First Call: Potential Steelers international date goes elsewhere; examining Eastern Conference playoff chances for Pens
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Thursday’s “First Call” has some Steelers international news to pass along. We study the team’s wide receiver position. We also look at the Penguins’ state of affairs heading into a huge game Thursday night.
And the Pirates get set for a cross-state rivalry renewal.
Staying stateside
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not heading to Brazil for an NFL international game in Sao Paulo.
There had been some belief that such a thing may happen to the Steelers, given that they are due for an international regular-season game. Plus, they are scheduled to play the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 and the Eagles had previously been designated as one of the participants for a contest in Brazil this year.
But it was announced Wednesday that the NFL is pitting Green Bay against the Eagles on Sept. 6, a Friday night. That’s part of the league’s opening weekend.
The game will take place at Corinthians Arena. The Corinthians, a Brazilian soccer team, play there. That venue was used for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
Making moves?
No doubt, the Steelers are in desperate need of wide receiver help. They really don’t have a No. 2 complement to George Pickens.
And, honestly, do we even know if Pickens is a No.1?
Given that the Steelers also have holes at defensive back, defensive line, tackle and center, they might prioritize those other positions of need before adding depth to the pass-catching position.
To that end, “NFL on CBS” reporter Jason La Canfora suggests the Steelers may try to patch their holes at receiver before the NFL Draft.
“Do they trade for a wide receiver before the draft,” La Canfora said on the “In The Huddle” podcast. “It would not surprise me if they did that tomorrow, if they did it the Wednesday before the draft. If they did it while they were on the clock, if they did it in the run up to the draft that Thursday, I know that they’re really trying to make something happen there.”
Among Steelers wide receivers coming off of last year, Pickens had 63 receptions to lead returning contributors. No one else at that position on the current roster had more than 20 in 2023.
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All quiet on the Eastern front
There were no games in the NHL’s Eastern Conference Wednesday night. So nothing changed with the Penguins’ playoff position.
They are still tied with the Detroit Red Wings in ninth place behind the eighth-place Washington Capitals for the final playoff spot. Washington has 85 points. The Wings and Pens both have 84 points.
Both the Pens and Wings have four games left to play, and they face off against each other Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena.
The two clubs have played each other twice this year. Detroit won at home over the Penguins, 6-3, in October. The Penguins won at home over Detroit by the same score in March.
The Pens are in the midst of a nine-game point streak. They are 6-0-3 during that span. Meanwhile, Detroit is struggling, having lost six of eight.
The Red Wings are really having a tough time finding the net. Over those last eight games, the Wings are averaging just two goals per game. That’s counter to the club’s resume all season. At 3.28 goals per game, the Wings are ninth in the NHL this season.
They have failed on 18 of 23 power-play opportunities during that stretch, despite having the NHL’s ninth-best power play all season (22.9%).
Here’s one thing the Wings have going for them, though. After the Pens, Detroit has one game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, then two games against the Montreal Canadiens, who have only 72 points on the season.
The Penguins have to play Boston, Nashville and the New York Islanders. All three of those teams are currently in a playoff position.
Phightin’ Phils
The Philadelphia Phillies have drawn even at 6-6 on the season. They are preparing to host the Pirates Thursday through Sunday.
The Phils registered a 4-3 win on Wednesday in St. Louis. Brandon Marsh had a clutch RBI for Philadelphia. He is hitting .333 on the year.
Marshy comin' thru ☝️ pic.twitter.com/rJbo7zNQLP
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 10, 2024
Thursday’s game features Pittsburgh rookie right hander Jared Jones versus Philly’s Ranger Suarez. Jones (1-1) has 17 strikeouts through two games as a Pirate. Suarez is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA.