Flower Power

It’s do or die tonight for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Well, okay, it’s not OFFICIALLY a win-or-go-home game as the Pens trail 2-0 in the series to the Boston Bruins. However, with the series shipping up to Boston and the Pens losing 3-0 and 6-1 in their two home games, this game means a lot more. The Pens cannot afford to drop 3-0 in the series.

Adding to the insanity for tonight is the goalie situation. Marc-Andre Fleury was replaced after game 4 of the first round series with Ottawa. Tomas Vokoun has started all nine playoff games since, going 6-3 in those games. He was pulled after giving up three first-period goals in game 2 against the Bruins. Fleury gave up three goals of his own in the 6-1 slaughtering. Now the question becomes: who should the Pens start in game 3?

It’s time to return to the Flower.

Lockout is Over. Welcome Back, NHL!

Cartoon by Mike Thompson, Detroit Free Press

Hey! Hockey is back!

What? You didn’t know that? Oh ya, you saw on SportsCenter the highlights from the first night of games. You saw the defending Stanley Cup champions get smoked. You saw a play or two make the Top 10.

That’s about it.

Many people believe that the lockout ruined the NHL – that any casual fans that they gained from the past couple of successful seasons will be lost, that fans will boycott games to get back at the owners, whatever.

In my opinion: this lockout will help hockey become MORE popular and successful. 

Wheres the Defense?

~from 3sn hockey analyst Pete Leck.

Two games into their first round matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins have   only trailed during regulation once, an instance that lasted just over 11 minutes. How is it then that they trail the series two games to none? The answer lies in the defense, which has done a terrific job of surrendering every lead that the Penguins offense has handed to them. No gap seems to be too great for the Flyers to overcome; a 3-0 Pittsburgh advantage appears no safer than a cupcake stuck inside a room full of fat people with low blood sugar. Both systematic breakdowns and individual shortcomings have turned a defense once thought to be elite, into a probable scapegoat for an early 2012 exit.

3SN Live - Crosby Returns

Sidney Crosby makes his return to the ice! We're broadcasting live from the Crane Room in New Castle, PA, to celebrate, discuss, and debate the Pens and many other major sports topics. The broadcast will begin at 6:00pm EST.

(Click READ MORE below to view live podcast!)

Come and join us for a fun-filled night! Half off select appetizers, $2 domestic drafts, $1.50 Labbat drafts, and a fun-filled atmosphere watching the Pens on the 130" Big Screen! Or, if you can't make it out for the game, tune in right here at 3SN! Comments and questions are encouraged. Either comment below or send us a tweet @3SNetwork.

2012 NHL Preseason Awards Predictions

360 Sports Network NHL expert Pete Leck:

With the beginning of the NHL season merely two weeks away, now seems like as good a time as any to try to sort out this year’s potential award winners. Each category will feature the favorite to win, followed by the next four in line, in no particular order. As an added bonus, a darkhorse who could challenge for some hardware, considering quite a few breaks go their way, will be included as well. With that said, let’s get right into it.

Hart Trophy - Most Valuable Player

Winner: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals - Despite having what many people referred to as a “down year”in the 10-11 season, Ovechkin still posted 32 goals and 53 assists. However, this was done with an 8.7% shooting percentage, far and away the lowest of his career. Expect that shooting percentage to climb back into the low teens, closer to his career average. Couple this with an almost certain increase from last season’s 7 power play goals, almost half of his previous career low, and it’s easy to see Ovechkin returning to his 50 goal form, and possibly pushing for 60 considering all the talent he has around him in Washington. Combine those goal numbers with Ovechkin’s improved playmaking abilities, and a 110 point season could be very much in reach for the Russian superstar. Look for Ovechkin to capture the Rocket Richard as well as the Art Ross to go with the Hart Trophy.

