CROSBY--GAME 3

 Three more points for the Captain, seven in three games.

Lots of people played well after giving up the first goal in just the second minute of play.

It's on to Montreal where the Penuins are 7-3-2 since the 2005-2006 season (excluding the Playoffs).

STEELERS V. CHIEFS

1. No Interceptions for Troy through 10 games: Even after two 4th quarter interceptions in the 24-17 win over Cincinnati, the Steelers have just 6 takeaways and 4 INT's on the season. For this defense to peak the rest of the way and into the playoffs, Troy Polamalu has to become the game changer in the secondary. Polamalu through 10 games has 0 interceptions for just the second time in his career since becoming the team's starting safety in 2004. The last time Polamalu had 0 INT's in the first 10 games was in 2007 when he didn't record an interception that season.

2. Thanks to PTI's brilliant reporting, when they used this story AND the one about Kyle Orton being waived over Sydney Corsby's comeback, we now know the Patriots hold a playoff tie-breaker over the Steelers despite losing to them in Pittsburgh. Thanks boneheads. 

3. Who's the best team in the AFC? The best answer is to just let it play out. It changes every week and in the AFC there isn't a dominant team like the Green Bay Packers in the NFC. It's hard to not like Pittsburgh in any match-up but the team that I fear as potentially the worst playoff match-up for the Steelers could be going on the road to Houston. However, Houston has never been there before and I have serious questions about Baltimore being able to get it done, even if they finally get to host a playoff game. Meanwhile, the Patriots are going to be there but New England's days of being a dominant playoff team are in the past. The safest bet at this point might be the defending AFC Champions, even if they don't win the AFC North.

4. A lot will be told in the next two weeks. The Ravens (of course) get a break by not only catching the 49ers on a short week but they also get to play them at home. The Steelers meanwhile, travel to SF next week. We have to root for the 49ers this week for two reasons: 1) It's unlikely they will lose two games in a row if they should fall to the Ravens and 2) They will hopefully soften up the 49ers for the Steelers.

5. Finally, as for the Chief's game, Kyle Orton will NOT make a difference but they HAD to make the move (for NEXT year).

- PREDICTION -

STEELERS 30 CHIEFS 10

CROSBY--GAME 2

Not a world-beater but he got his dander up. I guess the NHL officials are more afraid of Crosby somehow trying to get retribution that on call penalties against the other team so they're calling penalties on him. Believe me, that's only going to piss him off and that's BAD for the opposition.

The Pens record against the West is now 5-2.

MY ESPN RANT

OK ESPN, splain this to us Penguins fans... With the Crobsy comeback, SCORING FOUR POINTS AND JUST MISSING A HAT TRICK, after being out almost a full season, your lead story on PTI is... KYLE ORTON BEING WAIVED BY THE BRONCOS!?!

 

Really? A team that's only in the playoff hunt because ALL the teams in their division SUCK?!? But that's not all. The SECOND story is the PATRIOTS beating the shit out of Green Bay, no Dallas, no San Francisco, NO the fericious KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, who just happen to play in the same aforementioned sucking division as the Broncos. AND they achieved this Herculean feat in Kansas City? NO, AT HOME. 

I'm convinced the only reason ESPN put the second story ahead if Crosby was so they could announce that if the playoffs started today the Patriots would now have home field advantage over the STEELERS in spite of losing to them three weeks ago. 

So PITTSBURGH stars and teams receive TWO ESPN snubs in ONE show. Well Fucking A! Just how many people in the media has Bill Belichick blown that he deserves this preferential treatment?

IS THIS GAME EASY OR WHAT (FOR SOME OF US)?

Except for the time missed so far one has to ask, "What concussion?" Many die-hard Penguins' fans hopefully expected some short of show from Crosby's first game back but this was near ridiculous, crazily insane, anticipatedly fantastic, to coin a phrase. 


Obviously he was the most-rested player on the ice except perhaps for the Islanders' rookie goal tender who was under siege the entire 60 minutes. But he didn't have to skate with Crosby which no one on the Islanders could. They couldn't figure out where his passes where going or where his shots would come from.


It was the first game in 320 days for Crosby.


It was only the third game in the last two seasons that Crosby, Malkin and Staal all played; arguably the best trio of centers in the world.


We know this isn't going to continue this way... or is it? Remember when Mario Lemieux came back and trailed Pat Lafontaine in the scoring race by about 50 points (I couldn't find the actual figure) and overtook him by the end of the season?