By Dejan Kovacevic | Trib Total Media
Looking ahead to faceoff …
Game: Penguins (18-8) vs. Boston Bruins (17-3-3)
Time: 7:38 p.m.
Site: Consol Energy Center
TV, radio: Root Sports, NESN (Boston), NBC Sports (national), WXDX-FM 105.9
Here is the official live box score.
Here is TribLIVE’s Penguins page. Josh Yohe is on the scene. Here’s Josh’s online-only recap of the Penguins’ news today.
Welcome Lunatics, if you don’t see your current location below, please add a reply to this post
PS, IMO all places are part of the Burgh, as you are there
It’s that “Family” thing
PS We don’t bite, …. much
Dejan’s Lunatic Nation – at the Trib,
Arizona – Tucson, Chandler, Phoenix, Sunnyslope, Davis-Monthan AFB*
Arkansas – Rogers
Austrailia – Mackay
California – Bakersfield, San Francisco, UNION CITY, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, Yuba City, Solana Beach, Yorba Linda, Yuba City*, Edwards, Long Beach, Modesto, Davis
Canada – Toronto, Winnipeg, Moncton – New Brunswick, Ontario – Muskoka
China – Beijing
Colorado – Ft Collins, Estes Park*, Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs
Connecticut – Cos Cob, Bridgeport, Wallingford, Norwalk, NEWTOWN
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
Delaware – Newark
Denmark – Greenland – Thule*
District of Columbia
Florida – Palm Harbor, Orlando, Valrico, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, Oviedo, Tampa, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Palm Beach Gardens, Cape Coral, Coco Beach (Major Nelson and Mary Ann), Niceville (Red Neck Rivera), St Petersburg, Pembroke Pines, Ft Lauderdale, Palm Beach Gardens, Hallandale Beach
Georgia – Marietta, Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Acworth
Germany – Leverkusen/Cologne
Hawaii – Honolulu
Idaho – Mountain Home, Coer d’Aline, Mountain Home AFB*
Indiana – Indianapolis, Burns Harbor, South Bend, Bicknell, Ft Wayne
Iowa – Bettendorf, Humboldt
Illinois – La Salle, Peru, Payson, Chicago, Palatine (3 inmates there), Lincoln Park, Grayslake, Algonquin
Japan – Tokyo
Kentucky – Louisville, Bowling Green, Lexington
Louisiana – Slidell
Maine – Bangor
Maryland – Arnold, Odenton, Severn, Baltimore, Waldorf, Hagerstown, Chevy Chase, Hampstead
Massachusetts – Boston, Tygnsboro
Michigan – Kalamazoo, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor
Minnesota – Yinzer
Mississippi – Biloxi
Missouri – St Peters***
Montana
Nebraska – Omaha
New Hampshire – Barrington
New Jersey – Chesterfield, Princeton, Roxbury, Lebanon, Lincoln Park, Berkeley Heights, Somerville, Hammock, Barrington, Delran, Pennsville
New Mexico – Mike
New York – New York, Smithtown, Manhattan, Long Island, Nyack, Brooklyn
Nevada, Las Vegas
North Carolina – Asheville, Hickory, Charlotte, Raleigh, Charleston, Wilmington, Chapel Hill, High Point
North Dakota
Ohio – Cincinnati, Columbiana, Westerville, Green, Hilliard, Toledo, Louisville, Columbus, Perrysburg, Pickerington, Youngstown, Cleveland, Olmsted Township, Liberty Township, Warren, Oregon, Wintersville, Austintown, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base*, New Philadelphia, Powell, Canton, Salem, New Albany, Bloomingdale
