April 6, 2015

Monday planner: On a whim to Ottawa

by Dejan Kovacevic • Site stuff • Monday planner, Penguins, Pirates

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

CINCINNATI — A look at the week ahead on the site …

• Monday: The 129th opener of the Pittsburgh Baseball Club. Column to follow.

• Tuesday: There will be no Tuesday 12 Qs this week. I hate to miss any regular feature, but I’ll be driving back to Pittsburgh overnight from Cincinnati, then flying in the morning up to Ottawa. Needless to say, this trip was unscheduled, but when the hockey team appears hellbent on missing the Stanley Cup playoffs and this lines up as the most pivotal game of the season, duty calls. I’ll file a column from Canada’s capital after the game.

Press box, Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio. — DEJAN KOVACEVIC

• Wednesday: Flying back from Ottawa in time to do a full radio show, 3-6 p.m. on 105.9 the X guest-hosting for Mark Madden. I’ll bet we have plenty to discuss.

• Thursday: I’ll cover the Penguins at practice and report from Consol. At 5:10 p.m., it’s the weekly all-pucks talk on Penguins 24/7 online radio and Brian Metzer.

• Friday: Friday Insider goes up a tick after midnight. At 4:45 p.m., it’s the weekly rapid-fire segment on 970 ESPN Pittsburgh with David Todd. And at night, it’s Penguins-Islanders at Consol.

• Saturday: It’s another drive, this time up to Buffalo for the Penguins’ season-ending game against the Sabres. Just imagine if that means something.

• Sunday: On the eve of the Pirates’ home opener, I’ll be part of KDKA-TV’s ‘Sports Showdown.’

As always, expect News/views entries and other surprises along the way.

40 Comments Newest to oldest

Durka

4-6-2015, 12:38 am

All they need is two points Tuesday. Fingers crossed. Busy, busy week and can't wait. Thank you

alantig

4-6-2015, 11:03 am

But they need the win in regulation, right? An OT/shootout win would keep the Sens alive, wouldn't it? Haven't looked at the standings to make sure I'm right.

TomPaulBillyBob

4-6-2015, 11:50 am

Yes, Alan, that's accurate...a reg win and a spot is secured....and we'd all be assured of 4 more Pens games, and probably no more; I'm sorry to be the nay-saying pessimist, but they've given me no reason to think otherwise. I'll still watch the game from te edge of my seat tomorrow night with all hopes that thy can win it so we can watch playoff hockey wh them in it, but the fact that they've put me in this position (fear and angst) rally makes me mad

keithc

4-7-2015, 1:21 pm

A young confident team playing at home vs an old, confused, team that can't seem to figure out why they are playing badly. And who's coach has the deer in the headlights look.

I know who I'd bet on.

Carmen

4-6-2015, 4:17 am

Safe travels and thanks for heading north for what should be an epic scene.

Rico

4-6-2015, 5:08 am

Awesome. Not necessarily your wacky travel schedule, but the fact that you could be there for the Pens playoff-clinching win. I got a feeling.

mike

4-6-2015, 5:57 am

Have a great trip. Whatever happens in Ottawa I hope the Pens can find some more Hornquist, Winnick and Cole type players in their future.

robfgard

4-6-2015, 10:28 pm

Winnik types are a dime a dozen.

Radio wave

4-6-2015, 6:10 am

Shocked that Leafs won last night to help Pens out.

Dejan Kovacevic

4-6-2015, 6:27 am

That sentiment never requires a qualifier.

michaelsiegel

4-6-2015, 6:42 am

Do you sleep?

Dejan Kovacevic

4-6-2015, 3:12 pm

Not this week.

ziggygreece

4-6-2015, 11:51 pm

i think dk has a usb port located just underneath his right armpit. Therefore he has not slept since the site launched. he just needs to stay near an outlet. The fact that you were like screw it im going to ottawa makes me a subscriber for the next 10k days.

Will Brogan

4-6-2015, 6:56 am

Travel safe DK!

dannyboy1631

4-6-2015, 7:22 am

Glad you're making the trip to Ottawa. Hopefully afterward you can start making playoff travel plans. If not, at least I'll be able to listen to Madden's show with my kids in the room!

Tom Armstrong

4-6-2015, 7:25 am

Happy Opening Day, Everyone! After such a long winter...everything seems so right today.

4-6-2015, 7:37 am

Don't want to think about anything but a W in Ottawa.

Must win, playoffs-type test for MAF and the boys. Cannot win this one and there's no hope even if they squeak in.

Sarah

4-6-2015, 7:49 am

Well God help us but the Leafs won a SO v Sens last night, so OTT is at 93 pts to our 95.
We have the tie breaker.
So, beat them, and we're in.
Lose, and I will be drinking heavily the rest of the week LOL!

Sarah

4-6-2015, 7:51 am

DJ did you watch any of the Sens game?
Those guys were skating like their jocks were on fire....so much energy and desperation and hunger.
I'd forgotten what that looked like.....

4-6-2015, 8:49 am

No, missed that Sarah.

On Pens, may be in minority but I actually think they played with passion and energy yesterday. Winnik taking the boneheaded penalty was tide-turner. Which leads me to this point.

