Argh the dreaded Monday morning is back and if your like me your sitting at your desk at work staring blankly at your computer screen as you attempt to pound some caffeine in order to keep yourself awake. Who doesn’t love them some Monday? It makes it extra disappointing, as the home teams were big loser’s all weekend long.
Penguins
Our Pens had two afternoon home games this weekend against a couple quality teams the Senators and the Sharks. First up was Ottawa on Saturday afternoon; the Pens came out of the gate playing well. Senator’s goalie Ray Emery, and his Muhammed Ali decorated goalie mask, looked discombobulated early letting in a goal from a Sykora slapper to get the Pens off to a nice 1-0 lead. Sykora was firing away in this one taking repeated slap shots, most of which were off target, with more the one hitting off a goal post. Emery continued to struggle in the 2nd period letting up two more goals, but the lead wouldn’t last long.
Senators who looked horrible in the 1st and most of the 2nd period, finally got their shit together and managed to creep two goals past Ty Conklin. Heatley added his second goal of the night in the 3rd to force OT, and was also robbed of a hat trick by Conk. Just when it looked like the Pens had held off the Sen’s in the OT period Steigerwald had to go and open his fat yapper talking about how he hadn’t mentioned Daniel Alfredsson’s name all game long. About 2 seconds after he said this, with only a few seconds remaining in the game Daniel buried the game-winning goal for the Senators.
All in all it wasn’t a bad game for the Pens, but giving up four unanswered goals is never a good sign. The Penguins also need to make teams pay for taking penalties, which they did not do on Saturday. The Senators played tough and it looks like they will once again be a forced to be reckoned with in the playoffs this year, and they still might make a deal before the deadline. If Emery keeps playing well they are a tough team to beat, even when you have a lead, as they proved on Saturday. Also, the line of Spezza, Heatley, and Alfredsson is probably the best in the entire NHL. Pens will have to step up their game or the Senators may send them packing in the playoffs for the second straight season.
Whammy!
Sunday we had the Sharks, a west coast team who we rarely get to see here in the Burgh. This game wasn’t nearly as exciting as the one the day before, but ultimately it ended with the same result. This one started out kinda weird as the zamboni machine leaked some hyrdolic, fluid. (when I first turned on the TV I though maybe Iceberg was run down in some type of horrible zamboni accident)
There was no scoring until the 3rd period when Cheechoo single handedly abused our defense and scored the first goal of the game. Later in the period, Pens evened it up at 1-1 on a goal from Christianson on a one-time slap shot on the power play. In overtime, we were out shot 5-1, but no one managed a goal. It always seems to me that the Pens struggle on 4 on 4 hockey. The Sharks won the shoot out 3-2 after Conklin could not stop any of the Shark’s shooters.
It was good to get a couple points this weekend…. Let me rephrase that it wasn’t good but it was important especially with how tight the race is in the Eastern conference. Still though when you get the opportunity to pass up the Senators in points its never good when you blow it, particularly when you have a 3 goal lead. Ty Conklin was making a lot of nice saves this weekend, but is starting to make me a little nervous letting up 4 unanswered and 3 in a row in the shoot out. That can’t happen if we want to make it far in the playoffs this year. Coincidentally Marc Andre Fleury is back; they showed him at the arena on Sunday. Maybe the Flower’s presence will help Ty to step up his game, we will soon see. Be sure to check out our Top 10 on Mondesis House dealing with potential Pens trades.
Fuggitaboutit
Pitt
I think it was the big Duke upset that got us all fooled about this year’s Pitt hoops team, well me at least that’s for sure. After getting that big win I thought that Pitt was actually something more then a mediocre team this year, after watching the last three games I’m thinking that is not true. It is getting more and more frustrating to watch this team with each passing game. Here are a couple things I am having a problem with and would like to bitch about…
Levance Fields-
How tall are you Levance? Oh 5’10”, I didn’t know that they stacked crap high. I am thinking that maybe it isn’t a coincidence that Fields came back 3 games ago, and that Pitt has lost all three of those games. In those games he’s shot 9 for 30 scoring a wimpy 22 points while playing 82 minutes. Maybe Fields shoulda took a lil more time off. I would rather have Benjamin and Ramon out there at this point. Levance better pull his head out of his ass or else Pitt will be playing in the NIT this year.
Rebounds-
As soon as Dejuan Blair gets in foul trouble, as he’s been doing lately, Pitt has no one on the team to get rebounds. We need to establish some toughness in the paint. Sam Young may grab a couple here and there, but it isn’t enough. And you can forget about having any second chances on the offensive end, which sucks cuz all we do is jack up three pointers every game. Tyrell Biggs is 6’8” 240lbs, but he plays soft when in there, he needs to start hitting the weight room with Blair that’s for sure. Gary McGhee is a seven footer, but is still wet behind the ears. If Blair has to keep playing conservatively to avoid foul trouble, he’s not going to be as effective.
Random thoughts and links
After consulting with my main man Swineburna, I realized it would be in the Bucco’s interests to land a big name free agent before baseball starts in spring. Who are we endorsing for the Pirates to pick up? None other then Barry Lamar Bonds, yes that’s right folks, we want Barry back in the Burgh. I am surprised the Pirates PR team has already thought of this themselves. Just think, the Buc’s stink, the only way they can get asses in the seats or people talking about them is through promotions such as pierogi races, fireworks, and bobble heads (we actually considered naming the site this due to that fact). Signing Bonds would be the greatest publicity stunt ever! Love him or hate him Barry would bring people to PNC Park. And isn’t that what its all about for the Nutting’s anyway profit?
I don’t see the difference
Jets have given middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma permission to seek a trade… to any team but the Patriots, that’s pretty awesome.
Darren McFadden ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at the combine, but he is also facing 2 paternity suits. I would probably run that fast too if I had two paternity suits hot on my tail.
That’s it your now catch you’s later….
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