The real cover is plain black. Walgreens didn't have an option for a cover photo or title on the 12"x12" book. Fortunately, it was easy enough to add them for this virtual version.
Page 1. Michelle and Mike (and the sock) meet Stanley, April 3, 2010.
Page 2. Title page and listing the games included in the book.
Page 3. List of games continued.
Page 4. Michelle and Mike meet Mario after Geno's overtime goal gave the Pens a 4-3 win over the Caps in game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal at Verizon Center, Suite 363, May 9, 2009. Thanks to Lolly and her husband, Kris Weinhold, for the photo.
Page 5. Michelle and Mike: at the Doubletree in Detroit, morning after game 5, June 7, 2009; on the glass during 2nd intermission of game 6, June 9, 2009; before game 2 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Final vs the Flyers, May 11, 2008. Also a picture of Mellon Arena from our hotel room at the Marriott prior to that game against Philly.
Page 6. Game 6 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final vs Detroit at Mellon Arena.
Page 7. More game 6.
Page 8. Final minutes of game 6.
Page 9: Pens win. Scuderi is the hero.
Page 10: These were our signs at games 5 and 7 at Joe Louis Arena.
Page 11: Sid, Geno, Max and the game 7 final score on the board at the Joe.
Page 12: Geno was our pick for the Conn Smythe, as you can see from the sign my wife made. Wish we could have gotten a photo of him receiving the award (damn you, JLA security for taking our camera!), but this shot of the trophy from our trip to the Heinz History Center on April 3, 2010 will have to suffice.
Page 13: Sid's postgame interview and the team photo - hey, we're in both! :-) Top photo by Steve Shank. Bottom photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images.
Page 14: Our own little penguin kitty, Sera, lounges below what we call our "Stanley Cup Experience". A 16x20 photo of the team with the Cup surrounded by our tickets from games 5, 6 and 7 along with the gold coins that were issued for the Cup Final and the Pens' victory.
Page 15: Opening night for the 2009-10 season, October 2, 2009.
Page 16: The team watches as the banner is raised on opening night. The Pens would go on to beat the Rangers 3-2.
Page 17: I challenge Godard during warm-ups prior to the game against Tampa Bay, October 17, 2009. The Pens would win 4-1.
Page 18: Little Iceburgh watching Big Iceburgh.
Page 19: Geno and The Knitting Lady, both working those sticks. Also, Sid in the box. It was superstar night in the Sin Bin (and yet, no Talbot). Michelle made her first appearance on the Pensblog.
Page 20: Halloween night against the Wild. Sykora returns to the Igloo. Pens lost this one 2-1. FSN cameras captured Michelle behind the bench, which led the Pensblog staff to ponder the question "Who knits at a hockey game?"
Page 21: Harley is the Pens #1 fan kitty.
Page 22: Day after Thanksgiving trip to the Island, November 27, 2009. Pens dropped this one 3-2.
Page 23: Sid's hat trick on giveaway hat night against the Rangers, November 28, 2009. Pens won 8-3.
Page 24: Sid skates back to the bench after his hat trick. Little Iceburgh wears my glasses in the car on the way to the burgh for the game against Chicago.
Page 25: I took my older brother, Joe, to his first NHL game to see his Hawks beat the Pens 2-1 in overtime, December 5, 2009. Here we are at the Igloo Club before the game. I made him walk home.
Page 26: Iceburgh, holding one of the socks that Michelle knitted during the season.
Page 27: The Knitting Lady works on that sock as the Pens take on the Florida Panthers, December 12, 2009.
Page 28: Brent Johnson backstopped the Pens to this 3-2 overtime victory.
Page 29: Geno's hat trick on messenger bag giveaway night led the Pens to a 6-4 win over the Islanders, January 19, 2010.
Page 30: Top photo, during warm-ups, a fan dressed as George Costanza holds up a sign that reads "Ovechkin, Cantstandya", a reference to George's high school nickname on Seinfeld.
Page 31: The Pens celebrate a goal by Kris Letang, but it was Ovie and the Caps that got the last laugh, winning this one 6-3, January 21, 2010.
