Meek heads to DL; Daniel Moskos Called Up

As a Pirates fan, you knew something wasn't quite right with Evan Meek.

Crosby suffers a setback

Celtics-Heat Preview

Steelers select Cameron Heyward with the 31st pick

Pens lose game 7

Pens need a mircale

The Pens need a miracle. All of the momentum is on the Lightning's side. Without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the Pens can't match the Lighting in terms of scoring talent and depth.

So who's going to score for the Pens? As expected a lot of people are looking to Maxime Talbot, the hero of game 7 against Detroit. However, I don't live in fantasy land. No way Talbot scores tonight. If he does I'll puke for two reasons. One because I'll have to hear about for the rest of my life. Two because it'll probably lead to a Pens victory, which I'm really not expected.

That being said, someone has to score for the Pens in order for them to win. Who's it going to be though. Alexi Kovalev and James Neal each have one goal. They've been getting killed in the press and by the fans. Maybe they'll come through.

Maybe Jordan Staal will rise to the occasion. I'm not sure. I'm not even sure if the Pens are going to pull this one out. The Pens are 2-5 at home all-time in game 7's. Just last year they got beat on by the Montrael Canadians in a game 7 at the Mellon Arena.

I remember Florida and the Islanders as well in the 90's. Maybe a new arena means different results.

One thing is for sure, if the Pens are going to win tonight, they're going to need someone to step up and be a hero.

Steelers 1st PIck

Lightning force game 7

 

Whammy

Bucco Report Card

Game 5 disaster. What does game 6 hold?

Andrew McCutchen back to hitting leadoff

Brandon Roy slays the Dallas Mavericks

Two knee surgeries ago Brandon Roy was one of basketball’s finest up-and-coming superstars. Last night he reminded us why.

Hines Ward always gets a free pass

James Neal!

Steelers schedule announced

Josh Johnson blanks the Pirates

After taking three out of four from the defending NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds, the Pirates took their 8-8 record into Sun Life Stadium in Miami last night to battle the Florida Marlins.  However, their momentum was stopped dead in its tracks as the Buc’s ran into one of the best pitchers in the game, Josh Johnson.

NHL stays loyal

By: Mike Asti

NHL stays with NBC and Versus

Looks like 10 more years of Millbury and the Crash Test dummy Pierre McGuire.

Dissapointing Scene at the Consol Energy Center

The Penguins lost, 5-1 in Game 2 last night to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and it was, let's just say, disappointing all around. The guys gave it a good effort, but not a great one. Scoring chances fell flat, as did the morale of the team and the once enthusiastic crowd behind them.


That said, as I sat outside watching the game on the big screen in the Civic Arena parking lot, with a pretty chilly wind blowing I might add, I looked over and saw a brood of "fans" leaving the Consol Energy Center with about 15 minutes to go. They continued to poor out way before the third period was over.

Pittsburgh Steelers draft preview

With the Penguins in the middle of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the Pirates already fourteen games in, it’s hard to believe that the NFL draft is just around the corner. With a few holes to fill, there are several players on the board who could potentially wear black and gold next season.

Lightning Trapping Themselves

It is no secret the trap has always been a thorn in the Pittsburgh Penguins' side. Pens fans witnessed the New Jersey Devils suffocate a high octane Pittsburgh offense in the 2000-2001 Stanley Cup Playoffs after five games. Last year, the Penguins were outscored 22-5 in six regular season games against the Devils who played a trap style as well. The Minnesota Wild shutout the Penguins 4-0 in arguably the worst game this season for Pittsburgh. Even the offensive-minded Capitals shutout the Penguins using the trap in back to back 3-0 defeats. Those teams all contained three components that are key to the trap:

Bonds’ Real Jury is HOF Voters

A federal grand jury charged baseball home run king Barry Bonds on Wednesday with a felony.  Unfortunately, the obstruction of justice guilty verdict has provided little if any new information into Bonds’ connection with performance-enhancing drugs in the latter stages of his career.  Had Bonds been convicted of knowingly taken performance-enhancing drugs, another chapter would have been closed in one of baseball’s darkest and dirtiest periods.  Instead, questions will loom until it is time for the Hall of Fame to make its ruling on Bonds.  There, and not in a courtroom, is where a decision will ultimately be made on Bonds because to him, that’s where it matters most.

