GAME 3

Big game tonight between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning. After winning game one 3-0 the Penguins fell in game two by the final score of 5-1. With the series tied and Tampa returning home tonight game will be a huge one for the Penguins. They need to be able to steal at least one game from the Lightning in the next two games. I feel that the Penguins are capable of winning both games. They just need to get to there game quick and score quick. You cant afford to get behind against the Lightning. The Pens found that out the hard way in game two. Once the Lightning get a lead that the are satisfied with they sit back and play a 1-3-1 trap. This limits the other team from getting through the neutral zone easily and forces them to dump the puck in early. They clog up the neutral zone by out numbering the attacking player whom has the puck. Once you dump it the defense who is dropped deep into the zone retrieves the dump in and the puck quickly exits the zone. This trap doesn't allow the penguins to get to their game and makes it very tough to score. So the Penguins need a quick start tonight. I predict a 3-2 victory by the Pens. With captain clutch, Max Talbot scoring the game winning goal. What are your feelings on tonight's game?

Average Joes Season Ends

On Sunday my dek hockey team lost in the first round of the playoffs. Overall we had a decent season. We finishing the season with a recond of 6-5-2. I play goalie and was only able to attend half the games due to me being up at school. I finished with a record of 5-2-1 and 2 shutouts. The playoff game was a hard tough battle and our team deserved to win. I put my team in a tough position by allowing two quick goals in the first period. We rebounded late in the first by scoring 2 goals and tying it up goin into the second. The second and third period was back and forth. With a min left in the third period I pulled my self to get an extra attacker on. Sure enough we scored with 30 seconds left in the game to force overtime. In the first overtime we carried most of the play and i made the saves i had to. We just couldnt capitalize on our chances. The first overtime concluded and it went into the second overtime. About 4 mins into the second overtime one of our defenseman slipped behind the net and turn the ball over and the other time scored on a wrap around. Ending the game in double overtime by a score of 5-4. In all it was a good season and hopefully will end better in the summer.

Playoff Prediction

The Pittsburgh Penguins will open the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The schedule is set and the Penguins earned home ice so they will open the Series at the Consol Energy Center on Wednesday. This will be an interesting series. The Lightning come in with and offense that can strike often. The penguins will need to limit the production of Stamkos and St. Louis. The Penguins play a more uptempo game then the Lightning and I believe they are more suitable for the playoffs because of this. Playoff hockey is aggressive in your face hockey and that plays right into the Penguins hands. Likely to start the series without Sidney Crosby the Penguins will have to ride there defense and goal tending. I believe that the Penguins have the best defensive core out of the playoff teams this year. This will not only be key this series but if that want any chance of going farther in the playoffs. Limiting the Lightning chances and keeping the puck in the offensive zone will be key in beating the Lightning. I believe that the Penguins will defeat the Lightning in 5 games. What are your predictions?

Pens Lose Two Straight

The Pittsburgh Penguins fell to the Philladelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning in consecutive games this week. In what were the two biggest games of the year the penguins failed to generate and points. By losing to the Flyers on Tuesday by a final score of 5-2 the Penguins fell to four points behind their cross state rival for the division lead and first overall in the Eastern Conference. Their next opponent, Tampa Bay Lightning, won that night and cut their deficit behind the Penguins to only 5 points. Making their match up on Thursday a very important on for both teams. The Lightning beat the Penguins by a final score of 2-1 and cut the Penguins lead of 4th place to only 3 points. The Penguins have 4 games remaining and need ever point possible to finish with home ice advantage for at least the first round.

Goligoski Trade Overlook

On Monday the Pittsburgh Penguins made a big splash in the week leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline. They sent D Alex Goligoski to the Dallas Stars for F James Neal and D Matt Niskanen. I have mixed feeling about this trade. I'm one of the biggest Goligoski supporters out there and it hurts to see him go especially since he is having a spectacular. Goligoski was our 5th defenseman making only 1.8 million. His stats speak for them self, 5th in team scoring with 31pts and a team leading +20(tied with Crosby). In my eyes at 1.8 millions and those numbers as a 5th defenseman Goligoski is a steal. Its hard to find around the league a number one or two guy that has those type of numbers. I like the addition of Neal to lineup. He brings size, speed, a heavy shot and isn't scared of running through someone to get to the puck. I think he will be a nice fit with Sidney Crosby(concussion) and Chris Kunitz(upper-body injury) once they return from injury. As for Niskanen hes a guy in need of a change of scenery and hopefully Pittsburgh is the change he needs to revamp his game. I understand since the injury to Crosby and Malkin we've been struggling to score and that's what Neal brings to the table at 6' 2" 210lbs and only 23 years old. I just cant justify downgrading your defense for a scorer when we still are winning games and hold a solid playoff position in the current situation were in. I feel like it was a deal that didn't need to be made. You take away someone that logs quality minutes quarterbacking your powerplay and he by no means a defensive liability out there. Like I said I have mixed feeling, its hard to see Goligoski go but Neal will fit in well and hopefully it all works out in the end.

Penguins Vs. Blue Jackets Recap

The Pittsburgh Penguins fell to their cross state rival, Columbus Blue Jackets last night. Losing by a final score of 4-1. The Pens were without Captain Sidney Crosby for the 14 consecutive game since sustaining a concussion. Also absent from the lineup were Evgeni Malkin and Mark Letestu whom both have knee injuries. A game time scratch was the pens 2nd leading goal scorer, Chris Kunitz, whom missed because of an apparent lower body injury in between the morning skate and game time.
The Penguins just couldn't generate any offense, mustering up only one goal mid way through the third period. Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason had a tremendous game turning away 32 of 33 shots.

Game Notes- Kris Letang continues to struggle since Sidney Crosby absence from the lineup, finishing the game with a -3 rating. In 14 games without Crosby Letang has only 5 pts(1G-4A) and -5 rating...Pens record dropped to 8-5-1 without Crosby...Chris Kunitz has been listed as day-to-day with lower body injury....next game Thirsday vs. LA Kings 7 pm start time.

New Technology-Hawk-Eye

A new technology that caught me eye was Hawk-Eye. Hawk-Eye is a complex computer that visually tracks the path of the ball and displays a record of its most statisically likey path as a moving image. Hawk-Eye is used in Tennis, Cricket and other sports. Tennis relies on this system to help determine if the ball was in or out. I believe this technolgy can be used in other sports such as footbal and hockey. In football it can help determine if the ball crossed the goal line. Same thing for hockey, it can determine if the puck completly crosses the goal line.

Welcome

Hello, my name is Michael Mardirossian,I am 21 years old from Monroeville Pa. I attend Slippery Rock University and am majoring in Sport Management. This blog is to post and discuss topics on current sports events and Sport Management.