Super Duper Slapshot

It was easy to criticize Pascal Dupuis for his inability to score goals last season. Fun, too. But he's worked hard to improve his scoring, and it shows in the 2009-10 season. During the December 10 game against the Montreal Canadiens, it was none other than Dupuis who scored the game-winning goal, a killer slapshot. Over at Pensburgh, we joked about him having hand-reattachment surgery. It seems to have paid off!

This happens to be what I drank that night. I combined cinnamon schnapps and hot coffee simply because I was cold even in my burqa-fit powder blue jersey, flannel penguin-printed pajama pants, and fluffy panda slippers. (Sometimes you have to pick comfort over style, and oh, I'd made my choice.) This is a little harsh, but not at all bad. In fact, I thought it was pretty decent. Like Duper's slapshot, it gave this Penguins fan exactly what I needed.

Super Duper Slapshot

1 ounce cognac

1 ounce cinnamon schnapps

brewed black coffee

dash of cinnamon

sugar or Splenda to taste

Pour cognac and schnapps into coffee cup; stir. Fill cup with black coffee. Add cinnamon and sugar if desired; stir again.

The Cussing Penguin

On November 12, I planned to make classic cognac-based French 75 cocktails in my penguin-shaped cocktail shaker if the boys underperformed against the New Jersey Devils. Unfortunately, I had the opportunity. However, I didn't feel right about wasting champagne, not even the cheap and cheerful kind, on a cocktail on a weeknight. Also, um, I had to work the next day. So I substituted Lorina sparkling lemonade. Chris Kunitz gave my tasty new cocktail its name by saying what everyone in Penguins Nation felt, really loud. It's bitter, like defeat, but with a slight edge of sweetness, like the knowledge that Martin Brodeur didn't get to set a record for shutouts with our guys.

Cussing Penguin

1 1/2 ounce cognac
1 ounce lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
6 ounces sparkling lemonade

Mix cognac, lemon juice, and sugar in a cocktail shaker. Add crushed ice; shake until liquid is chilled. Pour cognac mixture in champagne flute. Pour in sparkling lemonade up to the top.