Jonathan Bombulie stories, Page 29
Penguins GM Jim Rutherford backs Jack Johnson, lays out deadline plan
Given the abundance of high-end talent reportedly available on the rental market, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford could absolutely make a sexy addition to his roster before Monday’s NHL trade deadline. He is not, however, trying to aggressively reshape a defense corps that he is largely pleased with. And...
Chad Ruhwedel helps Penguins breathe easier with first goal of season
NEWARK, N.J. – The Pittsburgh Penguins heaved a collective sigh of relief when they finally beat the last-place New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night. It was only fitting, then, that the game-winning goal was scored by a player celebrating a monkey being extricated from his back as well. Chad Ruhwedel...
Penguins finally get better of DevilsVideo
NEWARK, N.J. — Under normal circumstances, a victory over the last-place New Jersey Devils in mid-February wouldn’t be cause for much celebration. Under these circumstances, no one would blame the Pittsburgh Penguins if they passed around champagne bottles the whole flight home. Bryan Rust scored a tiebreaking goal in the...
Penguins’ Marcus Pettersson showing surprising offensive punch
NEWARK, N.J. – When the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Marcus Pettersson from the Anaheim Ducks in December, his offensive abilities were pretty far down the list of reasons they coveted the lanky Swedish defenseman. Including his time in Sweden’s top league and the AHL, Pettersson had never before topped two goals...
Tanner Pearson, Dominik Simon back among Penguins’ top 12 forwards
NEWARK, N.J. – On paper, Tanner Pearson and Dominik Simon are two of the top 12 forwards on the Pittsburgh Penguins roster. They’ll get a chance to show it on the ice when the Penguins visit the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night. Based on line combinations at morning skate,...
Penguins get one last chance to beat last-place Devils
NEWARK, N.J. — There is a long list of reasons the Pittsburgh Penguins still find themselves fighting for a playoff spot late into February, but near the top is this: They’re 0-3 against New Jersey this season. They’ll have one last chance to beat the last-place Devils on Tuesday night...
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...
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...
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...
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....
Penguins shelve outrage over Evgeni Malkin suspension
The way Kris Letang sees it, “screaming in the media” wouldn’t put Evgeni Malkin back in the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. So he didn’t. And neither did any of his teammates. Reaction was largely muted to the news that Malkin would have to serve...
Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid show off individual strengths when superstars collide
As the face of the NHL and his heir apparent get set to face off for the sixth time in their careers Wednesday night at PPG Paints Arena, a clear pattern has emerged in the one-on-one battle between Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. McDavid (3 goals, 6 assists) has decisively...
Penguins defense faces stern test with Olli Maatta injured, Connor McDavid in townVideo
With the game’s most dangerous offensive player in town, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be breaking in a new-look defense corps. With Olli Maatta out indefinitely with an apparent shoulder injury, Chad Ruhwedel looks set to play his first NHL game since Nov. 19. Justin Schultz continues to skate with the...
Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin suspended 1 game for swing of stick
Evgeni Malkin will serve a one-game suspension for swinging his stick at the head of Philadelphia Flyers forward Michael Raffl in a 4-1 Penguins victory on Monday night. Late in the third period, Malkin and Raffl were engaged in a physical battle in the neutral zone. Raffl gave Malkin a...
