Morning Dump

Well it was a horrible night for Pittsburgh area sports fans.

Both the Pens and the Pirates shit the bed, and both in big ways.

- Ovechkin and Crosby both have hat tricks, but the Caps are getting more from others on their team and beat the Pens last night. Twice the Pens had one goal leads that they couldn't hold onto. Defensive mistakes and mental lapses hurt.

- Pens box score here. Malkin only getting one assist won't cut it.

- Seth at the P-G with his usual great live game blogging here.

- Pens controlled the puck well and had great chances. They got denied though quicker than a Tri Lam going after an Alpha Beta.

- The loss stings, but it was an epic game to watch Crosby and Ovechkin.

- Key to the series, Varlamov, is standing tall. I hate him.

- In the grand scheme of things though, all the Caps did was fight and scrap, it didn't come easy, and hold serve on their home ice. Crosby's play gives the Pens hope as they come home for an obvious must win.

There's an old saying in sports:

"A playoff series doesn't begin until the home team loses a game"

And now onto bed-shitters number two, the Pirates.

Anyone who was fortunate enough to watch that Pens game then tune into the end of the Pirates game to watch that disaster unfold and then not commit seppuku is a very stable individual.

- The headline of the "Bucs Bullpen Blows It" is putting it lightly. P-G's coverage here. Losing a 2 run lead in the top of the 8th, scrapping a tough run in the bottom of the 8th for a lead, then blowing a save and giving up 4 in the ninth, is certainly more than blowing it.

- More sugar poured into the gas tank.

- Yates begins to sharpen his game? Really? Sharpened from what?

- Lets get Monroe some ab's.

- And last but not least, a Larry Foote take.