Big Lead Sports Bar

4/18/2010

TODAY'S HEADLINES

The Pittsburgh Penguins finally started to pull away from the Ottawa Senators with a 4-2 win in Ottawa on Sunday night, giving the Pens a 2-1 series lead. 

Sidney Crosby was once again playing the role of hero, with a goal and assist in another very physical game. Alexei Ponikarovsky showed a pulse and scored his first of the playoffs just 1:17 into the game, and the Penguins also got goals from Bill Guerin and Geno Malkin in the win.

Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 20 of 22 shots in goal to pick up his second win in as many games after a rough Game One, and Brooks Orpik blocked six shots and handed out three of the 36 hits for the Pens.

The Pittsburgh special teams were an area of weakness, going 1-for-5 on the power play while allowing two PP goals to Ottawa on four chances. Those are areas where the Penguins will have to improve if they want to go further; but again, this was a pretty sound win for the Pens, who are winning not only on the scoreboard but in the battle of attrition against the very-banged-up Sens.

The two teams mix it up again on Tuesday night in Ottawa, with a 7 p.m. start. [ESPN.com]

Ben Roethlisberger could be suspended as soon as Tuesday, a source tells Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports. The length of the suspension is still not known, and as Cole adds, it will put a damper on a big week for the NFL, which includes Schedule Release Day on Tuesday and the draft Thursday-Saturday. [Yahoo!]

Jonathan Silver penned a tremendously in-depth article on the Roethlisberger Georgia investigation for the PG on Sunday. An absolute must-read. [PG]

The Pittsburgh Pirates broke out the brooms on Sunday, wrapping up a three-game sweep against the Cincinnati Reds with a 5-3 win that required no last-inning heroics. 

Jason Jaramillo had a three-run double in a five-run fourth, and Paul Maholm allowed four hits and two earned runs while pitching into the seventh inning. The 7-5 Pirates are off on Monday and pick things up Tuesday against Milwaukee at PNC. [ESPN.com]

WR Golden Tate told 93.7 The Fan's Troy Clardy on Sunday that playing in Pittsburgh would be an "ideal situation" and added that it wouldn't get any better than learning under Hines Ward, the player he models his game after. [93.7 The Fan]

The Pitt Blue-Gold Game drew only 6,532 fans on Saturday, and they were treated to a game dominated by the defense. Besides a 52-yard run from Dion Lewis, the Panther running game yielded just 67 yards on 37 carries, and Pat Bostick threw two interceptions in his time at QB. As Paul Zeise asked, is the defense that good or the offense that bad? [PG]

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43 comments:

Jonny Van Mundegaarde said...

The Pens aren't making the playoffs...trade Fleury and Staal...Ray Shero sucks...

the nigerian nightmare said...

How can the offense be that bad with the next Heisman winner on it?

Steve said...

All I can say is I'm glad the Pens are finally playing with some desperation. Maybe the Sens physical play and Sutton's jaggoff hit was the slap to the face these guys needed. Crosby has been the difference so far at both ends of the ice and hopefully they can keep building confidence from his play and these wins.

That said, I still think it's a long shot for them to get past the Caps even if they do prevail in this round, but at least now it's not looking like they'll go down without a fight (something they seemed intent on doing for the past two months) and that's all I can ask for.

Anonymous said...

Steve, they may catch a break and not have to play the Caps in the next round. If the Flyers win, they play the highest remaining team which would be the Caps, if they get past the Canadiens which based on their play in the first two games is not a certainty.

Steve said...

Joe - Yeah, I was hoping for that miracle situation, but the Habs blew their opportunity to possibly silence the Caps and I still think the NHL will do whatever it takes to get the Pens-Caps matchup they want badly. Meaning: there's still enough crooked/questionable officiating in the NHL to keep the Flyers from winning.

I can't believe I would be upset and make exuses for the Flyers but I guess there's always the chance Boston could get the Caps if the Flyers don't.

BurressWithButterflywings said...

To be the best, you've got to beat the best. Woo!

If the Caps are next on the agenda, that's what we have to deal with. But right now I just want to win game 4.

I often compare life events to songs and the Sweater Song by Weezer would be my best effort to describe the Senators' current state. They know they threw the kitchen sink at us Wednesday and Friday and ended up with a split. As a series goes on, cream rises to the top and that is we are witnessing from Sid and Geno currently. The only thing I fear is one of the Sens intentionally injuring them, because nothing is beneath Murray or the lot of goons he currently employs. I am sure it was a league conspiracy that overturned the Regin goal last night, too.

