Tree of Life

18 Jan

It

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, January 18th, 2013 – 8:26 am

It's the mix of emotions equally filled with nerves and excitement that we have all missed as hockey fans since the Stanley Cup was lifted by the Los Angeles Kings on June 11th, 2012. On the eve of the 2012-2013 NHL season starting 100 days later than the original opening night on October 11th 2012, NHL players, owners and hockey fans can finally rejoice that tomorrow we will wake up to hockey games where the points actually matter. With the start of the season looming, the question that hangs in the balance is whether the fans will come back. As the Black and Gold Game at CONSOL Energy Center on Wednesday evening proved, Pittsburgh is a hockey town and the Penguins streak of consecutive sellouts should continue strong into this season. Are you really going to boycott the game you love and refuse the temptation of watching a healthy Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin fresh off an MVP season in their prime? Are you going to watch Marc-Andre Fleury make a ridiculous glove save only to dwell on the lockout that lasted 119 days too long? Or are you going to celebrate the fact that much unlike the end of the NHL lockout that cancelled the 2004-2005 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a permanent home and have been primed to be an early contender capable of adding to their collection of Stanley Cups.

As the puck drops at Wells Fargo Center and the Pittsburgh Penguins face off against their cross state rivals Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, it's time to forget about the embarrassing labour negotiation that was a tarnishing moment in NHL history. It's time to focus on the highlight reel goals, the sound of the ringing ping of metal when the puck goes off the cross bar and all these moments that make us proud to call ourselves hockey fans. Instead of focusing on the millions of dollars that the NHL and NHLPA fought over, focus on the employees off the ice that will finally get to cash a pay cheque that is very well overdue. Focus on the blood, sweat and the tears that go into building a Stanley Cup champion. Forget about the millions of dollars and the negotiation sessions in the fall that lasted less than the time of a minor penalty. Forget the fact that we were robbed of over 600 regular-season games. It's hard to hate the game that you have grown to love.

There is no reason to boycott the NHL because realistically you will not be able to resist it. When you hear that there was a highlight reel goal, a come from behind victory or a dazzling save, I beg to differ if you say that you will still not come back to this game. On the eve of the opening day in the National Hockey League, it's time to forget what has happened since Gary Bettman locked the doors on September 15th and it is time to focus on what is yet to come. If you have laughed, cried and rejoiced over the Pittsburgh Penguins there is no closing the door on the NHL now. Tomorrow begins the heartache, the roller coaster of emotions and all the highs and lows of a NHL season following the team that you love. After all, it has been nine months since we last saw Sidney Crosby score a goal. We are overdue for a couple of those.

— No Comments ↓
Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

17 Jan

Football Dominates Pittsburgh TV Ratings Last Week

published in category: Uncategorized on Thursday, January 17th, 2013 – 11:41 am

The top two most-watched shows last week in Pittsburgh were the AFC playoff games, Ravens-Bronos and Patriots-Texans both earned 15 ratings. Around 40 percent of people watching television in Pittsburgh were watching those games.

The 6th most-watched show of the week was the 49ers win over the Packers on Fox on Saturday night.

The BCS Championsip game between Alabama and Notre Dame was the 7th most watched show of the week.

— No Comments ↓
Posted in Uncategorized

 

15 Jan

The Penguins top three comeback candidates by Jon Pennline

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, January 15th, 2013 – 9:39 am

Despite trading away one of their superstar centers, a top four defenseman, and exiting the last two playoffs in the first round, the Pittsburgh Penguins are favored to win the Stanley Cup.

Is that fair? In short, yes. They still posses the top two players in the league, a forty goal scorer, one of the most talent defensemen in the league, and a goaltender entering his prime. On paper, they are the best team in the league.

But, as we've learned over the last three seasons, what happens on paper with this team doesn't always translate when the games are played. In fact, things have ended horribly for the Penguins since their Stanley Cup run in 2009. That can all change this season if these three members of the Penguins can have a bounce-back year.

