Black and Gold

Thursday, February 06, 2014

Crosby leads Penguins to 5-1 win over Sabres

By John Wawrow
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/teams/pit/
February 7, 2014

Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his second period goal against the Buffalo Sabres on February 5, 2014 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Sidney Crosby still has Ryan Miller's number after scoring a highlight-reel go-ahead goal in Pittsburgh's 5-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.

That's fine with Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, so long as that trend doesn't continue once the Winter Games open next week.

''I was cheering the goal this time,'' said Bylsma, who will be switching hats in Sochi, where he will be coaching Miller on the U.S. team. ''It did dawn on me as Sid was going in and he scores that goal.''

Crosby, Canada's captain, had a goal and assist in a pre-Olympic tuneup in which the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins (40-15-2) set a franchise record by reaching 40 wins in 57 games. That eclipsed the previous mark of 40 wins in 65 games in 1995-96.

Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Brian Gibbons and minor-league call-up Harry Zolnierczyk also scored in a game the Penguins overcame a 1-0 deficit.

Drew Stafford scored for the NHL's worst team, and Miller finished with 29 saves. Buffalo (15-33-8) dropped to 4-9-4 in its past 17 and winless in its last eight home games (0-5-3). That's the Sabres' worst home stretch since opening the season 0-8-1.

Wed, Feb 5, 2014

Pittsburgh	5	Final
Buffalo	1	Final

For Crosby, he scored his first goal in six games and also ended a two-game point drought.

That it happened against Buffalo and Miller shouldn't come as a surprise. Crosby has at least a point in all 14 trips to Buffalo (9 goals and 13 assists). And he has been particularly sharp at beating Miller, including the gold-medal winning overtime goal in Canada's 3-2 victory at the Vancouver Games four years ago.

''He made some big saves tonight,'' Crosby said in defense of Miller. ''Can't blame him. He held his team in it. And we scored some nice goals.''

The performance didn't sit well with Miller, but he doesn't think it will carry over to the Olympics.

''It's game-by-game. Stuff happens out there and you reset,'' Miller said.

Three Stars

1)Sidney Crosby

#87, Pittsburgh

G: 1

A: 1

Pts: 2

+/-: 1
2)Evgeni Malkin

#71, Pittsburgh

G: 1

A: 1

Pts: 2

+/-: 2
3)Paul Martin

#7, Pittsburgh

+/-: 3

G:	1
A:	1
Pts:	2
+/-:	1

G:	1
A:	1
Pts:	2
+/-:	2

+/-:	3

Sabres coach Ted Nolan had his goalie's back.

''That had nothing to do with Ryan tonight,'' Nolan said. ''It was the guys in front of him. Our team, we need everyone. We had a couple of guys no-show tonight.''

That was evident on Crosby's goal, which came on the power play 2:08 into the second period, and put the Penguins up 2-1.

Immediately after Marc-Andre Fleury stopped Buffalo's Brian Flynn in close, Crosby circled his own net and built up a head of steam by driving up the left wing. Accepting Matt Niskanen's pass while crossing center, Crosby didn't break stride in cutting between Flynn and Mike Weber. He then drove toward the net and snapped a shot just inside the top right corner.

Neal joked that he's seen Crosby score goals like that so many times that he didn't even celebrate, but instead simply headed to the bench.

Miller had no chance some 17 minutes later, when Malkin scored on the breakaway.

Pouncing on Marcus Foligno's turnover inside the Penguins' blue line, Malkin streaked past flat-footed defender Jamie McBain. Driving in alone on Miller, he faked going right and went left to deposit the puck in the open side.

Miller is one of the three U.S. goalies selected to play at Sochi, and the game against the Penguins was regarded his last chance to make a firsthand impression on Bylsma.

Bylsma has yet to name his starter, and maintained that Miller's performance on Wednesday would have no influence on his decision.

Miller was coming off his worst outing of the season. He was benched after giving up five goals on 27 shots through two periods in a 7-1 loss at Colorado on Saturday.

He allowed three goals on 28 shots through two periods before the floodgates opened in the third. Gibbons scored off a face off, and Neal on a transition break.

''The first period we weren't very sharp,'' Crosby said. ''Yeah, we took a little bit of time to get going, but once we did, I felt like we did grab a lot of momentum there.''

