Saturday, November 5, 2011

Today's Pens Report: "Sidney Crosby is not at the team's morning skate. He went back to attend a scheduled doctor's appointment. He'll be back with the team for practice on Monday."

Glass half-full analysis: He is getting final clearance today, so he doesn't miss Monday's practice and is set to resume his career on 11/11/11.

Glass half-empty analysis: concussion symptoms have resurfaced.

Can't go by what Pens say; remember, he was originally diagnosed with a mild concussion and would miss one week.

I'm feeling like it's glass half-full scenario; but as much as I wish I could, I can't discount glass half-empty scenario.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Question (asked on Yahoo! Answers)
“How long will Crosby be with the Penguins?”
—Aubry

Best Answer (chosen by voters)
Roughly as long as Lemieux was.
—The Quack Attack


Ha! Love it.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Announced crowd at Isles game: 10,681.

Wow...

Think the Isles ownership misses #87 in the Pens lineup?!
 

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

11/11/11 Hanging in the Balance

Coach today on Crosby needing to have more practices with contact:
"It’s not just having enough practices that have contact, he’s still in the process of his rehab. While we’d all like to put a timetable on it, we haven’t. It’s not about missing games or projecting when that game might be, he’s just got to continue to go through the process. He’s doing really well. You see him on the ice – his level of compete and his speed and his skill is great to watch. We’re still going through that process. I think everyone would like to know when Game 1 is or when a timetable is, but we’re still in the process of going through his rehab. That doesn’t have a timetable on it."

Ugh! Maybe 11/11/11 isn't such a slam dunk after all.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Be Very Afraid NHL...

The two-headed monster is starting to resurface:

11/11/11 inching closer

87 and 71 scored in practice this morning. I wish I could hug them both, too!

Friday, October 21, 2011

1

 
11-11-11
(87's projected return)

is greater than

1-1-11
(87's Winter Classic injury)

Thursday, October 13, 2011

We Have Contact!!!

10:34 AM--Pens captain Sidney Crosby is participating in the morning skate wearing a black helmet, just like the rest of his teammates!


.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

SluFoot, like Pens, ready to regain its prominence

Check back often for provocative commentary 
and the most accurate NHL standings published anywhere

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Pens Final Report Card

Pens Front Office: B
Shero did what he could, given salary cap constraints, to give this team a chance to compete for the cup. #72 didn't work out but it was worth the risk. Jury still out on #18, #2 for GoGo, but I still like that trade.

Coaching: C
I know everyone has been on HCDB's bandwagon, but he deserves criticism for the PP, which wasn't even  mediocre with #87 and #71 and abysmal in the playoffs. Also, not dressing #5 in playoffs over #6 is extremely questionable in hindsight.

Goaltending: B+
Can't pin game 7 loss on #29. Had no chance on the lone goal scored. Can't cover both posts at the same time.He made three spectacular saves along the way--end of 1st period toe save, glove hand right after goal scored, and another pointblank one with a couple minutes to go. I'd like to see more consistency from him, but as long as he remains healthy, the Pens are set between the pipes for another decade.

Defense: C
Probably deserved an A going into the postseason, but did a poor job of clearing out rebounds in postseason.

Forwards: C-
Held their own for the most part 5v5, but didn't score enough big goals after the two-headed monster was sidelined...for that matter didn't score any goals in game 7.

PP: F
in Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, April.

Penalty Kill: B-. If the season was a class, it's like they Aced the midterm but flunked the final.

Pens PR dept: F
The mixed signals for the past month regarding #87'status has done IMO some real damage to the fan base. People could deal with #87 not being able to play because of a career/life threatening injury, but when the Pens promoted video showing #87 dazzling everyone on the ice, wearing headsets during the games, etc... it led to some not-so-insignificant grumbling among the fan base. Don't think there is going to be a surge in the size of the season ticket waiting list.

