Penguins

Reader Poll: Penguins Season Awards, Best Performance, Hit & Goal

Published

3 years ago

May 9, 2021

It’s over. The breakneck pace of the 2020-21 NHL regular season is finally over and we have a moment to catch our breath from what has been an incredible pace. The Pittsburgh Penguins placed 13 games in 24 days. Then 13 games in 21 days. They were one of the teams which finished on time (but why did they have to finish on time, when so many others didn’t?)

Injuries decimated the Penguins. Few teams had to deal with the severity, scope, and significance that the Penguins trainers had on their table. Fortunately, the Penguins appear to be returning to health in time for the playoffs, where they will be the East Division No. 1 seed and would probably be the third or fourth seed when the NHL reaches the Final Four.

But it’s time to dish our PHN Penguins Regular Season Awards and for you to vote on them. We apologize, there won’t be a Ricky Gervais monologue for this awards show, though it may be more amusing than the Oscars. Of course, my mom telling a funny story, in which she forgets the punchline, circles back to explain part of the story that she missed, pauses to ask if she’s missed more of the story, doubles back to the middle again, then starts laughing before she gets to the punchline is still funnier than the Oscars.

Happy Mother’s Day!

If we didn’t ask readers’ opinions, all awards would be voted on by the PHN Kangaroo court including only this writer. Winners will be announced later this week.

Feel free to share it on Facebook and other places.

Pittsburgh Penguins Regular Season Awards:

Greatest Individual Performance:

Nominees:

Jeff Carter’s Four Goal Game on May 6.
Tristan Jarry Brilliant in 33 save win vs. NYI, Feb. 20
P.O. Joseph’s 3 Assists and 26 minutes vs. NYR, Jan. 30

[poll id=”24″]

Best Penguins Hit

Nominees:

Sidney Crosby hip check on Rasmus Ristolainen, April 18.

Cody Ceci Dumps Tom Wilson at center ice, Feb. 25:

Cody Ceci hit on Tom Wilson — GTA V Remix 😂 pic.twitter.com/IjVNYi6Vy1

— Benstonium (@Benstonium) February 26, 2021

[poll id=”22″]

PHN says: Cmon, Cody Ceci got Tom Wilson at full speed. And, an amazing season by Ceci, too, but making Wilson stare into the lights was impressive.

Greatest Goal

Nominees:

This is a tough call. We’re anxious to see your votes:

Evgeni Malkin Wrap-Around Goal, March 6

Teddy Blueger Shorthanded (5v3) Breakaway Assisted by Casey DeSmith, Jan. 19.

And, perhaps one of the most impressive team goals in Pittsburgh Penguins history. The 21-pass salute culminated in a slick Kasperi Kapanen toe-drag, top-shelf wrister on March 9.

PHN says: We’re torn between the 21-pass domination and the ultra-rare 5v3 shorthanded goal, which occurs once every five years (and add a goalie assist, too).

[poll id=”23″]