Team Jordan, 2 - Team Everyone Else, 0

Last year, Jordan beat his big brother Marc in the conference semi-final against the Rangers. This year, Jordan beat his other brother, the one with the Stanley Cup bling, in the Eastern Conference Final.

All I have to say is WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ERIC?

He showed up to maybe three periods of this entire series. He scored ONE goal. I'd feel like I was hallucinating if I wasn't so pleased that the Penguins are heading to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year running.

So far, Eric may have the bling, but he didn't have to beat one of his brother in the playoffs to get it. So, far be it for me to criticize a Stanley Cup champion, but dude? You just got your ass handed to you by your little brother's team. And by your little brother in the face-off circle.

If there was any better way to determine a winner, it was in the face-off circle.
This moment epitomized everything we wanted to see in this series.

We were completely disappointed. We expected more from the Canes. I expected more from Eric Staal. I think EVERYONE expected a 6 game series. I know I did.

I'm weirded out. I feel a little cheated, actually. Next round better be more epic. Next Staal vs. Staal showdown better be a lot better than this one was...

Team Jordan - 2, Team Eric - Godzilla's on the Horizon

There is not rational way to explain this game.

Only ridiculous ways.

And even more ridiculous ways.

We can't really compete with TSCS so we don't even try.

Between these game summaries you may actually gain some marginal insight into what this game was like and what effect it had on Pens fans. Sorry Carolina, we really don't CARE what you think. Clearly, we need some Raleigh perspective on this blog because we can't muster any during playoff season... and I'm supposed to be Acting-Captain of Team Eric... :-x

Game 3 on Saturday. If you're still drinking, we salute you! (This is no way endorses your actions, merely praises your dedication. We aren't rich enough to afford booze to last us the whole series so we're saving it for elimination games.)

If This Doesn't Make You Laugh, There's No Hope For You

Seriously.

Carolina On Ice is a solid read. Head over there for your EStaal fix, Canes analyis, and general hockey fun times.

No hockey until tomorrow because Springsteen played at Mellon Arena last night. 
What a joke.
Happy Wednesday!

The Forgotten Staal?

Hi friends! Before I begin on the journey as "captain" of "Team Jared" I figured I should be honest with you about a few things... Before today, I had never once ventured on to the web page of the Phoenix Coyotes, nor had I ever typed "Jared Staal" into the search box of Google. I'm unfamiliar with the Coyotes organization other than the fact that "The Great One" is their head coach. I'm a Pens fan, a HUGE Pens fan, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to contribute to this blog. As a Pens fan, I hear about the Staal brothers a lot, I've heard all about Henry, Linda, and the sod farm. I chose to "captain" "Team Jared" because he's pretty much the underdog of the family, the youngest brother... and, he just happens to be just two days older than me. Yeah, being born in the month of August makes him that much cooler!

Eric, Marc, and Jordan all play in the NHL. This season Marc got into a "fight" with Alexander Semin of the Washington Capitals. Jordan scored a hat trick to lead the Pens to a victory over the Wings in November. Eric lead the Canes in scoring as they became one of the NHL's hottest teams in March. Eric and Jordan are currently battling it out in the Eastern Conference final. NBC and Versus fill our minds (at least those of us in the US of A) with visions of the Sod Farm in Thunder Bay, of Henry & Linda sitting on their couch watching their sons battle it out, interviews with Marc regarding the play of his brothers.... but what about Jared? Jared is usually tacked on to the end of the story, something to the tune of, "Don't forget about the youngest -- Jared -- who was a Coyotes draft pick in 2008." Is Jared becoming the forgotten Staal?

He very well could be becoming just that, and that's definitely not something, I, as captain of "Team Jared" can let happen... So, to re-introduce you to the youngest Staal brother, I've compiled:

"By the Numbers: Jared Staal"

0 - Stanley Cups won by Jared's favorite NHL player, Joe Thornton (He plays for the Sharks... enough said...)

1 - Number of fights Jared has participated in according to hockeyfights.com. It took place *way* back on October 19, 2007.

3 - Brothers of Jared who just happen to play in the NHL (Yes. We're all very surprised by this).

5 - Stanley Cup victories by Jared's favorite NHL team, the Boston Bruins.

5 - Games Jared played with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL affiliate of the Coyotes) after signing an amateur try out contract with them on April 3, 2009.

11 - Number the Sudbury Wolves selected Jared in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection Draft.

13 - Place the San Antonio Rampage came in this season in the AHL's Western Conference (only two teams ended with less points in the Conference).

18 - Age of Jared as of today, May 20, 2009.

48 - Players drafted before Jared in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The Phoenix Coyotes selected Jared 49th - making Jared the only Staal drafted into the Western Conference, and the only Staal drafted in the 2nd round (Yay for distinction!).

