The Pens had every reason to fold the tent when they were outplayed and outscored in the early going of Game Three in Columbus. Instead, the Pens battled back and ended up winning the game in overtime. Pittsburgh is now up 3-0 in the series. Trust me, unlike when they blew a 3-0 series lead against the eventual Stanley Cup Champion NY Islanders in the mid 70s, the Pens won’t blow this one. They are really clicking. The line of Sid and the Kids is amazing. They bring so much energy and scoring chances every time they step on the ice. Speaking of, how about Jake Guentzel, one of the kids who had a hat trick in the Game Three victory? It’s hard not to love this kid. This was a big win for the Pens and a devastating loss for the Jackets.
* Steeler Nation has lost its leader. It’s hard to put into words what Dan Rooney meant to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh. Rooney was the man who turned his father’s franchise from a loveable loser into a powerhouse. He ran the Steelers like a business and hired great coaches, most notably Chuck Noll. Dan Rooney never forgot where he came from. He was Pittsburgh through and through. I still have the interviews I did with Dan from the Steelers’ locker room after wins at Super Bowls 13 and 14. He was humble and victory and gracious in defeat. I’m glad I had the chance to cross paths with this icon. He will be missed.
* I would be positively thrilled if the Pens win another Stanley Cup with Marc Andre Fleury in goal. How cool would that be? There’s no question that Fleury is playing his final games in a Pens uniform. He now has a chance to write his last chapter as a playoff hero. Fleury is good enough to pull it off. If he does it will go down as one of the greatest feats in Pittsburgh sports history.
* I really expected the Pirates to implode in Chicago against the Cubs. Instead, I was both happy and very surprised to see the Buccos sweep the reigning world champions. It was great to see Andrew McCutchen lead the Pirates to a comeback win on Saturday with his timely homer, on Jackie Robinson day, no less. That was a big win for the Buccos. Sunday’s victory, another come from behind win, was equally impressive. Instead of folding late in the game, the Buccos put together another rally highlighted by Adam Frazier’s big blast. How good has that kid been for the Buccos? After limping into Wrigley Field with four straight losses, the Pirates left with the Windy City feeling good about themselves. It’s early yet, but this series could do wonders for the young Bucs.
* Jameson Taillon is the real deal. The tall right-hander was brilliant against the Cubs. Fact is, he’s been pretty darn good all year for the Pirates. Taillon shows the poise of a seasoned veteran. And he has the stuff that most pitchers would die for. It’s hard not to be excited about how good this guy will be for the Pirates.
* It’s hard to believe the NFL draft is less than two weeks away. I’ve seen so many mock drafts that I don’t know what to expect when the Steelers pick 30th. I’ve probably seen at least 8-10 guys mentioned as the top pick for the Steelers, which should tell you that anything can happen when it comes time for the Steelers to make their pick. Almost all of the mock drafts have Pittsburgh taking a defensive player. What I can say with certainty is that the Steelers will not be drafting a quarterback in Round One.
* The Steelers will get an added bonus on the roster if Martavis Bryant is reinstated by the NFL. From the looks of things, that is going to happen. Bryant met with the NFL last week and now needs to sit down with commissioner Roger Goodell. My guess is that will happen soon, which means Bryant will be back in a Steelers’ uniform by training camp. If he stays clean, and that’s always the big if, Bryant can surely help the Steelers. The rest is up to him.
