Jeff Reed was able to find the uprights and kick it right through to seal the 13-10 Pittsburgh Steelers win over the Tennessee Titans with 4:32 OT minutes passed at Heinz Field.  The NFL opening match up served as quite the defensive battle, knowing both teams were held to zero points in the first and third quarters.

The Titans were really hammering down on Pittsburgh’s running game until Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger came up with another strategy: find Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward open downfield.  Big Ben wound up throwing for 363 yards with 33 of 43 passes completed.  Nine of those connections went to Holmes who piled up 131 yards.  Ward was right behind with 103 yards gained on eight receptions.

Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher found the game a tough way for his squad to start their regular season.  “We had chances and opportunities but missed a field goal, had a field goal blocked,” said Fisher. “I believe we’ve got a good football team in that locker room and we’re going to bounce back.”  Don’t miss out on an NFL jam packed Sunday, along with a Bills vs. Patriots 7:00 pm Monday game followed by a 10:15 Chargers vs. Raiders showdown.

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Despite losing team captain Sidney Crosby early in the second period, the Pittsburgh Penguins rallied to win game 7 of the Stanley Cup championship. Max Talbot provided all of the Pens offense, scoring goals at the start and middle of the second period.  “Max came up with some big goals there,” Crosby said. “We don’t get to this point without everyone contributing. I knew the guys were going to find a way to pull it off.” With Talbot’s goals and Marc-Andre Fleury’s dramatic last-second diving save on a Nicklas Lidstrom shot, propelled Pittsburgh to win the rematch of last year’s championship series. “I knew there wasn’t much time left,” Fleury said. “The rebound was wide. I just decided to get my body out there and it hit me in the ribs so it was good.” The championship is the team’s third, the first since two in a row from 1990-1992.

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For the first time since 1983/1984, the Stanley Cup Championship will be a rematch of the previous year’s. In the 2007-2008 finals, the Red Wings won the series four games to two and sent the pride of the NHL, Sidney Crosby, home without any hardware. Detroit has a chance to extend their dynasty further if they can repeat.  Detroit has won four of the last 11 championships, and has made the playoffs every year since 1990. The Pittsburgh Penguins dominated the NHL in the 1990’s as well, winning two consecutive Cups and qualifying for the playoffs each season for the entire decade. It would take Sidney Crosby’s debut in 2005, as well as Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal joining the team the next year to help the Penguins gain a playoff berth.

The series starts on Saturday night. 2009 Stanley Cup Finals tickets are available now!

The combination of early goals and stellar defense has been the key and just enough for the Detroit Red Wings to capture victories over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Monday night, Chris Osgood made 22 saves for his second shutout in as many games to propel the Red Wings half way home to winning their 11th Stanley Cup. Their last Championship season came in 2002 but they are two wins away from capturing the title again. The shutout was Osgood’s 13th playoff shutout of his career.

“I play the game as it comes,” Osgood said. “I love playing behind these guys. I don’t need 40 shots to play the game or to feel good. I’m confident regardless. I’m not really into stats too much, just into winning.”

Brad Stuart scored the Wings first goal 6:55 into the first period and Thomas Holmstrom netted the games second goal 11:18 into the same frame. This was Holmstrom’s 4th goal of the playoffs and gave his defense a little breathing room, not that they really needed it.

This Penguins offensive unit that scored 247 goals during the regular season has now been held scoreless for 6 consecutive periods. Captain Sidney Crosby hopes that things can change when the series shifts to Pittsburgh for Games 3 and 4.

“We just have to execute,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “Did they really get that many scoring chances on us? I don’t think they did. They got a few and put them in. We hit a post, and pucks go through us by the net that we don’t put in. That’s the difference.”

The series continues Wednesday night at 8:00 pm in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger signed an eight-year contract extension that is worth $102 million dollars. That figure puts him in the category of the leagues highest paid players. This deal comes after Roethlisberger re-established himself as one of the best and brightest young quarterbacks in the game last season.

Some look at this signing as a great comeback for Big Ben because two years ago he was in a very bad motorcycle accident that many thought would hinder his on field playing abilities.

With $36 million dollars of the contract guaranteed, it is by far the largest contract the Steelers organization has drawn up in their 76-years of football. The signing bonus of this deal is worth $25 million alone, not bad for a guy who they weren’t sure if he’d be able to play again.

“I told them I didn’t want to go anywhere the day I walked in (as a rookie in 2004),” Roethlisberger said Monday in a Pittsburgh paper. “I love Pittsburgh, I love the fans. Got probably the best organization and fans in all of sport. I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Don’t worry Ben, you’re going to get your wish and will be seeing a lot more of Pittsburgh, PA over the next eight years.

Recap: No one is going to question the ability of Sidney Crosby and his first half numbers back him as the best young player in the NHL. At 20 years old, Crosby continues to impress teams by evading double teams and finding his open teammates. This style of unselfish play is great for the team, and good enough to put Crosby among the league leaders in points (63) and in the lead for assists (43). Read the rest of this entry »