Tonight, the battle for Pennsylvania begins as the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins meet in game one of the NHL's Eastern Conference Finals. They'll probably be some slick name they come up with for it, like "The Keystone Konflagration" or "The Commonwealth Confrontation" or some other form of alliteration. Anyway, what the hell does this have to do with Penn State? Well, besides the fact that there are probably about equal amounts of Penguins and Flyers fans living in State College, this rivalry might help in getting an outdoor hockey game between the two clubs in Beaver Stadium.

Last December I told you that Flyers GM Paul Holmgren had floated the idea of the Pens and Flyers playing an outdoor game in Beaver Stadium after seeing the success of the Penguins/Buffalo Sabres game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo on New Years Day. At the time I figured there was no shot of this happening as long as Joe Paterno was head coach since there had never been an event other than a football game in Beaver Stadium. And while the Fergie concert never actually happened, the fact that it was scheduled marks a drastic change in philosophy.

Now Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell is pushing to see an annual game between the two clubs in Beaver Stadium. And considering Beaver Stadium is now the largest stadium in the country, it would clearly set attendance records for the NHL. The New Year's Day game between the Pens and the Sabres drew 71,000, but a game at University Park would draw over 107,000. And there is no way it wouldn't sell out.

I'm still not backing off my point that hockey is a minor league sport, getting the same kind of ratings nationally as the pro bowler's tour. But I have to admit, these playoffs have been exciting, and it's great for the state to have both teams fighting to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

So, I'm "Flyered Up!" Suck it Pittsburgh!