Penguins/NHL category, Page 315
Tim Benz, Brian Metzer talk about Penguins’ line changes, playoff chances
It’s our weekly Sided.co hockey podcast with Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network. Check him out on the broadcast tonight as he hosts in-game and post game of Penguins versus Devils. We discuss the logic behind some of Mike Sullivan’s line changes, the return of Justin Schultz, the playoff...
Playing 3rd-line center for Penguins can be tricky
As Monday’s trade deadline starts to come into focus, one aspect of this season’s annual NHL swap meet will be very different for Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford than last year’s. This time, he won’t be looking for a third-line center. Last year, anticipation for the Penguins adding a...
Penguins’ Sidney Crosby picking up scoring pace, wins NHL honor
While Evgeni Malkin was stealing headlines with a four-goal weekend, Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Sidney Crosby was quietly piling up the points. Crosby was rewarded for his efforts when he was named the NHL’s third star of the week on Monday. Crosby had a goal and two assists in a 4-1...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden talk Penguins roller coaster, Steelers’ meeting with Antonio Brown
It’s our weekly Madden Monday podcast with Mark Madden of 105.9 the X. We break down the Penguins’ victory over the Rangers. Their up and down season so far. Kris Letang’s highlights. Goaltending. Line combinations. LISTEN: Tim Benz, Mark Madden talk Penguins roller coaster, Steelers` meeting with Antonio Brown When...
Tim Benz: Zach Aston-Reese looks like best fit on Evgeni Malkin’s left wing
After the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon, Zach Aston-Reese made a prediction. “When NHL Network is playing its top 100 goals of the season, I’ll be on it for sure,” Aston-Reese declared. He’s right. He will be. I mean, he’s not the one who scored...
Critical penalty kill swings momentum in favor of Penguins
At the moment New York Rangers defenseman Neal Pionk reached up near his eye and saw blood on his fingers, it was clear the game was on the line. Pionk had been injured by an accidental high stick from Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby in the waning seconds of the...
Penguins defensemen have game to remember against Rangers
It’s not unusual to see Kris Letang score goals. In fact, in the past week, he’s flown past Paul Coffey into the top spot of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ all-time list of goals scored by a defenseman. What’s odd is for him to have so much company. In a 6-5 victory...
Evgeni Malkin scores twice – again – as Penguins topple Rangers
There is little that could lift the Pittsburgh Penguins out of the hole they’ve dug for themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff race faster than a resurgent Evgeni Malkin. As luck would have it, they just might have one of those on the roster. Malkin scored two goals for the...
Penguins turn to Casey DeSmith to get back into playoff picture
The Pittsburgh Penguins will turn to Casey DeSmith to try to get back into the playoff picture Sunday afternoon. DeSmith will start in goal as the Penguins take on the New York Rangers at PPG Paints Arena. Coming into the game, the Penguins were ninth in the Eastern Conference, one...
Penguins’ Justin Schultz makes impact in return from broken leg
Justin Schultz’s return to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup went off without a hitch Saturday afternoon. Out since Oct. 13 with a broken leg, Schultz played about 17 minutes in a 5-4 loss to the Calgary Flames, skating on a pair with Jack Johnson and recording an assist on a first-period...
Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin hopes 2-goal game provides spark
Having gone 7-9-1 since an eight-game winning streak ended Jan. 6, the Pittsburgh Penguins are locked in a fight for their playoff lives. To merely qualify for the postseason, never mind contend for a championship, they’re going to need to get something going — and soon. They’re hoping that spark...
Penguins’ Justin Schultz makes return from broken leg
Four months and three days after breaking his leg in Montreal, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz was back in the lineup Saturday afternoon against the Calgary Flames. Schultz was set to start the game on the second defense pair alongside Jack Johnson. Juuso Riikola was scratched to make room. “I...