Paul Martin

Surprise! Martin had an average first season with the Penguins in 2010-2011. Last season, he put up similar numbers to Matt Niskanen in the regular season, then was exposed in the playoffs. Martin is a career -11 in the playoffs. Plus/minus ratings are typically overrated but when you see a player abandon the puck to avoid taking a hit, the rating seems to make sense. Martin did that countless times against the Flyers. He looked scared, at times, and couldn't keep up with the physical pace of the game. The Penguins actually played better when he was forced out of the lineup after a nasty hit from Brayden Schenn in game three.

This has to be Martin's last chance in Pittsburgh. Ray Shero was already looking to deal him last summer, possibly to Nashville. The Penguins' standard is Stanley Cup or bust, and with young defensemen like Simon Despres, Todd Bortuzzo, and Brian Strait, the Penguins wont waste any time on Martin. He must make an impact on this defensive unit and prove he is worth even half the contract he signed.

Marc-Andre Fleury

No player better symbolized the Pens' epic collapse of last season than Marc-Andre Fleury. From October-March, Fleury was excellent. But as the season crept into April, their goaltender appeared to wear down. It wasn't so much the amount of games Fleury played (67), it was the fact that he rarely rested, having to come in for Brent Johnson when Johnson would get chased. In fourteen situations where the Penguins played back to back nights, Fleury played in both games six times.

In the end, that's hardly an excuse. Fleury is 28 years old. Jonathan Quick, who won the Conn Smythe en route to a Stanley Cup, started 69 games for the Los Angeles Kings. The problem with Fleury was not fatigue, but rather poor defense and poor focus. There were several times when Fleury was hung out to dry in the Philadelphia series, but he missed opportunities to come up with big saves.

Fleury's comeback tour wont start in January, like Martin's. He'll have to wait until late April.

Dan Bylsma

Head coach Dan Bylsma needs to bounce back from last season and his team needs to be better defensively from start to finish. On special teams, the penalty killing needs to carry over in the playoffs, and the power play needs to operate efficiently. Even if that means separating Crosby and Malkin. Everyone in Pittsburgh says Dan Bylsma needs to put both players on the top unit, but the priority should be having the most effective power play. If Malkin and Crosby produce goals on the first power play, then they need to stay. If not, the Penguins need to adapt.

Bylsma's biggest challenge will be making adjustments on the fly. Craig Adams has already divulged that the Penguins are working on different strategies for their penalty killing since the Flyers exposed them last April. James Neal indicated his role on the power play as a roving point man. But it's all for naught if the coach fails to adjust when things go wrong.

Obviously there are more players to consider in this category. Sidney Crosby has to stay healthy and return to an elite level, Eric Tangradi needs to prove he belongs in the NHL, and Brandon Sutter needs to become a strong defensive presence. But Paul Martin, Marc-Andre Fleury and Dan Bylsma are essential to this year's successes or failures. If these three people are able to turn things around for the 2013 season, the Penguins will be in excellent position to win another Cup. If not, they could all be out of Pittsburgh by July.

— No Comments ↓
Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

14 Jan

Pens Practice Update by Victoria Atkinson

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, January 14th, 2013 – 2:38 pm

Leaving the Penguins training camp at Consol Energy Center today, I realized that Pittsburgh is in fact a hockey town. The parking lots were full, the streets were flooded with people in Pens gear and the energy was high.
I was shocked to see so many fans in attendance at a hockey practice on a Monday afternoon.
LeeAnn Rhodes, an attorney whose office overlooks Consol, told me she came over to watch the training camp during her lunchbreak. "I've been deprived of hockey long enough this season and peeking out of my office window, Consol was calling my name." Ms. Rhodes kept checking her watch and when her lunchbreak finally ended she left with a smile. "It's finally hockey season," she said.
A dietician at Forbes hospital in Monroeville, Jim Teresi, had the day off work and knew instantly he would be coming downtown to get a peek at the Penguins practice. His tradition before going to a Penguins game is to grab a slice and a beer at Pizza Milano. "I decided to keep that tradition going today because this season has been cut so short and I've really missed it." Jim did not expect to be sitting at Consol at all this season. "With the Steelers season over, I figured it was going to be a long, cold winter in the 'burgh without my favorite sports. I'm so pumped the lockout ended," he said.
Tuesday and Friday of this week the training camp is free to the public at 11am. Wednesday at 7pm will be a scrimmage against the Black & Gold. Doors open at 6pm through the Trib Total Media gate. Select concession items and beer will be on sale inside Consol.

