Tim Benz stories, Page 132
U mad, bro?: Penguins fans boil over following Tristan Jarry’s Game 5 flub
I had to strategize around Penguins games to figure out when to release “U mad, bro?” this week. If I planned to post it in its usual Thursday morning slot, I’d have to wait until Wednesday night’s Game 6 between the Penguins and New York Islanders ended. And I’d have...
First Call: Free-agent prediction for Steelers; Cassius Marsh makes his pitch; Najee Harris gets Penguins fan baptism
Tuesday’s “First Call” features another national outlet pairing the Steelers with Russell Okung. Cassius Marsh is making his pitch to be part of the Steelers fabric on defense. And a pair of Steelers rookies are already integrating into the Pittsburgh sports scene. Doubling down The fascination continues with the national...
Peter Taglianetti remembers the 1991 Stanley Cup on the 30th anniversary of the Penguins’ 1st championship
The 1991 Penguins were winning heading into the third period of a playoff game. “Our team was so loose,” defenseman Peter Taglianetti recalls. “Half the time between periods nobody is in the locker room. Everybody is walking around doing stuff. Joking around. Laughing. The whole year there were never any...
Tim Benz: The Penguins lost a game they couldn’t possibly lose. And maybe the series as a result
It was a game the Penguins couldn’t lose. • A game where the Penguins had leads of 1-0 and 2-1. • A game that saw them outshoot the Islanders 50-28 (20-4 in the second period). • A game that featured a 36-17 Penguins’ edge in scoring chances through the first...
First Call: Why JuJu Smith-Schuster is motivated for 2021; will Ravens or Patriots get Julio Jones?; odd praise for Aaron Donald
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is channeling the criticism he got last year. Will the New England Patriots or Baltimore Ravens land Julio Jones? Odd praise for Aaron Donald. And a big night for ex-Pittsburghers in the NHL playoffs. Better luck this year JuJu Smith-Schuster says he’s using last...
Madden Monday: Penguins ‘don’t have a playoff-style team anymore’
Yet again, the Pittsburgh Penguins are finding it difficult to score goals in the postseason. It’s been that way since they eliminated the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the 2018 playoffs. It looked like they may have figured things out offensively against the New York Islanders in a...
Tim Benz: Beatdown from Braves a warning of what’s to come for Pirates
Even when the 2021 Pirates got off to a surprisingly decent start by going 12-12 in their first 24 games, there was a tangible sense in Pittsburgh of, “Is this as good as it is going to get?” Well, the way things have gone lately, the answer appears to be...
Tim Benz: No Penguins panic yet, but reasons to grouse
I suppose if you predict a series to go seven games, the team you predict to win is going to have to lose three times. I said the Pittsburgh Penguins would beat the New York Islanders in seven games in their opening-round playoff series. So, at 2-2 after four games,...
First Call: Early hype for young Steelers; Derek Shelton on run of no-hitters; another Penguins classic moment
Friday’s “First Call” gives us some praise for a pair of young Pittsburgh Steelers skill-position players. Pirates manager Derek Shelton wonders why we are seeing so many no-hitters this year in Major League Baseball. We have another reason why Friday is special in Penguins history. And Bruce Arians said he...
Ulf Samuelsson reflects on Penguins’ 1991 Stanley Cup as 30th anniversary approaches
As the 2021 Penguins attempt to fight their way through the first round of this year’s NHL playoffs against the New York Islanders, Tuesday will mark the 30th anniversary of the franchise’s first championship. On May 25, 1991, the Penguins won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Minnesota North Stars...
Tim Benz: It’s not just that the Penguins won Game 3. It’s how they did it.
Not only did the Penguins need to win that game, they needed to win that game that way. They needed to win a game where they had to score a lot to do it. They needed to win a game where the offense carried the day. They needed to win...
First Call: Injury preventing Antonio Brown from finalizing Tampa contract; trio of dominance from ex-Pirates pitchers
Thursday’s “First Call” features a snag in Antonio Brown’s contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We celebrate a happy anniversary with Evgeni Malkin. You can already bet on who may be next year’s Trevor Lawrence in the NFL Draft. And a trio of former Pirates dusted their competition. A.B.’s knee...
U mad, bro?: Fans take swings at JuJu Smith-Schuster, Devin Bush, Barry Trotz, Penguins goalies and … this column
Steelers. Penguins. Players. Coaches. Sportswriters. None of us are spared from angry readers in the latest blood-thirsty edition of “U mad, bro?” Wait. Did someone even take a shot at … David Byrne? Wow! We are “burning down the house” this week. Kevin starts by taking a swat at Islanders...