NOTES: The Sabres played without D Tyler Myers, who hurt his right leg in a 3-2 loss to Edmonton on Monday. Coach Ted Nolan has not ruled out Myers from playing in their pre-Olympic break finale at Ottawa on Thursday. ... Zolnierczyk stepped into the lineup a day after being recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He replaced Taylor Pyatt (lower body), who was hurt in a 2-1 overtime win over Ottawa on Monday. ... The Penguins completed a three-game series sweep of the Sabres, and improved to 12-4 in their past 16 meetings.

Wednesday, February 05, 2014

Steelers must rebuild 'Stained Curtain'

By Joe Starkey
http://triblive.com/sports
Published: Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, 10:33 p.m.

If you think of it Thursday, take a moment to reflect on the three-year anniversary of a most lamentable passing: the death of the Steelers defense.

Nothing has been the same since Feb. 6, 2011, when Aaron Rodgers tore apart a once-feared unit on his way to Super Bowl XLV MVP.

A lot of us — notably the Steelers themselves — lived in denial the next few years. We should have listened to Warren Sapp, who identified the body after the first game of the following season.

Sapp analyzed the Steelers as such, focusing mainly on their defense: “Old, slow, and it's over.”

The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since. Their defense has faded and frayed like an aging tapestry. By this past season, it had decayed to the point where a new nickname seemed appropriate: The Stained Curtain.

This team has participated in one playoff game since 2010. It didn't go so well. Tim Tebow passed for 316 yards in what surely will go down as the most prolific performance of his brief and sorry NFL career.

The Steelers and many of their fans spent the two post-Super Bowl XLV years hiding behind the NFL's bogus yardage standard for “total defense.”

“We're still No. 1!”

Thing is, they weren't flipping fields or quarterbacks anymore. They weren't scaring anyone. Not even Matt Flynn.

The truth no longer can be denied. The numbers are painfully revealing:

• After leading the NFL with 48 sacks in 2010, the Steelers slipped to 17th, 15th and finally 25th.

• After finishing fifth in interceptions with 21, they have totaled 31 in three seasons.

• After finishing tied for fifth with 14 fumble recoveries in 2010, they have not finished above 15th.

• Their once-impenetrable rush defense plummetedto 21st in the league in 2013. It couldn't even keep up with Ryan Tannehill.

Other than yardage-based figures, the only thing the Steelers have led the league in lately is complaints about the rules changes. The implication being, how are we supposed to play our intimidating brand of football if the league keeps cracking down on head shots?

Here's how: Watch the Seattle Seahawks. That defense is now the one by which all are measured, and it is so far ahead of the Steelers' that you'd need the Hubble Telescope to see it.

The Seahawks are fast, deep and violent. They have role players who'd start for most teams, including the Steelers.

So what happened? What or whom killed the Steelers defense?

The ill-informed want to indict coordinator Dick LeBeau. But you can't blame the chef when the food's gone stale.

The culprits are poor drafts, poor talent evaluation, age and injury.

Start with the drafts. General manager Kevin Colbert, coach Mike Tomlin and their scouts have failed. It's that simple. Their charge was to rebuild an aging defense through the draft, and once you sift through all the Thaddeus Gibsons, Alameda Ta'amus and Crezdon Butlers, you find precious few real players.

The Steelers have no defensive players left from their 2012 draft, save for injured linebacker Sean Spence. The jury remains very much out on last year's first pick, Jarvis Jones, who was brought in to harass quarterbacks but finished with one sack. Twenty-nine rookies had more.

The minute I saw Jones in a jersey, I had one thought: Where's the rest of him?

Another first-round pick, Ziggy Hood (2009), could safely be designated a bust. Depth everywhere is scarce.

Things have gotten so bad that the Steelers routinely recycle below-average Arizona Cardinals cornerbacks.

Now look at some of the personnel decisions. Colbert and Tomlin allowed cornerback Keenan Lewis to walk without an offer while retaining Ike Taylor and his exorbitant cap hits. Nose tackle Steve McLendon was signed to a three-year deal before anybody realized that Lloyd McClendon probably has a better body type for the position.

The list goes on.

Is the worst behind them? Nobody can say, though the Steelers could begin to reverse the trend by making the right decisions with the likes of Jason Worilds (keep him), LaMarr Woodley (cut him), Ryan Clark (bye-bye) and Taylor (take less or leave) and by finding some immediate impact players in the draft.

