OTTAWA — Morning, Lunatics …

>> The Monday column from Game 3 focuses almost entirely on that blown final minute.

You know, because I’m all negative like that.

In particular, it isolates on Chris Kunitz’s stunning lack of effort on Daniel Alfredsson’s goal. I describe it in the column, so no need to pile on, but here’s the video …

Ran into some other hockey writers — ESPN, TSN — at an all-night diner here at about 2 a.m. and showed them that clip. They, like most of us watching the game from the press box, hadn’t fully picked up on Kunitz’s part in this. … But wow.

Which leads to my question for you, since I’m about out of steam after having some poutine at that diner: What if it hadn’t been Kunitz?

What if that had been Evgeni Malkin, who had his own smaller part to play in that goal?

Just asking: What do you think the reaction would have been back home?

Here’s the rest of our full team coverage from Ottawa, by beat men Rob Rossi and Josh Yohe.

>> The Pirates used a familiar formula — starter + Mark Melancon + Jason Grilli — to take a weekend series from the Astros. Rob Biertempfel reports from PNC Park.

>> The Steelers start OTAs tomorrow on the South Side, and Alan Robinson has a detailed breakdown of a roster that’s shaping up as significantly younger.

>> If you missed WPXI-TV’s ‘The Final Word’ amid all the fuss around that time last night, here are video clips to all four segments. Kevin Gorman and Biertempfel were the Tribbies.

>> I’ll visit with TribLIVE Radio at 11:30 a.m. Assuming the alarm goes off.

The Penguins don’t practice today, but they’ll have a 1 p.m. availability from their hotel, and I’ll post any material updates right here on this very blog.

OTTAWA — Looking ahead to faceoff …

Game 3: Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators, Stanley Cup playoffs, second round

Series: Penguins, 2-0.

Time: 7:40 p.m.

Site: Scotiabank Place, Ottawa

TV, radio: NBC Sports Network, CBC (Canada), RDS (Quebec), WXDX-FM 105.9

Here is the official live box score.

Here is TribLIVE’s Penguins page. Rob Rossi, Josh Yohe and I are covering.

UPDATE 1:11 p.m.: Some notes from this morning’s skates … Joe Vitale won’t play tonight because he’s unavailable, Dan Bylsma announced, which was striking in and of itself. Bylsma wouldn’t say who will replace him, but Tanner Glass came off the ice with most of the regulars — for a change — and spoke as if he likely will play. … If Glass plays, let that strengthen the growing notion that Jussi Jokinen is hurt. Because he probably is. … Very strong indication that Mark Eaton will replace Deryk Engelland, as I’d expressed hope would happen in the Sunday column.

Some videos I took this morning, beginning with Bylsma …

And Tomas Vokoun, also discussing the crowd factor …

And Daniel Alfredsson, on why the Senators won’t quit …

I’ll be part of WPXI-TV’s pregame show tonight, live at 6:39 p.m.

OTTAWA — The Sunday column doesn’t quite bury the Senators, but it at least grabs a shovel from the shed.

Here’s our full team coverage.

I’ll call special attention to this Pascal Dupuis centerpiece feature by Kevin Gorman.

We’ll all be headed over — way over, miles over — to Scotiabank Place for both teams’ morning skates today, then report back to you here on the blog.

Looking ahead to first pitch …

Game: Pirates (25-18) vs. Houston Astros (12-31)

Starters: LHP Jeff Locke vs. RHP Bud Norris

Time: 7:05 p.m.

Site: PNC Park

TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan

Here’s the official live box score.

Here’s the Pirates’ lineup …

1. Starling Marte, CF
2. Travis Snider, LF
3. Garrett Jones, RF
4. Gaby Sanchez, 1B
5. Neil Walker, 2B
6. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
7. Michael McKenry, C
8. Clint Barmes, SS
9. Locke, LHP

Here’s TribLIVE’s Pirates page. Rob Biertempfel is covering.

UPDATE 12:05 p.m.: Lineup changed to reflect Andrew McCutchen’s late scratch due to knee soreness. Marte originally was to have the day off.

Looking ahead to first pitch …

Game: Pirates (25-17) vs. Houston Astros (11-31)

Starters: RHP A.J. Burnett vs. LHP Erik Bedard

Time: 7:05 p.m.

Site: PNC Park

TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan

Here’s the official live box score.

Here’s the Pirates’ lineup …

1. Starling Marte, LF
2. Jose Tabata, RF
3. Andrew McCutchen, CF
4. Gaby Sanchez, 1B
5. Russell Martin, C
6. Brandon Inge, 3B
7. Neil Walker, 2B
8. Jordy Mercer, SS
9. Burnett, RHP

Here’s TribLIVE’s Pirates page. Rob Biertempfel is covering.