— No Comments ↓
Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Steelers

 

14 Jan

Pitt Hoops In Danger of Missing Tourney Again? by Mike Gaffney

published in category: College Sports on Monday, January 14th, 2013 – 10:19 am

After 10 consecutive seasons of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament the Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team is in danger of missing the competition for the second consecutive year. On Saturday the Panthers lost to Marquette resulting in three losses in their last four games. The Panthers are currently sitting at 13-4, (1-3) in the Big East. The team annihilated the then 19th ranked Georgetown by nearly 30 points just days earlier simply didn't seem to show up against the Golden Eagles on Saturday.
Pitt's offense looked stagnant throughout the game especially when facing zone defense, a striking similarity to the offence's performance against Rutgers on January 5th. It definitely didn't help that Pitt's floor general Tray Woodall left with concussion-like symptoms just three and a half minutes into the game after a scary head-to-head collision with Marquette's Derrick Wilson. Woodall did not return to the game which is disconcerting to Panther fans everywhere because a groin injury to Woodall last year seemed to derail the team early on. Pitt never really recovered from the injury resulting in the team's first vacancy the NCAA Tournament in a decade.
The Panthers shot just under 40% for the game, but it never really got out of hand. Neither team could capitalize down the stretch, which resulted in a buzzer-beating three from Lamar Paterson. The Panthers had all the momentum moving into the overtime period but came out flat missing open shots and free throws. A problem that has always seemed to haunt Pitt in big games is their free throw shooting, which turned out to be a deciding factor in the game with Pitt shooting just 50% (13 for 26) and Marquette countering at 77% (23 for 30). The loss was the second of the year at home for the Panthers.
Pittsburgh used to be nearly unbeatable at the Peterson Event Center but in the last two years it seems home court advantage is becoming less and less relevant. In its 11-year history as Pitt's home, the Panthers are 174-21 at the Pete with nine losses, seven in Big East play, coming in the last two years. The season is far from over, but if Pitt loses to Villanova on Wednesday in Philadelphia, the Panthers will have an uphill battle the rest of the way moving through the rest of Big East play, culminating with back-to-back games against Louisville and Syracuse on January 28th and February 2nd.
Before the season, hopes were high for the Panthers, especially with the addition of freshman center Steven Adams. Many scouts saw Adams as a one-and-done type player but he has not lived up to his pedigree as a Rivals five star recruit, at least on the offensive end of the floor. Adams led the Panthers with four blocks against Marquette which is twice as many field goals as the seven-footer attempted, and made. For the Panthers to be successful they must begin to work the ball down low and get some more production from Adams who is averaging just 4.5 points per game in the Big East and has yet to score from the free throw line.
Pitt's next four games against Villanova, Connecticut, Providence and DePaul are extremely important to the team's post-season hopes. I am still optimistic, but cautiously so. If the Panthers don't improve their rebounding, offensive efficiency against zone defense and frontcourt scoring it could be another long season in Oakland.

