Game 3: Pens beat Rangers, 5-3

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_564949.html

The Penguins assumed a three-games-to-none lead over the New York Rangers with a 5-3 victory tonight at Madison Square Garden. Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series is scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday. The Penguins got two goals from center Evgeni Malkin, the second of which snapped a 3-3 tie at 17:53 of the second period. Malkin's goal was his second of the night and his second on the power play, which converted two of three opportunities. New York was 0-for-5 with the man-advantage. The Penguins also got goals from Marian Hossa, Georges Laraque and Ryan Malone.

The Penguins are one of two teams in NHL history to have lost a series after assuming a three-games-to-none lead, falling to the New York Islanders after jumping ahead 3-0 in 1975.

Understatement of the Year

Morris released after 0-4 start

The Pirates acquired Morris -- and his contract -- from the San Francisco Giants last July 31 for outfielder Rajai Davis and minor league pitcher Stephen MacFarland.

Frank Coonelly said yesterday that the move "did not turn out to be a sound baseball judgment."

You don't have to wonder what Coonelly and Huntington and others in the Pirate front office think of their predecessors. You just have to wonder how many times they've wondered what in the world Littlefield was smoking.

Penguins lead series 2-0 after beating Rangers, 2-0

Penguins lead series 2-0 after beating Rangers, 2-0

The Penguins hung on to beat the New York Rangers, 2-0, in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series today at Mellon Arena.

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves for his second shutout this postseason.

More than midway through the game, at 13:55 of the second period, Penguins forward Jordan Staal broke a scoreless stalemate when he converted a feed from Evgeni Malkin by pushing the puck past Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist's right leg for a power-play goal.

After the Penguins killed two late penalties, Adam Hall's long clearing pass off the boards was good for an empty-net goal with 16.7 seconds left in regulation.

Pirates release Matt Morris!!

I'm not sure why JVB isn't going into the rotation and Dumatrait is, but at least no more Morris. Of all the horrible moves Littlefield made, acquiring Morris was the worst. At least the team and new mgt is willing to eat the money and move on - a welcome sign of change.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08118/877103-100.stm?cmpid=latest.xml

The Pirates this morning released Matt Morris and put left-hander Phil Dumatrait in the right-hander's spot in the rotation, meaning Dumatrait will start Thursday in Washington. Releasing Morris means the Pirates will pay him a little over $10 million, which includes the rest of his salary for this season and a $1 million buyout of his 2009 option. Right-hander John Van Benschoten joined the Pirates from Class AAA Indianapolis this morning to provide length in the bullpen. It could be that Van Benschoten won't be with the Pirates too long.

Left-hander Sean Burnett could be on the way in a couple days. "It's been kind of a whirlwind morning,'' manager John Russell said. "Matt Morris has been a true professional. He's had a great career. He wanted to help us win, and it just wasn't happening."

Steelers pick Texas WR in round two

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08117/876948-66.stm?cmpid=latest.xml

Big Ben Roethlisberger finally has his big wide receiver. Limas Sweed, who stands nearly 6 feet 4, became the Steelers' tallest wide receiver when they selected him on the second round of yesterday's draft. It fulfilled a wish Roethlisberger expressed in mid-January when he said he would ask the team to add a tall receiver in the offseason. "No doubt, man, I think I fit it," the Texas University product said last night. "A lot of people were saying he was looking for a big wide receiver and now he has one."

The Steelers not only had a first-round grade on Sweed, they ranked him among the top 25 players available in the draft and among the best three receivers. They used the 53rd pick of the draft to get him. A big reason others may have shied away from Sweed is a wrist injury. He injured it last August and had surgery on it in October. He was not fully healed by the Senior Bowl, but he impressed the Steelers with his individual workout at Austin.