Tim Benz Columns category, Page 96
Tim Benz: For Penguins, water is finding its level as playoffs approach
Following the Pittsburgh Penguins’ latest defeat — a 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night — winger Kasperi Kapanen provided this assessment. “We know we are a good team,” Kapanen said. “Good teams have bad games, and today was one of those. … We know we are a...
Tim Benz, Matt Williamson’s draft preview: Jordan Davis is a dream too good to be true for Steelers defensive line
In a perfect world — well, my perfect world — the Steelers would draft Jordan Davis with the 20th overall selection in the first round of Thursday night’s NFL Draft. But in that perfect world, I’d also be writing this column beachside in Maui and getting paid $1 million per...
Tim Benz: NHL playoff expansion ideas are unnecessary, reward mediocrity
There has been a lot of talk this year about the NHL expanding its postseason format so that it becomes akin to what we see in the NBA. A “play-in” type of model that allows for the ninth and 10th seeds in each conference to play their way into the...
Madden Monday: Penguins will ‘lose their first-round playoff series … no matter who they play’
For a while now, I’ve held the opinion that the Pittsburgh Penguins are going to be clear underdogs against whatever team they play in the first round of the NHL playoffs. That thought became further entrenched when it became likely that goaltender Tristan Jarry was going to be out —...
Tim Benz: The ‘assists before the assists’ make the difference as Penguins blank Boston
Sometimes two assists just aren’t enough. And sometimes it’s the assists before the assists that can help make a difference. That’s something the Penguins personified during Thursday night’s 4-0 victory over the Boston Bruins at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night. On the Penguins’ first goal in the first period,...
Tim Benz: Penguins players throw their weight — and hope — behind Casey DeSmith
Sure. It’s more than a little disingenuous. More than just a bit intellectually dishonest. But for fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins, what are they to do? Just give up when the playoffs start? Not watch the games? Yes. In Pittsburgh nowadays, there’s a lot of talking ourselves into believing when...
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans tear into the Penguins, Pirates and even… the Maulers?
You didn’t think that just because the Pittsburgh Maulers are a start-up, minor league, spring football team that plays their home games in Birmingham, Ala., they’ll escape the wrath of “U mad, bro?”, did you? Hey, if “Pittsburgh” is in their name, they are not immune. The Steelers know this....
Tristan Jarry’s injury suddenly increases importance of Penguins’ playoff seeding
For months, my opinion on the state of the Pittsburgh Penguins has remained consistent. Given how clearcut the postseason hierarchy has been in the Eastern Conference, it’s been easy to conclude which teams would make the playoffs and which teams would be left out of the mix. The only question...
Tim Benz: After watching the Maulers’ 1st game, the new USFL has some things going for it … and at least 1 huge challenge
The newly rebooted USFL has some things going for it. But it’s got a few major hurdles to overcome if it wants to buck the trend of failure that other startup professional football leagues (not named the NFL) have endured. Including its 1980s predecessor with the same name. A good...
First Call: Is Diontae Johnson’s contract keeping him away from workouts? Tampa Bay mocks Maulers’ chicken salad saga
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” Diontae Johnson seems displeased about a tweet from a Pittsburgh radio personality. Another free agent receiver from Johnson’s draft class may be of interest to the Steelers. Sidney Crosby reached out to a former Team Canada teammate after his comeback. And Todd Haley couldn’t let the...
Tim Benz: Penguins players praise Boston College’s Jerry York for historic career in wake of his retirement
When Boston College hockey coach Jerry York retired last week after 28 years on the job, he did so without all the fanfare that was directed toward Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. But York leaves his sport with a resume that is every bit as impressive. He does so while...
Madden Monday: After Tristan Jarry’s injury, Penguins are ‘hitting the trifecta of doom’
Many Penguins fans had talked themselves into a state of optimism regarding their team’s playoff chances during the regular season. And much of that hope was built on the premise that goaltender Tristan Jarry’s All-Star-worthy regular season was proof he had rebounded from his awful playoff series against the New...
First Call: Ohio State quarterback honors Dwayne Haskins; NFL team shows late interest in Kenny Pickett
Monday’s “First Call” takes a look at how former Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins was honored by his college football alma mater over the weekend. Another NFL team is being tied to Kenny Pickett in advance of the draft. There was action in the NHL’s Eastern Conference. And we examine the...
