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.