Your final from Sunrise: Florida 4, Pittsburgh 2.
Here's some bonus stuff for ya on a Sunday night while you're watching Cold Case.
KEITH BALLARD
On Sidney Crosby:
Usually after something like that you have to expect that someone is coming. He kind of just came to me, so I got my gloves off quick. I think it's a clean hit, I don't know if they do or not. But that's part of it.
They were on the power play, so they didn't have a bunch of tough guys out there. I expected someone to come, I didn't know who it would be. He's their captain and he understands that no matter who it is, you have to do something. He's an intense player, competitive. At that point of the game, that was pretty much the right thing to do.
DAVID BOOTH
On Ballard's hit:
That Ballard hit really changed the momentum, we were getting outshot pretty bad there. That got the crowd really going especially on a big, star player like Malkin. They're probably the best two players in the league so when they're on the ice together it's really tough. For Ballard to take out both Malkin and Crosby on the same shift, that's pretty cool.
On Crosby:
He's frustrated. When you hit, get physical, it gets under your skin. It got under his skin. Everyone. That was big. I think everyone knows who Crosby is, so that fight boosted the crowd up.
You respect players out there, but Ballard made a big hit out there and he was sticking up for his teammate. At least he challenged him and didn't sucker him like he did McLean the last time. That was kind of cool.
On the crowd:
''It was awesome.That's what you feed off of, especially at this time of the year. We only have one home game left and it's kind of cool we ended that way. I remember going into Washington last year and that was probably the craziest crowd I've ever been a part of. I hope it's like that Saturday.''
George, thanks lots for these bonus posts... I really appreciate it. I love em! (I still set my alarm clock for 1am so I can read your story in the next days' paper). I guess I am a real addict.
Posted by: Howard | April 05, 2009 at 09:36 PM
need more of you, howie...a lot more...and thanks...
Posted by: George Richards | April 06, 2009 at 02:06 AM
I dont post a lot but ive been reading for years, so guess I'll add my two cents thank you as well.
Posted by: FinFan4Life | April 06, 2009 at 02:22 AM
What a phenomenal hit! TY for the updates as always.
Posted by: MadMax | April 06, 2009 at 09:30 AM
Nice talking with you last night about your chicken wing omelette dish.:)
I've only heard good things about this place.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=d'alessandro's+philadelphia&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&view=text&latlng=715454552698283137
Posted by: Bill Whitehead | April 06, 2009 at 10:38 AM
looking forward to it...thanks man...and I'm telling you, the chicken wing omlette is gooood...
Posted by: George Richards | April 06, 2009 at 10:42 AM