Penguins Bid To Host 2011 NHL All-Star Game

As the Pittsburgh Penguins prepare for their home game tonight against a New York Islander team that ended a 7-game losing streak last night by beating the Nashville Predators in a shootout on Long Island, word came yesterday that the local hockey club has submitted a proposal to host the 2011 NHL All-Star game at the Consol Energy Center.

The National Hockey League has long been looking to award that game to Phoenix and have it played at the JOBING.COM Arena there, but with Pittsburgh hopping into the mix now and offering up a city that hosts one of the best young teams in the game getting ready to enter a sparkling new building, the picture may have changed.

The last time Pittsburgh hosted the NHL All-Star game was 20 years ago, in 1990. Of course, who doesn't remember Mario Lemieux torturing then-Flames goaltender Mike Vernon and scoring 4 goals on his way to the MVP trophy??

An announcement on the 2011 game isn't expected for a few months, but suffice it to say, Phoenix has strong competition on its hands. And if the Penguins don't get it that year, I expect that they will be awarded the game soon thereafter.

Getting the All-Star game would be one of many coups for the Penguins' franchise as they attempt to book their new building with as many high-profile events as possible. They have already have committments from the NCAA to play 2 opening rounds of march madness basketball there in 2012, for one.

The Penguins are also attempting to secure an agreement from the NCAA to allow the team to host the Frozen Four hockey tournament there.

There's no doubt that the club is using the potential of its new building to the fullest.

Back on the ice, let's hope the Penguins can come up with 2 points tonight. They have creeped to within that many of a New Jersey Devils squad that has lost 10 of its last 14 and also is in action against the Philadlephia Flyers this evening in the second half of a home-and-home with the Pens' cross-state rivals.

Recap tomorrow.

Let's Go Pens!