Jordan Staal’s goal at 6:27 in the first period put the Penguins up 1-0. However, that was the Penguins’ only goal for the night.

Late in the second period, Anaheim’s Correy Perry tied it. Then Teemu Selanne made it 2-1 in the third for the game-winner.

Marc-Andre Fleury had 27 saves.

The Penguins were 0 for 1 on the power play.

Evgeni Malkin, the NHL’s leading scorer, was held pointless for the second time this month, and his eight-game goal streak at home ended, too.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Beano said he will miss the Backyard Brawl given all of the great moments the two have had playing each other, but in the end, life goes on.

Beano does not see Pitt and WVU continuing their rivalry on the basketball side of things because of the fan behavior in Morgantown, which could cause them problems in the Big 12 if they don’t shape up.

We wrapped things up with Beano getting his thoughts on the loss of tradition in college athletics.

He was on the call for Tuesday night’s Anaheim Ducks-Minnesota Wild contest, and tells us how Bruce Boudreau has turned Anaheim around.

Engblom looks ahead to the match-up between the Ducks and the Penguins, tells us if he’s ready to put Evgeni Malkin right up there with Mario Lemieux, and looks at what Pittsburgh may need to do in the trading period.

Click the link below to listen to the full interview:

I can’t blame West Virginia fans if they are besides themselves today knowing that come July 1st, they will be playing in the Big 12.  Good for them and good for Oliver Luck displaying progressive leadership when things began to unravel last fall as Pitt & Syracuse announced they would leave the Big East.

Instead of whining and crying about it, Luck set out to make sure his school would not be left in the dust.  While Pitt & Syracuse sat around patting themselves on the back for sticking it to a Conference they swore allegiance to back when the ACC took Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College off their hands, it was Luck and WVU who would have the last laugh.

Leaders act when pressed into action.  They don’t sit around and make excuses. They don’t use corporate double-speak when asked tough questions.  They don’t watch what happens around them, only to make moves later based on what they see.  Leaders roll up their sleeves, shut the door and go to work.

Luck reached out to his contacts in the Big 12 and got the ball rolling quickly after the ACC announcement.  Perhaps talks had been in the process already when Pitt & Syracuse announced their move to the ACC, but I doubt it.  His ability to assure the Big 12 that WVU would be ready to play in 2012-2013 was enough to get a bid over Louisville, who was also looking to bolt the Big East at that point.

With a clear plan in mind and the backing and support of the University’s top brass, along with promises from the Big 12 leaders, Luck set out to use the legal system as a way of forcing the Big East to make a deal.

You can argue all you want about the money that will change hands, but in the long run, it’s just pocket change to these high rollers.  $20 million is a lot of money, but that can be made up in new TV contracts, marketing deals and other revenue streams.

And all the while, as Pitt & Syracuse sit around with their hands in their pockets, just waiting for the day they too can join their new friends in a new sandbox, they must continue to play in what has become the laughingstock of college football conferences.

Big East football is now a complete joke.  It has lost its most successful program.   That’s right, West Virginia over the past decade has had more success than any surviving member of the laughingstock Big Least.  More than Pitt, Louisville, Connecticut, Rutgers, Syracuse and Cincinnati combined.

I wish I could have been in the Luxury Suite that Luck and the WVU brass shared during its 70-33 destruction of ACC Chump Clemson back on January 4th at the Orange Bowl (but not played in the Orange Bowl) near Miami.  I can just hear the laughter.

For as much as people make fun of the Big East and it’s football follies, the ACC can’t be too far behind.  Their history in the BCS isn’t much better to tell the truth.  Clemson didn’t do the conference any favors with how they played.  It was quite embarrassing.

Pitt AD Steve Pederson says that his University will not spend the kind of money to get out of its contract early with the Big East like West Virginia has.  Pederson feels that $5 million is more than fair, yet he hopes a deal can be struck that allows Pitt & Syracuse to get out of the Big East early.

After the $20 million dollar windfall the Big Least just fell into, why on earth would they settle for less?

What did we say earlier.  Leaders are proactive.  They get things done by taking action.  Not by sitting around watching others act and playing the ‘what if’ game.

Be proud Mountaineer fans that you have great leadership.  The payoff to it will come in the form of teams like Oklahoma, Texas, TCU and Baylor coming to face you instead of the also-ran programs the Big Least has offered over the past decade.

Make all the jokes you want about dirt roads, poor education and bad teeth you want, but WVU pulled the rug from under everybody and got what it wanted now and that was out of the Big Least immediately.

John Phillips is the author of this article and a former secret member of the Galactic Empire.  Since he no longer chases down Jedi across the Clemente Bridge, he now spends his days anchoring sports updates and hosting weekend talk-shows on 93.7 The Fan.  Follow JP on Twitter at www.twitter.com/937Phillips

After struggling to score goals recently, the Penguins lit the lamp a combined 12 times in wins over the Winnipeg Jets and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The wins helped the Penguins move up the standings and gain ground within the Atlantic Division.

