For 3rd time this week, Bucs Can't Get to.500

Yesterday, for the third time in the past five games, they could have reached the break-even mark with a victory. And for the third time in those five games they lost -- this time 7-4 to nemesis Chicago -- and slipped back to two games under .500. Sisyphean indeed. "But it's not like the rock fell all the way back," Pirates bench coach Gary Varsho said. The Pirates are better off than Sisyphus, a mythical Greek king who never did reach .500. And never did reach the top of a hill with his rock, which he was sentenced to push up that hill for eternity only to have it roll back to the bottom each time.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08138/882703-63.stm

Bucs Blow 2nd Chance at .500 This Week

The Bucs lost 5-1 last night to the St Louie Cards, thus blowing their second shot at getting back to the hallowed .500 level this year and leading us to continue to doubt that they ever will reach it.

John Russell even said:

"I don't think .500 is anything we'll pop a champagne bottle over."

We'll see about that but let's just concentrate on getting there first.

Top 10 Mike Lange Calls

Empty Netters had it and we have to share as well. Great stuff from Mike Lange...

Penguins beat Flyers 4-1, lead series 3-0

The Penguins took a commanding three-games-to-none lead in the Eastern Conference final by stifling the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1, tonight at the Wachovia Center. The Penguins are 11-1 in the postseason and can eliminate Philadelphia and secure a spot in the Stanley Cup final as early as Thursday night, when Game 4 will be played here.

The Penguins took an early 2-0 lead and looked as if they might have gotten Flyers goaltender Martin Biron off his game. Defenseman Ryan Whitney scored from the slot during a power play at 5:03 of the first period, and Marian Hossa made it 2-0 at 7:41, also from the slot. Sidney Crosby got assists on both. 

Philadelphia cut the deficit in half when Plum native R.J. Umberger slid the puck under goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury at 10:59 of the first period.

After a scoreless second period, Penguins winger Ryan Malone made it 3-1 when he beat Biron with a backhand shot at 9:58 of the third period. Marian Hossa added an empty-net goal.

http://post-gazette.com/pg/08134/881503-100.stm

Bet You Didn't Know...

From the site whowins.com, some interesting notes about the Pens and Flyers...

http://www.whowins.com/2008series/nhl2008m.html

Ignoring win order; ignoring site order: The team up 2-games-nil irrespective of site has the following best-of-7 playoff series and games record through the 2008 NHL Quarterfinals and NBA Preliminary rounds:

• series record, all best-of-7 sports, all rounds: 504-63 (.889)
• series record, all best-of-7 sports, Semis round: 134-13 (.912)
• series record, NHL only, all rounds: 251-37 (.872)
• series record, NHL only, Semis round: 62-7 (.899)
• Game 3 record, all best-of-7 sports, all rounds: 269-298 (.474)
• Game 3 record, all best-of-7 sports, Semis round: 70-77 (.476)
• Game 3 record, NHL only, all rounds: 153-135 (.531)
• Game 3 record, NHL only, Semis round: 37-32 (.536)

Ignoring win order; ignoring site order: The team up 2-games-nil with Games 1-2 at home has the following best-of-7 playoff series and games record through the 2008 NHL Quarterfinals and NBA Preliminary rounds:

• series record, all best-of-7 sports, all rounds: 398-41 (.907)
• series record, all best-of-7 sports, Semis round: 92-12 (.885)
• series record, NHL only, all rounds: 196-21 (.903)
• series record, NHL only, Semis round: 46-6 (.885)
• Game 3 record, all best-of-7 sports, all rounds: 201-238 (.458)
• Game 3 record, all best-of-7 sports, Semis round: 46-58 (.442)
• Game 3 record, NHL only, all rounds: 117-100 (.539)
• Game 3 record, NHL only, Semis round: 28-24 (.538)

These records are drawn from the applicable 1042 best-of-7 NHL, NBA, and MLB series played through the 2008 NHL Quarterfinals and NBA Preliminary rounds.

After Game 2:

• When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 2-games-nil, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a series record of 9-2 and a Game 3 record of 9-2.
  
• When trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 2-games-nil, the Philadelphia Flyers have a series record of 2-10 and a Game 3 record of 7-5 with a three-Game 3 winning streak.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins extend their Game 2 winning streak to six games upon winning Game 1 of a best-of-7 NHL playoff series.
• The last best-of-7 NHL playoff series which Pittsburgh lost after winning Games 1-2 is also the last best-of-7 NHL playoff series which Philadelphia won after losing Games 1-2: in the 2000 NHL Quarterfinals, in which Philadelphia defeated Pittsburgh in six games.

Bucs Lose 2nd Game; Can't Reach .500

vs.

They can't stand prosperity. 6 in a row but can't make it 7. They climbed to one below .500 at 18-19 but couldn't close the deal. It's almost as if they feel the pressure of getting back to .500 and tighten up, which is kind of sad.