Pennsylvania – Downtown, Hopewell, Indiana, North Wales, Franklin Park, Forest Hills, Lansdale, Philadelphia, Du Bois, Reading, Crafton, Arnold, Wexford, Mt Lebanon, Canonsburg, Lancaster, Huntington, York, Boiling Springs, Philly suburbs, Morningside, Harrisburg, Lawrenceville, Bradfordwoods, Norristown, Hanover, Clearfield, Sewickley, DuBois, Plum Boro, Slippery Rock, Wilks-Barre, Sharpsville, Bessemer, Greensburg, Washington, Imperial, South Side, Duncansville, Newville, Sheppton, Grove City, Butler, Allentown, Ross Township, Blairsville, Flood City (Johnstown), Overbrook, Danny’s Hoagies, Baldwin, Economy, Sharpsville, Erie, North Huntington, Bellfonte, West Mifflin, Kennywood, Pleasant Hills, Beechview (Mad Turk, No 200), Macgunie, Mechanicsburg, Uptown, Cambria County, Mon Valley, Salisbury, Coraopolis, Emsworth, Cranberry Twp, Garrett, O’Hara Township, McCandless Township, 115 Federal Street, Bethel Park, Harrison City, Penn Hills, Kittanning, Dover, Lebanon, Upper St Clair, Rennerdale, Oakland, Scranton, Moon (RMU), State College, Erie, Penn Twp, Stowe, Elizabeth, Hermitage, Easton, Carlisle, Finleyville, Belle Vernon, Madison, Sellersville, Waynesburg, Warren, Beaver Falls, Chambersburg, Green Castle, East Freedom, Leechburg, Banksville City, Ellwood City (named after one of the Blues Brothers??)
The Philipines
Rhode Island
Singapore
South Carolina – Duncan, Longs, Columbia, Bluffton, Greensville
South Korea – Seoul, Mike
Sweden
Tennessee – Smithville, Nashville
Texas – Tyler, San Antonio, Belton, Houston, Katy, Plano, El Paso
Utah – Salt Lake City, Provo
Vermont – North Bennington
Virginia – JAL, Hampton, Rescue, Richmond, Front Royal, Woodbridge, Suffolk, Warrenton, Springfield*, Virginia Beach, Fairfax, Arlington, Yorktown, Henrico, Aldie, Manassas, Newport News
Washington – Seattle, Nine Mile Falls, Spokane, Sammamish
West Virginia – Martinsburg, Morgantown, Wheeling, Mt Olivet
Wisconsin – Madison, Oshkosh, Hortonville
Wyoming – Caspar, Lander
317 locations represented in the blog,
Honorary members, people that have, in our opinion, made a difference
Beano
Lemonade Guy
The Gunner, Mr Bob Prince
The Great One
Mike Lange
Myron Cope
The Honorable Mayor Richard Caliguiri
Kevin Mcclachety
Mike Emerick
Commander Hadfield, courtesy of the Space Station
Fred Rogers
Wilver Dornell Stargell, No 8
Maz
13 countries
44 states, plus the District of Columbia, missing 6 states, North Dakota, South Dakota, Hawaii, Alabama, Kansas and Oklahoma
Two planets, at least confirmed, and the Space Station
Honorable mention, England – London – Lisa
Asterisks denote confirmed hero’s, military, police officers or firemen/ladies
3/12/2013 5:50 PM
65mil for Mike Wallace with possibly 30 guaranteed?
Who was it again that said no one would give big money to Wallace?
Might be one of the most ridiculous contracts I’ve seen in a while. Signs of a GM that knows his job is on the line if they don’t win in Miami.
You, usually, in the NFL, win something by signing free agents
Not with stupid contracts like this one
Ask Daniel Snyder how signing FA’s has worked out for him
I missed using the word DON’T WIN SOMETHING
Sorry, got distracted
Dammit Biz! Got me all worked up!
Yep- Not HIS money and as Ron White says..”Can’t fix stupid”. They must be looking at the stats more than the game films.
To me, Wallace ~= Nate Washington. Remember him, great speed, iffy hands, but a better attitude….and not missed. I believe he was even around a 3rd round pick.
If they actually decide to USE Burress, then they got the tall receiver and can draft another really fast, iffy hand WR in this years 3rd Round.
