Justin Guerriero stories, Page 43
Penguins winger Reilly Smith quickly connects with Evgeni Malkin on 2nd lineVideo
As the Pittsburgh Penguins entered the third period Friday against Washington, both analytical data and observations made by the naked eye suggested forward Reilly Smith was due for a goal. The 32-year-old winger had wasted little time in appearing to mesh with linemates Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell, resulting in...
Following Pride tape ban by NHL, Penguins players weigh options, show LGBTQ+ support
Last week, the NHL circulated a memo to all 32 clubs outlining regulations for theme celebrations this season, specifically regarding player uniforms and gear. It ruled that for theme nights such as Hockey Fights Cancer, military appreciation celebrations or Pride, on-ice player uniforms and gear cannot be altered. Included in...
Rivalry with Capitals serves as backdrop to Penguins’ 1st crack at Metropolitan foe
When the Pittsburgh Penguins failed to make the playoffs last year, an abundant number of contributing factors hinted at why that was the case. Inconsistent goaltending, an under-achieving power play and bottom six, the inability to protect leads, etc. — the club’s deficiencies were well-documented. Also prominent on the shortlist...
Erik Karlsson’s regular-season debut with Penguins a mixed bagVideo
In his first regular-season game with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, Erik Karlsson led his new club in ice time (26 minutes, 4 seconds), manned the point on the top power-play unit and had a number of offensive moments befitting his reputation. He also was on the ice for three...
Despite flashing potential, Penguins’ new-look power-play unit still a work in progressVideo
Evgeni Malkin didn’t even crack a smile. After scoring a power-play goal during the second period of Friday’s preseason finale against Buffalo, Malkin looked to be all business. A brief embrace with his teammates and some fist bumps with the Penguins bench was the extent of Malkin’s celebration. After all,...
P.O Joseph rejoins practice, re-entering competition for Penguins’ 3rd defensive pairing
In a stroke of good fortune, a lower-body ailment suffered by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph on Monday against Ottawa ended up sidelining him for only two days. After missing practice Tuesday, Joseph skated with the Penguins players who did not partake in Wednesday’s preseason game against Detroit before rejoining...
Power-play struggles hurt Penguins again in preseason loss to Detroit
Simon Edvinsson scored the winning goal with less than seven minutes left in the third period Wednesday as the Pittsburgh Penguins dropped their penultimate preseason game 2-1 to the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena. About 30 seconds prior, the Penguins were on their fifth power-play opportunity of the...
Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, Ryan Graves excited for Halifax homecoming vs. SenatorsVideo
If Sidney Crosby and Ryan Graves keep calendars on their refrigerators, it’s likely Monday has been circled in red for some time. At 6 p.m., the Pittsburgh Penguins play a neutral-site preseason game against Ottawa in Halifax, Nova Scotia, creating a homecoming for Crosby and Graves, both of whom hail...
Ryan Graves brings experience from past high-profile defensive pairings to Penguins
It’s unlikely that NHL players, especially ones on the move to new teams, keep traditional resumes on hand. For interested team officials and coaches, there are far more practical means to learn about a player. So when the Pittsburgh Penguins signed defenseman Ryan Graves to a six-year deal in July,...
Jared Triolo drives in a pair as Pirates avoid sweep in Philadelphia
The first two games of their penultimate series of the 2023 season resulted in one-run losses for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Facing off against their cross-state rival Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, the Pirates fell in 10 innings Tuesday and blew a five-run lead Wednesday. On Thursday, the Pirates (75-84)...
Penguins announce lineup for Thursday’s preseason game vs. Buffalo
For their first three preseason games, the Pittsburgh Penguins leaned heavily on young prospects and players fighting for a post-training camp roster spot. Thursday evening, when the Penguins play host to Buffalo at 7 p.m., will be a different story. Wednesday afternoon, the club released its lineup for the contest,...