Apologies to: Evgeni Malkin (PIT), Henrik Sedin (VAN), Pavel Datsyuk (DET), Steven Stamkos (TAM)

Dark Horse Candidate: Bobby Ryan (ANA)

Norris Trophy – Best Defenseman

Winner: Shea Weber, Nashville Predators - Fresh off singing a 1 year, $7.5 million contract, look for Weber to put on a showcase to put him in position for a lucrative long-term contract. With 45 goals through the last three seasons, Weber is a proven goal scorer from the backend, and looks to break the 50 point plateau for the second time in his career. His booming 100 mph slap shot should see to it that it happens. In his own end, Weber is a force, hitting almost everything he sees. What’s more impressive though, is that he is able to do this without taking penalties, as he only had 56 PIM last season. Being the Predator’s top option on both the PP and the PK, expect Weber to see plenty of ice time with fellow stud Ryan Suter to protect goalie Pikka Rinne. Because of Nashville’s other weaknesses, Weber’s plus/minus may not be through the roof, but Lindstrom’s Norris last year featured a -2 rating, and Weber’s should certainly be higher than that.

Apologies to: Nicklas Lindstrom (DET), Zdeno Chara (BOS), Kris Letang (PIT), Drew Doughty (LAK)

Dark Horse Candidate: Erik Karlsson (OTT)

Vezina Trophy–Best Goaltender

Winner: Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers - Henrik Lundqvist has been one of the few forces driving the Rangers towards playoff contention in the past few seasons. However, this season should provide the Rangers with more weapons, such as highly coveted center Brad Richards, which should only improve upon Lundqvist’s already stellar career averages. The maturation of young defensemen Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, and Michael Del Zotto will be key to the Swedish goalie’s Vezina chances. Marc Staal has already flashed shutdown potential, but the ability of the rest of the Ranger’s extremely young defense to protect their goalie will be paramount to not only Lundqvist’s success, but the entire team as well. Look for the defense to rise to the challenge, andfor Lundqvist to increase his .928 save percentage (.01 away from 4^th place in the NHL) and a decrease in his 2.28 GAA (good for 6^th in the NHL.)

Apologies to: Pikka Rinne (NAS), Ryan Miller (BUF), Tim Thomas (BOS), Roberto Luongo (VAN)

Dark Horse Candidate: Thomas Vokoun (WAS)

Selke Trophy – Best Defensive Forward

Winner: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings – As long as Pavel Datsyuk plays even close to a full season, he’s almost a lock to win the Selke Trophy. Datsyuk is able to play in all three zones like few other forwards in the game, and his back-checking is matched by none. A takeaway machine, Datsyuk ranked 11^th last year despite only playing in 56 games, and led the NHL in the 09-10 campaign by almost 50 takeways.In addition to this, Datsyuk is frequently a top faceoff man, and last year was no different as he ranked 19^th in faceoff percentage, with so called “faceoff specialists” occupying many of the spots ahead of him. Constantly being the highest scoring of all Selke nominees does nothing but improve his chances every year, and the 11-12 season should prove to be no different.

Apologies to: Jordan Staal (PIT), Patrice Bergeron (BOS), Ryan Kesler (VAN), Mike Richards (LAK)

Dark Horse Candidate: Ryan O’Reilly (COL)

Jack Adams Award – Best Head Coach

Winner: Terry Murray, Los Angeles Kings – This award can usually be won in a variety of ways, but the most common way is to coach a team that greatly exceeds expectations, or takes the next big step in becoming a power in their respective conference. This is where Terry Murray comes in. The Kings have made the playoffs the last two seasons, but as lower seeds that failed to make much noise. This year, expect the addition of Mike Richards, and a full season of Anze Kopitar’s services to key the Kings to a top 3 finish in the Western Conference. If the Kings are able to do that, then Murray, who has already done a fantastic job since taking over the franchise in 2008, should be in line for his first Jack Adams award.