I really like the projection of Eifert the TE from Notre Dame going to the Steelers. Heath comes back healthy and have another TE with talent like Eifert; would be tremendous
Absolutely and fits with Haley’s overall offensive scheme, assuming of course, BBR’s by in. Wouldn’t take much more, like a RB and the OLine staying out of the tub and it could be pretty interesting.
Looks like the Steelers are not the only team taking major talent hits. Ravens have already lost God and Boldin and then today within the first 2 hours of FA they lost Kruger and the replacement for Lewis in Ellerbe. Bengals could win the division next year!
The after affect of signing flacco. Wonder if they are considering Harrison, would that be something.
I guess God wasn’t willing to restructure his contract.
Plaxico stays. Makes me happy. He still has something left, and he can’t be hurting the salary cap. And Foote. Wallace will get the guaranteed part of that contract, doubt he’ll play the whole thing out.
IMO unlike some others, he did not show the character to get that deal, I wish him the best, but Wallace, especially with that contract, is 50-50 to excell or flame out
He is not a #1 receiver. There is no way he will live up to that contract
Now I wish that the Dolphins would have been the team for hardknocks this season on HBO!
I have been out of town all day; Pirates make any roster moves today?
Or are all roster moves on hold out of respect for the conclave?
Off day, so the big wigs are discussing the moves.
I prefer to think its respect for the conclave. To think of them sitting around talking I picture moneyball and the one old guy wanting to know who Fabio is.
Tomorrow. I’ll be camped out outside the locker room looking for sad faces. Probably no surprises.
Milo there will be a ton of surprises tomorrow…. only surprised that the Pirates have such little talent in some spots that some jokers will still be aorund after tomorrows cuts.
Once again, Bylsma scratches Despres against a bigger team.
Stupid.
But I don’t expect anyone to ask Bylsma about it.
Player development…… I’m in favor of it.
When I saw that I predicted Loss.
Just logged in.
Shocked.
Love baseball, hate the Nittins – Game On!
Go Pens!
That penalty kill is such a sore spot.
Are there waitresses wearing bright orange shorts where you are watching this game, Milo?
Watching in the comfort of the beach house being a national broadcast and all. Heading out for beers after the game, imbedded with the spring breakers you know. Will go out to watch Thursday.
Cool. Jealous.
To honor Dejan, we stopped by Starbucks at St. Armand’s Circle in Sarasota (actually it was cold & I needed coffee to warm up) & ran into some neighbors from home. Small world.
+1
Amazing how they can go from 1st last season to 22nd this season. Hmmm, I wonder who or what could be missing? Passive, stick waiving slackers.
Early last season they were tops due to being hyper aggressive on PK.
Now they are extremely passive.
No idea why the change…..Bylsma knows I guess.
agreed.
4th line is a major issue as they are doing nothing at even-strength and not playing well when called upon during the PK.I don’t understand why Vitale gets stuck to the bench as a role player (who has killed penalties in minors) and is great on faceoffs.
Great point on Vitale.
So, has the euphoria of beating up on the Islanders worn off yet?
Once again, a team that can play a well coached simple game gives the Pens fits. Don’t worry gang, the Bruins played last nite to a shootout, they’ll be tired. lol
Where’s the tenacity?
In Calgary.
In a start like this, you need your 4th line to give you some energy.
The Penguins have Vitale flanked by two slow wingers, that has to change.
#GetVitaleSomeWingers
DK: Well done.
And what wingers do you suppose they get? I know this: adding a great winger to the top lines usually means moving some of the better wingers down. Have no idea who they could add though.
Really impressed by Bylsma’s ability to make sure Crosby gets out against Chara.
……..(sarcasm)
How many of us didn’t see that coming?
BTW: I found out when Mike Lange gushes over the opposition like a school girl at a Bieber concert, it usually equals a Penguins loss.
DK: That’s because he’s telling it like it is. Boston’s really that good.
Wait a minute, I thought the Pens were the best? Must be Fleury’s fault.