I'm no expert, though.

Jonny Van Mundegaarde said...

If you think the league controls who is going to meet up by manipulating calls, you probably live in your parents basement playing D&D.

End of story.

BurressWithButterflywings said...

@nightmare

5 carries for 74 yards isn't terrible. Even if you throw out the 52 yarder, that's 6 YPC.

Steve said...

Johny Van Bummwipe - I have shoes older than you.

End of Story.

Adam said...

@Burress

I don't think you'll find a Penn State fan (or any national CFB fan for that matter) that will dispute whether or not Dion is good. He's a fine back, and certainly merits discussion as being one of the top backs in the nation, but Heisman candidacy is a serperate matter.

It's as much a team award as it is an indivdual award, and simply put, the last 20 years it's been dominated by quarterbacks.

Behind a more veteran line, a ? at quarterback, and considerably more experience, I think you'll probably see Evan Royster turn in a better year than Dion and one of the great years by a Penn State running back ever, and God knows there have been some great ones. I just don't think that will land him in the discussion for the Heisman because #1 I don't expect Penn State to be in the national title race, and #2 He doesn't chuck the rock.

I'm not trying to knock Dion any more than I am Royster, I just don't see it happening for either one, even if they both break 2,000 yards.

NickDawg said...

royster cant hold lewis's jock strap

Adam said...

And Jonathan Baldwin won the Biletnikoff just like you said he would. I defer to you and your superior knowlege.

BURGH08 said...

* Crosby's goal was sick Sunday. I'm also worried about the power play, and think that could really hurt them past this round. They just don't have the horses to stay with the Pens, but think it still goes six.

* Wish they would just get on with his and hand down the suspension. Heard Bouchette and Schefter refute the yahoo story.

* This just in: Nobody cares who Evan Royster is.

Adam said...

This just in: Evan Royster a winner, doesn't care about Dion Lewis, nor the Heisman Trophy.

BURGH08 said...

Yet you do.

Atta boy junior. Have another dollar.

Louis Lipps Sinks Ships said...

FYI - Pirates have the 3rd worst run differential in MLB at -22. Pirates are one of three teams with a negative run differential and a winning record (Tigers are 7-5 and -3, Blue Jays are 7-6 and -1).

Talk about crazy stats. Unfortunately, this means the 7-5 record is a fluke and, once the sample size increases to 162 games, we're looking at another losing season at this rate.

BURGH08 said...

I agree. I just hope they are not out of it by Memorial Day anymore, despite those that just come for to relax and enjoy the bobbleheads.

Adam said...

O BURGH...

I don't care about the Heisman, nor do I care about Lewis per se. Wish the kid well, helluva back, deserves almost all the praise he gets.

But this "Heisman candidate" stuff is pure foolery regardless of what he accomplishes in 2010, and that's where I have the problem. He's not going to be playing for a team in the MNC race, and he's not a QB. It's as simple as that. His numbers are great, but they'd have to be completely unreal for consideration for the Heisman given his position.

Royster is probably going to become PSU's all-time leading rusher this year, but you don't see any of us calling him a "Heisman Candidate" for the exact same reasons. He's a helluva back too, and one of the all-time greats at PSU and he won't even be in the discussion. The idea that Lewis is any different comes from A) Announcers trying to throw a bone to the home town fans and B) People who listen to those announcers, aka you and Don.

Adam said...

And Bob Pomp.

Anonymous said...

adam,

what about toby gerhart last year? his team wasn't anywhere close to competing for the NC and he was a "heisman candidate." in order to win the heisman, yes, your team has to be very good. but not to be a heisman candidate.

and the reason lewis gets all the hype and royster doesn't is because he had 1,800 yards as a freshman. that was 3rd in the country last year. that's very hard to do for anyone, let alone a freshman.

Adam said...

@jtads,
Not saying he isn't deserving of the hype at all. I don't know if I can say it enough that I think he's a great runner and is easily a frontrunner for the Doak Walker. But the Heisman is a seperate matter.

Consider, only two guys between Pitt and Penn State have won the award, and precious few were even in the running. It's just a very, very difficult award to win without eye popping numbers and a great team behind you.

The Gerhardt example is a good one, but he scored 10 more TDs than Dion and outrushed him by 72 yards (granted, Gerhardt did have more carries by a healthy margin). You could also make the arguement that the defenses his numbers came against were much better than Dion's.

