I don't live in the 'Burgh, I'm thrilled that I'm going to be able to introduce my children to Pittsburgh Penguins hockey someday. If you've never seen Pens fans at an away game, it's a level of pride unlike any other fans in the NHL. Thanks for doing the right thing and saving our beloved franchise again, Mario!" --

Andrew Santelli, Celebration, FL (formerly of O'Hara)

"As I grabbed the news from post-gazette.com tonight I had chills all over my spine. I just can't stopp reading again and again the magic words "Arena deal keeps Penguins in Pittsburgh." Then I shouted so loud than I even woke up my wife and my cat! Being raised in a culture where hockey is maybe the 30th most popular sport, I was lucky enough to play it during the Cup's years and started routing for the Penguins at that moment. I grew up with the Pens being No. 1 in my heart and followed them from overseas. I managed to see them live once in Montreal. I never went to Pittsburgh and never had the chance to sit once at the Mellon Arena, but what I know for sure is that now I still have a chance to make my dream come true and see the Penguins at home. In my life I'm only sure of three things, death, taxes and that in 'Pittsburgh Penguins' the first name is as important as the second. LET'S GO PENS!" -- S.Vallecalle, Paris, France

"I grew up in Pittsburgh, and I'm still a big Penguin fan and I'm glad a deal was done. I'm not a big fan of the politicians involved, but doesn't anyone understand how this really works? Mario and the boys were NEVER leaving! NEVER!!! This was just another Millionaire Boys club holding a city, and state hostage. Bettman got involved because he wasn't going to let it happen, especially not to one of the best hockey fan bases in the NHL." -- C. Swinney, Collegeville, PA