Overall assessment of the season. Opportunity Lost
Had the framework to get all A's, hoist the cup. IMO second most disappointing season in franchise history, topped only by the David Volek finish.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Let The Beards Begin

1st Round Predictions

WEST
Vancouver > Chicago
San Jose > Los Angeles
Detroit > Phoenix
Nashville > Anaheim

EAST
Washington > New York
Philadelphia > Buffalo
Boston > Montreal
Pens > Tampa Bay
BigL

WEST
Chicago > Vancouver
San Jose > Los Angeles
Detroit > Phoenix
Anaheim > Nashville

EAST
New York > Washington
Buffalo > Philadelphia
Boston > Montreal
Pens > Tampa Bay
R~

WEST
Vancouver > Chicago
San Jose > Los Angeles
Phoenix > Detroit
Anaheim > Nashville

EAST
Washington > New York
Buffalo > Philadelphia
Montreal > Boston
Pens > Tampa Bay
Mendy87

Friday, April 8, 2011

Waiting Game

HCDB today after the morning skate on if there is any change in #87's status:

"No change in that status, just continuing that progression and on the ice. Again, his interaction is with the doctors, not with the coaching staff or training staff. So he gets his daily activity and progression from somewhere else, not us."

On if it’s getting a little late for people to hope #87would be around for the start of the playoffs just based on the calendar:

"We’ve said it before and continue to say it, he has a couple more steps to go in his rehabilitation before he can even think about returning to play. I don’t know how fast that’s going to happen, I don’t know if that’s going to happen. There’s no way to even make a timetable. And considering that he has two more steps to go through, it would seem like anything in the immediate future is out of the question."

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Will He or Won't He

By all accounts, and common sense, #87 needs a week of practice (with contact) before playing again; not so much to get back into game shape, it looks like he's there right now based on the videos and comments from some of the players. What he has to show, though, is that he can take a hit, because it's no secret that the the hits will come whenever he returns (playoffs or next season).

According to Pens' Web site, nine players are participating in the Pens' optional Wednesday morning skate. Crosby, Letestu, Comrie, Conner, Godard, Tangradi, Lovejoy, Engelland and Cooke.

Good sign #87 is among them but tomorrow will be the day (full practice w/ contact) to find out if #87 received medical clearance he needs to have a week of practice and a chance to make his return for Game 1 of Round 1.

(If that happens, think there will be a cheer or two in Consol when
team steps on the ice?!)

Fingers crossed.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Grrrr....

The speculative news that sounded so positive initially today is now depressing (Way to go, Tribune-Review's Rob Rossi):

"As a manager, I have no expectation that he's coming back to play in the regular season. I don't believe that's going to happen. In terms of playing in the playoffs for us, that's still two or three weeks away. I don't want to take away any hope from (Crosby), but to return to game action for the Stanley Cup playoffs takes a certain level of fitness and game-(readiness), and he is certainly not close to that at this point."
--Shero's comments today

The question everyone is asking is why all the practice-video for public consumption if there is little likelihood #87 is coming back this year. I guess it's not too much of a stretch that the Pens want to ensure that season ticket holders purchased their playoff tickets and then renew for next year. (Clearly, he isn't retiring.)Yeah, that can sound absurd, considering the sellout streak and season-ticket waiting list. But Pens fans have also seen a pretty good player in his day, #66, take the ice in a less-than-packed Civic/Mellon Arena, even for some early-round playoff games.

Make no mistake, without #87, Pens are a Cup longshot at best as most experts agree. For all the recent hype about the team's resilience, let's face facts: Pens are 11-9-4 post #71's knee injury, not even a playoff-worthy pace, and of those 11 wins, seven came in a 4v4 OT or a SO, which doesn't exist come playoff time. One series win MAYBE without #87 if #29 can steal it; two series wins would be OVERACHIEVING; after that...

Friday, March 25, 2011

#87 worked out on the ice again today, at least 45 minutes with conditioning coach Mike Kadar, which is an upgrade. Less than two weeks ago, he spent just 15 minutes on the ice during his first post-concussion skate. He's also, according to HCDB, doing rigorous off-ice workouts.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Latest #87 Update

The P-G is reporting that before the rest of the team practiced at Southpointe today, #87 skated with conditioning coach Mike Kadar doing various shooting drills with cones.

For the past 10 days, he has been working out daily, either on or off the ice, and there has been no mention of post-concussion symptoms.

Yea!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

#29 on #87

In a Radio Canada interview of #29 that aired a few days ago, here is what he had to say (translated from French) about #87:

“We are, of course, hoping for Sidney’s return between now and the end of the season, but we are aware of the reality. He might not come back this season. On a hockey level, I would really like to gamble on Sidney, but I’m also thinking about the human side, and I want to see him be healthy first, before seeing him back on the ice….I see Sidney a lot at the arena in Pittsburgh. He comes around every day. I talk to him about all kinds of subjects, but I never want to talk to him about his head. My objective is pretty simple; I want to take his mind off things. He sees enough doctors and neurologists, he doesn’t need any questions from me about his concussion. Sidney tries to stay in a good mood, though it’s not easy. He misses hockey. He had never gone through a situation like this, where he can no longer put on skates and do what he loves most in the world, play hockey. It is also hard for him when we leave Pittsburgh to play games on the road. He can’t jump on the plane with the rest of us.”

