First off, please bear with me, this is my first attempt at a blog.
Today, March 30, 2009, I have decided to begin my yearly ritual on my personal approach to the NHL playoffs. I will begin to grow my playoff beard. I know what you're thinking..... playoffs don't start until April 15th, moron. I understand that. However you must look at the position our Pittsburgh Penguins are in.
But before I break that down, let me share with you a brief history of my beards.
December 4th, 2005 - Superbowl 40
On this day in Steeler history, they were handed a defeat by the Cincinnati Bengals 38-31 to pretty much assure them no hope at any kind of playoff chance. I did not get to watch this game. I was bed ridden with a nasty infection from having my wisdom teeth removed. 
Nasty, Huh? I spent 3 days horribly in pain and looking like I was wearing a fat suit. Not a pretty sight. So uncomfortable that I refused to shave.
As the next week approached, the Steelers faced off against the Chicago Bears and trounced them 21-9. I'll never forget Bettis running through Urlacker like a 80 year old woman. But I still knew they had to win out to even have a chance at the 6th seed. Next the Vikings fell 18-3, followed by a whooping to the Cleveland Brownies 41-0. It was only a few days before the eventual victory vs. the Detroit Lions did I start to believe what I was seeing. They can actually do this. Can they win 8 games in a row and win that Superbowl?
I put my faith in the beard. My playoff beard was born.
It was only a short few weeks after that before they began speaking with Big Ben about his beard and how it started. Did I start a trend? Hell no. That is just belief in themselves.
He had it, and his team knew it. Through Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and a cake walk through Denver, they rode that bus all the way to Detroit and Superbowl ring #5.
February 7th, 2006, I shaved my beloved playoff beard. And as I watched my face fur fall into the sink I only wondered when the next time I would do this. I know this year the Pens weren't going into Lord Stanley's quest with rookie Sidney Crosby leading the team, and the Pirates.........hell, we'll leave that beard for Johny Depp. I knew I would have another chance soon.
March 9th, 2008 - Stanley Cup run of 2008
With one month left in the regular season, the Pittsburgh Penguins were climbing the ladder of the Eastern Conference with new additions of Marion Hossa and Pascal Dupuis leading the way with Crosby and Malkin, I was quite content with the way they were playing. However, I knew it was not the time to give. I knew they had to look at the rest of the season as a playoff format. With 13 games left, they couldn't afford to lose many more and still be at any comfortable position for playoffs. Thus beard #2 began. As the playoffs grew deeper, I felt as I was apart of the team watching them grow some of their pathetic excuses for facial hair. But as Memorial Day came and the Stanley Cup Finals began, I was with em. 
Look at that beast of a beard.
This was Memorial Day weekend.
My wife hated that beard.
But look what the beard did. Yes, they did lose.
But did they?
Wayne Gretzky lost his first finals and look what he did afterwards.
Only time will tell.
December 28th, 2008 - Superbowl 43
After a Terrible towel trample by the Titans and a fresh shaving, the Steelers needed a good push into the Superbowl 43 run. With a last game vs. the Browns, this was my opportunity to begin the beard. And with another whooping of those damn Brownies 31-0, I knew it was a matter of time.
Needless to say, we all know what happened next............. #6 baby.
March 30th, 2009
Today I begin my growth to support the 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins. With only six games left in the season, I believe their playoffs have already begun. They can not afford to lose 4 games of the six remaining. Yes, losing 4 would not mathematically eliminate them, but it also could. I believe with this year's team, they just need to get in. With the talent they have on the bench, and the system they believe in, no team can stop them this year. Yes, all season they look like they have been running in neutral. Do you blame them? Do you know what they went through last year to make it where they did? They played 102 games, not including preseason.
102 games!
That is what they learned last year...it's a marathon, not a sprint.
As the rest of the NHL sprints to the Stanley Cup, like the hare of the old story, the Pens will take their experience, patience, and health into Lord Stanley's quest of 2009 at a pace that is recognized as one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now that noone whats to play.
Who will they play 1st round? It doesn't matter. Be Boston, Washington, New Jersey, or Philly, we have that man power to knock any of them out.
Home ice advantage? Nice, but not nessecary.
We love to play at home, but they grow together on the road. Gel as a team and no one will stop em.
I myself am looking forward to Lord Stanley's quest to come home to Pittsburgh this year.
I'm also looking forward to combing my beard in June.
LET'S GO PENS!