Fleury! Fleury! Fleury!

The crowd of white waved their white towels frantically as they welcomed their hometown heroes onto the ice for the very first ever postseason game at Consol Energy Center last night. 

Among them was the (my) hero of the night, # 29.

The Pittsburgh Penguins pulled off a win in Game 1 of Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a shutout, 3-0.  The whole team deserves a slap on the back but I think the win is, in large, thanks to Marc-Andre Fleury. 

Pens win game one 3-0 over the Lightning

Wednesday night certainly was a great night for Pittsburgh Penguin fans, as the Pens defeated the Lightning 3-0 at the Consol Energy Center.

The game was what I expected. It was a tough, very fast paced game between two of the NHL's most talented teams.

Brooks Orpik set the tone early in the game as he dished out some "free candy" to Steven Stamkos, delivering a bone crushing hit on him into the boards.

The Pens defense played very well but the biggest story of the night was the play of Marc-Andre Fleury.

Just like he's done all year, Fleury shut up all of his critics last night as he absolutely stood on his head, stopping all 32 shots he faced against the high-powered Lightning.

Fleury's best stop of the night came 11 minutes in. He found himself to stop Brett Clark's shot from the point that was deflected in front by Dominic Moore, who was so sure the puck had gone in he had already raised his arms to celebrate. Then, with Fleury's back to the play, the flopping goalie raised his leg to stop Malone's attempt to flip the puck in from the left side.

Fleury also had a ridiculous save on Vincent Lecavillier, who made an incredible move, putting the puck between his legs backhanded.

Fleury was the star and was treated that way afterward, leaving he ice to fans chanting his last name and "MVP! MVP!"

Dwayne Roloson, the opposing goalie didn't play that bad either. However, he unlike Fleury allowed two goals.

Alex Kovalev and Arron Asham helped make up for disappointing regular seasons for Pittsburgh by scoring 18 seconds apart in the third period to break up a goaltenders' duel. Chris Kunitz sealed the win by scoring into an empty net in the final minute.

Ryan Malone was all over the place for the Lightning, making his precence felt in front of the net.

I now more than ever feel that if Sidney Crosby, who watched the game from the press box, can come back to the lineup, this team no doubt has what it takes to win the Stanley Cup.

Lets go Pens!

Breweres crush Pirates

On a chilly night at PNC Park, the Pirates felt the heat from a Brewer team led by pitcher, Shaun Marcum. The right-hander easily handled the hapless Bucs on 4 singles over 7 innings. Three Brewer relievers closed the deal.

Western Conference 1st round preview and predictions

NHL First Round Playoff Preview: Eastern Conference

NHL First Round Playoff Preview: Eastern Conference

(1) Washington Capitals 

Last Stanley Cup win: NA 

Last Stanley Cup Final: 1998 

Last Post-season Appearance: 2010

Players With Bling: Mike Knuble, Jason Arnott 

(8) New York Rangers  

Last Stanley Cup Win: 1994

Last Stanley Cup Final: 1994

Last Post-season Appearance: 2009

Pirtates Report Card after 10 games

After the first 10 games, the Pirates stand at 5-5 which is good enough for a second place tie with the Brewers in the NL Central. The Buccos took the first two series 2 games to 1, on the road against Chicago and St. Louis respectively, before going 1-3 in a 4 game home set against the Rockies.