— No Comments ↓
Posted in College Sports

 

13 Jan

Peyton Manning Playoff Stats

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, January 13th, 2013 – 10:48 am

Peyton Manning is 9-11 all time in the playoffs. He is now tied with Brett Favre for the most playoff losses by a starting quarterback in NFL history. Manning is 131-61 in the regular season.
Peyton has 8 one and out playoff appearances, he broke the record that he already held of 7.
Manning is 0-4 in outdoor playoff games with the temperature under 40 degrees.
Joe Flacco has three AFC Championship appearances in 5 playoffs appearances, Manning has 3 in 12. Flacco and Mark Sanchez both have more playoff road victories than Manning.

Manning's three turnovers in Saturday's loss to Baltimore led to 17 Ravens points including a pick six and a pick in overtime that set up the game-winning field goal.

— No Comments ↓
Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

11 Jan

Penguins more prepared for quick start than others by Jon Pennline

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, January 11th, 2013 – 8:44 am

When looking back on the Penguins' 2011-2012 season there are many ways to describe how it ended; blown out, exposed, embarrassed, abrupt.

There's no sugar coating a 4-2 series loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Not when its penalty kill had a historic collapse. Not when the defense, a unit that was promoted by hockey circles as one of the deepest in the league, surrendered twenty goals in the first three games of the series. Not when the league MVP who dominated all season looked average against a 19 year old rookie.

The front office vowed to make changes and they did through roster moves. The Penguins traded away Jordan Staal and received a high return. They dealt Zbynek Michalek away in what was seen as a salary dump to make room for high-priced free agents. While Zach Parise and Ryan Suter took their talents to Minnesota, the Penguins still upgraded their team by adding Tomas Vokoun to backup Marc-Andre Fleury.

One move they didn't make was to replace the head coach. Dan Bylsma's job wasn't in jeopardy but the rumblings of firing him were heard all over Pittsburgh. After all, his team has failed to get out of the second round in three straight seasons, fading the memories of the 2009 Stanley Cup run.

In the end, it was a smart decision to keep Bylsma at the helm for another season, especially given the circumstances of how this season will start. The NHL lockout forced the league to cut the 82 game schedule to 48 with the start looming eight days away. Given the timetable of the CBA ratification process, teams will not be able to start their brief training camp until Sunday. With Friday being a travel day for most teams, training camp will start and end in a span of five days.

For the Penguins, that's five days to get ready for a season that could consist of four games a week until May. That type of schedule will not allow losing streaks or slow starts if a team is trying to make the playoffs. When you look around the league, the Penguins should be more prepared for a quick start than other teams.

The Washington Capitals, for example, hired Adam Oates to replace Dale Hunter stepped down to rejoin the London Knights after the 2012 season. Oates has five days to implement an entirely new system, one that relies on opening up the offense; a stark contrast to Hunter's defensive-minded system the Capitals had to ingest a year ago. Oates's style will surely gel with Alexander Ovechkin, Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom, but there will be bumps in the road along the way.

Teams like the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators will have to adapt to some of their major roster changes. Ryan Suter and Zach Parise will need to get acclimated with their new teammates, while Suter's former team has to find a way to move on without him. The New Jersey Devils have to find a way to win without Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk who, at this time, still plans to stay in the KHL for as long as possible.

Then there's the New York Islanders, a team who could sneak into the playoffs with a hot start, if only they had three more defensemen to compile a legitimate roster. The Toronto Maple Leafs, fresh off firing Brian Burke a few days ago, will have a new GM to quickly get ahold of the roster and determine any possible moves to put this team in the playoffs.

Like all teams, the Penguins will have to shake off the rust and get back into a rhythm that only comes with playing real games. However, most of their roster is still intact with a system that has marinated over the last five years. A quick start is crucial for a postseason spot and the Penguins clearly have less internal concerns as the regular season draws near.

— No Comments ↓
Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

10 Jan

How the Penguins stack up in the Atlantic Division by Jon Pennline

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, January 10th, 2013 – 10:48 am

It took the New York Rangers 80 games last season to win the Atlantic Division and top seed in the Eastern Conference. Four of the five teams in the Atlantic finished within seven points of each other as the Rangers, Penguins, Flyers and Devils all ended with 100+ point seasons. The Boston Bruins were the only other team to finish the season with over 100 points in the Eastern Conference.