Again, I'm not trying to knock Dion. He might end his career as one of the best backs Pitt's ever had. But I don't think that means he's a Heisman frontrunner, or even a darkhorse. There are just too many variables out of his control working against him.

BURGH08 said...

"I don't care about the Heisman, nor do I care about Lewis per se."

__________________________________________________
You are posting about it days later after an original post by Don that merely listed him as a 'Heisman candidate' in an article Don wrote about the Spring game. Two words hidden I would wager by most that would read that article.

Yep, you don't care at all Adam.

By the way, you should really educate yourself on the difference between 'candidate' and 'frontrunner', 'darkhorse', etc. I know you won't (I mean why start now, right?).

To argue that Lewis won't win the trophy and/or fade from the discussion during the season can be up for debate. What can't is that he is a 'Heisman candidate' at this time, as well as when Don wrote that.

BurressWithButterflywings said...

@Burgh-

Stop feeding the trolls.

BurressWithButterflywings said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Adam said...

Troll...

So I root for the same teams you do except for Pitt and I'm a troll.

Whatever, I'm at peace with your label, because it represents your white flag.

Good day.

BURGH08 said...

Way to tell him Adam.

BurressWithButterflywings said...

You aren't a troll because of who you root for.

You are a troll because the only time you show up is when your grill/manure sharpened senses detect Don is typing a "P" ,an an "S", and a "U" consecutively in a post.

I am not quite certain what white flag I am waving. What victory are you declaring? Did Richard Nixon approve this declaration of victory?

Adam said...

I don't think Penn State was even mentioned in this post.

I just expressed how difficult it is to even be considered for the Heisman when you're a running back on a third place Big East team. His stats are great, and everyone can see he's got tons of talent, but suggesting he's a "Heisman Candidate" in every post he appears in is irresponsible.

Again, not defending Penn State against anything, and not even knocking Dion or Pitt. Just pointing out the reality to Pitt FANS that they're expectations are ludicriously high.

NickDawg said...

Pitt will be favored to win the Big East this yr with all the personell losses to Cincy and WVU... and declaring Dion Lewis is a heisman candidate is not something we conjured up on here. It was said many times on ESPN college football show and in many college football publications..i'll go as far as to say that last yr tv announcers said he will be a candidate after what he did his freshman yr

Sorry for you that something called a Royster is back pg news round here...

Adam said...

Haha I don't think you know what back page means.

And I forgot, everything that comes out of ESPN is true. My bad.

Adam said...

Seriously NickDawg, you epitomize the exact ignorance that brings me here in the first place.

If you honestly don't know who Evan Royster, I don't think you're at all qualified to know your ass from a hole in the ground let alone tell me who is and isn't a Heisman candidate.

Adam said...

http://collegefootball.about.com/od/theheismantrophy/ig/2010-Heisman-Trophy-Candidates/

OK Penn State fans, start buying that ticket to New York now. About.com says Royster is a Heisman candidate. WHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adam said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BurressWithButterflywings said...

Dion Lewis is on there! Adam, you better go bomb their message boards about just how unqualified he is to be CANDIDATE!!!!!

YOU ARE SO FREAKING COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NickDawg said...

adam,,every blog needs a whipping boy..just except your roll son

oh..and thanks for showing me yet another source which thinks Lewis is a heisman candidate, aprreciate it!

the nigerian nightmare said...

What kind of roll is he accepting? Baked, nut-roll, egg-roll? Keep using that Pitt education.

NickDawg said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
NickDawg said...

dam Nigerian thanks for dissecting my spelling and grammar on a blog...you should get out of your moms basement more often

Adam said...

Of course I showed you one with both guys on a giant list, because it shows that neither are legit candidates.

Duh.

the nigerian nightmare said...

Just curious, did you actually go to Pitt?

BURGH08 said...

Don: Please correct your post of nearly a week ago from "Dion Lewis, Heisman candidate" to "Dion Lewis, guy on a giant list".

It's clear you are being misleading with your claim.

Sincerely,

Chris Dodd
Dennis Kucinich
Fred Thompson

Former Presidential Candid...err...guys on giant list.

Adam said...

So Dion Lewis is the Dennis Kucinich of Heisman candidates?

I'll settle for that.

BURGH08 said...

You have settled for a life long Penn State education, so it's not surprising.