Currently the Penguins are tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for second in the division. While both clubs have 69 points, the Flyers own the tiebreaker with move regulation and overtime wins.

Both clubs are trailing the New York Rangers by 10 points and are ahead of the New Jersey Devils by one point.

If the playoffs began today, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia would meet in the first round.

Of course, the playoffs don’t start today and there’s a lot of hockey yet to be played beginning tonight against the Ducks.

The Ducks have struggled for most of the season, but have been playing better lately under new head coach Bruce Boudreau.

In their last 10 games, the Ducks are 6-2-2 and have not suffered a regulation loss since Feb. 1.

In the month of February, Anaheim is 4-1-2 and has won their last two games.

Last night, the Ducks trailed 1-0 heading to the third period against the Minnesota Wild. Goals by Niklas Hagman and Corey Perry powered the Ducks to a 2-1 win.

Jonas Hiller (20-19-9, 2.72 GAA, .907 save percentage) made 17 saves to earn his 20th win of the season.

It’s unknown if Hiller will get the nod for a second straight game tonight against the Penguins. In three career starts against Pittsburgh, Hiller is 1-2 with a 3.71 GAA and an .875 GAA.

For Pittsburgh, Evgeni Malkin continued his hot streak with two goals against the Lighting, giving him 69 points on the year.

He now has a seven-point lead over Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux and Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos in the NHL scoring race.

James Neal is one goal away from cracking the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career. His current total of 29 goals is already a career-high.

In 14 career games against the Ducks, Neal has two goals and nine assists.

Marc-Andre Fleury (29-13-3, 2.35 GAA, .911 save percentage) was given the day off on Sunday against the Lighting, but would be the likely candidate to get back between the pipes tonight.

Fleury is 4-1 against the Ducks with a 2.62 GAA and a .890 save percentage.

The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m. and you can watch the game on Root Sports.

You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sheavedice

For More Penguins Coverage Check Out Puck Talk With Popchock.

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Caufield can’t stop raving about the play of Evgeni Malkin, then previews tonight’s game against the Ducks at Consol Energy Center.

Listen to the interview here:

Pitt and WVU tip off Thursday night at the Petersen Events Center for the final time as Big East foes. It could be the final time ever.

Now, chances are the basketball version of the Backyard Brawl can continue in the future. Basketball non-conference schedules are much longer than football and allow for more regional rivalries to take place.

For instance, look at the yearly matchups between Pitt, Robert Morris and Duquesne. All are in different conferences, yet all play each other every season. After transitional periods by both the Panthers and Mountaineers, it’s realistic for both schools to be able to play once a year in basketball.

Football, however, is a completely different story.

Whenever Pitt joins the Atlantic Coast Conference it will play a nine-game conference schedule. That allows for three non-conference games, at least one of which will be of the “cupcake” variety.

With two non-conference games available, then, it’s unrealistic to think the Backyard Brawl can continue from Pitt’s perspective. It’s clear the football program values the Notre Dame rivalry more than any other on its current schedule — even more than the heated games against WVU.

With playing Notre Dame every season comes more national exposure and frequent appearances on NBC, Notre Dame’s network for all home games. As we know by now in conference expansion, it’s all about money. Notre Dame brings in more money for Pitt.

It’s also likely to expect Pitt to seriously pursue scheduling Penn State on a regular basis once again. If this were to work out it would be more valuable than playing WVU as well, for many of the same reasons Notre Dame is a more worthwhile opponent to schedule.

With quite an overhaul at Penn State, it would be smart for Pitt to do everything in its power to schedule the Nittany Lions on a regular basis, which starts with back to back games already planned for 2015-16.

Something else that Pitt has to realistically consider is whether it wants to play more than one marquee rivalry game in the non-conference schedule every year. With a competitive conference slate every season, Pitt needs to get wins in the non-conference portion of its schedule to hopefully position itself for a BCS appearance come season’s end.

With all these factors playing into the equation on the football side of things, it’s unrealistic to believe Pitt and West Virginia will continue the Backyard Brawl. And when you hear athletic director Steve Pederson answer questions regarding continuing the rivalry, it’s clear it’s not at the top of his to-do list.

“Yesterday, the Big East communicated to us it had reached a settlement with West Virginia and would work to find us a replacement team for that home game,” Pederson said in a statement. “We will keep our fans informed as that develops.

“Given the conference transitions both schools are currently undergoing, it is difficult to speculate on the future of our series with WVU. Our more immediate focus is on finalizing our upcoming football schedule.”

So here’s to the memories. Thursday night will be the end of this rivalry and its meaning for a long, long time.

–

Chris Gates | Area 4-1-Zoo Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

Both games are on the road.

Asham has been out since Jan. 15. He was hit with an elbow Jan. 11 at Washington and discovered concussion symptoms days later.

Asham said after Tuesday’s practice — his first with teammates since suffering the injury — that he feels good and it’s just a matter of conditioning now to get back into the lineup.

“Head-wise and confidence-wise I feel good,” Asham said. “It’s a matter of getting my legs under me. I’ll get a couple of good skates here this week and hopefully be ready for the weekend.