Looking ahead to kickoff …

Game: Riverhounds (1-4-3) vs. Dayton Dutch Lions (3-2)

Time: 7:02 p.m.

Site: Highmark Stadium

Live video feed: USLsoccer.com

Here’s the official live match information. Matt Grubba is covering.

The Saturday column off Game 2 is about the smartest man in hockey. And if you have to ask who that is, I’m guessing you were detained somewhere last night and probably should notify the authorities.

Here’s our full team coverage, from Rob Rossi, Josh Yohe and Jerry DiPaola.

Here’s our staff photo gallery, featuring the work of Chaz Palla and Chris Horner. These guys are good.

A small slice of my talk with the brains of the outfit …

And with another heady player on the same topic …

I’ll be piling into a very large vehicle today, along with three others, for our eight-hour trek to Ottawa via upstate New York. That means I’ll also be penning the Sunday column with my thumbs on the iPhone. Both will be firsts for me. Zero complaints, though. This feels like it’s only beginning to get fun.

Looking ahead to faceoff …

Game 2: Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators, Stanley Cup playoffs, second round

Series: Penguins, 1-0

Time: 7:38 p.m.

Site: Consol Energy Center

TV, radio: NBC Sports Network, CBC (Canada), RDS (Quebec), WXDX-FM 105.9

Here is the official live box score.

Here is TribLIVE’s Penguins page. Rob Rossi, Josh Yohe and I are covering.

UPDATE 12: 31 p.m.: Some stuff from the morning sessions: Kris Letang and Craig Adams didn’t skate with the Penguins. No indication about their availability tonight, but I’d have to guess, given the past 72 hours and how they’ve been around until now, that both were simply given the morning off. … Tomas Vokoun confirmed he will start. … Eric Gryba will not play for the Senators. He’ll be replaced on the blue line by Andre Benoit. Also, Guillaume Latendresse will dress up front to add a physical presence.

A video discussion I had with Tyler Kennedy …

Another with Deryk Engelland …

And a bit of the media session with Ottawa’s Chris Neil …

1:12 p.m.: Podcast of my visit with TribLIVE Radio today from Consol.

Looking ahead to first pitch …

Game: Pirates (24-17) vs. Houston Astros (11-30)

Starters: RHP Jeanmar Gomez vs. RHP Jordan Lyles

Time: 7:05 p.m.

Site: PNC Park

TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan

Here’s the official live box score.

Here’s the Pirates’ lineup …

1. Starling Marte, LF
2. Travis Snider, RF
3. Andrew McCutchen, CF
4. Garrett Jones, 1B
5. Neil Walker, 2B
6. Russell Martin, C
7. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
8. Clint Barmes, SS
9. Gomez, RHP

Here’s TribLIVE’s Pirates page. Rob Biertempfel is covering.

>> There’s no Friday column because it’s pushed back to tomorrow to cover Game 2.

>> There is, however, a chat transcript from yesterday that pretty much run the gamut. This was my favorite one in a long while, actually, entirely because of the caliber of questions.

>> One of the best questions was about what the Senators can bring to Game 2 that was missing in Game 1, and I’m not sure I answered it all that well. Heck, I’m not sure there is an answer, which might be the point.

Don’t misunderstand: I’m not knocking Ottawa. That roster and system are both strong enough that they could take Game 2 by a three-goal margin without it looking even remotely fluky.

Rather, the point is that I don’t know if the Senators have a second gear.

The only real news from either camp yesterday was that Guillaume Latendresse probably will be inserted into Paul MacLean’s lineup to add a physical presence. Oh, and that Eric Gryba, a big, strong defenseman, almost surely won’t play after Brooks Orpik’s Richter-scale hit in Game 1.

That’s it.

The Ottawa press continues to buzz about Jason Spezza skating back in Ontario, but the man’s been on the ice for all of a week after major back surgery — no such thing as minor back surgery — and has yet to have someone so much as breathe near him toward preparing for physical contact. Anyone who thinks Spezza’s coming back for this series is dreaming.

Overall, the Senators you saw in Game 1 are mostly the Senators you’ll get, except for some better execution with the puck and maybe another big save or two from Craig Anderson.

Contrast that to the Penguins, who have Jussi Jokinen, Beau Bennett and Simon Despres watching from the press box. All three, if inserted, could completely change the style and look of how the team attacks.

We’ll know soon enough if the home side capitalizes on its edge without having to turn to Plan B.

>> Here’s our full team coverage of Pens-Sens Game 2. I’ll be up at the rink all day.

>> I’ll check in from the skates with TribLIVE Radio at 11:30 a.m. One click does the trick.