Pens take 3-1 lead over Lightning, Neal seals the deal in double OT.

By now it's probably known to you. This was a moment of "Where were you..." When James Neal scored off a laser beam of a goal at a near impossible angle to propel the Pens to a 3-1 series lead after taking away 2 games in Tampa. An arena the Pens had not had much success in in the regular season. Another reason why Neal and the Penguins can tell themselves the regular season no longer matters. All that matters is the post season run, and that history is in fact, being made.



It's amazing, because Errey was spot on with his call of the game at this point in time. It just takes one, and you hear Steigerwald scream "There it is!" and as soon as you do, your body feels electrified. So much ridicule, so much unnecessary disgust and lack of faith in a man who was always on the cusp of doing something amazing. All of that and more erased with a single goal.

If you've watched any of the games that have gone into overtime since the trade deadline, James Neal was a factor in that game. He has an ability, when the game is on the line, to elevate his to a level that not many players will ever realize. Of the last 10 games the Penguins participated in to end the regular season, there was a stretch where 4 straight games went to overtime and shootouts. Scoring in 3 of those 4 shootouts? James Neal, winning 2 of them on his stick. The potential was always there, but he is on a top line without it's star centermen to take the spotlight. On most given lines Neal is the biggest target due to his size and hockey intelligence. This can hold a player back.

What happens after this moment for James Neal is up to him. Does he allow this to be only a temporary respite to the long arduous regular season he slumped in, or does he allow it to show himself that he can elevate his game to a level only Asham, Kennedy and then St.Louis of Tampa can realize right now? Time will tell, but it won't be long to wait. The Penguins will face off against the Lightning tomorrow in game 5 at home in Consol Energy Center. Sgt. Bob will be singing the anthem again to get the crowd going.  I've got my new Brent Johnson shirt for the whiteout conditions we'll be experiencing.

Go Pens. Never relent, never surrender, continue to be a devouring pack of wolves.

Bylsma for Jack Adams, defeating Florida and playoff talk.

Zybenek Michaleks one timer game winning goal. All 12 Panther fans in attendance were visibly upset.

After the Penguins come from behind victory against the Panthers on Saturday night, they held onto their home ice advantage for another night battling to stay one point ahead of Tampa Bay after they had won earlier that day. Philly after losing in a shootout last night brought their total to 103 points again, regaining first place tied with the Capitals. When I saw Washington in the top spot for even a second, I could taste the bile.

This squad has only three games remaining in their regular season culminating with a game against the Thrashers on April 10th in Atlanta. They'll play their final home game of the regular season in Consol Energy Center tomorrow night against the Devils, hoping to cap their new barn's season off at 25(24)-14-2 with the win against New Jersey. Afterward they'll hope to finish their road dominance with a record of 24(22)-11-6 with the remaining road games on Long Island and in Atlanta.

Tyler Kennedy enjoying a career year.

As many of us writing about the Penguins have stated before today, Dan Bylsma should be a sure choice for the Jack Adams award. This was before he totaled 100points for the team this season, and in some cases before he won his 100th career game. The man has kept a team riddled all year with injuries in the top four of the Eastern conference, and 3 points outside of Philly for first place in the Atlantic. Without the assistance for half a season of Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, plugging holes with Wilkes-Barre Scranton Pens, and Shero's brilliance during the end of the trading season.

Through all the adversity Bylsma has been able to keep this team churning out points by using a solid and consistent system between both the WBS baby Penguins and the Pens organizations. The seamless transition for the players between their AHL duties and their NHL duties helped when this team had to fill in the gaps after losing both of their star Centers, and a myriad of forwards and defensemen through out the season. This is just the 7th time in franchise history the Penguins have achieved 100 total points as a team, and it was done while battling through adversity.

Kennedy celebrates a career high 20th goal.

This was not all his work alone however but for consideration in the Jack Adams award he certainly has to be the number one choice, no other coach in the league has had to battle through this much adversity and media frenzy, including going through a 24/7 filming month where camera crews were constantly circling the team.Players have stepped up to do the work that the superstars are not there to do. Players like Tyler "They call me Crosby" Kennedy with his shoot first mentality has finally been able to bury a lot of goals behind the net, putting up 20goals and 22 assists now sits currently 5th in total points on the team. He is leading the team in scoring since Crosby has been injured.

