Penguins/NHL category, Page 204
Penguins’ success in face of adversity deserves praise. But should we change playoff expectations?
I write this column not so much as an opinion piece on the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s more of a cathartic cry for help. A plea to Pens fans to help me surf through my complex, layered emotions as the 2021 regular season draws to a close. Because if you were...
Penguins Prospect Watch: Sam Poulin surges early in QMJHL postseasonVideo
A weekly look at how Penguins prospects and minor leaguers have fared over the past seven days: • In the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s (QMJHL) postseason, forward Sam Poulin had a power-play goal and an assist for the Val-d’Or Foreurs in a 7-2 home win against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar...
Penguins know how to use the boards to create offense
Bryan Rust knows his math. After all, the Penguins forward was a finance major at Notre Dame. So his choice of verbiage to explain a pass he received from linemate Sidney Crosby in a recent game was fitting. “Sid’s geometry was pretty good there.” During the first period of a...
Empty Thoughts: Penguins 1, Bruins 0
Observations from the Penguins’ 1-0 win against the Bruins: Jake Guentzel scored the winning — and only — goal early in the third period of Sunday’s game. But in reality, he won the game much later. The Bruins had pulled goaltender Jeremy Swayman late in regulation for an extra attacker...
Madden Monday: Evgeni Malkin ‘can’t go back on the first power play’
After a week away from the “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden and I have plenty stored up to discuss surrounding the Pittsburgh Penguins. Particularly the improved play of goalie Tristan Jarry since his six-goal third-period debacle against the New Jersey Devils Tuesday night. Mark was less than delicate in his...
First Call: Was ESPN analyst’s shot at Steelers offensive line fair? Alex Ovechkin injury update; Pirates host hot Royals
In our first “First Call” back from vacation, we look at a slap across the face of the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line. We have an injury update on Alexander Ovechkin as a date against the Penguins looms. Alejandro Villanueva may have competition for that potential new job he’s supposed to...
Tim Benz: On Mike Tomlin’s contract extension; Justin Layne’s arrest; solid play from Pirates, Penguins
The Steelers, Pirates and Penguins certainly don’t give you time for a break, do they? After a rare week off at “Breakfast With Benz,” there’s a lot to catch up on as we get ready for the upcoming Steelers draft week. Hopefully, you enjoyed our NFL Draft preview series while...
Minor league report: Josh Currie leads Penguins past BearsVideo
Forward Josh Currie had two goals and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 6-3 home win against the rival Hershey Bears at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (8-11-3-2). Forward Jonathan Gruden added a goal and an...
Penguins notebook: Tristan Jarry has been brilliant since awful period vs. Devils
Sunday’s shutout lowered Tristan Jarry’s season goals-against average to 2.70 and raised his save percentage to .911. If you take away Jarry’s third period during last Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, those season numbers would improve to 2.54 GAA and .915. The period — in which Jarry allowed...
Penguins shut out Bruins in playoff-style contest
The Pittsburgh Penguins knew what to expect entering Sunday’s encounter with the Boston Bruins at PPG Paints Arena. Intensity. And sure enough, that’s how this contest played out, as the Penguins shut out the Bruins, 1-0. To be clear, this game wasn’t intense in a blood-and-guts fashion. There wasn’t much...
Penguins to start goaltender Tristan Jarry against Bruins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Tristan Jarry for Sunday’s home game against the Boston Bruins at PPG Paints Arena. Jarry’s status was announced by coach Mike Sullivan via video conference. In 32 games this season, Jarry has a 20-8-3 record, a 2.79 goals-against average and .908 save...
Empty Thoughts: Penguins 4, Devils 2Video
Observations from the Penguins’ 4-2 win against the Devils: Jeff Carter scored a goal on three shots in Saturday’s victory. That last figure is pretty on-brand for Carter. Ever since the NHL relaunched following the 2004-05 lockout with an emphasis on rules designed to promote offense, Carter has the third-most...
