It's a Hockey Night (and trifecta week) in Pittsburgh

Thank you Pitt Panthers for the perfect start of what could be a memorable sports week in the City of  Champions. A 19-0 run to start the game last night against the #3 team in the country. Wow! Big Ben, several other Steelers, and the Cardinal's/Pitt alumnus Larry Fitzgerald were in The Pete to watch the beat down of 'Cuse in which the Panthers never trailed (though they made the game interesting by giving  'Cuse their own 17-0 run). Nicely done boys!


Tonight, it's the Pens turn. Still no #87, but  two players are stepping up in his absence,  #11 and #29.In fact, #29 not being one of the stars against Boston was a joke. Sportswriter who picked the stars must be in the same group that has been yapping about Tom Brady being the best Q ever. How'd he do against the Jets... Or in last year's playoff... HaHa!  Back to the Pens, I don't like some of the whispers about #71's play. It's true, he's not piling up the points, but his play at both ends has been strong, and he is generating scoring chances. Don't be surprised if one of these games he has a 4 or 5 point night. Maybe tonight.

Of course, Sunday is the game we're all waiting for. Look for my pick against the spread for both NFL championship games later this week. (I'm 5-3 against the spread so far this post season.)

Trifecta

Thanks to a clean sweep on Saturday by Pitt, Pens, and Steelers, the City of Champions has quite a week ahead:

Monday: NCAA hoops #4 Pitt hosts #3 Syracuse
Tuesday: Pens host Detroit, back-to-back finals rivals
Sunday: Steelers host Jets in AFC championship

Those with heart conditions may be better off planning a winter excursion this week in Boston, where there will be nothing to get excited about.

For the rest of us, buckle your seat belt, this week is going to be quite a ride in the national spotlight.

A Penguin Goal Song for the 21st Century?!?

Is there any better feeling than watching the puck soar off a penguin's stick into our opponent's net?

Well I am glad you asked. There could be a better feeling with a change in Consol's goal song.

Right now the penguin goal song alternates between two songs. The first is "Song 2" by Blur. The ever popular woo-hoo song was great when it came out in 1997 (more than ten years ago).

If you think the 14-year-old goal song is a bit tired, how about the Penguin's other goal song? "Rock n' Roll 2" by Gary Glitter was originally released in 1972 (5 years before any current penguin was born).

It is time for a change. My current favorite replacement song is called "The Whip" by Locksley released in 2010. 

Starting at 1:45 and ending at 2:14 = the new penguin goal song. Don't believe me? Take a listen.

NFL PICK$

1) Baltimore at Pittsburgh (-3)
Ravens can't make Big Ben any uglier so all #7 has to worry about is winning the game. He will be the #1 star. Give the points and take the Steelers

2) Green Bay at Atlanta (-2.5)
The only way I'd take Atlanta is if Brett Favre was still Green Bay's Q. Take the Pack and the points. I look for the Pack to win this one outright.

3) Seattle at Chicago (-10)
'da Bears probably win but no way by 10 unless its 6o degrees and sunny on Chi town's lakefront, and that's not happening, either. Take Seattle with the points

4) New York at New England (-8.5)
Cromartie is right, Tom Brady is an a**hole, but he's also the best Q in the game. Take NE and give the points. I'd take NE and give 14 points.

Karma is a b****

"Crazy. Karma is a b****. Gets you every time. It's not good to wish bad on anybody. God sees everything!" "
--LeBron James tweeted when dissing his old team Tuesday night for getting blown out by the Lakers.

Looks like he was right! Last night, King James sprains his ankle and the Heat's winning streak comes to an end.

Meanwhile, Habs goalie Price, who struck an arms-crossed pose after beating the Pens in a shootout last week, got beat last night for five goals.

#29 had his teammates' backs by striking his own arms-crossed pose at game's victorious end.

HaHa!

It's a hockey night in Pittsburgh

I'm worried about tonight's game after Monday's meltdown against the Bruins. I don't understand how Pens could give up so many odd man breaks against Bruins during the final 30 minutes. Where was the defense and the backcheck?!

I felt bad for #29. For 50+ minutes he had an outstanding game. Chara's goal wasn't great, but he has a wicked shot. The others #29 had no chance on.

I have real concerns that HCDB is unable to counter the opposition's strategy of clogging up the neutral zone against the Pens. Isles did it successfully against Pens to stop #87's scoring streak and Minnesota, Habs, Bruins have done it since. Pens have enough talent even without #87 to generate sustained offense. I hope HCDB has come up with an approach that has a bit more complexity than his old standby, "keep it in their end." We'll find out tonight because I'm sure the Habs are going to have the same game plan they did last week--boring but effective defensive hockey.

Thank goodness the NFL championship, unlike the BCS, isn't in the hands of sports writers.

For the much hyped Steelers-Ravens matchup, here is my analysis:

* Both defenses are dominant. No edge

* Both teams have good running games; slight edge to the Ravens

* Both teams have decent passing games; slight edge to the Steelers

* Significant advantage for Steelers at Q

With #7 tipping the scales, I like the Steelers in this one, but this a "Yoi! Double Yoi!" game, which means no one should bet it unless they enjoyed the Robert De Niro-Christopher Walken finale in The Deer Hunter.

Nevertheless, look for my picks against the spread later this week as I try to build on my playoff 3-1 record against the spread.