The way Tomas Vokoun played for most of Friday night’s 3-2 loss to the Pens should have warranted a better outcome for the Florida Panthers.  Vokoun made 41 saves and looked sharp most of the night, but it wasn’t enough as Sidney Crosby scored a power-play goal early in the third and notched his first career short-handed marker to tie the game late in the period.

As good as Vokoun was in regulation in overtime, he didn’t stand a chance when Crosby skated in on him in the shootout.  Crosby’s third shootout goal in as many attempts was the difference in what continues to be an incredible October for the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Peep it:

Friday marked not only Sidney Crosby’s birthday, but his day to show off Lord Stanley’s Mug to the Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia faithful.

It’s been many years since I’ve participated in a Joe Lamontagne Memorial March Break Tournament, but the commitment to hockey by the local Cole Harbour fans has never been lost on me.  Some of those same people who used to throw batteries at me from the stands (okay, that’s not true.  They were tough though) came out of the proverbial woodwork yesterday to get a look at their boy and his toy.  Crosby paraded the Stanley Cup he won with the Pittsburgh Penguins through the outskirts of Halifax for an estimated crowd of 25,000.

A big helping of thanks is in order to Hockeyhead reader Brian MacLean for allowing the use of his exclusive pictures.  Without you, I am nothing.

Anyone that knows anyone, that knows anyone who has won a Stanley Cup is aware that a player’s day with the Cup necessitates a classic game of road hockey between some old friends.  With the prize for victory being the Stanley Cup, of course.  In Sidney Crosby’s case, that meant strapping on the goalie gear to try and backstop his team to victory (yeah, the kid can do anything… I’ve got a boner).  No word on how he actually fared, yet.

That’s “The Kid” in nets, who after celebrating his 22nd birthday is a little bit closer to being a man.