Could No News Be Good News?

After the Pens finished practice today, the media asked HCDB whether #87 was still having concussion symptoms or whether there was still time for him to return during the regular season if he becomes (or is) asymptomatic.

HCDB simply replied that there was nothing new to report.

Why didn't he answer the question?! If #87 is still having symptoms, why not just confirm that and state there is no timetable for his return? End of that line of questioning.

By saying nothing leaves open the possibility that the Pens are trying to avoid a media circus because #87 has resumed training! (There have been unconfirmed reports that he has been renting out ice rinks and skating on his own.)

Maybe that assessment is wishing on a fallen star, but it's a plausible scenario.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Hockey “Experts” Chime In On #87’s Return

“I don’t want to pretend to know whether he’s coming back or not, but I know this. If he’s not on the ice in the next couple of weeks and starting to working out really hard, he’s not going to be anywhere near 100% come playoff time. Even for Sidney Crosby, as great as he is, if you take off two-and-a-half, three months doing very little, it’s going to take more than a week or two to get back in shape and back into the rhythm of the game. Whether he comes back or not I can’t say; if it’s much longer, I can say this, he’s going to have a tough time getting to the level that he wants to be at in the playoffs.”
—Mike Milbury, NBC analyst (and Ulf lover) interviewed by ProHockey Talk

###

In a live hockey chat today, the question was posed if #87 will come back by season’s end:

“50-50”
—Lyle Richardson (AKA, Spector) of Fox Sports

“I still think that if Sid gets back on the ice in the next two weeks, he’ll play.”
—Greg Wyshynski (AKA, Puck Daddy) of Yahoo! Sports

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

#87's Odds to Return (through Herb Brooks' eyes)

If Pens had these circumstances 10 times, the team might shut down #87 nine.
But not this year.
This year, he skates again!
This year, he scores again!
This year, he leads the Pens to the Stanley Cup because he can!
This year, and in the years to come, he is, and will be, the greatest hockey player in the world!
Sid was born to be a hockey player.
And he was meant to win the cup this year.
This is his time.
Destiny will let him take it!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Inch by Inch Boys!

19 Days....

If #87 is going to lead the Pens to the Stanley Cup this year, then he needs to start being more than a couch potato.

It seems reasonable to estimate that it will take him three weeks to get his lungs, abs, biceps, and legs into the kind of game shape expected for the world's best player.

Pens fans circle March 20th on your calendar for his return to practice.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Welcome to Pittsburgh James Neal & Matt Niskanen!

First glimpse of them in Pens' garb (at morning skate) before their debut tonight:

                         Neal                                                  Niskanen
                                                           (click on photos to enlarge)

Monday, February 21, 2011

Breaking News

The word from a decent source is that the Pens are  finalizing a deal to bring Ottawa's Kovalev back to the burgh. He'll be 38 years old on Thursday (five months older than Peter Forsberg), so let's hope if it happens that Pens are giving up next to nothing for the pending free agent and that he still has something/anything left in the tank.

Wonder who will get #27, he or Adams?

Can a signing of #68 be far behind...

Pens Fan Watching Game with #87 Scratched

Friday, February 11, 2011

Thursday, February 10, 2011

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

"You know what? That could happen," Crosby said today of missing the rest of the season. "But am I sitting here packing it in? No. I hope I'm back and, geez, I hope I play this year."

Wow, there hasn't been so much doom and gloom permeating Pittsburgh blogs and talk shows since Monday's Super Bowl coverage!

Is there a chance #87 won't be back this year... yes. But if you consider all his remarks or even just that quote above, he seems optimistic that he will return.

For the long-term paranoia, it's true concussions did derail the careers of Lindros, Primeau, LaFontaine, and perhaps Savard, but they were all in their 30s, and all took much more ferocious hits than #87. Remember, #87 (unwisely in hindsight) finished both the Winter Classic and the Tampa Bay game. My point being, he didn't get carted off like the others (and Heath Miller for the Steelers).

Look, too, at Patrice Bergeron for the Bruins. He had two concussions 2007 (knocked unconscious) and another in 2008. Today, he is the alternate captain of the Bruins, their leading scorer, and arguably their best player. Relax with the career-ending apocalyptic predictions posters!

