Poor Ice Conditions Cause Delay In Penguins Home Game

Last night's Bruins-Penguins game at PPG Paints Arena "had to be stopped with 6:26 remaining" in the first period when a "crater" in the ice developed near the Penguins' bench. When it "couldn't be fixed after a few minutes," officials "ordered that the first intermission begin then to give the ice crew a chance to patch the hole." Penguins officials said that there have been a "number of non-hockey events in the building recently, but none that would be particularly hard on the ice." The Penguins won 5-1 (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/23).

Meanwhile, Canucks G Ryan Miller "had reason to question the pitiful playing surface" yesterday at United Center during a loss to the Blackhawks. Miller: "This is the worst ice I've ever seen in my career. It was terrible and they've got to do something about it" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 1/23).