“I’m practicing and taking little steps from there. I’m planning on being ready for the weekend. It’s just a matter of the coaches feel confident enough to have me in or if I can crack the lineup. The team’s playing pretty good right now. I have to get my hands and timing back, getting ready for the weekend.”

The concussion was Asham’s second in as many years.

“Last year was my first one and I was laying at home not knowing what was going on,” he said. “This one I knew what to expect and I’m feeling good now. I’m ready to play my game and play the way I can.”

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The first rumors regarded Cleveland and the Yankees working on a deal that would send Travis Hafner to New York for Burnett. However, that deal fell through.

New York has been clear about wanting a left-handed power hitter in its lineup, and Hafner would have been just that.

FOX Sports reported Tuesday that the Anaheim Angels have interest in Burnett as well, but Burnett reportedly has the Angels listed as one of 10 teams on his no-trade list. He reportedly wants to remain on the east coast.

So in the end it looks like the Pirates are still a very realistic place for Burnett to land. Many experts believe he will end up in Pittsburgh because the Pirates have the resources to make the trade happen.

Nothing has been finalized.

–

Chris Gates | Bucs Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

(mpopchock@kdka.com)

In the second of Tuesday’s “two-a-days” edition of Know Your Pittsburgh Power, our brand new, hastily-assembled series that introduces you to the soon-to-be-familiar faces of your Arena Football League team takes a closer look at a former WPIAL standout and AFL veteran looking to add his leadership to what appears to already be a promising 2012 squad.

Beau Elliot (6’3″, 315 lbs.) spent the past three seasons as the starting center for the Chicago Rush. Despite preseason health concerns, Elliott was a stalwart up front while the Rush edged the Dallas Vigilantes for the Central Division title before losing to the Arizona Rattlers in the National Conference championship game.

The 29-year-old Brackenridge native earned Second Team All-Arena honors for similar efforts in 2010. His head coach that year was Mike Hohensee, who will forever be remembered for throwing the first official touchdown pass in AFL history as a member of the Pittsburgh Gladiators at the Civic Arena in 1987. Two years prior, Elliott was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team–yet another landmark in a long history of gridiron greatness for the former Golden Ram.

We’re certain his name would ring a bell with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s scholastic sports editor, Mike White. That’s because Elliott not only made his annual Fabulous 22 team as a senior at Highlands, but was voted by his peers as an All-Greater Allegheny Conference offensive lineman as just a sophomore.

In 2002 Elliott became the second offensive lineman in IUP football history to win the PSAC Freshman of the Year award, and made the all-conference team prior to graduation. One of young men for whom he blocked in college, Tyre Young, spent last year as a fullback for the Milwaukee Mustangs before being assigned to the East Division rival Power–a change to the Power’s offensive lineup that had head coach Chris Siegfried particularly excited this winter.

Those two also played together for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers of the now-defunct AF2 developmental league, where Elliott proved he could handle the rigors of a long season even before the AFL adopted the same sort of “enhanced” schedule the NFL and its fans have recently panned. The Pioneers won 17 of 20 contests in 2007 with Elliott up front, but bowed to a future AFL member, the then-Tulsa Talons, in ArenaCup VIII, the league’s championship game.

Furthermore, despite that hard knock, Elliott also got a nice taste of what life would eventually be like in the AFL from a financial standpoint. The league shut down for a year so it could restructure economically before relaunching in 2010.

So it should come as no surprise to Power fans if they see Elliott among the starting 21 when Pittsburgh opens its season in Orlando against the Predators Mar. 9, and it should come as less of a surprise Elliott is hungry for an ArenaBowl victory after also falling short with some very talented teams in Chicago.

“I’ve been to one championship game, losing on the final play, and I still at times get bitter about it,” Elliott said Monday, referring to that ArenaCup contest.

It was a 73-66 thriller that ended with a dropped would-be touchdown pass.

“For me the post-season accolades are worthless if you’re watching the playoffs and championships on TV at home. If we win a championship, we all share that success, and to me there would be nothing better.”

If he can stay healthy this year, it does seem his success will parallel the Power’s success. Pittsburgh started 7-4 but missed the playoffs with a 9-9 record in its return voyage to arena football. Part of that inconsistency stemmed from issues in the trenches, and not being able to keep a plethora of quarterbacks upright.

That should be less of an issue this season, now that the Power have upgraded the center position with Elliott. Plus, his comfort level will likely increase while working under the team’s second-year offensive line coach, John Sikora. Sikora, also a veteran AFL O-liner, was one of his original teammates in Chicago.

“I already had respect for John as a teammate and friend [before coming here],” Elliott said. ”He played a role in my progression as a player when I was a rookie. I look forward to working with him now as a coach.”

The Power allowed 34 sacks in 2011. That was the fourth-most in the league. It’s a number that will likely go down in 2012, but Elliott knows the only number that matters.

“In my eyes, nothing tops being a champion.”