Tim Benz: Start of 2022 reminds us of the many weird dynamics that go into being a Pirates fan
Everything about being a Pittsburgh Pirates fan is weird right now. Who am I kidding? It’s been weird most of my life. I’m 47. Over that time, I can cognitively remember about seven or eight years when I genuinely felt like this franchise had a chance to compete for a...
Tim Benz: Penguins earn a point, but there’s plenty to clean up before rematch with Islanders
For the Pittsburgh Penguins, there were some things to like en route to grabbing a point on the road against the New York Islanders. Jake Guentzel had two goals and an assist. Jake Guentzel’s 18 even-strength goals on the road are tied for second in the NHL. pic.twitter.com/QHywV61GdX— Pittsburgh Penguins...
Tim Benz: How do Pirates evaluate Derek Shelton in vacuum of their own reality?
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday marked the third home opener at PNC Park for manager Derek Shelton. But it was the first one approaching what he dreamed of having before the word “coronavirus” became part of our everyday vocabulary. “You know your fans are...
Robert Morris volleyball player Emily Devlin becomes 2nd local athlete to get extended look from WWE
Another local college athlete is getting a shot to make it big in pro wrestling. Robert Morris volleyball player and Seneca Valley High School graduate Emily Devlin is heading to Orlando in June for a 60-day extended tryout at the WWE performance training center. Devlin is set to graduate from...
Tim Benz: Another ‘gotta have it’ game for Penguins goes the right way this time
In the Pittsburgh Penguins’ latest “gotta have it” game, they actually got it. They didn’t get it Thursday against the New York Rangers when it felt like the Penguins had to secure a win against an opponent most hockey observers in Pittsburgh have long assumed they would face in the...
Tim Benz: South Park’s Reggie Wells embraces coaching role at Duquesne, relives tie to Steelers’ Super Bowl history
The epic Super Bowl XLIII interception return for a touchdown by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison lasted 13 seconds. For South Park High School graduate Reggie Wells, his memory of it will last a lifetime. And, as an offensive lineman for the Arizona Cardinals that day, part of his role...
Duquesne football player Roman Macek gets offer to pursue pro wrestling dream at WWE performance center
For Duquesne football player Roman Macek, he figured it was worth a try. What’s the worst that could happen? They laugh him out of Texas? He’d only be gone for a few days. His coaches and teammates were behind him. The flight would land early enough Saturday that he could...
Tim Benz: Some things the Penguins can do better in rematch with Avalanche
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan didn’t think that his team’s 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Denver deserved too much disappointment. “It was just a really good hockey game. It was a well-played game on both sides,” Sullivan said after the defeat. “It was a real competitive hockey game.”...
Tim Benz: How North Carolina played itself into a unique position in sports
As the North Carolina Tar Heels ride into Monday night’s NCAA Tournament Championship game against Kansas, they are in one of the most unique sports positions in recent memory. A blue-blood, high-profile, historically elite college basketball team. Yet it’s somehow in the underdog, “playing with nothing to lose” role at...
Madden Monday: Mitch Trubisky could be biggest factor if Steelers contend for playoffs
During many of our “Madden Monday” podcasts throughout this NFL offseason, Mark Madden and I have both expressed our skepticism about the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022. But in this week’s edition, Madden advanced an optimistic scenario. And it has to do with new quarterback Mitch Trubisky. “Do you know the...
First Call: Ravens lose out on free-agent target; ex-Pitt star may grab St. Peter’s job; RMU coach tired of ‘Coach K’ coverage
In Friday’s “First Call,” the Baltimore Ravens miss out on a star free agent signing. A Pitt basketball legend may be getting his first head coaching gig. Robert Morris’ head coach is no fan of the hype surrounding Mike Krzyzewski’s last trip to the Final Four. And we recap another...
Mike Eruzione on his friendship with Mario Lemieux; legacy of the ‘Miracle on Ice;’ Pittsburgh’s special ties to 1980 team
Mike Eruzione’s friendship with Penguins legend Mario Lemieux started decades ago. Back to when he got to know the Hall of Famer through golf tournaments Lemieux set up with one of Eruzione’s Massachusetts hockey pals, former Penguins goalie Tom Barrasso. It’s no surprise the two men remained close over the...
