Sept 25 vs Blue Jackets

I went to a fight and a hockey game didn't break out.
Penguins- 3
Pascal Dupuis (Asham) 2-16:48
Evgeni Malkin (Hutchinson, Tangradi) 3-2:47
Arron Asham (Jeffrey, Kennedy) 3-17:17
Blue Jackets- 1
Michael Ratchuk (Brassard) 1-12:03
RECAP
WWE isn't scheduled to come to Pittsburgh until December, but if you watched tonight's game it would be hard to tell the difference. The Pens and CBJ racked up a total of of 74 PIMs, with 5 fights breaking out throughout the game. Kris Letang lead the way in that category, first dropping the gloves with Matt Calvert and then later in the game with Jakub Voracek.
Letang was not the only one engaging in fisticuffs, as pro-enforcer Eric Godard and scrappy WBS forward Tim Wallace also dropped the gloves.

This all lead up to the final and most interesting fight of the night, which featured Malkin dropping the gloves with Columbus star forward Rick Nash near the end of the third period. As for the whole "hockey game" thing, Asham lead the way with a goal and an assist, now really showing that he may have some offensive upside. Malkin and Dupuis also found the twine for the Pens, while Michael Ratchuk scored the lone tally for the Jackets. Fleury had a good game as well, allowing just 1 goal in 33 shots.

3 Big Points

-Yes Letang had 2 fights, but he also had 2 minors as well. Add these to the other 6 committed by the team and you have the math for a potential recurring problem. I sure hope either the Pens settle it down a bit once the reg season starts or the PK is up to the task.

-Why is Malkin fighting in the preseason? Can anybody answer that? ANYBODY?

-Fleury looks to be in mid-April form, so I wouldn't expect to see much of him until the opener. Very impressive tonight.

Next Game

The Blackhawks come into town for the last game at CEC before the opener vs the Flyers.

Is Bill Cosby Dead?

Bill Cosby is not dead and he doesn't like the rumors so stop it. We can't confirm if Sabrina Le Beauf is still alive. Hey Hey Hey.



Penn State Gameday

TV: Big Ten Network, 3:30 PM
Series: Penn State leads 35-3-1, last meeting Sept. 19, 2009 ... PSU 31- Temple 6
Line: Penn State by 14

The line on this game dropped three full points, and for good reason. This Temple team is good, coming off an impressive win over UConn. Something about this game has me a bit worried. Penn State hasn't looked bad but could look much better, espically the Offense. Temple DE Adrian Robinson is a stud and could easily suit up for any big conference team. Keep an eye out for Bernard Pierce. The Owls tailback will give the Penn State defense fits all day.

The last time Temple beat the Lions was in 1941. That's pre-Paterno. That won't happen today but this is going to be one hell of a football game.

Prediction: Penn State 28 Temple 21

Sept 24 vs Blue Jackets

Young talent and new faces emerge.
Penguins- 5
Arron Asham (Goligoski) 1-0.34
Mike Rupp (Conner, Wagner) 1-9:31
Chris Kunitz (Letestu, Goligoski) 2-16:46
Nick Johnson (Wagner, Jeffrey) 3-8-13
Mike Comrie (Letestu, Kunitz) 3-12:08
Blue Jackets- 4
Tomas Kubalik (Vermette, Huselius) 1-12:27
Tomas Kubalik (Vermette, Huselius) 2-2:35
Kyle Wilson (none) 2-3:01
Tomas Kubalik (Klesla, Huselius) 3-19:16

RECAP
This was nothing more than another regular old preseason game, especially considering the number of scratches. Clearly Disco wanted this one to be reserved for the younger and tougher guys and he has to be playing around with some line combos. Sid and Brooks sat this one out, likely for precautionary measures. This probably means nothing though, as Malkin, Letang, Michalek, Fleury, Kennedy, and Dupuis were also scratched. (and HOPEFULLY there's nothing wrong with them) The grinders really did their share of work today for the Pens today, and this should all be accounted for in Dan's lineup decision for Game 1. Meanwhile, Tomas Kubalik was running absolutely wild today for CBJ, totalling up 3 goals and definitely gave HC Scott Arniel something to think about as well.

3 Big Points
- I love how the tough guys are finding the twine. If they could add a few supplementary goals to what the scorers will produce, then we just may have quite the nice formula here.

-Mark Letestu is lucky that he gets to wear his #1o in Pittsburgh, because he will be needing it when the season starts. He is looking more and more solid to make the NHL roster.

-I know this is only the preseason and the Pens only started about half of their team, but you still gotta love the fact that they fought for the W, and didn't get involved in another slugfest like the opener.

