Penguins Are Cool

Imagine for a minute you were a fan of, say, the Milwaukee Bucks or, God forbid, the Knicks. No superstars and no championship rings there. You probably wouldn’t go to many games. Now imagine a visiting team that somehow featured Lebron James and Dwyane Wade: two young, once-in-a-generation talents who transcend the sport and become cultural phenomena? You’d have to go to that game, wouldn’t you?

Well, when it comes to hockey, the Florida Panthers are something like the Bucks – just mediocre – but the Pittsburgh Penguins come to town featuring two young saviors of the sport. Although Sidney Crosby, odds-on favorite for the scoring title; and rookie-of-the-year frontrunner Evgeni Malkin are already terrifying goalies with their jaw-dropping shots, neither can legally buy a beer in this country. Whether you’re a casual fan or practically Canadian, there’s no excuse for missing the future of the sport.
Wed., Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m.