Mellon Arena - Pittsburgh Penguins

Trip Notes: Got into Pittsburgh Friday afternoon. Stayed at the Westin Convention Center. Had an incredible view from my room. Could see both PNC Park and Heinz Field. Went to the Sports Rock for dinner and to watch the Avs play NJ. Walked down to the Strip District and to Market Square. Had to eat at Primanti Brothers Bar & Grill once again. The food is definitely an artery clogger, but very good! Everyone needs to try the fries and coleslaw on a sandwich. Went to the Pens game Saturday night. Saw the Steelers play the Bears on Sunday. What an incredible game. That was the most fun I've had watching a football game in a long time. The Steelers won of course. Sat next to two nice women who gave up their ticket stub since the guy at the gate ripped mine in half. I couldn't believe he did that....it made me sick. It snowed pretty hard off and on throughout the game. I sat on the 2nd level just under the over hang in the endzone so I stayed dry and warm. Great seats! Left Monday morning. Love the downtown Pittsburgh area!

Arena Notes: A short walk from the hotel. Located in downtown Pitt so close to lots of bars, restaurants, etc. It was old (probably even the oldest) and very round. Didn't see many Avs jersey's. I was one of the very few. Felt a bit out of place since I was the only person in my section wearing one. No one would talk to me. Ha. Sat behind the net on the top level. Pretty high up, but a great view. The rows were pretty steep so I had no problems seeing over the person in front of me. It was a nice change. A good fan base showed up. Was impressed with how many seats were full. Had a good time cheering for both teams. The Pens came out on top which I didn't mind since they are in need of some wins. Melon Arena (Formerly Civic Arena) opened its doors in 1961 and seats 17,537 hockey fans. Their mascot is Iceburgh the Penguin. Current retired numbers are 21 - Michel Briere, 66 - Mario Lemieux, and 99 - Wayne Gretzky.

Game Notes: Mark Recchi had a goal and an assist to help lead the Pittsburgh Penguins past the Colorado Avalanche, 4-3, at Mellon Arena.
Dick Tarnstrom, Erik Christensen and Maxime Talbot all scored for the Penguins, who snapped a six-game losing streak. Lasse Pirjeta added two assists and Marc-Andre Fleury made 23 saves in the win.
"I think there isn't any doubt that the guys came out with a lot of energy and excitement and determination," said Penguins coach Eddie Olczyk. "They weren't going to be denied and they deserve all the credit."
Milan Hejduk, Dan Hinote and Marek Svatos Joe Sakic and Alex Tanguay each had an assist and Vitaly Kolesnik allowed four goals on 35 shots faced in the loss.
"It was a very competitive game and we definitely played a desperate team tonight," said Colorado coach Joel Quenneville. "It was a battle out there. We competed, we battled, but you can really tell it was a meaningful game on their end of it."
The Penguins took a 1-0 lead at the 10:35 mark of the first after Recchi's eighth goal of the season. The tally came after Matt Murley took a shot that was initially stopped by Kolesnik. However, the rebound came out to the slot and Recchi flipped a shot over the netminder for the score.
Colorado connected on a 4-on-3 power play with 3:56 left in the first to tie the contest. Sakic controlled the puck and skated towards the net before sending a pass to Tanguay at the right side of the net. Tanguay then attempted a return feed to Sakic, but the pass hit off Fleury and right to the stick of Hejduk, who shot the puck into the net
Pittsburgh would regain the lead 2:24 later on the power play. Recchi took a pass from Sidney Crosby behind the net and then found Tarnstrom cutting in from the point at the right circle. Tarnstrom's ensuing shot was stopped, but Kolesnik couldn't cover the rebound with his glove and Tarnstrom popped the puck over the goaltender and into the back of the net for a 2-1 edge.
Christensen's goal 1:22 into the second put the Penguins up 3-1. The goal was the result of a redirection as Christensen got his stick on Sergei Gonchar's one-time blast from the right point.
Colorado cut the deficit to 3-2 after a goal from Hinote. Rob Blake took a shot from the right point that was stopped by Fleury, but Hinote was there in the slot to pound home the rebound with 5:20 remaining in the second stanza.
Talbot made it a two-goal advantage with 7:36 left in the third after his rebound shot from between the circles after a Pirjeta shot found the back of the net.
Svatos would make it a 4-3 game just 1:03 later, but the Avalanche would fail to net the equalizer.
Game Notes
Hinote netted just his second goal of the season..Sakic stretched his point streak to nine games..The Penguins last win was on November 22, a 5-4 win against the Washington Capitals..Tanguay now has 23 assists..Crosby picked up his 17th assist..Colorado finished 1-for-8 on the power play, while Pittsburgh was 1-for-7.
(*Game notes taken from espn.com*)

View from hotel room - Can see both Stadiums