Page 32: January 31, 2010, the first meeting with the Red Wings since the Pens' dramatic game 7 victory.
Page 33: Geno plays the boards and Lidstrom quarterbacks the Wings' power play.
Page 34: Iceburgh watches as Fleury prepares for the shootout. Letang heads up the ice on his shootout attempt.
Page 35: Maybe the best pic I've ever taken as Geno moves in to score the clinching goal in the shootout. He and Sid both scored to give the Pens a 2-1 win over the Wings.
Page 36: Sid's hat trick on tote bag giveaway night led the Pens past Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres, February 1, 2010.
Page 37: Snowmageddon 2010 didn't stop us from making the trek down to Verizon Center for the Super Sunday game between the Caps and Pens, February 7, 2010.
Page 38: The Pens led through 2 periods on 2 goals each by Crosby and Staal, but once again the Caps mounted a 3rd period comeback and won this one 5-4 in overtime.
Page 39: The Rangers invade Mellon Arena shortly before the Olympic break, February 12, 2010.
Page 40: Sid scored his 41st goal of the season, but it wasn't enough as New York skated away with the 3-2 overtime win.
Page 41: Valentine's Day at the Igloo and Iceburgh is dressed for the occasion.
Page 42: The Pens got lots of shots from the point, like these from Letang and Malkin.
Page 43: Sid and Staal both came close but were denied.
Page 44: This one went to the shootout and Sid was stopped for the first and only time all season (he had one other "miss" that I'm pretty sure actually went in but wasn't reviewed). Nashville came away with the 4-3 shootout win, February 14, 2010.
Page 45: Following the Olympic break, Dan Potash poses with the Knitting Lady and her lucky sock. Also, lower right, my buddy Alan and his wife, Mary, look on as the Pens warm up.
Page 46: Looking down on the Pens' bench.
Page 47: Staal looks back at the bench and says "don't sweat it, I got this"...and he did. He picked up the goal and came back real happy!
Page 48: Staal celebrates, Sid salutes the crowd and the Pens beat the Stars 6-3, March 6, 2010.
Page 49: This might seem out of sequence, but at the March 6th game we bought this signed pic of Gonchar hoisting the Cup. Not only are we big fans of Gonch, but oh yeah, we're also in this pic. ;-)
Page 50: March 7th game vs Boston. The Pens won 2-1 but the lasting image was of Marc Savard leaving the ice on a stretcher following a hit by Matt Cooke.
Page 51: March 20, 2010. What a bitter loss. The Pens forced overtime only to lose with less than one second left in the extra period. Canes won 3-2.
Page 52: March 24, 2010 at Verizon center. Pens vs Caps. Normally when someone stands up in front and blocks the view by holding up a banner, you complain, but not when it's a Pens fan with a cool banner. Also, all eyes were on Sid. It's like the Caps thought he was going to steal the silverware or something.
Page 53: Another close game, this one went to the shootout. Letang and Crosby scored to put the Pens up 2-0, but after stoning Backstrom, Fleury uncharacteristically gave up goals to the next 3 shooters and the Caps won this one 4-3.
Page 54: March 27, 2010. Phil Bourque becomes the next Pens celeb to pose holding the lucky sock.
Page 55: The bottom photo, from Rueters, is what ultimately led Pittsburgh blogger Virginia Montanez (aka PittGirl) to discover the Knitting Lady. The Flyers look up to watch the replay of yet another Pens goal as head coach Peter Laviolette is surrounded by our signs. Pens won 4-1.
Page 56: March 28, 2010. Billy G gives his "say 'what' again, I dare you, I double dare you, say 'what' one more time!" look.
Page 57: Max teaches Rupper the most important rule - don't get high on your own supply.
Page 58: The Pens scored late in this one to force overtime. Crosby scored in the shootout and then the unlikely hero, Dupuis, got the clinching goal. Pens won 5-4.
Page 59: April 3, 2010. We encountered this fan with the SSSHHHH jersey on his way to the Igloo for the game against the Thrashers. I'm sure Max would get a kick out of it. Also, at bottom, old man Guerin puts the beat down on Jim Slater.