Has anybody told them that rookies are allowed to contribute to NFL defenses?

No, really, it's legal and everything. New England Patriots rookies accounted for 11.5 of their sacks and seven of their interceptions.

The Steelers' cupboard isn't bare by any means. Lawrence Timmons is great. Cam Heyward is on his way. Troy Polamalu can still play.

Jones showed flashes. Worilds showed more than that, although he could become another Lewis-type casualty, which would leave the Steelers stuck with Woodley, who only plays about calf — I mean half — the time.

Best case, they're a long ways from Seattle.

What a sad anniversary.

Joe Starkey co-hosts a show 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays on 93.7 FM. Reach him at jraystarkey@gmail.com.

Tuesday, February 04, 2014

It's only February, but Penguins playing playoff hockey

By Andrew Chiappazzi

Beaver County Times Sports Correspondent

http://www.timesonline.com/sports/

February 4, 2014

Marc Methot #3 of the Ottawa Senators tries to move the puck between the defense of Brian Gibbons #49 and Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 3, 2014 at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH – There are 26 games remaining until the NHL playoffs begin. There will be roster moves and schematic tweaks that alter every contender’s overall play.

Two weeks ago, after a 5-1 loss to Florida, Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said that the poor defensive habits and poor puck management that had plagued the team for weeks leading up to that loss finally caught up to them. It was something that had to change if the Penguins were going to be ready for the playoffs.

“Even though we were winning some games, it was always a high-scoring game,” goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury said. “That’s not the way we want to play in the playoffs.”

The Penguins had a few false starts in their attempt to be better. They won 5-1 two nights later against Montreal, but had to outscore the Islanders 6-4 the next day. Since a 3-0 loss to Dallas, though, the Penguins have won three of their last four and given up two goals in those three games.

Monday night’s 2-1 overtime win over Ottawa was the latest example of the Penguins controlling a game with their puck possession and playing stout enough defense to survive a low-scoring game.

“It’s been a focus of ours to start playing more responsible in our own end and get pucks deep into their end and not have as many turnovers,” forward Brian Gibbons said. “Guys bought in tonight and we did a great job of that.”

Bylsma said the last three games against the Kings, Coyotes and Senators were good barometers for his team in terms of being able to handle tightly contested, playoff-style games.

“We have to be comfortable in that one-goal game and in that type of situation,” Bylsma said. “That’s where we were at all night long.”

It helps to have a strong goaltender backing the defensive effort up, and Marc-Andre Fleury provided perhaps the save of the year when he robbed Erik Karlsson in the third period. Fleury’s sprawling glove save brought Karlsson to his knees in disbelief and had the Penguins still buzzing about it afterward.

“I’m not sure I’ve seen another save live that’s any better than that one,” Bylsma said.

But even though the Penguins needed that spectacular save to keep the game even, Karlsson’s scoring chance was exactly what the Penguins wanted it to be: A rarity.

“We didn’t give them a lot defensively. I would be surprised if they get past 10 scoring chances in this game,” Bylsma said. “They did have a couple great ones. We saw Marc make two great saves, and the glove save in particular.”

Most important to Bylsma was the notion that the Penguins played well defensively and with the puck for a full 60 minutes. It’s the type of performance they were lacking two weeks ago.

“We had to stick with it the whole game long, through the refereeing, through the tough sledding of the game, and we did,” Bylsma said. “It’s definitely a building block for our team.”

Neal scores in OT, lifts Penguins to win

By Dan Scifo

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/teams/pit/

February 3, 2014

Pittsburgh Penguins' James Neal (18) gets the game-winning goal past Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41), Marc Methot (3), and Jason Spezza (19), left, in overtime of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Feb. 3, 2014. The Penguins won 2-1

James Neal scores his 18th goal of the season in last night's 2-1 OT victory over the Senators (AP/Gene Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are continually refining their game with the playoffs approaching.

They looked ready Monday night.

Marc-Andre Fleury robbed former Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson with a sparkling third-period glove save and James Neal scored at 3:05 of overtime, giving the Penguins a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators 2-1.

''I just tried to get my leg, my glove over there and try to stop it,'' Fleury said. ''I was glad it went in my glove.''