Switch to listening to Steigy. Doesn’t he gush over the Pens all the time?
Where’s Jandy? She can’t be enjoying this.
Boston’s PK is exactly what I want to see from the Pens.
Sure thing, all they need is Staal back.
I really don’t miss Staal on the PK, his work against the Flyers was poor.
Really? His PK versus the Flyers last playoffs, compared to his whole career with the Pens PK?
Yup, I don’t miss Mario either since his work against the Isles in ’93 was poor.
The Staal boat has sailed… he didn’t want to be here, Pens offered him good money to stay. I think they got good value (#1, Sutter, and prospect).
At this point, PK issues are related to Bylsma.
PK is too passive, can’t win faceoffs, and Glass/Adams too slow and ineffective.
By no means is the game over, but you can see that the Bruins are the better team. They play a good defensive system and have 4 lines that can produce. Coincidentally, those are the Pens weaknesses.
I echo above concerns about the 4th line. I see that as the biggest need at the trade deadline. Surely it’s not too much to ask for Shero to pick up some more effective grinders, who can actually score one or two goals in a season. It’s a shame they haven’t been able to develop those players in-house more consistently.
For all the talk about the need for a physical defenseman, their defensive woes appear to be more related to their system (or lack thereof) than personnel. I wouldn’t complain if they were somehow able to get a top 4 d-man, but I don’t think it would be worth giving up a top prospect to get one.
Do we really think lack of scoring is this team’s issue?
Sure a heavy duty winger would be nice…..but their PK awful, PP inconsistent, they’re defensively irresponsible in their own end….and they rarely play 60 mins in the same game.
Love to h,ave Iggy but there’s lots of other issues I’d fix first….
This game’s all about the next goal. One of these days Tanner Glass is going to get one. No, really.
PP coming up. Not that I expect anything at this rate. Pens making a nobody goalie look like god again. Typical.
Yeah. Qdoba. If we score everyone gets a free burrito.
Why are you worried about giving up top prospects if the system (or lack of) will ultimately fail them anyway?
Sorry, that was for J Walter.
If Bylsma can’t tweak the defensive system to make it more effective by the end of this season, he might not be the Pens coach next year. I haven’t given up hope that he can make the necessary adjustments.
Giving up Despres, Morrow, or Poulliot would not be worth the potential benefit of getting a big name, short-term rental player. The Pens can win the Cup with the personnel on this team, so it’s not worth mortgaging the future for someone who might make the team slightly better.
Glad youre so optimistic. Tweak the defense?
I’m still waiting for Bylsma to match lines.
At least keep Sid away from Chara. We are at home, aren’t we ?
This is what I said about Bylsma for the past two seasons. He doesn’t adjust his philosophy (most don’t) and like or not, this is the Pens game with him as coach. You want a system built around defensive responsibility first, that means a different coach.
What’s this future crud? The future is right now in case you’ve been sleeping. This is a team that’s supposed to be competing for the cup right now, today, this season and any player that can get them further to that goal is worth taking a look at and possibly trading prospects that they have an abundance of, Sorry, but you can only play so many, or carry so many defensemen at one time, some are going to be lost one way or another.
The Pens draft players to either be used with the team or traded to acquire players they need, that’s how most teams manage their player assets. I hate to break it to you, but not all the players in the system, no matter how much you may like them, are going to be starters or key pieces to the Pens this season or seasons down the road. Free agency and trades are a big part of NHL hockey. This isn’t the 1979 Steelers, you can’t home grow everything.
When I hear the phrase: “mortgaging the future” it stinks or Pirates speak and that’s not allowed here.
This game has shutout written all over it. So much for the impressive, high-octane Penguins offense. No they don’t need anything at all. That Crosby/Kunitz/Dupuis line is a world beater. Good thing the Bruins are tired.
Bruins killing that perimeter game of the Penguins.
They are the better team.
Reality check 2-2!
Bennett – Neal – Sutter line!