As for the season being over without #87 and #71, boy when the going gets tough, some fans reach for the remote. This team can still win (8-5-1 since the concussion), and can still do damage in April, May, June by tweaking its game slightly and riding #29 as far as he can take them. That means HCDB reigning in the ferocious forecheck (i.e., my Rope-a-Dope post) to make sure there are no odd-man breaks that no goalie can stop consistently. #29 has shown us he may be the best in the NHL between the pipes right now, let this be his team until further notice. (Remember with #87 and #71 and no commitment to defense, the team didn't get beyond the 2nd round last season).

Sports doesn't always play out the way we'd script it. That's what makes it so appealing to follow.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Rope-a-Dope

What's painfully clear, given #71's apparent season-ending knee injury and the uncertainty of #87's return (and what will be his level of play if/when he does return?),is that the personality of this team may need to change completely come the playoffs. (We'll know better by the trade deadline, based on whether #87 has returned and his level of play.)

As it stands now, in all likelihood Pens will only have one forward (other than #87) with 50+ points: #14. Adding a high-priced winger won't help (ask New Jersey). For a playoff run with a less-than-100% #87, this team will need to be built around #29 so Pens can win games in April, May, June by scores of 1-0, 2-1. Thankfully, #29 looks like he is up to the challenge if Pens play conscientious defense. #4, #7, #44, #58 are fine. I've been especially pleased with the play of #7 of late. Pens could use one or two more quality defensemen, using #3 as trade bait. Best ones would be:
Ryan Suter, Nashville (signed though 2011-12 season at $3.5 million)
Adrien Aucoin, Phoenix (signed through 2011-12 season at $2.2 million)

I know this doesn't sound glitzy, but it's the team's best chance to win the cup without #71 and if #87 doesn't return this season or if his level of play drops (which would be understandable, given he hasn't had intense workouts in more than a month).

Friday, February 4, 2011

Super Bowl Weekend Quiz

Which of these events will happen this weekend:

A) Kim Kardashian reveals she’s engaged to Big Ben

B) Rex Ryan & John Harbaugh record a remix of Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow.” 

C) Brent Johnson replaces Eric Godard on the 4th line as Pens’ enforcer.

D) LeBron vows that if he doesn’t win the NBA title this year, he will enroll at Pitt.

E) Steelers not only cover the 2.5 pt spread, they win an unprecedented 7th Super Bowl.

Look for the correct answer on Monday.

But here is a hint:
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Ouch!

When a one-hitter, for #1, is better than a shutout!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

We're Number One!

2010 NHL local TV ratings
among US teams
(source: Nielsen)

1) Pittsburgh Penguins 8.0 rating
2) Buffalo Sabres 6.3
3) Detroit Red Wings 3.9
4) Chicago Blackhawks 2.6
5) Boston Bruins 2.3
-) St. Louis Blues 2.3
7) Philadephia Flyers 2.2
8) Minnesota Wild 1.7
9) Washington Capitals 1.6
10) Colorado Avalanche 1.4

Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Not-So-Great 8

Going into the NHL All Star break, the Caps' "Great 8" is on pace for an 83-point season.

Last spring, deputies found thousands of doses of anabolic steroids in the home of Richard Thomas. He claimed they were for chiropractor Douglas Nagel, who told him he supplied steroids to members of the Washington Capitals. Detectives were not able to prove that players who visited Nagel were taking steroids, but Nagel was charged with seven counts of soliciting to deliver a controlled substance. Last June, Thomas was sentenced to eight months in jail and three years of supervised release after prison.

Ovie hasn't been the same player since. Coincidence?

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Best of Times, Worst of Times

AFC Championship (best ratings in 24 years)
31.3 rating of all TV households
46% share of audience watching TV

NFC Championship
28.1 rating of all TV households
50% share of the audience watching TV

2010 World Series (lowest ratings ever)
8.4 rating of all TV householdsg (average)
14% share of  audience watching TV (average)

When all markets, large and small, have a chance to win a championship, people care about the sport.  It's too late for MLB, which doesn't have significant revenue sharing, nor a salary cap. NFL, please don't screw up your league, too, with your next collective bargaining agreement.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

It's a Hockey Night in Pittsburgh

Unfortunately, it's not a hockey night for #87, and based on his comments to the media yesterday, it doesn't sound like he will be on the ice again anytime soon. Best-case scenario is probably February 6, which could happen if he resumes skating after the all star break (six days from now) and gets in a week of conditioning. That would mean he misses the first three games after the all star break, before that Feb 6 game, which is Super Bowl Sunday. The opponent that day, by the way, Steckel and the Capitals. Payback time?

