Timonen out for playoffs with blood clot

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that the Flyers best defenseman, Kimo Timonen, will miss the Pens series and the rest of the playoffs with a blood clot in his ankle. Why is this significant? Timonen was one of their best d-men and was going to match up against Sid or Geno. He had success against the Habs and Caps but now what will John Stevens do with his defense? He still has Braden Coburn, who has been very good, but Hatcher and Smith don't measure up despite their physical play.

Missing one player, no matter how important, doesn't decide a playoff series. But this is not good news for the Filly Flyers.

Timonen out for playoffs with blood clot

Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen was diagnosed with a blood clot in his left ankle today. He will be out for the remainder of the playoffs.

The diagnosis was made at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Timonen said.

"I got hit with a shot in Game 4 against Montreal," said Timonen, 33. "It's been getting sorer and sorer every day. We thought we'd get it checked out because it didn't get better and they found a blood clot.

"This was just an awful day for me. I played in Game 5 in Montreal, but it was really hurting me. I have to be honest: I didn't expect this result. How many times in your life do you get a chance to play for this, with a chance to go to the Stanley Cup Finals? This is just awful."

Timonen did not make the trip to Pittsburgh for tomorrow's start of the Eastern Conference finals against the Penguins.

BBTN Looks at the Bucs

Most of you aren't watching the Pirates, but just in case you cared what the BBTN crew thinks about your 2008 Buccos:
BBTN Looks at the Bucs

I don't think Kruk and Phillips are watching the Bucs either. Kruk said Nady will:

give you everything he has every play of the game, regardless of winning or losing.

Funny, I just watched Nady jog to first on a ball he hit that easily could have been a double. Still, he is having a good year so far and should be dealt asap.

Pittsburgh’s Dynastic Duo

Pittsburgh's Dynastic Duo - New York Times

More than any other team sport, hockey comes close to being an art form because of the patterns and the repetitions, the bright uniforms, the flurries of action punctuated by bursts of improvisation.

87 & 71 as artists...

When they play together with a man advantage, they are downright pretty to watch, with their hipper-dipper moves, the control of the puck with their sticks, the alert passes, the crisp reversals of direction, often slightly quicker than their opponents, with little bursts of skill and intelligence, superiority coming out, breaking down the home team in front of despairing fans.

At least one NYC media outlet understands thier talent and doesn't blame the refs for the Rangers being in a 3-0 hole.

FSN most-watched network in Pittsburgh last night

Record Ratings for Pens Playoffs Continue on FSN

FSN Pittsburgh, the exclusive rights-holder for Pittsburgh Penguins regional telecasts, recorded its second-highest rated Penguin game Tuesday night with an 18.56 rating. The Penguins 5-3 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in Round Two, Game Three of the Stanley Cup Playoffs also garnered FSN the highest network rating in Pittsburgh during primetime last night with a 14.9.

FSN Pittsburgh continues to lead all FSN regional sports networks in NHL ratings for both the 2007-08 Penguins regular season and playoffs.

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.