Pittsburgh Penguins (2-1) Head coach Mike Sullivan got straight to the point before today’s game: “Matt Murray is starting tonight in net.” (Marc-Andre Fleury remains day-to-day after suffering his second concussion toward the end of the regular season.) On Tuesday, Murray became the youngest goaltender to start a postseason game for Pittsburgh. And, not only did he start, he dominated in Game 3 to secure the Penguins’ win. Last game out, seasoned veteran Matt Cullen scored what would be the ... Read More
Archives for April 2016
Pitt could have multiple players selected in NFL Draft
The University of Pittsburgh has a knack for churning out top flight pro talent. You might recognize all-time greats Dorsett, Marino, Ditka and Curtis Martin, each one hall of famers. Fast forward to today, and you’ll still find Pitt men inhabiting the upper echelon of the NFL - Larry Fitzgerald, Darrelle Revis, LeSean McCoy and Aaron Donald, to name a few. With the 2016 NFL Draft quickly approaching, let’s take a look at the newest Panther alumni hoping to join the elite ranks of the ... Read More
Should the Steelers target free agent cornerback Josh Norman?
When news broke yesterday that Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman would become an unrestricted free agent after his franchise tag was surprisingly rescinded, it presented an interesting opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers: Should they try to pick up Norman and get him wearing the black and gold? The Steelers’ secondary is obviously in need of some serious repair. Last season, Pittsburgh allowed an average of a little more than 270 pass yards per game, which put the team at 30th in ... Read More
John Jaso has been a surprise success batting leadoff for the Pirates
John Jaso is not supposed to hit leadoff. He’s not a great runner. He’s not a threat to steal at any given moment. He won’t land that perfectly placed drag bunt. Jaso even plays first base. First basemen aren’t supposed to lead off; they’re supposed to hit home runs. In Jaso’s case, none of that matters. The leadoff hitter’s main goal is get on base. And Jaso knows how to get on base. While he might be the most unconventional leadoff hitter the Pittsburgh Pirates have had in years, ... Read More
Mighty Penguins rebound and steal Game 3 from the Rangers
The Pittsburgh Penguins (2-1) played a stellar game to take back the lead in the series against the New York Rangers (1-2) at home, winning by a score of 3-1. Goaltender Matt Murray got the nod tonight — making his first career playoff start — and was a force in between the pipes for Pittsburgh. The Rangers squandered four power-play opportunities but played tough against the boards. However, this time, the Penguins didn’t show any signs of fatigue as they were able to put up 30 shots against ... Read More
Pittsburgh Penguins take on New York Rangers in crucial Game 3
Pittsburgh Penguins (1-1) Last time out, the Penguins weren’t able to get much past New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Pittsburgh’s goaltender Jeff Zatkoff was unable to perform at the same level he did in Game 1, but he didn’t do a terrible job, either. The Penguins’ offense was just overcome by a hard-hitting Rangers team that seemed to carry most of the game's momentum. Goaltender Matt Murray, who started in net for an injured Marc-Andre Fleury before Murray suffered from a ... Read More
Pirates Kang showed no signs of rust in Triple-A debut
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang began his rehab assignment last night in Indianapolis. In joining the Triple-A Indians, Kang will look to fully return from the traumatic leg injury suffered in September of last season. In his first non-simulated game action since that fateful slide from Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan ended his debut season, Kang went 0-for-3, contributing with a walk and run scored. Scheduled to play seven innings regardless of game situation or performance, ... Read More
Should Robert Nkemdiche be on Steelers draft board?
His pedigree and talent are undeniable. Robert Nkemdiche is a physical specimen for sure, measuring 6 feet 4 inches and 295 pounds. For someone so large, he also displays intriguing athleticism and quickness. His on-field skills tantalize NFL GMs, but his documented incidents and quirky attitude off-field cast a shadow of doubt. Nkemdiche has been tabbed a can’t-miss prospect since high school. During his senior year at Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga., Nkemdiche was tabbed the top ... Read More
NFL Draft preview: Could Steelers target a center?
The Pittsburgh Steelers have dealt with plenty of depth chart issues in the past two seasons. Last year, it was with the running backs, and the year before it was the cornerbacks. However, another position that the Steelers have experience issues on the depth chart with is the center position. Despite being one of the best center in the league when healthy, Maurkice Pouncey hasn’t been able to stay healthy in the past couple of years. During the 2013 season, Pouncey started at center in the ... Read More
Cervelli’s plate discipline becoming infectious
Francisco Cervelli is a player who came in with the Pittsburgh Pirates and made an impact that certainly exceeded fans expectations. He came in as a leader of the team and led all catchers in framing runs above average. But perhaps his patience was the biggest reason for success. "I just try to keep it simple and not do too much that way I can recognize pitches a little better," he said. It sounds very simple, especially when you can back it with a .290 batting average while playing in a ... Read More