WERE YOU AWARE? Elliot was part of a Highlands team that lost in the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs to a West Allegheny team that was quarterbacked by future Pitt product and NFL journeyman Tyler Palko. One of Highlands’ prior victories came against former conference rival Pine-Richland. Those Rams were led by future Pittsburgh Power backup quarterback Kevin McCabe, who helped the franchise collect its historic first victory before being cut in the off-season.

###

The Power will play their first home game of the season Fri., Mar. 23, when the Philadelphia Soul come to town for an 8:00 P.M. kickoff. The 2012 regular season will feature nine games at CONSOL Energy Center, as well as expanded television coverage:

Click here for more information, including a full TV schedule.

(Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/mpopchock)

(mpopchock@kdka.com)

The playoff pairings for the 2012 WPIAL Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Championships were revealed Tuesday night at the Double Tree Hotel in Greentree by WPIAL Chief Executive Tim O’Malley and his Basketball Steering Committee.

Starting this Friday night, 163 teams–82 in the boys’ tournament, 81 in the girls’–will begin their quest to don District 7 gold medals at the A.J. Palumbo Center. The final round of both tournaments will take place there Fri., Mar. 2 and Sat., Mar. 3, with the majority of the title contests slated for that first day due to a Duquesne men’s home game the next.

All quarterfinal games are slated to tip off next Friday and spill over into next Saturday, with the boys’ and girls’ semifinal rounds set for Tue., Feb. 28 and Wed., Feb. 29.

Below is the schedule for the boys’ and girls’ Preliminary and First Round games, with seeding, where applicable, listed in parentheses. The higher-seeded teams will host these games, unless otherwise noted.

BOYS’ CLASS AAAA PRELIMINARY ROUND:

McKeesport vs. Norwin; Saturday, 3:00 PM at California University (winner plays at No. 1 seed Shaler in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM)

BOYS’ CLASS AAAA FIRST ROUND:

(8) Plum vs. (9) Kiski Area; Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM

(4) Woodland Hills vs. (13) Peters Township; Saturday, 12:00 PM at California University

(5) Hempfield vs. (12) Pittsburgh Central Catholic; Saturday, 12:00 PM at Plum High School

(2) Chartiers Valley vs. (15) Butler; Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM

(7) North Allegheny vs. (10) Bethel Park; Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM

(3) Mount Lebanon vs. (14) Seneca Valley; Saturday, 3:00 PM at Chartiers Valley High School

(6) Penn-Trafford vs. (11) Gateway; Saturday, 3:00 PM at Plum High School

BOYS’ CLASS AAA PRELIMINARY ROUND:

Highlands vs. Southmoreland; Friday, 8:00 PM at Gateway High School (winner plays at No. 1 seed New Castle in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 8:00 PM)

Trinity vs. Kittanning; Friday, 8:00 PM at Yough High School (winner plays at No. 4 seed Keystone Oaks in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 8:00 PM)

Beaver vs. Thomas Jefferson; Friday, 8:00 PM at Moon Area High School (winner plays at No. 5 seed South Fayette in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 8:00 PM)

Knoch vs. Indiana; Friday, 8:00 PM at Plum High School (winner plays at No. 2 seed Montour in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 8:00 PM)

Blackhawk vs. South Park; Friday, 8:00 PM at North Allegheny High School (winner plays at No. 7 seed Uniontown in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 8:00 PM)

Washington vs. Elizabeth Forward; Friday, 8:00 PM at Chartiers Valley High School (winner plays at No. 3 seed Hampton in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 8:00 PM)

Central Valley vs. McGuffey; Friday, 8:00 PM at Keystone Oaks High School (winner plays at No. 6 seed Greensburg-Salem in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 8:00 PM)

BOYS’ CLASS AAA FIRST ROUND:

(8) West Mifflin vs. (9) Mars; Tue., Feb. 21, 8:00 PM

BOYS’ CLASS AA PRELIMINARY ROUND:

Chartiers-Houston vs. Riverside; Saturday, 1:00 PM at Ambridge High School (winner plays at No. 1 seed Monessen in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM)

Shady Side Academy vs. California; Saturday, 12:00 PM at Gateway High School (winner will earn the No. 8 seed and host the Frazier-Riverview winner Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM)

Frazier vs. Riverview; Saturday, 1:30 PM at Baldwin High School (winner will earn the No. 9 seed and play at the Frazier-Riverview winner Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM)

Northgate vs. Freeport; Saturday, 12:00 PM at North Allegheny High School (winner plays at No. 4 seed Summit Academy in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM)

Shenango vs. West Shamokin; Saturday, 3:00 PM at North Allegheny High School (winner plays at No. 5 seed Greensburg Central Catholic in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM)

Brentwood vs. South Side Beaver; Saturday, 2:30 PM at Ambridge High School (winner plays at No. 2 seed Beaver Falls in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM)

Wilkinsburg vs. Brownsville; Saturday, 3:00 PM at Gateway High School (winner will earn the No. 7 seed and host the Jeannette-Fort Cherry winner Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM)