52 - Points scored by Jared in his 08-09 season with the Wolves -- He compiled 19 goals and 33 assists.

104 - Points scored by Jared over his past three seasons with the OHL's Sudbury Wolves.

-------------------

Hopefully, taking a look at some of these numbers has helped you learn a little bit more about Jared -- whom I do not want to become the "forgotten Staal brother." Jared's road to the NHL might not seem as easy or quick as that of some of his brothers -- but that certainly doesn't mean it's not going to happen.

Jared's growing up, he's not going to be the "kid brother" for much longer. He's no longer the little kid he was when the Wolves drafted him back in 2006 -- it's time he gets his picture updated to something a little more... recent...


I'll be keeping my eye out for any news pertaining to my newest favorite Staal (sorry Jordan...), and I'll be sure to fill you in on anything interesting I find... and maybe some of the not so interesting stuff too...

Happy Stanley Cup Playoffs!

Team Jordan - 1, Team Eric - 0

And so it begins...

Literally. The very first face-off of the series, and both teams send out their Staals. It's probably one of those things like wearing a really hot dress when you know your sister and her friends are going to be at a party, just so you look better than her (not that my sister and I ever did this, given that we never went to the same parties or wore dresses or would ever try to compete like that, but I knew sisters who did... okay maybe that was the worst analogy EVER).

It's just that both teams seem to know that this is the ONLY storyline these this series has. They've never played a playoff series against each other. They aren't in the same conference. They both have good (but not story-line worthy) goalies - No Mason, Brodeur or Ozzy here, just good, solid boys in net, who do their job well enough to get their teams to the ECF. Cam Ward is a great goalie. And so is Marc-Andre Fleury. Really, the only this series has is the Staal-factor. So really, it's the only way to frame anything we write about this series, which works pretty well for us at SOYS...

With the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals in the books, Jordan is the favorite Staal son this morning, as the Pens beat the Canes 3-2.

The Canes website is an epic fail. You'd think after Game 1 of the Staal vs. Staal Royal Rumble, they'd have a video clip of EStaal talking about hockey, the sod farm, and the fact that he may or may not be playing his brother in an important game. Not so much. Way to be on top of things, Carolina!

I'm going to venture to guess that Linda gave her second favorite son an earful after the shenanigans he pulled late in the game. Even if you steal a car and don't get caught, it's still grand theft auto. Just because it wasn't called, knocking the stick out of MAF's hand is still goalie interference. Eric, we expect more from you. Don't tarnish the family name. Oh wait...

Instead, I was able to find a gratuitous shot of the Staals in lovely menswear. That almost makes up for the lack of an EStaal presser.

Get your shot glasses ready! Game 2 is set for Thursday night at 7:30!
- Mer & Kyile

Team Eric vs. Team Jordan vs. Team Marc vs. Team Jared

I usually hate those idiotic t-shirts, but I've recently realized that it's because I tend to hate the subjects of said t-shirts. Thing is, with four Staals, how can you not have a favourite?

I think part of the reason I've had some issues keeping up this blog is because, unlike, say, The Sidney Crosby Show, which has one focus (and therefor only one team) to follow, there are FOUR Staals, on FOUR teams, in FOUR states.

I've realized that, as much as I'd love to have the time to keep track of these boys all on my own, I can't. There just isn't enough TIME. Besides, I'm pretty sure there are people out there who know way more about certain Staals (and have way better access to local media in Raleigh and Pittsburgh and New York) than I do. If there were four people (or four 'teams'), however, covering all these boys, I think it would actually work, and this could be a pretty fun blog.

So, if you would like to contribute to this blog, let me know which Staal you would like to
cover and I'll make you Captain of Team X. I have no preference really, (even though I'm a pretty hardcore Pens fan, if you want Jordan, he's yours!) so I can cover whoever the least-loved Staal end up being.

There are no real expectations (I mean, I went 4 months between posts :S) so you can post whatever the heck you want, so long as it is Staal-related. Let me know if you're interested.

Yes, I did drop off the face of the planet for a few months

I'm not going to make excuses. I just got distracted. Simple as that.

BUT, given that the whole reason I started this blog last summer was in anticipation of the gong show that is about to go down this afternoon, I decided that it's about time I started paying this baby a little more attention. Also, since Baby Staal made his pro debut a few weeks back with Phoenix's AHL affiliate, I feel like the prospect of having all four Staals in the NHL in the next couple years is even more likely, and that made me v. V. happy.

In any case, I hope to have something up before Game One of the Eastern Conference Final tonight. If I don't, it will be up shortly thereafter.

It may be incoherent. If it is, I have the chicks at Puck Huffers and their infamous Staal Brothers Drinking Game to blame.

Enjoy it y'all; this year's ECF is going to be a Gong Show.