Tim Benz: Evgeni Malkin’s health, Islanders goaltending just scratch the surface for Game 3 topics
Many thoughts are sticking with me from Game 2 of the Pittsburgh Penguins East Division playoff series against the New York Islanders. I’m wondering how much of that result will carry over to Game 3 on Thursday night after the Penguins evened the series at a game apiece with a...
First Call: Steelers’ Cameron Heyward says Ben Roethlisberger can still get it done; Tom Brady getting a reality show?
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Steelers captain Cameron Heyward is throwing his support behind quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Rick Tocchet may go to work for a former teammate. A rival quarterback will be back against the Steelers early in the 2021 season. We’ve got an update on former Pirate Jameson Taillon. And...
Kiawah Island’s record length won’t be only challenge at PGA Championship
Most of this week’s conversation leading up to the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Golf Resort has been about the length of the course. It’ll play at 7,876 yards, the longest PGA Championship — and major championship — in terms of scorecard yardage. Naturally, a lot of people are predicting...
Tim Benz: Tristan Jarry’s bounce-back win wasn’t the only important Penguins rebound in Game 2
The turnaround performance by Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry wasn’t the only bounce-back storyline between Game 1 and Game 2 of the East Division first-round series. Let’s talk about Jeff Carter’s, too. I won’t put Carter’s rebound effort during the Penguins’ 2-1 win over the New York Islanders Tuesday in the...
First Call: Eagles nab free agent rusher Steelers may have wanted; big salary projections for T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick
Tuesday’s “First Call” tells us about a potential Steelers free-agent signee that went down the turnpike instead. Also, some eye-popping projections for what T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick may command on their next contracts. Former Pirate Gerrit Cole has a mixed night. And former Penguin Jordan Staal comes up clutch...
Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth can help quickly on offense; how other Steelers will see snap counts impacted
Sure, it’s great that the Steelers got Ben Roethlisberger some new toys by spending their first two draft choices on Alabama running back Najee Harris and Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth. Unfortunately for Big Ben and new offensive coordinator Matt Canada, NFL rules still dictate that there can only...
Tim Benz: Penguins too dismissive of 3rd-period struggles in Game 1 loss to Islanders
Tristan Jarry’s goaltending issues and Evgeni Malkin’s health weren’t the only concerns coming out of the Penguins’ Game 1 loss to the New York Islanders Sunday afternoon. So was the way the whole team finished that game. Despite leading 2-1 after the second intermission, the Penguins found themselves scrambling to...
First Call: Free agent idea for Steelers; John Harbaugh praises Al Villanueva; Marc-Andre Fleury, McCutchen flash in defeat
Monday’s “First Call” has an idea for the Pittsburgh Steelers to investigate when it comes to bolstering its offensive line. The Ravens are excited about adding a former Steeler. Marc-Andre Fleury and Andrew McCutchen flash in defeat. OK with Okung? Free-agent tackle Russell Okung is still without an NFL team....
Madden Monday: Penguins’ opening game against Islanders ‘looked like a loss out of the 2019 sweep’
Yes, Tristan Jarry had a rough day in net for the Pittsburgh Penguins during their 4-3 playoff-opening loss to the New York Islanders. But their problems didn’t begin and end with goaltending. • The Penguins blew a 2-1 lead in the third period before losing in overtime. • The Pens...
Tim Benz: Islanders goal-scorers were on point while Penguins’ Tristan Jarry was off the mark
When New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz casually described the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending as “inexperienced” in the week leading to the playoffs, it was an easy critique to dismiss. While Trotz was accurate — given the combined one playoff appearance between Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith — the easy response...
Robert Morris women’s lacrosse team looks for huge upset at Notre Dame in NCAA Tournament debut
According to Robert Morris women’s lacrosse coach Katrina Silva, you can’t see Notre Dame’s “Touchdown Jesus” from Arlotta Family Lacrosse Stadium. And she’s glad. “I don’t think they need any more luck,” Silva insisted during Friday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast. Based on how the Fighting Irish handled Silva’s Robert Morris...
First Call: Steelers assign rookie jersey numbers; more spice for Tom Brady’s return game in New England
Friday’s “First Call” tells you what number to order for your favorite Steelers rookie jersey. JuJu Smith-Schuster reveals his list of circled games for 2021. Jameson Taillon gets touched up by an ex-Pirates teammate. And even more spice has been added to Tom Brady’s return to Foxborough. Got the digits?...