Jeannette vs. Fort Cherry; Saturday, 3:00 PM at North Hills High School (winner will earn the No. 10 seed and play at the Wilkinsburg-Brownsville winner Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM)

Aliquippa vs. Ford City; Saturday, 12:00 PM at North Hills High School (winner plays at No. 3 seed Sto-Rox in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM)

Seton-LaSalle vs. Neshannock; Saturday, 12:00 PM at Chartiers Valley High School (winner plays at No. 6 seed Quaker Valley in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 8:00 PM)

BOYS’ CLASS A FIRST ROUND:

(1) Lincoln Park vs. (16) Jefferson-Morgan; Friday, 8:00 PM at Chartiers-Houston High School

(8) St. Joseph vs. (9) Sewickley Academy; Friday, 8:00 PM at North Hills High School

(4) Serra Catholic vs. (13) Western Beaver; Friday, 8:00 PM at Northgate High School

(5) Vincentian Academy vs. (12) Geibel; Friday, 8:00 PM at Fox Chapel High School

(2) North Catholic vs. (15) Carmichaels; Friday, 8:00 PM at West Allegheny High School

(7) Bentworth vs. (10) Union; Friday, 6:30 PM at West Allegheny High School

(3) Clairton vs. (14) Avella; Friday, 8:00 PM at Baldwin High School

(6) Cornell vs. (11) Quigley; Friday, 8:00 PM at Ambridge High School

GIRLS’ CLASS AAAA FIRST ROUND:

(Oakland Catholic earned the No. 1 seed and a First Round bye)

(8) North Allegheny vs. (9) Bethel Park; Tue., Feb. 21, 6:30 PM (winner will face Oakland Catholic at site TBA Fri., Feb. 24, 6:30 PM)

(4) Penn-Trafford vs. (13) Shaler; Friday, 6:30 PM at Plum High School

(5) Baldwin vs. (12) Kiski Area; Friday, 6:30 PM at Gateway High School

(2) Mount Lebanon vs. (15) Norwin; Tue., Feb. 21, 6:30 PM

(7) Pine-Richland vs. (10) Plum; Tue., Feb. 21, 6:30 PM

(3) Gateway vs. (14) Upper St. Clair; Friday, 6:30 PM at Baldwin High School

(6) Hempfield vs. (11) Woodland Hills; Friday, 6:30 PM at Fox Chapel High School

GIRLS’ CLASS AAA PRELIMINARY ROUND:

Indiana vs. Belle Vernon; Saturday, 1:30 PM at Gateway High School (winner plays at No. 1 seed Hopewell in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM)

Beaver vs. Knoch; Saturday, 1:30 PM at North Allegheny High School (winner plays at No. 4 seed Chartiers Valley in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM)

Central Valley vs. Trinity; Saturday, 1:30 PM at Chartiers Valley High School (winner plays at No. 5 seed Uniontown in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM)

Greensburg-Salem vs. Montour; Saturday, 1:30 PM at California University (winner plays at No. 2 seed South Park in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM)

West Mifflin vs. Kittanning; Saturday, 1:30 PM at Plum High School (winner plays at No. 3 seed Blackhawk in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM)

GIRLS’ CLASS AAA FIRST ROUND:

(8) Elizabeth Forward vs. (9) Hampton; Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM

(7) South Fayette vs. (10) Mars; Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM

(6) Mount Pleasant vs. (11) New Castle; Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM

GIRLS’ CLASS AA PRELIMINARY ROUND:

Beth-Center vs. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart; Friday, 6:30 PM at Chartiers-Houston High School (winner plays at No. 1 seed Seton-LaSalle in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 6:30 PM)

Quaker Valley vs. Springdale; Friday, 6:30 PM at Moon Area High School (winner will earn the No. 8 seed and host the Beaver Falls-South Side Beaver winner Tue., Feb. 21, 6:30 PM)

Beaver Falls vs. South Side Beaver; Friday, 6:30 PM at Ambridge High School (winner will earn the No. 9 seed and play at the Quaker Valley-Springdale winner Tue., Feb. 21, 6:30 PM)

Keystone Oaks vs. Shady Side Academy; Friday, 5:00 PM at North Hills High School (winner plays at No. 4 seed Deer Lakes in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 6:30 PM)

Burrell vs. Charleroi; Friday, 6:30 PM at Yough High School (winner plays at No. 5 seed Greensburg Central Catholic in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 6:30 PM)

Mohawk vs. Washington; Friday, 6:30 PM at Chartiers Valley High School (winner plays at No. 2 seed Bishop Canevin in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 6:30 PM)

Avonworth vs. Elderton; Friday, 6:30 PM at North Hills High School (winner plays at No. 7 seed Bentworth in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 6:30 PM)

Ford City vs. New Brighton; Friday, 6:30 PM at Northgate High School (winner plays at No. 3 seed Jeannette in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 6:30 PM)

Steel Valley vs. Freeport; Friday, 6:30 PM at Riverside High School (winner plays at No. 6 seed Riverside in a First Round game Tue., Feb. 21, 6:30 PM)

