Grand Haven native and Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Blysma took a different approach to the “morning skate”, than Mike Babcock and the Red Wings did.  While many of the Red Wing regulars, and the coach himself, skipped the morning skate, all of the healthy Penguins were on the ice with Bylsma late this morning.

The Pens hit the ice, shortly before 11:25 a.m.  The Pens seemed very relaxed and at ease during the skate… even more so than the Wings… who were pretty at ease themselves.  Photographer “Eli the Penguin” and I had a chance to do interviews in both locker rooms, and attend both coaches news conferences today…. the second of which… Dan Bylsma’s… just ended.  As a group, everyone involved seems to be embracing the situation, much more than fearing it, or at least being overly nervous because of it…. at least that’s what there saying publicly.  As Blysma just said, “It’s going to be good for one team at the end of the night.  The other is going to wish it was a (best of) nine game series.”

“Eli the Penguin” and I are headed back to the satellite truck to begin sifting through an hour of tape of so, to cut a few of the best bites (interview segments) for tonight’s 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. shows on WOOD-TV.  Hope you’ll join us.

Go Wings! (Regardless of what Eli says)