Bill Guerin For President Of Awesomeness
Since Billy Guerin arrived in Pittsburgh last month, he has filled a need on Sidney Crosby’s wing, earned the respect of his teammates, and provided the leadership of a veteran who knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup. After last night, you can 
add a vital element to that list. He also scores huge goals including overtime winners in the playoffs.
Guerin’s been on the wrong side of the Penguins since he entered the league way back in 1991-92 with the New Jersey Devils. He’s a career +60 despite playing on some bad teams. His 400+ career goals include 73 game winners.
Like a wily wide receiver in football, the veteran winger knows how to sneak into soft spots on the ice. From those areas he unleashes wicked snap shots, great finishers for Crosby’s nightly dose of precision passes.
Guerin is also earning a growing leadership role on the team. He has consistently stood up for new teammates, even dropping the gloves against overaggressive opponents if necessary. In the first week of April, he took on New Jersey’s David Clarkson just a few days before going toe to toe with Tampa Bay giant Evgeni Artyukhin, the thickest 6’5 skater in hockey and one of the league’s leader in hits. That’s how Guerin leads, by doing whatever is necessary at any point in time.
Last night, goals were needed badly as the Flyers continually withstood a healthy barrage of offense and shots. Guerin put the Penguins on the board in the second period, but during overtime he sealed the victory with his first ever playoff winner.
Guerin took a pass from Sergei Gonchar and sneaked the winning shot behind Flyers goaltender Martin Biron who suffered the loss despite stopping 46 shots. Check out Allan Robinson’s full game recap at Yahoo.
“There’s a first time for everything, I guess,” said Guerin, who was traded by the last-place Islanders to the Penguins at the March 4 trade deadline. “It was a thrill for me to come over here. This was a big win for us.”
Guerin has found a nice home in Pittsburgh. There’s no guarantee he’ll finish his career here, but at this point in the relationship Pens GM Ray Shero may want to consider popping the question after the playoffs. Crosby has a winger, and the Penguins have another leader.
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Life as Pop Culture Professor Clay Morgan
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[...] So many players have become instant folk heroes. Their stories are too many to recount just yet. One special nod to the grizzled one, Billy Guerin, the veteran who Hollywood would never script, whose brief words in the moments after victory show what real heart looks like. He is the reigning President of Awesomeness. [...]
[...] Man of the Decade is officially Bear Grylls. This guy could officially challenge Billy Guerin as President of Awesomeness. Perhaps you’ve never heard of Mr. Grylls. Time to get [...]