What an assist! Penguins lend a hand for Valentine’s Day charity galaVideo
More than 800 fans spent Valentine’s Day with the hockey team they love. The second annual Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation’s “Night of Assists: The Sweetheart Swing” charity gala presented by Highmark took place Thursday at PPG Paints Arena. Penguins Coach Mike Sullivan, with wife Kate, called the event one of the...
Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz off injured list, could play Saturday
The long, slow road back to the lineup for Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz looks to be nearing its conclusion. The Penguins activated Schultz from the injured list on Friday afternoon. Earlier in the day, at practice in Cranberry, he skated on a regular defense pair with Jack Johnson and...
Penguins’ Teddy Blueger, Garrett Wilson on track to stay in lineup
With Evgeni Malkin returning from a one-game suspension and Zach Aston-Reese back from a hand injury, the Pittsburgh Penguins have as large a crop of available forwards as they’ve had at any point in the season. That means tough decisions for coach Mike Sullivan when the Penguins host Calgary on...
Penguins OK with giving up shots … but only to a point
The Pittsburgh Penguins have given up a total of 90 shots on goal in their previous two games. When coach Mike Sullivan sees that number, he winces. When defensemen Kris Letang and Jack Johnson see it, they shrug. On balance, with 25 games left in the regular season, the Penguins...
Redirects torment Penguins, goalie Matt Murray in lossVideo
Tips and redirections are good ways to get pucks past the big, technically sound, modern NHL goaltender. The Pittsburgh Penguins got that concept all twisted Saturday afternoon. They were tipping pucks past their own goaltender. Matt Murray gave up five goals in two periods, and each puck that got behind...
Justin Schultz said decision to return will be his to makeVideo
Justin Schultz isn’t making any promises about when he will return to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup, but the veteran defenseman said Thursday the decision is his to make. “It’s up to me (and) when I feel I’m ready to play, I’ll be in,” Schultz said after taking part in an...
Pucks hitting the net but not getting past Penguins’ Matt Murray
In back-to-back games, goalie Matt Murray has faced a combined 90 shots. That he has turned aside 88 of them has as much to do with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ modest two-game winning streak as anything else. Murray backstopped the Penguins to a 4-1 win on Monday at Philadelphia and a...
Short-handed goal brings ‘energy’ to Rust, Penguins in win over Oilers
The Pittsburgh Penguins hold the distinction of giving up the most short-handed goals in the NHL this season. They have taken steps lately to counter that dubious accomplishment by becoming among the league leaders in scoring them. Bryan Rust’s short-handed goal at 2:30 of the second period erased a one-goal...
Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin understands, accepts punishment, still upset at Michael RafflVideo
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin knows he was wrong when he swung his stick near the head of Philadelphia Flyers forward Michael Raffl. But he’s eager to put the one-game suspension behind him, accept the lost wages and concentrate on what really matters: rallying himself and his team over the...
Fourth-liner Aston-Reese ready to build on return from hand injury
With his first game in over a month out of the way, Zach Aston-Reese is looking to increase his hockey conditioning for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Skating on a fourth line Wednesday night in a 3-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers, Aston-Reese played in his first game since Jan. 8 when...
Gaining confidence in leg is last step for Penguins’ Justin Schultz
Justin Schultz isn’t making any promises about when he will return to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup, but the veteran defenseman said Thursday the decision is his to make. “It’s up to me (and) when I feel I’m ready to play, I’ll be in,” Schultz said after taking part in an...
Matt Murray turns back Connor McDavid, leads Penguins past OilersVideo
The matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers is often billed as a battle between Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. It’s probably more apt, though, to call it a showdown between McDavid and Matt Murray. After all, the goalie’s the one taking a hands-on approach to keeping the superstar...
Zach Aston-Reese probable, Dominik Simon likely out for Penguins vs. Oilers
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Zach Aston-Reese won’t be looking to pick any fights against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. Other than that, he’s ready to go. Out since suffering a hand injury in a Jan. 8 fight, Aston-Reese is probable to make his return to the lineup against the Oilers....