GIRLS’ CLASS A PRELIMINARY ROUND:

Frazier vs. West Greene; Saturday, 3:00 PM at Baldwin High School (winner plays at No. 1 seed North Catholic in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM)

Avella vs. Clairton; Saturday, 3:00 PM at Chartiers-Houston High School (winner plays at No. 2 seed Vincentian Academy in a First Round game Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM)

GIRLS’ CLASS A FIRST ROUND:

(8) Carmichaels vs. (9) St. Joseph; Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM

(4) Monessen vs. (13) Rochester; Saturday, 1:30 PM at Chartiers-Houston High School

(5) Quigley vs. (12) Riverview; Saturday, 12:00 PM at Baldwin High School

(7) Chartiers-Houston vs. (10) Winchester Thurston; Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM

(3) Fort Cherry vs. (14) Aliquippa; Saturday, 1:30 PM at North Hills High School

(6) Serra Catholic vs. (11) Cornell; Saturday, 12:00 PM at Chartiers-Houston High School

###

Check back with us later this week for more WPIAL boys’ and girls’ basketball postseason coverage.

(Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/mpopchock)

(mpopchock@kdka.com)

What better way to usher in this Valentine’s Day than to give some love to the newest member of the pro sports scene, your Pittsburgh Power? The Arena Football League team is just days away from opening camp in preparation for its sophomore season, so we’re resuming our brand new, hastily-assembled series that introduces you to the soon-to-be-familiar faces on the 2012 squad.

Furthermore, in the spirit of training camp, we’re shifting into “two-a-days”; we’ll profile two players each day through the end of training camp, and in part one of today’s Know Your Pittsburgh Power installment, apropos of the Hallmark holiday, we’ll look briefly at a player who, win or lose, showed a lot of “heart” on the offensive line last season…and also scored a hallmark touchdown.

Mike Lucian (6’3″, 305 lbs.) spent seven games in the 2011 campaign blocking for a revolving door of quarterbacks, not to mention fullback and former fan favorite Josh Rue. But even though he was not a full-time starter, the 25-year-old New Market, Maryland native got to step inside Rue’s shoes and play a pivotal role in helping the team achieve its high-water mark.

Lucian carried the ball only twice for two yards from that fullback spot the entire year, but the first of those carries made a difference. A one-yard plunge right up the gut against the Cleveland Gladiators at CONSOL Energy Center June 4 gave him his first career AFL touchdown, and gave the Power a 28-25 lead at the time. The Power would score again later in the third quarter and go on to win, 35-32, to earn a 7-4 record and temporarily unseat the Gladiators for first place in the East Division.

However, Cleveland would eventually get revenge at home, unseating Pittsburgh for the division title and keeping it out of the American Conference playoffs. The Power limped to a 9-9 finish, and a big part of it was inconsistency and poor health at QB. The same can be said for the men protecting the signal-callers, as the team allowed 34 sacks on the year, which ranked just 15th in the 18-team league.

One other thing that stands out about the home win over Cleveland is that it might have been Lucian’s finest hour. Neither he nor his fellow hogs allowed a single sack or quarterback hurry that night, and the team ran the ball exceptionally well. In fact, the Power, which gained 60 net yards on the ground in that nail-biter, ended the season ranking third in the AFL in average rushing yards per game (36.8).

Now that he’s shown what he’s capable of, he enters camp looking like a good candidate to spell AFL veteran Tyre Young at fullback, and he’ll compete for one of three full-time jobs up front with a half-dozen other prospects that include Tommy Crowley, the only other 2011 returnee from the offensive line, and Jason Jones, who has also played multiple offensive positions with the East Division rival Milwaukee Mustangs.

Politics are certainly on Lucian’s side. He broke into the league in 2010 with the expansion Jacksonville Sharks, where Power head coach Chris Siegfried was an offensive assistant to Jacksonville bench boss Les Moss. The rookie got his start playing good old-fashioned AFL iron man football, as he made four total tackles, and recorded one sack and one forced fumble in spot duty.

(Twitpic courtesy of @MikeLucian)

Furthermore, Lucian enters camp as a sentimental favorite. The Penn State standout won the Loyalty and Commitment award, as voted on by the team’s coaches, while playing multiple positions over his four years with the Nittany Lions, and when PSU earned a Rose Bowl bid in 2008, Lucian was a regular, helping the team average over 400 offensive yards per game, one of the most productive offenses in Division I. With Lucian, among others, paving the way, that offense racked up 557 in the win over Michigan State that clinched a trip to Pasadena.

This month will end with him likely knowing his fate for the upcoming AFL season, but it began with Penn State alumni everywhere mourning the loss of Joe Paterno. Shortly after that event, Lucian told the media one of his most memorable–and unique–JoePa stories…

WERE YOU AWARE? Lucian’s first-ever arena football experience was actually in another city Pittsburgh football fans love to hate–with the Baltimore Mariners of the American Indoor Football Association, in 2009. It’s fitting, considering he made the all-state high school football team while winning a Class AAA state football championship at Linganore High School, not far from Baltimore, six years earlier. He left Penn State having started on the final AP Postseason Top 25 team of Paterno’s career.