I.E. the Atlantic Division is tough.

And while the New Jersey Devils look to fall out of playoff contention following their Stanley Cup Finals appearance a year ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers will still be slugging it out once again. Sorry to write off the Devils so quickly but when you lose Zach Parise, your other top goal scorer doesn't want to come back, and your goalie is 50 years old, it doesn't look good.

Interestingly enough, this three way battle has worked out like rock-paper-scissors in the past. Last season the Penguins went 4-2 against the Rangers who went 6-0 against the Flyers, who went 8-4 (counting the playoffs) against the Penguins. These type of match ups could make a difference in the standings since a shortened season may have some teams playing each other more than others. TSN's Bob McKenzie tweeted some details on the NHL lockout-shortened schedule:

"Each team plays: 4 games vs. two Divisional opponents (8); 5 games vs. two divisional opponents (10); 3 games vs 10 Conference rivals (30)."- (McKenzie)

If the Flyers play the Rangers one more time than the Penguins, it could mean the difference between first place and third.

Of the three teams, the New York Rangers definitely made the biggest splash. They acquired Rick Nash, although it came at a heavy cost losing Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky. Still, with Henrik Lundqvist, three All-Star forwards, and one of the best blue lines in the league, the Rangers are going to be tough to stop. Remember, they were the top seed in the playoffs and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals because they couldn't score goals. A power play featuring Rick Nash, Marian Gaborik, and Brandon Richards is going to be tough to stop.

The Philadelphia Flyers traded former second overall pick James Van Riemsdyk to Toronto for Brayden Schenn's brother, Luke. They lost Matt Carle to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Jaromir Jagr to the Dallas Stars. It almost didn't matter as the Flyers were close to signing Shea Weber away from Nashville, but Weber decided to take the same offer and stay at Tennessee.

The Flyers are still a very young team, one that gave the Penguins fits last season. Sean Couturier played exceptional against Evgeni Malkin's line, and Brayden Schenn did a serviceable job on the third line. Philadelphia has been excellent at Consol Energy Center since its opening two seasons ago, but with a thin defensive core, the Flyers might have a tougher time stopping the Penguins and the Rangers.

After getting run out of their own building by the Flyers four times last season, revenge has to be on the minds of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, two all-world players, were shut down by the Flyers en route to their first round exit in the playoffs.

GM Ray Shero dealt Jordan Staal to Carolina for the number eight pick, Brian Dumoulin, and Brandon Sutter. Of those three players, Sutter will be the only one to start in the NHL this season. He will likely center the third line and see significant time on the first penalty kill. Sutter may not have the same amount of talent as Jordan Staal, but his role on the team fits better.

The Penguins are still without a top six winger for Sidney Crosby, but that could change at the trade deadline in April since the Penguins have several defensive prospects and nine million dollars in cap space.

Ironically, the biggest question mark for Pittsburgh lay at the position where they have the most depth: defense. Kris Letang has to reign in his emotions, Brooks Orpik needs a bounce-back year, and Paul Martin needs to prove he belongs on a winning team. If the defense plays disciplined and smart, the Penguins will have an excellent chance to not only win the Atlantic, but win the Cup.

As for the New York Islanders, they will likely finish in fifth place again. It is entirely possible for them to jump ahead of the Devils and grab the fourth spot in the Atlantic. However, they are not good enough on the back end to be a major threat. Rick Dipietro is too fragile and the blue line is too sparse. Fourth overall pick Griffin Reinhart could go right to the NHL but it's hard to tell at this point. Currently, the Islanders list four defensemen on their roster with one of those being Lubomir Vishnovsky, who has stated he will stay in Slovakia. Either the Islanders website is not updated, or the Islanders are not prepared to enter the season.

I think it's a little of both.

— No Comments ↓
Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 



Podcasts