Minor league report: Penguins’ losing streak reaches four
Goaltender Alex D’Orio made 24 saves on 26 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 3-1 road loss to the rival Hershey Bears at the Giant Center in Hershey on Saturday. Forward Drew O’Connor scored the lone goal for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (7-11-3-2), which has lost four consecutive games. Highlights: The Penguins’...
Penguins notes: Defenseman Cody Ceci keeps producing
To little surprise, All-Star Kris Letang has been the Pittsburgh Penguins’ most prolific defenseman this season with 39 points (seven goals, 32 assists) in 47 games. Their second-most productive blue-liner might be a bit surprising, particularly to those in Toronto. Cody Ceci. During Saturday’s 4-2 home win against the New...
Bryan Rust reaches 20-goal mark as Penguins defeat Devils
There was a time when Bryan Rust wanted nothing to do with 20 goals. Not the idea. The discussion. On the occasions Rust got up around 17 or 18 goals in earlier stages of his career, a reporter might ask the versatile Pittsburgh Penguins winger if potentially reaching the 20-goal...
Penguins to start goaltender Casey DeSmith against Devils
The Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Casey DeSmith for Saturday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena. His status was annouced via a statement from the team. In 18 games this season, DeSmith has a 10-6-0 record along with a 2.44 goals against average, a...
25 years later: Penguins beat Capitals in 4-overtime playoff nail-biterVideo
The Pittsburgh Penguins played in, at the time, the third-longest NHL playoff game 25 years ago today. Well, technically, the game started on April 24, 1996, but it actually ended at 2:15 a.m. April 25. Petr Nedved scored with 44.6 seconds left in the fourth overtime period to give the...
Minor league report: Nailers fall in Derek Army’s debut as coachVideo
Goaltender Shane Starrett made 31 saves on 36 shots for the Wheeling Nailers in a 5-2 road loss to the Fort Wayne Komets at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind. on Friday. The defeat came in Derek Army’s debut as the Nailers’ interim head coach. Defensemen Matt...
Division titles largely have eluded Penguins, Sidney Crosby — but it’s within reach this year
When measured against his contemporaries, Sidney Crosby, more often than not, has the edge. But there is one area that the likes of Ryan Getzlaf and Patrice Bergeron and the Sedin twins can snag some bragging rights over Crosby. The same team-based metric in which Alex Ovechkin reigns supreme. All...
Evgeni Malkin returns to Penguins’ practice, albeit in ‘no-contact’ jersey
Geno was back on the PPG Paints Arena ice Friday. Evgeni Malkin participated in the Pittsburgh Penguins practice session at their home rink, the first time he has joined teammates for a full session since suffering a suspected right knee injury during a game March 16. Malkin remains on long-term...
Mark Madden: When healthy, the Penguins could actually roll 4 good lines
Here’s a popular talk-show question: When the Pittsburgh Penguins are 100% healthy, what would their lines be? Here’s a popular Penguins fan fantasy: that the team will ever be 100% healthy. That’s not the nature of hockey and certainly not the nature of the Penguins. Their defense was ravaged by...
Empty Thoughts: Penguins 5, Devils 1Video
Observations from the Penguins’ 5-1 win against the Devils: The thing that usually jumps out at you first with Kasperi Kapanen is his skating. That’s to say he’s fast. When he has the puck, he looks like a comet entering the offensive zone. He’s not necessarily as fast as someone...
No letup this time as Penguins rout Devils
Even after seeing his team have a sputter or two (or six in one period alone) during recent games, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan suggests his squad is not in dire need of any major rewiring or retrofitting. Just a few reminders of what works. “It’s not like this group...
Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen returns to lineup, opens on 4th line
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen returned to the lineup for Thursday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena. Activated from injured reserve prior to the game, Kapanen opened the contest on the fourth line with Mark Jankowski at center and Colton Sceviour on the left wing....
Penguins activate forward Kasperi Kapanen from injured reserve
The Penguins have activated forward Kasperi Kapanen from injured reserve. Sidelined since March 24 because of a suspected left foot injury, Kapanen could return to the team’s lineup for Thursday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan labeled Kapanen as a “game-time...