Page 60: Goalie hijinks: Fleury got turned around in his net and Atlanta goalie Hedberg goes WAY out of net to challenge Sid.
Page 61: Geno and Little Iceburgh take a break from the action.
Page 62: Guerin subdues Chelios, leading Slater to contemplate whacking Billy with his stick. Would have been a bad move, Jimmy.
Page 63: The Pens celebrate a goal and Sid & Geno line up for the face off.
Page 64: Getting a little tongue from Sid. Leopold would score the game winner in overtime to give the Pens a 4-3 win.
Page 65: April 8, 2010. Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Islanders. Final regular season home game at Mellon Arena.
Page 66: It was quite a pregame ceremony.
Page 67:Letang and Staal.
Page 68: Sid hits the brakes, spraying ice in Okposo's face.
Page 69: Gonchar readies for the shot.
Page 70 Turns out Sid didn't get his 50th goal in this one, but he did pick up his 500th point. The Pens won 7-3.
Page 71: Final home game means jerseys off the players backs. Jay McKee poses with the sock.
Page 72: While waiting to give away his own jersey, Letang takes a minute to sign mine.
Page 73: We bumped into Poni at the hotel after the game. Actually, we (unknowingly) cut him off on Center Ave before pulling into the garage. As we got into the elevator, Michelle asked if he would mind if we got a picture of him holding her sock. He looked down at her feet and asked "Which one". Michelle said "No, the one I'm knitting", to which he replied "but I don't knit". She said "doesn't matter, you just have to hold it". He was a cool guy. He felt really bad about getting tossed from the game. Good luck to him in LA.
Page 74: April 16, 2010. Eastern Conference Quarterfinals game 2 vs Ottawa.
Page 75: The guy in front of me had this great custom jersey. Then Sid put a monster hit on Ruutu. Okay, Jarko was really playing it up, but it looks good seeing his face smashed into the boards.
page 76: The Pens celebrate Letang's 3rd period game winning goal.
Page 77: Pens beat the Sens 2-1 to even the series at 1 game apiece.
Page 78: April 22, 2010. Pens vs Sens game 5. A really long game.
Page 79: Pens celebrate an early goal.
Page 80: Gonna miss you, Gonchar.
Page 81: The "Reservoir Coaches" head back to the bench following intermission.
Page 82: Dups looks determined. I got a nice message up on the jumbotron.
Page 83: The Sens finally got the goal midway through the 3rd overtime, giving them a 4-3 win and keeping them alive in the series.
Page 84: My buddy, Brian, all painted up for the game.
Page 85: May 2, 2010. Eastern Conference Semifinal game 2 vs Montreal.
Page 86: Two keys for the Habs, Halak and Gill.
Page 87: The Pens celebrate an early goal, but Montreal would go on to a 3-2 victory to even the series at 1 game apiece.
Page 88: May 8, 2010. Pens vs Habs game 5. Hockey Night in Canada reporter Elliotte Friedman happily poses with the lucky sock.
Page 89: Max, McKee and Guerin's pregame interview.
Page 90: Matt Cooke prays to the hockey gods.
Page 91: Hey, Letang, down in front!
Page 92: Not sure who took the picture top left. I may have taken it off the TV. It shows Michelle's "The Knitting Lady Says DO IT!" sign not long before we accidentally dropped it under the stands behind the bench. Unfortunately, this would be the last bit of knitting at Mellon Arena. Ever. Sad.
Page 93: Letang had the eye of the tiger. This one's for Ginny and all fans of Letang's Sex Hair.
Page 94: Montreal fans. Have to give them credit, they're a wacky bunch. The iconic Halak stop sign and that damn monkey puppet.
Page 95: Why the heck are these 3 guys all on the bench together?
Page 96: Gonchar scored the game winner in the Pens 2-1 win. This would be the last Pens victory ever at the Igloo.
Page 97: Sid salutes the crowd after being named a star of the game. Too bad the Pens couldn't add to their banner collection this year as they would go on to lose games 6 and 7 to Montreal.
Page 98: Little Iceburgh, looking out from the window of our room at the Doubletree, says one last goodbye to Lady Mellon.
The End.
