Penguins/NHL category, Page 200
Tim Benz: Islanders goal-scorers were on point while Penguins’ Tristan Jarry was off the mark
When New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz casually described the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending as “inexperienced” in the week leading to the playoffs, it was an easy critique to dismiss. While Trotz was accurate — given the combined one playoff appearance between Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith — the easy response...
‘Freddy Hockey’ again scores in Penguins playoff game — this time, for the Penguins
The last time Frederick Gaudreau played in the Stanley Cup playoffs, it involved the Pittsburgh Penguins. It involved some Gaudreau goals, too. Sunday, though, Gaudreau’s scoring benefited the Penguins. In his Penguins playoff debut and ninth playoff game of his career, Gaudreau scored his fourth postseason goal. That almost matches...
Penguins notes: Isles’ Semyon Varlamov does not play, Pens’ Evan Rodriguez does
To open their postseason, the Pittsburgh Penguins could not take advantage of facing a rookie goalie making his NHL playoff debut in net. Ilya Sorokin, a 2014 third-round pick, started for the New York Islanders because Semyon Varlamov was unavailable because of an undisclosed injury. Sorokin might have just 22...
Penguins drop Game 1 in overtime to Islanders
Having qualified for the postseason for 15 consecutive years — the longest such active streak in major North American professional sports — the Pittsburgh Penguins have been blessed with an abundance of goaltending during that span. Whether it be Marc-Andre Fleury, Tomas Vokoun, Matt Murray or even Jeff Zatkoff, the...
Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin out for Game 1 against Islanders
Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will not play in Game 1 of his team’s first-round series against the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday. Malkin is believed to be laboring with a right knee injury that forced him to miss 23 games during the late stages of the...
Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith remains ‘day to day’
Penguins backup goaltender Casey DeSmith did not skate Sunday morning prior to his team’s opening playoff game against the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena. Sidelined since suffering an undisclosed injury May 3, he remains “day to day” according to coach Mike Sullivan who stopped short of outright ruling...
Minor league report: Kasper Bjorkqvist leads Penguins to overtime winVideo
An overtime goal by forward Kasper Bjorkqvist gave the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 2-1 road win against the rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the PPL Center in Allentown on Saturday. Goaltender Alex D’Orio made 23 saves on 24 shots in the victory for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (13-12-4-2) while forward Jonathan Gruden also scored...
Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin’s status remains uncertain; Casey DeSmith day-to-day
Penguins’ forward Evgeni Malkin’s status is uncertain, publicly at least, for his team’s opening playoff game Sunday against the New York Islanders. While Malkin was on the ice for practice Saturday at PPG Paints Arena, he did not participate in line rushes or during power-play drills. When asked about Malkin’s...
What you need to know about the New York IslandersVideo
There isn’t a Mike Bossy, Pat Lafontaine or John Tavares. And, thankfully, Eddie Westfall, John Tonelli and David Volek are long gone. The New York Islanders don’t exactly have a lineup worthy of fear, but don’t you dare disrespect them. “The structure they have is really effective because they all...
Playoff history with Islanders evokes heartbreak, humiliation for Penguins fansVideo
They’ve combined to win nine of the past 40 Stanley Cups, and they’ve been division rivals for the majority of their respective histories. But the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders have met for a playoff series just five times over the 49 years since the latter was born. Postseason...
Penguins assign goaltender Alex D’Orio to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Penguins have assigned reserve goaltender Alex D’Orio to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL). D’Orio, 22, has split time this season between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Wheeling of the ECHL. In 10 AHL games, he has a 5-3-1 record with a 2.30 goals against average and a .911 save percentage....
Face mask guidelines to remain in place for Penguins’ postseason games
Masks will remain in place for the Penguins’ postseason games. On Friday, the team issued a statement in reaction to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) easing mask guidelines for those who are vaccinated against covid-19 on Thursday. The statement reads: “We are very encouraged by the CDC...
Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry ‘ready to play,’ but Casey DeSmith’s status is uncertain
There’s good news and bad news with regards to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ goaltenders. First, the good news. Starter Tristan Jarry appears to be a sure bet to be in net for Game 1 of his team’s first-round series against the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday. Jarry...
Penguins CEO David Morehouse: Team trying for 100% capacity by Game 5 of Islanders series
Things are changing quickly in terms of capacities in Pennsylvania during the pandemic. They may change even more quickly if the Pittsburgh Penguins get a request granted. On an episode of “The Pomp and Poni Podcast,” Penguins CEO David Morehouse joined KDKA’s Bob Pompeani and 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi...
Tim Benz: This version of Penguins may have changed more than Islanders expect
Interesting comments about the Penguins from New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz didn’t stop with his noteworthy quote regarding their inexperience in net. During his postgame remarks Monday night after his team lost to the Boston Bruins in its final regular-season game, Trotz was asked what might be different about...
Penguins GM Ron Hextall: ‘This group has been very resilient’
Ron Hextall is in a different place. The playoffs. To be clear, he’s been to the playoffs a lot, as an all-star goaltender and an executive. But he hasn’t participated in postseason games in any capacity since he was the general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers and saw them get...
After uneven start to season, Kasperi Kapanen fits in on, off ice with Penguins
In the aftermath of a meek, unique playoff flameout — bowing out in four games against the No. 24 overall seed in the 2020 Toronto “bubble” — there was a school of thought that there could be major changes for the Pittsburgh Penguins. But with the franchise set to open...
Penguins to open playoffs Sunday against Islanders
The Penguins will open the 2021 postseason Sunday when they host the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena in Game 1 of their first round series. On Thursday, the NHL released a partial schedule for the entire first round. The Penguins-Islanders series: May 16 - Islanders at Penguins, 12...
First Call: Steelers already underdogs in opener; ex-Penguin in mix for Rangers coaching job?
Thursday’s “First Call” shows little faith in the Pittsburgh Steelers to start 2021 on the right foot. A former Pitt Panther basketball player is getting his coaching start in the Bronx. Meanwhile, a former Penguin is hoping to continue his coaching career in Manhattan. And the Pirates need to get...
Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson’s game looks different
Mike Matheson looks different. After all, the Penguins defenseman has a black left eye. That came from a teammate. During a 3-0 road win against the Washington Capitals, Matheson took a puck in the face on an errant clearing attempt by goaltender Tristan Jarry. As a result, Matheson missed the...
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby cherishes ‘every opportunity’ in postseason
Practice was over. And Alex D’Orio was doing his “job.” As a mid-level prospect, D’Orio, an undrafted goaltender, was doing what most rookies are “supposed” to do, clearing the ice of pucks and the nets Wednesday in Cranberry after the Penguins had concluded nearly two hours of practicing and scrimmaging....
Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith rejoins practice
Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith rejoined his team for practice Wednesday in Cranberry. He had been sidelined since May 3 after he suffered an undisclosed injury during a 7-2 road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. While DeSmith and forward Evgeni Malkin did participate in practice, neither player took part in a...
Mark Madden: Penguins are better than Islanders, but crazy things happen in the playoffs
The New York Islanders are the preferred first-round matchup for the Penguins. You asked for it, you got it. The players and staff likely feel the same, albeit quietly. That’s sometimes when the trouble starts. But that shouldn’t be the case on this occasion, the Islanders’ series sweep of the...
Tim Benz: Is Barry Trotz already playing mind games with Penguins’ goalies? Or just telling the truth?
I don’t think what New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said about the Pittsburgh Penguins exactly qualifies as “trash talk.” Hardly “straight fire” as you kids say on the Twitters and the TikToks. But it’s worth noting. During his postgame comments following New York’s overtime loss in Boston on...
2019 series sweep not on mind of Penguins as they prepare for Islanders
It has been 43 days since the Pittsburgh Penguins faced the New York Islanders and 102 days since the teams completed a stretch of six meetings over a span of about three weeks. Then again, it has been 756 days since the longtime division rivals met in the postseason. For...