Apologies to: Dan Bylsma (PIT), Mike Babckock (DET), John Tortorella (NYR), Barry Trotz (NAS)

Dark Horse Candidate: Mike Yeo (MIN)

Calder Trophy – Rookie of the Year

Winner: Adam Larsson, New Jersey Devils – Of all the players drafted, Swedish defender Adam Larsson was viewed as being the most NHL-ready prospect. After his first preseason game, count superstar IlyaKovlchuk among his supporters, as he told the New York Post in an interview that he believes Larsson should make the team. If he does, expect him to receive playing time in many difference situations for a Devils defense that did little to impress last year. Given sufficient power play time, Larsson could rack up 40 points, and if that is coupled with reliable defense in front of future Hall of Famer, Martin Brodeur, the Calder Trophy could be sitting in the young Swedes trophy case this time next year.

Apologies to: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM), Gabriel Landeskog (COL), Erik Gudbranson (FLA)

Dark Horse Candidate: Sean Couturier (PHI)

Rock 'em Sock 'em....Athletes

I’d like to address an issue I believe has long been overlooked in the world of sports: Fighting.  And no, I don’t mean boxing, MMA, Taekwondo, or even the fake WWF wrestling or whatever abbreviation they choose to use any more.  I’m talking about fighting in the major sports where fighting has no place whatsoever.

Let’s start with America’s pastime: Baseball. Luckily we haven’t seen many issues this year, but a batter charging the mound and leading to a bench clearing brawl just leaves me shaking my head. What are you accomplishing? You threw at me, so I’m going to come throw haymakers your way? And think about it, the batter might get one swing in before being engulfed by four other players, so all the batter accomplishes is a lengthy suspension for him, the pitcher, and half the bench players who run onto the field. Yet the fans love seeing it. (If you type "baseball" into a youtube search, the site completes it to "baseball fights")

Actually, while on the subject of baseball, let me interject another type of baseball “fighting” that’s gone on long enough: coaches and players arguing calls. It’s one thing if you argue a call that can be appealed and changed, but something as pointless as arguing balls and strikes just makes me laugh. You’re going to get thrown out, period. How does that help the team? Coaches are getting thrown out on a weekly basis it seems…hardly an effective way to manage your team if you ask me.

Let’s move on to hockey. Olympic hockey is the best there is because there are no pointless scrums and fights. The NHL is full of fights, as players and fans say that a good fight will help motivate their team and wake up their fans. 

Let’s start with the assertion that a fight will motivate their team. Let’s look at a specific fight that affected the outcome of a game (supposedly). In game 6 of the 2009 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, the Flyers appear to be in control after going up 3-0 over the Penguins with 15:54 left in the 2^nd period. At 15:39, Daniel Carcillo and Maxime Talbot engage in a fight, which Carcillo clearly wins. The fight results in an even more excited Philly home crowd and Talbot telling them “shhhh!” At 15:25, the Pens score their first of five unanswered goals to win the game and the series.  If a fight will motivate my team, why would I ever “agree” to a fight when I’m up 3-0? And if the Pens are motivated by a fight that their teammate wasn’t even close to winning, why aren’t there ten fights during every hockey game? 

The answer is that the fight isn’t the motivating factor. In my mind it’s all about the fan reaction. Fans for some reason like seeing grown men on skates grab each other and try to throw punches. Carcillo wanted to pump the crowd up, Talbot to shut them up. They could have done the same with their play, and thus why a fight is pointless.

Pens vs. Isles this year featured one of the most penalty minutes in recent memory. It started from an earlier game when there was a collision in front of the Islanders’ net, which of course resulted in something resembling a rugby scrum combined with a boxing match. Then all of a sudden the two goalies begin skating toward each other and fight (Isles’ goalie Rick DiPietro smiling, making this fan think that a hockey player thinks it’s just “fun” to get into a fight…what’s that teaching us?). One punch and DiPietro is down, and he’d be out for the next six weeks. Was it worth it for him? How about Brent Johnson and the Pens? 

