The Penguins host the Nashville Predators tonight at the Console Energy Center.  WBVP-WMBA air time is 6:30.  There was an Evgeni Malkin on Wednesday.  He skated on his own before practice. Coach Mike Sullivan says this does not change the prognosis of six to eight weeks on the shelf.  The Penguins named Bryan Rust as the teams rookie of the year.  He suffered an unspecified injury on Tuesday.  He will miss tonights game. For the first time since the 1969-70 season, there will be no Canadian teams in the upcoming playoffs

The Pirates starting rotation is set.  Juan Nicasio, who came into spring training as a releiver., was named Wednesday as the teams fifth starter.  His performance speaks for itself. In six appearances, he pitched 15-scoreless  innings.  The 29-year-old Nicasio made 69-starts for the Colorado Rockies between 2011-2014. Last season he was a releiever  for the L A Dodgers.  The sixth man in the fight Ryan Vogelson will pitch out of the bullpen.  Pirates complete spring training against the Tampa Rays in Port Charlotte.

Scout .Com reports that first team All Northeast Conference for the Robert Morris Colonials Rodney Prior will graduate and transfer. The 6-foot 5-inch  guard from Evanston Illinois averaged 18-points per game this last season. Pryor has one year of eligibility  left. Under NCAA rules he can play Immediately what ever  school he chooses.

Former Pitt women’s coach Agnus Berenato has a new job.  She has been hired as the new women’s coach at Kennesaw State in suburban Attanta. The 59-year-old Beranato was fired from PITT three years ago.  She will take over a program  that has had only one winning season since 2009.

The search for a replacement for coach Jamie Dixon at Pitt continues. There are numerous names  that have surfaced during the search.  The players and former players  have made their choice. It is assistant coach Brandon Knight Knight played for Pitt 1998-thru-2003.  He became an assistant for Dixon in 2006. Knight became director of basketball operations in 2007. He returned as an assistant  in 2008.  The search team and athletic department had no comment on the Knight situation.

The Penguins will play three games in four days starting tonight.  They host the New Jersey Devils at the Console Energy Center and on Beaver County radio.  WBVP-WMBA air time is 6:30.  The Pens hit the road.  They will be  in Detroit on Saturday. It is an afternoon game against the Red Wings.  Sunday night they will be at Madison Square Garden to play the New York Rangers.  With a 5-2 win last night over Boston, the Rangers stretched their lead to four points over the Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan  Division.

Andrew McCutchen hit his fifth home run in seven games to help  the Pirates beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 Thursday.  Starling Marte and  Gregory Polanco hit solo home runs. Jeff Locke went five innings. He gave up three runs and six hits.  The Pirates play the Orioles again today.  This time it will be in Sarasota. Jonathon Neise will start for the Pirates.