The now face 22 straight games against teams in the NL Central - and they have not done well against those teams. So is .500 gone for the year? Or is there a chance it can be reached, if only for a moment? You tell us:

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Despite the hysteria, I'm keeping my prediction at 72 wins. The Bucs are on pace for 77 right now however. But what is sure to follow a 6 game winning streak is a losing streak, so let's not get too excited:

Bucs win; have longest win streak in 4 years; one win away from .500

From the PG:
Pirates beat Braves, 5-0, for longest streak in four years

The Bucs are now 18-19. Clearly John Challis' quote was posted on their clubhouse bulletin board and lit a fire. Such a fire that they will actually try to win two games in one day and get back to .500 before nightfall.

In case you missed the quote, Challis was feted by Pens owner Mario Lemieux and Steeler owner Dan Rooney at last night's Pens game, when the following exchange took place:

As John Challis was standing between Mr. Lemieux and Mr. Rooney, he looked at them and said, "Wow. I never thought I'd be talking with two owners of sports teams in the city."

"There's only one missing," Mr. Lemieux said, referring to the Pirates.

John quickly replied, "Yeah, but at least the two winners are here."

We'll see how long that holds true...

Pens Up 2-0; How Long Will This Series Go?

vs.

Another impressive win for the Pens last night. Impressive because the other team actually showed a little push back - a little, not enough. After the calls are some of my thoughts on this series so far.

Mike Lange is the best.

Crosby's goal:


Hossa on the PP:


Talbot with the GW:


Staal gets the EmptyNetter:

Are the Flyers better than the Sens or Rangers? Ok, they're better than the Sens, but how about the Rangers, who the Pens easily dispatched? I thought the Habs, Rangers, and Pens were the top three in the Wales coming into the playoffs. I guess the Flyers have to be in the mix since the beat the Habs, but are they better than the Rangers? Nothing I've seen so far makes me think they are.

Lots of lauding of the Flyers play in game 2 - I ask why? People have mentioned the Flyers play 5 on 5 and their sightly upgraded physical play. Problem is, power play goals count, especially when the Flyers keep committing fouls on the Pens in 5 on 5 situations because they aren't good enough or are too tired, and the Pens won't wilt in the face of physical play. I say the Flyers have to be shaking their heads wondering what they have to do to beat the Pens.

If they come out in game 3 and hit the Pens at every turn, they are liable to be assessed penalties, putting the Pens on the PP, not a good strategy for the Flyers. If they try to skate with the Pens, that's not going to work either. They don't have a strategy or way of playing that can beat the Pens 4 out of 5 games.

Someone needs to explain to me how the Flyers outplayed the Pens last night. anyone remember a good scoring chance for the Flyers? All I remember are lots of shots from very far away. They definitely didn't crash the net like they did in game 1.

Dupuis' SH breakaway, Crosby's backhander off the crossbar, Crosby's dash down the slot and deke to the left that Biron robbed him on, Crosby's goal that was reviewed but not allowed, Hossa's one timer from the circle off a pass from Malkin, Crosby and Hossa's 2 on 1 that somehow didn't result in a shot - those are 6 glorious scoring chances for the Pens off the top of my head that were better than any Flyer scoring chance other than the two they had that led to goals.

The Flyers can't get the puck through the neutral zone and deep in the Pens zone. That is a major problem for them. How many times last night did you see the Pens D corralling the puck in their own zone without having to turn their backs and chase it down in the corner and then be able to turn it the other way?

The way the Pens take advantage of opportunities and make the other team pay dearly for mistakes is reminiscent of the NY Yankees when they were winning World Series in the late 90s. Any little opening was exploited and the game was never over because of it. It put a ton of pressure on the other team and led to them committing those errors or bad plays the Yankees would capitalize on. The Pens skill and ability to capitalize puts the same kind of pressure on the other team. There really is no way for the other team to get out of this rut, it's a sign that the Yankees were and the Pens are, a better team.

What do the Flyers take from this game? That they played better and still lost? That they shut down Malkin for a game and still lost? Maybe they played the Pens even for a bit, but the Pens still had the better scoring chances and better play...I'm not sure what the Flyers can take from this. That said, they will be an energized team on their home ice.

Downie...Talbot...which coach made the better call last night?

Pens are 10-1 in the playoffs. Pretty good, but don't forget the 11-0 run of the 92 Pens, that started in the second round (not the first against a weak Sens team) without the world's best player as well as without Joey Mullen and ended with the Pens hoisting the Cup.

Actually it didn't end with the Cup, they continued the streak the next year, running it to 14 by beating the Devils three straight to start the 93 playoffs.

I don't want to get ahead of anything here, but forget Hossa, Malone, Orpik and other Penguin free agents, except for one. If the Pens sign only one player this offseason, it has to be the goalie. Fleury is playing lights out and can be the anchor for a team for the next decade. He is a restricted free agent but some team will likely make him a big offer. The Pens can't let him get away.

Does anyone, including the Flyer players, really think the Pens can be beaten 4 times in 5 games by the same team?