Stuart
Corey Perry can expect a phone call from NHL on his elbow to the head of Wild’s Jason Zucker. If that doesn’t get him 5-10 game suspension.
OK, now Glass needs to get that goal in the 1st 10 minutes.
At least the Pens should be well rested after the first 2 periods.
Uh oh, a Pens PP. Let’s watch the Pens give the Bruins some needed momentum.
This could be a 5 on 3 for the rest of the game and I seriously doubt the Pens could score 2.
Perimeter BS with no one crashing the net for the crappy garbage goal. Right now I’d have 2 players in front of the net. What a cute way to accomplish nothing.
If you are going to put Bennett out on PP down low at LW side… then don’t have puck coming to left point.. needs to be RW to LW pass.
Just not the Pens night. Need to get some bounces to beat a better team, but getting none.
I’ve never seen a team piss away so many scoring opportunities.
Something tells me Milbury is in heaven right now.
Wow a goal. At this rate they might get another by the 3rd period Sunday.
or not. lol
Well now.
Needed that 2nd line to step up. Nice goal by Sutter.
Let’s just hope the Pens don’t forget their D responsibilities trying to go ahead and give up a bad goal. They need to at least get a point here.
I’m missing Mother Theresa. Is she at the conclave?
Stuart
So, are we still firing Bylsma?
Staal who???
What was that about Staal again ?
Staal still the better player. That’s not even debatable.
Not in the last 10 minutes he’s not.
Nope. lol
Go Sutter. Unreal!
Nice goal for Sid!
I guess the Bears got tired, and did what bears do in the woods!
Stuart
Why is Orpik on the ice? Nice icing.
Nice icing Orpik. Really?
Like I was saying, good thing Orpik is on the ice.
Impressive comeback win by the Penguins!
Disco Dan is awesome
Do not tempt me….
Wow, that was a insane game!
Best “W” of the year. Came back from 2 goal deficit on team that is 17-3.
Absolutely.
Absolutely stole that game. Staal was capable of taking over a game and stealing it on occasion. Nice to see his “replacement” do it tonight!
Anyone else notice that Root just listed player of the game as Brent Sutter. Funny I thought it was Brandon Sutter on the Pens.
Anyway, biggest win of the season so far. Stuck with the game and never gave up. Awesome third period
Staal is better than Brent Sutter too. J/K lol
I actually thought Sid got the last one. He was on the doorstep! But Sutter drilled it.
Great game hope Jandy and Sarah saw I.
Stuart
Hopefully before the next game Shero will pull Bylsma aside and tell him it’s probably a wise thing to take advantage of last change and get Crosby off when the B’s put Chara and Bergeron out and vice-versa Not that he will listen. ;(
SJB,
You know how some people can make lemonade out of lemons?
Sometimes I think you could turn sugar into vinegar!
Enjoy the in!
Stuart
I do my best.
Seriously though, I will always point out anything wrong if it’s happening regardless of how the game is going or the result afterwards.
Wins are great and ultimately what you strive for but remember, it’s not if you win or lose it’s how you play the game and if you forget that, especially as a player, you’ll find yourself on the outside looking in more often than not.
Unblievable win for the boys tonight. They looked dead in the water. Kunitz has been a freak this year. And for all those that might think the Pens don’t need Iginla because of how Dupuis has played; imagine how much better that top line would be with a guy like Iginla on it.
Bennett continues to show he belongs; can’t wait to see him with Malkin and Neal on a regular basis.
TJ, someone earlier today said that Iginla on Sid’s line would enable Pascal to greatly improve the third line. Don’t have to name who he would replace!
I’d be OK with that but NO TRADE of Despres.
stuart
You know for all the talk about how tough the NY media is, Rangers head coach John Tortorella just owned them tonight.
http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/2013/03/postgame-audio-torts-rant-and-more-to-come.html
DK: Biggest myth in sports, the tough New York media. Turtle at the first sign of discomfort.