The next game between these two teams not only had fights at every whistle, but also had an Islander Micheal Haley, whose only job is to “enforce” (aka fight), get into a scrap with a Pens player, then after being separated from him by the referees he decides to go and fight the Pens goalie. That’s beyond wrong. That guy should never be allowed to play in a game, ever. Suspensions? Trevor Gillies (who threw an elbow high on Eric Tangradi and then started punching him while he was down) was given a nine game suspension. He also should never see the ice again (he’s not a hockey player…two goals in 39 games last year? He’s an “enforcer” only too! NOT A HOCKEY PLAYER!).  Haley (two goals and an assist in 27 games…another non-hockey player) was not suspended! A player got into a fight, was summoned to the penalty box, but instead of going he decides to go attack somebody else? That’s worse than a blatant blind-side hit to the head in my mind. 

I love reading the box score for these two players. Gillies had 1:40 of ice time, but 34 minutes of penalties. Haley had 5:31 ice time and 39 penalty minutes.  Wow.

The biggest suspension? Ten games, given to the Penguins’ Eric Godard for coming off the bench to intervene in the fight between Haley and Johnson. The NHL disciplinarian said "There can be no circumstance that allows for a player to leave his bench for the purpose of coming to the aid of a teammate." Yet you allow players to get into full melees to defend their goalie when he gets knocked over by an opponent PUSHED INTO THE GOALIE BY THE OTHER TEAM! Contradictory. I commend Godard for protecting his goalie, like he and all other hockey players are taught. 

What does it say that this game was considered the most exciting game of the year? More people wanted to watch this game (due to the almost certain fighting that would result after the goalie fight nine days prior) than the Stanley Cup Finals (until now, where I’ll guarantee ratings skyrocket after the blindside hit and 3^rd period brawls in game 3).  The score of these games? 9-3 and 8-1, respectively. Send a message by your play and your play alone. You won the game, and won big. There’s no need to cause brawl after brawl when your play has done that enough.

NBA. At least the full out punches being thrown from the “Bad Boy” days of 20 years ago is gone. But the tussles that result for pointless reasons are head-scratchers. I got fouled, so I’m going to go push some people around. I’m seven feet tall nobody’s going to stop me! And what’s the penalty for these on-court altercations? A technical foul. Big whoop. If I’m a player and that’s the penalty for giving somebody a bump after the play because they fouled me during play, my response would be, “Oh well I need six more before I miss a game!”

People like seeing these grown men cry and act like babies? Apparently, as the above youtube video showing the 2010-11 season’s “fights” has over 400 likes vs. 6 (now 7 that I’ve seen it) dislikes. And the NBA says they don’t condone this stuff? Letting them bump chests and trash talk and get into these altercations with the penalty being pretty much 1/7 of a suspension will do nothing to stop it from happening. Wake up.

Finally, NASCAR. I hear every week of a new fight with drivers (and now apparently owners, too). Racers spin each other out because they don't get penalized for it and won't crash themselves in the process. Then the following week when they are the ones getting spun into the wall they think they have the right to go attack somebody. Reporters discuss the fights and rivalries more than the racing itself. Again, if the fans and analysts want to worry about who's hitting who, then go watch boxing. (Seriously, how is boxing at an all-time low for ratings? every other sport has fights, fans want to see the athletes throwing punches without being restrained, so why not watch the sport that allows it?)  There's much better racing out there, but apparently fans like seeing racers throwing punches into the cockpit of another vehicle. Why? Beats the hell out of me.

Fans, if you want to watch fights, go watch boxing or MMA or something where fighting isn’t PART of the sport but the sport itself. If you want to watch hockey, baseball, racing, or basketball, then watch their respective professional (or preferably collegiate) leagues and DO NOT SUPPORT that which is not part of the game. There’s nothing in the rule book for these sports regarding fighting being legal, so why do we support it? I can’t wait until these playoffs are over so I don’t have to hear about who bit who and who fouled somebody too hard.

NHL Playoff Preview

Check out our predictions for the 2011 National Hockey League playoffs! Make sure to leave your feedback and to subscribe on YouTube to get updates every time the 3SN team posts! Special thanks again to our two hockey specialists Ryan Iorio and Robbie Young for their assistance in this broadcast!