Jordan Staal and Chris Kunitz have done their fair share of work as well. Kunitz in the scoring department and Jordan in the unlimited ice time department. Jordan has played career high minutes on ice lately averaging 21 minutes on ice a game, which is 90 seconds more than his previous seasons. He is playing in almost every situation, and not as just a 3rd line shut down center. His defensive prowess and ability to dish out assists has definitely been on display this year. Chris Kunitz has been lighting the lamp consistently all year, sitting at 22goals and 25 assists. Coming back from injury he's scored 11 points (4G 7A) in the 12 games he's participated in, he was blanked for only 5 of those games. During this stretch of time Kunitz was able to come out with a 5 game point streak bolstering a weak offense.

Pens have won the first of the final 4 games in April, looking to tack on the last 6 points necessary and solidify home ice advantage once and for all this season. In other news, Big Brent Johnson was not at practice today because he was attending the birth of his new daughter. Hopefully she doesn't grow up to be a fighter like the Lawgiver, or maybe so. Craig Adams was sporting a Mohawk and the joke was if he scored the game winner Mohawks everywhere. Well he didn't get the game winner but he got the empty netter after Florida botched their goalie bench for an extra attacker as a power play expired.Wonder how many people in the Burgh' have mohawks now?

Battling through adversity with relentless work ethic, passion and integrity, the Penguins way, the pack of wolves mentality. Everyone who could possibly step up for this team has made an effort to step up, and it shows in the standings.

Pens face the Devils tomorrow at 7pm in Consol Energy Center to get within 1 point of Philly in the standings.

Whats the Deal with Neal?

James Neal, more than just a funny face... Part of the trade between the Penguins and the Stars involving Alex Goligoski, and Matt Niskanen. Niskanen has been doing a great job on Defense in place of Gogo, but James Neal had a lot more expectations by press, fans, and the organization ahead of him. So where is the production many of the Penguins faithful have wondered. So far it's been in Overtime or the Shootout, not in regulation, though not for lack of trying however.

Many of the Penguins nation have been upset with his production so far, putting up only one goal and four assists in the 15 games he's played since being traded. During the first six games Neal was held pointless and went for a -3 for that stretch of time.Then in the game against the Sabres on March 8th Neal finally got one behind the net and got an assist to break his scoring slump. Yet afterward he has yet to be able to score a goal in regulation despite putting up three assists, this doesn't necessarily mean he isn't hungry for the net or failing to get the puck past netminders, it just isn't happening in regulation time.

Which brings me to the value of a James Neal powerforward type of wingman, he thrives under the pressure and capitalizes on the other teams mistakes and cracking under the same pressure. When the game is on the line he makes all the right split second decisions you would expect a big time name to make. The plays he makes to keep the puck in the offensive zone in overtime, or the passes to T.K and other players that lead to goals or near goals are a work of art. His work in the shootout though is earning him a reputation of being a goalie killer, even if it won't translate to the playoffs entirely.

Of the past four games the Penguins have been in, they have gone to the shootout. Neal has participated in all four, scoring in three of the four and twice to win the game for the Penguins. Once against Detroit, and Friday evening against the Devils. Another Penguins wingman picked up before the trade deadline, Alexei Kovalev, won the other two games in a shootout for the Penguins and has scored in three of the four as well, Kovalev too is not producing as many points as Pens fans would like. Take a look at this shot Neal puts past Brodeur of the Devils, sealing their playoff fate on Friday night:

James was brought here to be the wingman for Sidney Crosby and to end the discussions of "Wheres that winger for Sid?" The problem though is that he hasn't put up nearly enough points to warrant that position. To put it in perspective, in the past 9 games Chris Kunitz has come back from injury and scored four goals and five assists, with a five game point streak during the stretch, where as Neal has only contributed three assists. It's his body of work you don't see in highlights that Neal shows his value, shots that don't get elevated enough, or just get barely blocked by the goaltender or even worse, ping off the crossbar. His ability to battle downlow and along the boards for the puck, his excellent passing ability and puck control, we forget these things when looking at just the numbers.

It's difficult too for Neal being the biggest target on the first line, that puts him on the other teams Defensive spotlight. Without a Sidney Crosby or an Evgeni Malkin out there to take the defense away from the wingmen it's a lot harder to get production from those forward positions. This is why Kunitz has more goals and points than Neal so far, he isn't under as tough of a defensive matchup. Teams do not fear the first line of this team, they merely acknowledge it's strengths and weaknesses, until James is out of the defensive spotlight he will continue to struggle to put up the points he was used to in Dallas, where Brad Richards took most of the attention away from the wingmen and allowed Neal to do his dirty work.