Until then, this is #29's team, who I predict will be (has to be) the #1 star tonight and every night that the Pens win until at least #71 returns.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Yesterday's Top 5 Thankful Moments

5: Unlike the Ravens game, #22 picking up the pigskin when it was on the ground at the end of the first half
4: #34 looking like the Vikings' #28 of two seasons ago.
3: Coach Tomlin playing to win, instead of not to lose, by calling two pass plays on Steelers last drive.
2: The pass plays on the game's last drive not backfiring on the Steelers.
1: Jay Cutler isn't the Q for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Saturday, January 22, 2011

NFL PICK$


It has been a profitable post-season for me when it comes to picking against the NFL spread. 5 wins, 3 losses with three games to go until one team is hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Here is what to expect AFC, NFC, Championship Sunday:

Green Bay (-3.5) at Chicago:
Too much firepower for the Bears to handle on both sides of the ball. Cutler will be forced into making costly mistakes and Favre's successor will continue to make the Cheeseheads forget #4. Take the Pack and give the points.

NY Jets at Pittsburgh (-3.5)
Give the Jets credit, they knocked out Indy and NE, not sure there is another NFL team that could have accomplished that. But this is a great matchup for the Steelers. The Jets need to run the ball so that Sanchez can just manage the game. Problem for Jets is Steelers stop the run better than anyone else. Jets defense thrives on pressuring the Q, but big Ben is the best (better than Manning and Brady) of extending the play after it breaks down. Steelers win and easily cover the spread.

Bonus Pick:
#29  is #1 star tonight against 'canes as Pens win for the first time without #71 or #87 in the lineup.

Friday, January 21, 2011

87 + 71 + 29 = franchise

Five things I never want to see again:

5) Any Philadelphia sports team win a championship

4) Continued Pirates ownership by Bob Nutting

3) An NFL lockout

2) Glee

1) The Pens lineup without #87, #71, & #29

Here is what we learned last night about the Pens after their 2-0 loss to New Jersey—they aren't Stanley Cup contenders with #87, #71, & #29 scratched. Mind boggling, huh.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Chasing Greatness

"I’ve said since I got here, I was excited to come to the Steelers because it’s a special organization.”
--Big Ben

It really is a special organization borne out by the Steelers' six Super Bowl wins. Remaining three teams have five championships combined. That's not lost on the NFL players or fans in every city.

As for you old-timers who remember the Steelers of the 70's,imagine if you had one game to win and could start one Q who was in his prime.Who would it be? Meredith? Namath? Fouts? Montana? Young? Elway? Marino? Aikmen? Manning? Brady? Give me #12 in the Black & Gold. Like Big Ben, the offensive schemes didn't give him a chance to put up MVP numbers during the regular seasons. But what he did do, more than any of the others, is LEAD his teammates to championships, and that's what sports is all about... and what Sunday's all about as Big Ben moves closer to standing alongside, not slightly behind, Terry Bradshaw.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

5 Reasons Why I Miss Sidney Crosby

1. Humility. After two weeks of suffering through the NY JETS media takeoverfilled with personal attacks against opposing players, coaches, and media correspondents who doubted their football teamit would be nice to see the return of the unmistakably best player in hockey (though he would never say so himself).

2. The Rocket Richard. Tonight was the night it finally happened. After 6 missing games, Sid has lost hold of league's title for most goals. Steven Stamkos had two goals against the Lighteningputting him at 33, one ahead of Crosby.

3. The All-Star Game. Can they even call it that if he doesn't play? Sid said it is very questionable whether he will play in the game. But even if he does, there will be no captain title for him, they were given to Carolina's Staal and Detroit's Lidstrom. It just doesn't seem right for the player who received 635,509 votes (200,000 more than Toews).

4. The Sidney Haters. I am sick and tired of hearing conspiracy theories of why he played in the Tampa Bay game or why he will not be playing in the all-star game. Haven't NHL fans and media personalities learned that Sid is an Honest Abe by now?

5. The Philadelphia Flyers. It seems that it always comes back to the Flyers. We let them have their fun in the Stanley Cup last year and smirked at their division lead throughout the first half of the season. But enough is enough. It is time for Sid to come back and show them who is really the better hockey team in the Atlantic division and the NHL.