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The Power will play their first home game of the season Fri., Mar. 23, when the Philadelphia Soul come to town for an 8:00 P.M. kickoff. The 2012 regular season will feature nine games at CONSOL Energy Center, as well as expanded television coverage:

Click here for more information, including a full TV schedule.

(Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/mpopchock)

A lot of players credit Orpik with stepping up and being a leader when the team needed it most this year, and Brooks said that some players were cutting corners and spending a little too much time worrying about their social life, but luckily they were able to re-prioritize and get their focus back on hockey.

Brooks also talked about Sidney Crosby being out of the lineup and how much the team thinks about when, if at all, he may rejoin the team this season, and how that affects them.

With the season more than halfway over and the trade deadline approaching, Brooks gave his thoughts on making another Cup run and how far he sees this year’s team going.

Former Penn State Vice President Gary Schultz wants a judge to throw out charges that he lied to a grand jury and didn’t properly report suspected child abuse in the Jerry Sandusky case.

The motions were filed Tuesday afternoon.

Schultz’ co-defendant, former athletic director Tim Curley, made the same move on Monday.

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They discussed all the controversy going on due to the events that occurred at the Brentwood vs Monessen basketball game. The WPIAL will conduct a hearing next week into the reports of Brentwood students used racial slurs at the game.

You can listen to the interview here!

You can also listen to Mike Pintek weekdays Noon to 3pm.

He tells us how the Tigers came from out of nowhere to sign Prince Fielder to a mega-deal, and what the expectations are for Detroit now.

Jim offers his thoughts on where the Pirates stand right now, and has plenty of praise for A.J. Burnett. He also says he’s “hyped up” for next season, and tells us if he has retirement plans anytime soon.

Is the team showing Hines Ward enough love? Is the latest news on Rashard Mendenhall’s knee a big blow? Do Art Rooney II and Mike Tomlin like each other? Have Ben Roethlisberger and Todd Haley talked yet? Which veteran could be next to go?

Ed tells us what he knows on all of those fronts.

According to an Associated Press report, WVU has settled a lawsuit with the Big East Conference which will allow the Mountaineers to join the Big 12 in July.

Terms of the settlement were not released, but a person familiar with the agreement said it was for about $20 million.

WVU has already paid half of the required $5 million exit fee to the Big East.

Athletic Director Oliver Luck is expected to hold a press conference on Tuesday.

Shortly after the news broke, the Big 12 posted conference football schedules for all of its members, including West Virginia. To view the schedules, click here.

WVU filed a lawsuit against the Big East in November in an attempt to leave the conference early. However, the Big East countersued four days later, arguing that WVU had breached its contract with the conference and should remain in the Big East for another two years as required in the bylaws. In late December, the judge denied WVU’s motion to dismiss.

Big East Commissioner John Marinatto repeatedly said West Virginia would not be allowed to leave until the 2014 football season.

Stay With KDKA.com For More Details

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(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Jason backed his statement, calling Hines, “A player, who at this point in his career, is not part of [their] long-term plans.”

For the entire interview, click below:

While the deal is not done, Murti says it is “far enough down the road where you would be surprised if it didn’t happen.”

The biggest question and the reason the deal has not been done is because of the money involved with his remaining contract. Also, which (if any) players will be involved from the Pirates side. One name that was rumored was Garrett Jones. Murti tells the fan that the prospect of the Jones trade “died pretty quickly” after rumors surfaced.

Murti gives us the low-down on the potential Pirates-pitcher-to-be. To listen to the interview, click below:

(mpopchock@kdka.com)

With the most coveted hard hat in Washington County within reach, Peters Township goaltender Brian Baker decided a 4′x6′ net just wasn’t safe enough. So, with a blue-collar effort that would make his ancestors proud, he put up a brick wall.

“They’re going to come harder next time,” Baker said. “We’ve got to make sure we don’t stay this way.”

This time, the sophomore stole an important game from one of the most talented groups of underclassmen in the league, turning aside 31 Canon-McMillan shots, while a hat trick from junior Trevor Recktenwald sealed a 5-3 win for the Indians (12-3-3) over the AAA-Sec. 1 rival Big Macs (16-2-0) at Ice-O-Plex Monday.

“He’s been working hard all season,” Baker said of Recktenwald, “and he’s finally getting the help he needs. He’s been working hard, and doing everything he can.”

Not only did Peters earn the Miner’s Cup, a trophy commemorating the rivalry and the region’s history, with this regular season split, but it also denied Canon-Mac an opportunity to clinch back-to-back section titles, which the Big Macs can still achieve with any combination of four points in their last four games, or one more win and one more loss by the Indians.

Canon-McMillan is now tied with Section 4 winner Penn-Trafford for the top spot in Class AAA. The Warriors, who wear their section’s crown for the first time in six years, face off against the Big Macs in Southpointe Feb. 27.