Neal netted his 18th of the season and his first goal in nine games for the Penguins, who won for the 16th time in 17 home games and are now 23-4 at Consol Energy Center. Pittsburgh also avoided back-to-back regulation losses for the first time since dropping three straight in early November.

''When you don't score you sometimes try to pick corners and be a little too cute,'' Neal said. ''I was able to find one tonight. It was a good feeling.''

Mon, Feb 3, 2014

Ottawa	1	Final OT
Pittsburgh	2	Final OT

Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson stopped Robert Bortuzzo from the slot in overtime, but the rebound popped out to Neal, who dragged the puck around a Senators' defender before dumping a shot past an out-of-position Anderson and into an empty net.

''I was trying to be patient with the puck and wait for an opening,'' Neal said. ''I knew their D-man was going to go down and Anderson was kind of far out when (Bortuzzo) got the puck to the net.''

Ottawa's Stephane Da Costa and Pittsburgh's Brian Gibbons scored in the first period.

Ottawa's best chance to take the lead in regulation came midway through the third period, but Fleury robbed Karlsson with a dazzling glove save. Fleury, while pushing from post to post, reached high above the cross bar, snagging the fluttering wrist shot from Karlsson, who had a partially wide open net to shoot at.

''I don't know if there's a save that beats it,'' Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said. ''It was going high to the right corner and he had to get up there and get it.

Three Stars

1)James Neal

#18, Pittsburgh

G: 1

Pts: 1

+/-: 1
2)Craig Anderson

#41, Ottawa

OTL: 1

GAA: 1.94

SV: 46

SV%: .958
3)Brian Gibbons

#49, Pittsburgh

G: 1

Pts: 1

+/-: 0

G:	1
Pts:	1
+/-:	1

OTL:	1
GAA:	1.94
SV:	46
SV%:	.958

G:	1
Pts:	1
+/-:	0

''It was an open cage, he pushes over, and gets the glove up to make the save. I hope we see this one over and over again.''

Karlsson might see it in his sleep. The Senators' leading scorer fell to the ice in astonishment after Fleury's stop.

''I just smiled at him,'' Karlsson said. ''There's nothing I can really say. He knows he made a good save and unfortunately I'm going to be on the highlights for quite some time with that one.''

Fleury stopped 24 shots for his league-leading 30th win of the season, while Anderson turned aside 46 shots for the hard-luck loss.

Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby, who leads the NHL with 75 points, was held without a point and hasn't scored a goal in five games, his longest drought since a seven-game slump earlier this season.

''He's 100 percent,'' Bylsma said. ''He was our best player on both sides of the puck and I thought he played an excellent game regardless of whether he got a point or not.''

The Penguins, who lead the Eastern Conference with 80 points, went 6-3-1 their previous 10 games, looking dominant during impressive wins against Montreal and Los Angeles but struggling in losses against Edmonton, Florida, Dallas, and Phoenix, all teams out of playoff contention.

The Senators handed the Penguins arguably their worst loss of the season Dec. 23 in Ottawa, shutting them out 5-0 in a physical contest that saw Pittsburgh forward Pascal Dupuis tear his anterior cruciate ligament on a hit from Marc Methot.

Ottawa, in the mix for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot, allowed three goals in the final 5:58 during a 6-3 loss at Toronto on Saturday, the second time in four games the Senators allowed six goals.

The improved, hardened defensive effort Monday was certainly enough to help the Senators a win but they couldn't take advantage of their opportunities.

''We played hard,'' Anderson said. ''We gave ourselves the opportunity to be there. Just unfortunate we didn't come out with two points.''

Ottawa broke through at 5:56 of the first period, Da Costa scoring his third of the season after he lifted a short-side wrist shot over Fleury's shoulder from the top of the crease.

Ottawa's Zack Smith took a boarding call 29 seconds later and the league's top power-play unit capitalized with the man advantage winding down, tying the game after Gibbons tipped Olli Maatta's shot from the point past Anderson.

That was all until Neal's goal in the overtime won it for Pittsburgh.