Next Game
We get to do it all over again on Saturday. Columbus makes their first trip to the Consol Energy Center for the second game of the preseason home and home.

100

Pens vs Red Wings

I thought this was pre-season?
Penguins- 5
Mike Comrie (Sterling Michalek) 1-1:21
Sidney Crosby (Boulerice, Letang) 1-7:29
Ryan Craig (Letestu, Orpik) 1-11:45
Brett Sterling (Crosby, Dupuis) 2-13:28
Ryan Craig (Kennedy, Letestu) 2-15:06
Red Wings- 1
Ruslan Salei (Ritola, Filppula) 2-9:29
RECAP
Obviously when you have two rival teams trying to send a message to each other in their preseason opener, things may get a bit rowdy but this was just out of hand. Both teams came out with intensity, which is usually a very good thing, but in the preseason it can become dangerous. The Pens were able to translate their intensity into goals, routing the visiting Wings 5-1 with Ryan Craig having 2 goals along with one from Sterling, Comrie, and Sid. But since the score matters very little, that's all I'll say about it.
The real fireworks happened all night long, with an occasional series of skirmishes that usually lead to minor penalties. There were a few less minor occurrences, though, that may lead to seriously negative consequences on both sides. Johan Franzen and Brooks Orpik collided at center ice, and Franzen injured his knee in the process and had to be assisted off the ice. (I saw the replay a few times, and I say that nobody is at fault.) Likewise for the Pens, Crosby left the ice and did not return after the 2nd period. The official word at the moment was a sore hip flexor.

3 Big Points

-As a WBS fan, I love what I saw from Sterling and Craig. Noted that they won't have Sid to feed them down in the minors, but I can see both (especially Sterling) putting up some pretty good stats.

-Settle down people. Its only the preseason! I'd like to have a team left by the time the season starts.

-Wow, the Consol Energy Center is nice. Absolutely beautiful.

Next Game

Friday Sept 25 at Columbus

Hopefully Sid will be playing and Disco would have settled the boys down by then. All NHL teams are in the same category at this time of the year, so there's not much more to say about this one.

Yinz Luv 'Da Stillers!, PIT vs. TEN (Week #2)

Steelers vs. Titans Inactives

Steelers

DT Casey Hampton
RB Jonathan Dwyer
LB Thaddeus Gibson
OT Max Starks
OL Ramon Foster
CB Crezdon Butler
LB Jason Worilds
WR Emmanuel Sanders

Titans

QB Rusty Smith
S Robert Johnson
S Nick Schommer
LB Rennie Curran
T Mike Otto
G Ryan Durand
WR Lavelle Hawkins
DE William Hayes

No huge surprises for the Steelers. Both Hampton and Starks are injured and were not expected to play, and Sanders did not practice yesterday with a quadriceps injury.

No real big loses for the Titans either. Mostly just depth guys out as well.

Crash of the Titans

Well here it is, the first major hurdle of the season. Some story lines in this game, Chris Johnson's 100 yard rushing streak, Vince Young hasn't threatened to kill himself (yet), Nate Washington playing his old team, and of course Dennis Dixon getting his second start of the seasons.

First off you must read this, it's the Gospel written by FC at Steelerfury. It's the best pre-game writeup you'll see bar none. I'm thinking we will link to that every week, because it puts an analysis I could do myself to shame.

The Steelers are the solid 5 point dog in this road game, and really I would expect no less. How couldn't the Steelers, with Dennis Dixon starting be the underdogs on the road against the "mighty" Titans?

After all the Titans had an impressive win last week against the perennial powerhouse Oakland Raiders.

Chris Johnson again rushed for over 100 yards, in fact he rushed for 100 more yards than the Steelers rush defense allowed total last week. I guess Michael Turner just isn't very good.

The big reason the Steelers must lose though is history. Nevermind that the Steelers are 42-30 in the series, they haven't won at LP Field since 2001.

I just don't understand the love for this Titans team. The only thing they do really well is run the ball, and we have one of the best rushing defenses in the league, maybe in history over the last 5 years.

Vince Young is far from a proven commodity and, let's face it, he's probably a few IQ points higher than a plate of leftover Macaroni and Cheese. Our pass rush should be able to get to him, even though he is good with his feet and rattle him.

Their receivers as a group are pretty uninspiring. Nate Washington is a glorified number 3 who has hands just a step above Braylon Edwards, Justin Gage is a marginal possession receiver who averages about 22 catches per season, and Kenny Britt has been a headcase and a distraction for the Titans this year.

I see no reason why the Steelers can't or shouldn't win this game. The key is obviously the defense, and limiting the mistakes to give Dixon every chance to succeed.

Steelers win 13-10.