Meanwhile, Peters stayed just two points behind fellow South Hills power Mount Lebanon–which went on the road and blasted McDowell 8-0–for the No. 4 Penguins Cup Playoff seed. The top four qualifiers in the 12-team Triple-A bracket get first-round byes, and the Indians still have a game in hand on the Blue Devils.

J.D. Oddi bested Baker twice in the first meeting, including once with a backhander, and he scored a similar goal early in the third, banging home a rebound, to set the stage for a period in which Canon-McMillan re-established control of the offensive zone. But the Big Macs, who took the previous meeting, 3-2, on Oddi’s winner, couldn’t get the equalizer while down 4-3.

“We just played our regular defense,” Baker said. “We played in tight, we played our zone, blocked shots, got it out, and really stayed strong.”

As that defense, which remains the least scored-upon unit in the classification, held down the fort, Recktenwald waited at his own blue line for a successful clearing attempt, which he gathered in at center ice and deposited while behind two blue shirts for his team-best 15th goal of the season, and second hat trick since the holiday break.

Recktenwald has put up multiple points in six straight contests, tallying nine goals in that span.

Early on he gave the Indians the first goal of the night by cruising into the left wing circle and beating Ryan Christian between the legs with a wrister, only to see Zach McKown answer for Canon-Mac just 1:14 later on a re-direct from Anthony Tonkovich, which extended the latter’s point streak to 16 games.

This game was as chippy as any of those 16, including the Dec. 12 matchup. The teams combined for 28 penalty minutes, and Peters had to kill off four two-man advantages on the night, and McKown scored again on the front end of one with 6:53 gone in the second period to make it 2-2. Recktenwald promptly gave Peters the lead for good by scoring short-handed on the back end of the same power play chance, firing his own rebound from a bad angle off Christian’s outstretched glove and barely across the line.

Twenty-two seconds later, Davan Groom made it 4-2 just for good measure, as he caught Christian napping and tapped another rebound softly between the netminder’s legs for his third point of the night.

However, it was Baker’s brick wall and Recktenwald’s wrecking ball that truly cemented this Miner’s Cup victory, during which Peters Township proved it was willing to run through another one in order to challenge the Big Macs in March.

“We were moving the puck so much better today. We’re working together more…shooting the puck, getting bodies in front, and working much harder overall,” Baker opined.

“We worked hard, they played hard. This game was all about effort. Whoever had more shots…[gave up] their bodies more…whoever displayed the better effort was going to [win].”

The hockey gods willing, perhaps they’ll meet again, at the “other” home of the Pittsburgh Penguins?

“I’ll bet we will,” said the blue-collar man.

###

NOTE: Comcast subscribers in the greater Pittsburgh area will be able to watch a full replay of this game on their digital TVs or Comcast-enabled mobile devices. They can join Chris Shovlin and I to relive all the action by checking out the high school sports section of the cable provider’s on-demand feature, beginning in less than one week.

(Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/mpopchock)

David Durham will transfer to Pitt and will be eligible in 2013, according to a report by the Tribune Review’s Jerry DiPaola. He spent two years at Ohio State and redshirted his freshman season. Last year he saw very limited spot time.

Durham has yet to register a carry or reception. He is 6-foot-1, 245 pounds.

–

Chris Gates | Area 4-1-Zoo Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

Malkin had three goals and five assists last week in three games. He was a plus-6 in those three games.

The highlight of Malkin’s week was a five-point outing against Winnipeg Saturday afternoon. He scored one goal and assisted on four others in an 8-5 Penguins victory.

Malkin followed that effort up with two goals in a comeback win against Tampa Bay Sunday night.

Malkin leads the NHL with 69 points and is second in goals with 32.

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The exact details of the incident are still unknown. Police were called to the scene at Gibby’s Pub & Eatery at 2:40 a.m. to find an injured Bryant at the scene.

Bryant reportedly refused to press charges, wouldn’t release a statement on the incident and refused medical attention at the scene.

No statement has been released by the athletic department or university.

The players say two Monessen students in banana suits ran around the court and called them monkeys and cotton pickers and more.

Brentwood Superintendent Ronald Dufalla told KDKA’s John Shumway he has investigated and could find nothing to corroborate claims of a racial nature, but did discipline three students for their conduct during the game.

Monessen Superintendent Linda Marcolini wants an apology, discipline and a WPIAL investigation.

The WPIAL executive committee took up that request during its meeting Monday afternoon. Tim O’Malley is the executive director of the WPIAL.

“The consensus opinion of those three gentlemen with our legal counsel present that it would be in the best interest of all concerned [is] for us to invite the schools in,” he said.

“So, we have notified both Monessen and Brentwood that we would be inviting them and those with firsthand knowledge of the situation to a hearing.

“If either of those parties is delinquent to how they responded to that, then we can make recommendations moving forward as to what might be done to avoid future reoccurrences and what might be done in the short-term to try to at least offset what happened that Friday evening.”

The hearing will be held next Tuesday afternoon.

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Brentwood HS Officials Investigate Racial Slur Claims