NOTES: Penguins D Kris Letang, who leads the team defensively with 10 goals, missed his third straight game with an undisclosed illness. ... Penguins' F Taylor Pyatt left with a lower body injury after the game's first shift. ... Pittsburgh is 14-1 at home when it registers at least one power-play goal. The Penguins' penalty kill is perfect in a season-high nine straight home games dating back to Dec. 19. ... Ottawa concludes a three-game road trip Tuesday at St. Louis, while Pittsburgh visits Buffalo on Wednesday. ... Ottawa D Chris Phillips missed his fourth straight game with a lower body injury, while Matt Kassian and Joe Corvo also sat out for the Senators. Forwards Andrew Ebbett and Jayson Megna were healthy scratches for Pittsburgh.

Monday, February 03, 2014

Bettis denied a Hall pass for fourth time

By Scott Brown
http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers
February 1, 2014

PITTSBURGH -- Dumbfounded and even discouraged are two words that describe how I felt after learning former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis had been denied entrance into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the fourth consecutive year.

What I am missing here?

More importantly, what is he missing?

Bettis has the numbers, he has a ring, and he has the strongest of endorsements of those who should matter the most: the coaches and teammates who were around him on a regular basis and know the impact “The Bus” had on the field and in the Steelers’ locker room.

Consider what former Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward told Steelers.com earlier this week: "To be that size and have quick feet was just amazing. Sometimes you found yourself as a teammate watching like a fan to see him get through a hole, side step somebody, run over somebody and then get up and do his patent ‘The Bus’ dance. That is what made him such a special running back. You don’t see many guys be able to maneuver the holes and run somebody over.”

Eh, what would Ward know?

Jerome Bettis
Running Back
5-11, 243
Notre Dame
Played 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers

• 13,662 Rush yards (6th in NFL history)
• Eight seasons with 1,000 Rush yds (T-5th in NFL history)
• First Rams rookie to rush for 1,000 yards since Eric Dickerson, 1983
• Rams leading rusher 1993-95
• Steelers leading rusher 1996-2001, 2003-04
• Steelers leader in total yards from scrimmage, 1996-2001
• Fifty 100-yd games with Steelers (franchise record)
• Six-time Pro Bowler
• Two-time First-Team All-Pro
• Fourteen players in NFL history have rushed for at least 12,000 yards. Of the 12 that are eligible for the Hall of Fame, Bettis is the only one not already enshrined.

He only played, fought and bled with Bettis for eight seasons and actually cried for the man after the Steelers fell short of the Super Bowl in 2004.

Bettis fell short of the Hall of Fame again though he did make the cut of modern-day finalists, along with former Steelers outside linebackerKevin Greene, from 15 to 10.

That isn’t -- and shouldn’t be -- any consolation to the player who is sixth on the NFL’s career rushing list (13,662 yards) and is on a very short list of those who can be considered the best big back of all-time.

If Bettis is paying the price for the perception -- flawed as it is -- that too many Steelers are already in the Hall of Fame, that is hogwash.

It is also a disservice to Bettis as well as the Steelers’ organization.

Want to know why there are so many Steelers in the Hall of Fame? They owned the 1970s and probably didn’t get enough deserving players from the teams that won four Super Bowls from 1974-79 into the Hall of Fame.

Bettis is among the players who laid the foundation for another glorious run that linked the Steelers teams of the 1970s to the ones that won two Super Bowls and played in another from 2005-10.

True, he played on only one of those teams -- Bettis famously retired after Pittsburgh won the 2005 Super Bowl in his hometown of Detroit -- but his influence on the Steelers lingered long after he had stopping pushing piles and displaying the kind of footwork that belied a man of his size.

“When I first got here it was the time the WWJD bracelets, What Would Jesus Do, came out and I would laugh when I was doing things and think, What Would Jerome Do,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told Steelers.com earlier this week. “He is someone I tried to mold myself after. That is what made him so special, outside of the talent he had on the field.”

Like Bettis, Greene can only wonder what it will take for him to receive the call from the Hall of Fame.

One of the greatest pass-rushers of his generation fell short of Canton, Ohio, for the 1oth year despite leading the NFL in sacks with two different teams, including the Steelers in 1996, and earning a spot on the NFL’s All-Decade team of the 1990s.

Greene ranks third on the NFL’s all-time sacks list (160), and, like Bettis, he put up the kinds of numbers that should one day land him in the Hall of Fame.

The question with both remains when.

Black and Gold

Thursday, February 06, 2014