The first 10 games have included a grand slam from Neil Walker on Opening Day, a victory against an elite pitcher (Chris Carpenter), a disastrous home opener, a 14 inning thriller, the new manager outsmarting the old manager, a few blown saves, the tasering of a fan and a 10 game hit streak from the "new" leadoff man. Through these first 10 games, here's how the Pirates grade out:

Fan wearing USA colors gets tasered at PNC Park! Epic!

So thanks to my buddy and former blogging partner at Pittsburghsportsontap.com, I came across one of the most epic videos I've ever seen. Saturday night during the Pittsburgh Pirates/Colorado Rockies game, a man was thrown out of the game and was then tasered and beaten down by Pittsburgh police officers. 



The video itself is extemely entertaining. The guy fits the bill as a action hero. He gets tased and looks at the cops like "it don't phase me bro". Then on top of that he takes one of the best ass-kicking s I've ever seen, while most of the fans in the section chant "USA! USA! USA!". Unbelievable.

I'm also pretty sure there's a lawsuit here. The taser didn't work, so you decide to smack this huge dude square in the face with a stick? Yeah, that's gonna calm the guy down. These cops are lucky the guy wasn't more liquored up.

Fact is this kind of stuff is a way bigger reason to go to PNC Park then the actual baseball team.

By the way does anyone else think that the guy looks like Stone Cold Steve Austin?

Pens vs Islanders preview

We all remember the last match up between the Pens and Islanders two months ago when all "H. E. Double hockey sticks" broke loose.  It was one for the record books as the Islanders made it their mission to obliterate the Penguins for the Johnson/DiPietro incident.  Trevor Gillies's hit to Eric Tangradi, as you know, left Tangradi with a concussion that has prevented him from playing since. 

 

Pirates Bats Silenced in Home Opener

After returning from a successful road trip in which the Pirates posted back-to-back road series wins for the first time since August 2007, they played host to the Colorado Rockies this afternoon at PNC Park. Today, however, was an opening day that most Pirate hitters would like to forget about.

Charlie Morton vs. St. Louis Cardinals Recap

Last year, Charlie Morton was one of Major League Baseball's worst pitchers.  His fastball was flat, up in the zone, and usually out of the park.  In 17 starts, Morton went 2-12 with a 7.57 ERA before being demoted to AAA where he continued to struggle.  It appeared Morton's career was over until he worked with new pitching coach Ray Searage who suggested dropping his arm slot down to three-quarters.  

Murphy’s Law & The Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates come off of a disappointing loss at the hands of the Chicago Cubs largely in part to several miscues in what proved to be a disastrous 8th inning.

Pirates win opener

by Alex Muchnok

The Pirates first game of the 2011 MLB season was very promising for Bucs fans. Kevin Correia was the starter in the 6-3 win over Chicago at Wrigley Field yesterday afternoon.

Former Steel Valley Student/Athlete Injured in Car Accident

It's come to my attention that a good friend and former school mate of mine (Steve Lasek) has been seriously injured in a car accident. Steve is a very bright young man that always did well in school and was a very good athlete.

2011 Pittsburgh Pirates Season Preview

written by Jon Pennline

 Season Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates

Last year, the Pirates went 57-105

Last year the Pirates were the worst team in Major League Baseball.  They scored the fewest runs in the National League, gave up the most runs and had the worst defense.  They had one of the worst run margins in the history of baseball indicating they not only lost, but were blown out in many of the 105 defeats they suffered.  Usually a fan base with a team that pathetic would be outraged; yet last season was nothing new for Pirates fans.  The Pirates, as we all know, have had losing records in 18 consecutive years, the worst of any franchise in any sport.  With all of the losing, pessimism would be expected (and it is everywhere).  However, there is a sense of optimism that the franchise is heading in the right direction.  The Pirates called up Jose Tabata, Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker who all performed well as rookies.  The Pirates landed Jameson Taillon and Stetson Allie, two powerful arms, in the amateur draft while also signing Mexican phenom Luis Heredia.