Trade Deadline Deals

With the NBA trade deadline behind us and the NHL deadline about 36 hours away, I'd like to take the time to analyze the deals that have been made and the craziness behind the trade deadline. 

...and by taking the time, I mean I want to know what the fans think. What do you make of Carmelo and Billups going to the Bronx? What do you make of the Celtics getting rid of their young, starting center? How do you grade the Pens in their deals getting Neal, Niskanen, and Kovalev? What does this year's deadline tell us about each league as a whole? There's no limit to what can be discussed here regarding trades. Make fun of the leagues. Call teams stupid for their deadline decisions. Demand that players cannot demand trades like 'Melo did. You be the judge!

You can comment directly to this post, send a message to anybody in the 360 Sports Network, tweet us @3SNetwork, or comment us on the facebook group with your thoughts.

At least Pittsburgh fans have the Pirates to look forward to.

The Pens got downed 4-1 by the Carolina Hurricanes last night. Pascal Dupuis had the only goal and Fleury gave up the first point under 2 minutes into the game. The epic return of Kovalev got overshadowed by the beatdown and it does not look like Sidney Crosby is coming back any time soon.  Jimmy Murphy of Espnboston.com and droppuckmurphy.com heard from a source in Pittsburgh that Crosby maybe done for the season. Via his twitter account, he said "As I have been told by Pittsburgh sources, Stephen Brunt now saying on Team 990 (in Montreal) he heard "whispers" Sidney Crosby maybe done for season."

With Malkin out for the season and Sid the kid most likely done for the year, its time for Pittsburgh Fans to focus their attention Bob Nuttings ball club. 

Okay so maybe that may be a little to much to ask for from a Pittsburgh fan since Bob Nutting aka: The Worst Owner in baseball, is in charge of the Pirates Franchise, but for the very few Pirate die hards (which i am not) I salute you.  Its been basically two decades since the pirates had a winning season. That is just pathetic. The reasons for it is up for debate put the most common one is the ownership. I want to get excited about spring ball but i cant...i wont. Too many times have i gotten excited over the pirates winning a decent amount of games to start the season only for them to just completely collapse, but hey they are bound to get to the post season eventually right?....i cant even type that with a straight face. 

I guess we can only wait and see what happens with this ball club. We can discuss and debate this topic all we want but the fact of the matter is this: two decades of losing is two decades of losing. Something needs to be done. So Bob Nutting, wealthy pockets or not, do you really want to be known as a loser? If you don't then do something about it. If you don't care and just want a thick wallet then i don't blame you. You're doing a good job don't change a thing.

Michael Jackson had nothing on Kovalev!

The question is did the pens get the 1999 version or the 38 year old Kovalev who took shifts off and forced his way out of Ottawa.  I'm just excited to see him back in a pens jersey.

Check out the video ;)

From the PG:

The Penguins, looking to add some scoring with a lot of forwards injured, today acquired winger Alexei Kovalev from the Ottawa Senators for a conditional 2011 seventh-round draft pick.

Kovalev, who turns 38 today, has 426 goals and 1,017 points in 1,282 career NHL games. He was with the Penguins from 1998-99 through 2002-03 and topped 20 goals each season, scoring 44 in 2000-01.

Kovalev is in the second season of a two-year, $10 million contract and is eligible for unrestricted free agency July 1. The Senators have made several personnel moves and have wanted to trade Kovalev before Monday's NHL trade deadline.

Kovalev is high skilled but has been knocked for at times falling into a funk. He has 14 goals, 27 points in 54 games with Ottawa this season.

The Penguins are without top centers Sidney Crosby, who has a concussion, and Evgeni Malkin, who had season-ending knee surgery.If the Penguins win the first round of the playoffs and Kovalev plays in at least half the games, the compensation going to the Senators would jump to a sixth-rounder. The Penguins had two seventh-round picks this year before the trade.