On Sports: After sweep, Pirates needle Red Sox over ‘hodgepodge of nothingness’ comment; NHL playoff race narrows

Those who steward the Pittsburgh Pirates’ social media accounts deserve a hodgepodge of a raise. In their race for a playoff spot, the Penguins don’t have to worry about two competitors anymore. And a local hockey star shines on college hockey’s biggest stage.

All in what is a very Good Friday edition of “On Sports.”

Hodgepodge of a reprisal

It was less than eight months ago during the first game of a series win at PNC Park that then-Boston Red Sox television color commentator Dennis Eckersley delivered the Rant Heard ‘Round The North Shore in a criticism of the Pirates that was part-scalding, part-funny, part-conceited.

Dennis Eckersley on the Pirates (roster construction, payroll, etc):

"You talk about a no-name lineup. There's no team like this."

"This is a hodgepodge of nothingness."

"It's ridiculous. It really is. Pathetic." pic.twitter.com/qwPBnmkDTD

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 17, 2022

“You talk about a no-name lineup,” Eckersley said of the Pirates on Aug. 16 on NESN. “There’s no team like this.”

At the time of Eckersley’s comments, Boston held a 5-0 lead in the second inning of the series opener.

“This is a hodgepodge of nothingness. … It’s ridiculous. It really is. Pathetic.”

The comments were not well-received throughout the Pirates’ clubhouse the following day. But this week’s sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway gave the team (or at least those who run its social media) a chance for retribution — even if Eckersley, 68, has since retired.

The Pirates’ official verified Twitter account on Thursday night posted a produced and well-edited video under the caption of “A hodgepodge of victories.” In it, highlights are shown while, at times, Eckersley’s comments played in the background. Eventually, Greg Brown’s enthusiastic voice replaces Eckersley’s with a climactic “The Pirates are gonna sweep the Boston Red Sox at Fenway as they head home,” followed by Eckersley’s, ‘It’s ridiculous, it really is; it’s pathetic.”

A hodgepodge of victories. pic.twitter.com/iCzWo3RFV5

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 6, 2023

Time will tell if the Pirates have a better season than the Red Sox. But the latter’s social media team has a lot of work to do to catch up.

And then there were 4

The Penguins’ win Thursday was muted by victories by the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers going on at roughly the same time. That meant the Penguins (88 points) did not gain any ground and remain one point behind each with three games left in the season for all three teams and the top two earning the Eastern Conference’s wild-card berths.

The Islanders (89 points) beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-1, and the Panthers (89 points) dominated the Ottawa Senators, 7-2.

About the only good news to come of those results was that the latter officially eliminated Ottawa from contention for one of the playoff berths. Another Thursday result — the Buffalo Sabres’ 7-6 shootout victory at the Detroit Red Wings — also mathematically ended postseason hopes for Detroit.

While both Ottawa and Detroit were extreme longshots at this juncture to pass the Penguins, it does clear up the picture to where only the Panthers, Islanders, Penguins and Sabres remain alive to claim one of the two remaining playoff berths in the East. Buffalo is six points out — but it does have two games in hand. But the Sabres probably have to win out to have a shot.

The Penguins, coincidentally, play the Red Wings next. They finish their regular season Tuesday and Thursday next week with two Western Conference bottom feeders: the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday, and the finale Thursday at the Columbus Blue Jackets.

While anything can happen, the Penguins probably need to plan on claiming five of the six available points if they want to feel good about their chances of taking part in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a 17th consecutive season.

More Pirates news

• 5 things to know about 2023 Pirates' home opener
• Live: Fans hit the North Shore in advance of Pirates home opener
• 'This is where I needed to be': Andrew McCutchen revels in PNC Park return as a Pirate

Cool win for Cooley

West Mifflin’s Local Cooley had two goals and an assist in leading Minnesota to a 6-2 victory against Boston University in a Frozen Four national semifinal Thursday night in Tampa. Albeit, both of Cooley’s goals were empty-netters. Cooley’s 57 points rank second nationally.

SEE YOU SATURDAY. ????@GopherHockey secured their spot in the National Championship thanks to this empty netter from Logan Cooley. #MFrozenFour x @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/l5CuvrO6s5

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) April 6, 2023

Cooley, who turns 19 next month, was drafted No. 3 overall by the Arizona Coyotes last summer.

The Golden Gophers will face Quinnipiac in the national title game at 8 p.m. Saturday.

J.C. to N.Y.

The Steelers lost one of their free agents Thursday, albeit one it had become abundantly clear they had no interest in retaining. Center/guard J.C. Hassenauer agreed to terms with the New York Giants, it was widely reported by New York media.

Hassenauer was a good story because he was a backup during his career at Alabama but started his final game: the Crimson Tide’s national championship game victory against Georgia in January 2018. Then, after going undrafted and playing in the failed Alliance of American Football, Hassenauer eventually made the Steelers’ roster and proved a valuable backup.

Hassenauer started seven games and appeared in 38 others over the past three seasons. But the Steelers declined to make him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, and then proceeded to sign two interior offensive linemen from outside the organization: Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig.

That left the writing on the proverbial wall that Hassenauer would not be back.

Props for Chef Kevin

It’s been said the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. If that’s the case, Kevin Blinn has stolen the hearts of plenty of large and athletic men over the past two decades. And judging by a pair of public tributes from some high-profile bosses, he’s been much appreciated.

Blinn has been working a prominent role in the cafeteria of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for 20 years, and posts to the Twitter accounts of both Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi on Thursday showed how well-liked Blinn is.

Blinn for the past 11 years has been head chef at the facility, where every day in-season hundreds of individuals (Steelers and Pitt players and coaches and staff — and, yes, media) enjoy nutritious (and delicious) meals.