Many fans were comparing Neal to Poni' the trade that well, should of never been. The one blemish on the trading reputation of GM Ray Shero. Those fans were too quick to jump to conclusions in my opinion, as Neal has played with four different centers since coming to the team, and will play for a fifth different center if(when) Sidney Crosby comes back to the team healthy. Which could be as soon as a few games prior to the end of the regular season.Without being able to build up any chemistry with his line, how can we expect him to produce so quickly?

The all too obvious truth is that no one knows how James Neal and Sidney Crosby are going to work with each other, but after seeing Sid in practices getting that stick handling and passing and shooting going again the rest of the NHL should be scared of the prospect of a 18-87-72 line or even a 18-87-14 line. I'm of the opinion that if Neal gets time to work with Sid, with his heavy shot and his hockey intelligence the lamp will be lit time and time again and Neal will be a welcome long term addition to this Penguins team that is now going to the Playoffs for the fourth straight year after suffering through very... very dark times prior to the lockout.

Talk about a bad day in Pittsburgh.

I don't even really want to write much about yesterday but I figure I may as well offer some kind of opinion. Too many mistakes, way too many. Typical Steeler football in the Superbowl's of recent memory, only this time they were facing a much more dominant team. Turnovers always rule the day and in the end like always, defense won a championship. Only it wasn't the Steeler defense that we know and expect to win these games. Being down by 3, you feel like you're going to get back into the swing of things and bring the trophy home to Pittsburgh.

Unfortunately penalties and lack of discipline result in a game ending drive allowing the Packers to kneel down in victory formation and celebrate. Was it because we all had this sense of self entitlement? The fans of Pittsburgh, including myself, come to expect championships now, and perhaps this was the wake up call. Roethlisberger just wasn't making all the right decisions, he made several good ones, but the ones he didn't make were costly every time. Including one where he missed his check down which would of gone for a first down and extended a drive that otherwise fizzled out.

Injuries all over the field on both sides, but in the end Green Bay's defense would not relent. Without Woodson his backup continued to blitz just as if Woodson were on the field. Clay Matthews forced a fumble on Mendenhall and really I was expecting him to cause one somewhere, sadly I have to give him credit he's some kind of freakish athlete.

I guess I feel less bias because I'm still just shocked at the fact that the Steelers didn't win. Unfortunately I was one of the people who basically expected the Steelers to win, had no concern over Green Bay and was just left stunned by the fact that they couldn't pull it off. Been a long time since I've seen this team lose in the Superbowl, but it hopefully will be another 15 years before it happens again, and with frequent returns.

With the lock-out looming over the league and contracts that need tinkering, veterans who may retire, and a myriad of other concerns coming into the off season will the Steelers still be in shape for Superbowl runs? Will Dick Lebeau come back to try and win another Lombardi after falling short this time? Will Hines Ward stay with the team or will he retire? There are a lot of questions that will need to be addressed in 6 months, including our draft pick. Here is hoping we use it on some kind of CB to help supplement a secondary that could use a little bit more depth.

Then there was the disaster of a game by the Penguins vs the Capitals in D.C. 3-0 Goose egg laid by the Penguins started off the day on a very, very low note. Trying not to be a superstitious person I didn't want to allow it to cast a pall on the rest of the afternoon, but it was a tough pill to swallow. I could handle the Pens losing, it was the regular season, but to see the Steelers lose too, it's a lot to take in a day.

I don't even know where to begin with the game yesterday afternoon. It reminded me too much of a game of NHL 2011 against my roommate, who is from the NoVA, DC area so it is of course, Pens vs Caps. Sadly it was reminiscent of a game where I wasn't doing so well as the Penguins, and period after period it just kept looking similar. Even down to Tyler Kennedy breaking up a play by Neuvirth along the boards trying to play the puck and dishing it off to Staal facing an empty net. If Staal wasn't D'd up he's got an empty net. The slot just wasn't there for the Penguins and they kept forcing the play there anyway.

Then the turnovers. Turnover city, population Penguins. They are going to have to work on the possession of the puck over these next few games. Bylsma is testing new lines so there are going to be some new combinations of guys together on the ice. Crosby is supposedly due back to Pittsburgh this week, however he is still rehabbing from the concussion. The Pen's are 3 points behind the Flyers (75) and 5 behind Vancouver (77) which honestly is not too bad considering they were without Staal for 35 games or so, Sid for going on 13 games, Malkin now for 8 or so games, Letestu gone for 6 weeks, and yet are still putting together wins. I suppose it's just a blessing they all understand the Bylsma system so well.

So long Football Season, welcome to full time Hockey Season. We get more Sunday Hockey on NBC and of course, it's getting close to the trade deadline. Pens need help at Center, there is cap room after the Malkin move to Longterm IR, will Shero make a move?