Every new guy that comes to Pens seems to think they have a small "bank account" of stupid penalties they are entitled to write checks on (with Downie thinking he owns Fort Knox). We have no margin of error for that nonsense. One of the vets needs to pull each aside and tell them that the Pens cashed every single check YEARS before they came to the team so just CANNOT happen. Problem is, who is the vet to have that conversation when Sid and Geno are wanted in 50 states and Canada for check-kiting (although admittedly Geno has been worlds better this year)? Don't tell me Scuds, he the "vet voice of reason" who cannot play and back anything up.

Actually, would like to see Geno do it. He's out of prison this year and can speak to his reformation.

Sarah

4-6-2015, 12:30 pm

All good points DJ, they did play pretty well....but i think that 47 shots is misleading....too many from outside and no one mucking it up in front except Horny.....

Your point about Winnik's penalty is spot-on....but, man it is SO aggravating to see how fragile they are when one thing goes wrong. The Winnik penalty, or the Perron giveaway...yeah it's a setback, but man for this team they completely collapse! Don't you just get that "oh, no, her comes the meltdown..." Feeling when stuff like that happens? You just know it. Ugh.
Meanwhile, its just one period, it's tied, they're dominating....should be no big deal for a mentally tough team. But they are not mentally tough.
BOY are they not.

anthony.panza

4-6-2015, 3:19 pm

That's exactly, Sarah. All of the physical injuries have rightly gotten a lot of attention. But more scrutiny is needed into this team's *mental* fragility. One bad (non)call, one ugly goal against ... they just completely unravel.

matt.gajtka

4-6-2015, 7:49 am

I hear eastern Ontario is lovely this time of year anyway...

Big Daddy

4-6-2015, 9:54 am

Im sure your column after the Ottawa game will be ANOTHER downer after they lose another one. You should just stay home and rest up and watch the game on TV. Do yourself a favor. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy all your columns with games that you attend but you could easily write the column from home and save money and your valuable time !!!!!!!

Rbilak1

4-6-2015, 11:10 am

I will help. "We cannot take bad penalties" Rob Scuderi

"We need to place with urgency" Sid.

"Insert Player name, took a penalty that changed the game, 4 or 5 guys did not compete, their goalie was hot and the fans were behind them" HCMJ

"We are looking forward to Pierre Creamer returning to coach this team, he is the best we can find". Lemieux and Burkle.

Korea Steeler

4-6-2015, 10:13 am

I'm not sure we should want the Pens to make the playoffs. It's an axiom that an addict can't get help until he/she hits rock bottom. The problems start with ownership/senior management and work down to the HC/coaching staff and team leadership. The owners need to re-think their vision for what the Pens should be -- because they're not built to win now (w/ today's NHL game), contrary to popular belief. And the owners need to decide whether they have the right management team (to include HCMJ) in place.

If they make the playoffs, do we see them surviving beyond 6 games, let alone the first round? It will be more of the same -- "too many untimely injuries, just need to stay healthy and focus" -- nonsense.

TomPaulBillyBob

4-6-2015, 12:00 pm

Part of me agrees with what you wrote, but then the other believes this team can win...when intact--I don't want to believe that the 5 of 6 pointson the recent western swing was an aberration

dbartram

4-6-2015, 11:19 am

I may be part of the minority here but I think Pens will make post season and Bucs take 2 wins in Cincy.

AJS

4-6-2015, 11:59 am

Opening day!!!!!!

I wish it weren't against Cueto but hey beggars can't be chosers!

Stephen Petrilli

4-6-2015, 4:07 pm

Beggars? Who's begging?
We're sending our best pitcher, they're sending theirs.
Enjoy the ride!

pidgeon1721

4-6-2015, 12:08 pm

They cannot be a great team with 10M tied up in Scuderi/Kunitz/Sutter

Sarah

4-6-2015, 1:23 pm

Yup. At this point they may have to look at trading someone like Letang/Maatta/Pouliot to have sufficient return to get some quality depth. They'd be foolish to trade Malkin or Crosby those guys are the main ones propping up the whole house of cards.
Though I would not blame either of them if they wanted out, they've seen a big chunk of their careers wasted with bargain-basement line-mates, thanks to exactly those kinds of contracts....

Sarah

4-6-2015, 1:24 pm

Don't forget Duper. All those guys need to be moved or bought out. It's going to be painful, but maybe a shake-up is just what they need.

Velirno

4-6-2015, 2:26 pm

I'm keeping hope for Tuesday, but look forward to your write-ups in either case!

bencschmitt

4-6-2015, 3:18 pm

Impressive. The fact that you're making this trek might make me a lifetime subscriber. It's the right move by you... and by me.

MikeyA61

4-6-2015, 9:12 pm

DK,
Since no Tuesday 12Qs this week, thought I'd ask here....have you ever watched a game; or ever plan on watching a AAA game in indy? If you've never been, it's a great park with a great atmosphere!

Dubble A

4-6-2015, 9:54 pm

The Pens will clinch a playoff spot in Ottawa. Problem is what are they going to do with it... another early playoff exit?

Funny thing is, if the Penguins could somehow, someway, get through the eastern playoff schedule, they seem to match up better against the west this season for whatever reason. Who knows what could happen if they managed to sneak into the finals!?

Hey... I can dream, can't I?

Monday planner: On a whim to Ottawa

CONTACT

ESSENTIALS

ABOUT OUR SITE