Penguins notebook: Erik Karlsson, Marcus Pettersson working to build on-ice bond
A potential defensive pairing of Erik Karlsson and Marcus Pettersson presents the Pittsburgh Penguins with several advantages. Pettersson, whose game gears toward steady, defensive responsibility, seems like a natural complement to the style of Karlsson, which is largely defined by moving the puck into the opposition’s zone and generating offense....
Penguins announce lineup for preseason game at Detroit
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced their lineup for Tuesday’s preseason game against the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Earlier on Monday, the Penguins made their first cuts from the list of 58 players originally invited to training camp. Now, ahead of the club’s third preseason game, 47 players...
Busted punt return coverage a source of frustration for Pitt in loss to No. 17 UNCVideo
Generating explosive special teams plays such as blocking a punt or returning a kick for a touchdown can be a major difference-maker on any given night. Pitt did both of those things Saturday against No. 17 North Carolina but still lost to the Tar Heels at Acrisure Stadium, 41-24. UNC...
Pitt’s Phil Jurkovec out for 2nd half against No. 17 North Carolina
Pitt starting quarterback Phil Jurkovec was ruled out for the second half of Saturday evening’s game vs. No. 17 North Carolina with an undisclosed injury, Pitt officials said. With only seconds left in the second quarter and Pitt possessing the ball at its own 31, Jurkovec rolled out of the...
Penguins notebook: Lineups released for Sunday’s split-squad games vs. Columbus
After three practices at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, the Pittsburgh Penguins play their first preseason games Sunday with split-squad contests against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The first game will be played at 1 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena, with the finale beginning at 7 p.m. in Columbus. The...
Pirates prevail in Cincinnati, win 3rd straight game
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds entered Friday night’s game at Great American Ball Park with incompatible objectives. Cincinnati sought to avoid anything similar to what happened to the Cubs over the last several days, when the Pirates marched into Chicago and took two of a three-game series, dealing a...
Pirates place reliever Colin Holderman on injured list, recall Dauri Moreta from Triple-A
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a bullpen swap Friday afternoon ahead of their game in Cincinnati vs. the Reds, placing righty reliever Colin Holderman (right thumb sprain) on the 15-day injured list while recalling fellow right-hander Dauri Moreta from Triple-A Indianapolis. Holderman (0-3, 3.86 ERA) had previously spent time on the...
Penguins forward Drew O’Connor eager to take on larger role
In the majority of cases, membership within the Pittsburgh Penguins bottom-six forwards last season eventually led to a ticket out of town. Kasperi Kapanen, Brock McGinn and Teddy Blueger were gone by the March trade deadline, and Josh Archibald, Ryan Poehling, Nick Bonino and Danton Heinen were allowed to walk...
Cubs manager David Ross rips Pirates: ‘That’s not a good team that just took 2 of 3 from us’
Following the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 8-6 win over the Cubs in Chicago on Thursday night, outfielder Joshua Palacios said on the 93.7 The Fan postgame show that he and his teammates were committed to treat the remainder of the 2023 regular season as if each game were in the postseason. That...
Ross man does his part to remove litter from Ohio River
There are times when Tommy Ross feels like his actions are futile, perhaps even Sisyphean. While Ross is not condemned to eternally roll a boulder up a hill only to see it tumble back down, the task he’s set himself to can seem similar in its hopelessness. Ross, 49, regularly...
At 1st day of camp, Penguins’ Lars Eller takes stock of new teammates, surroundings
The vast majority of Lars Eller’s NHL career has allowed him to build up a familiarity with the Pittsburgh Penguins. A longtime member of the Canadiens (2010-16) and Capitals (2016-23), Eller saw quite a bit of the Penguins over the years, especially during his time in Washington. Eller joined the...
West Virginia backup QB Nicco Marchiol displays cool nerves in Backyard Brawl victory
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — About midway through the first quarter of the Backyard Brawl, West Virginia coach Neal Brown suddenly was working with a highly condensed playbook. His starting quarterback, Garrett Greene, had left the game with an apparent leg injury, and in Greene’s place entered Nicco Marchiol, a redshirt freshman...
Before their teams do battle, Pitt and WVU fans keeping things friendly in Morgantown
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Before Pitt and West Virginia took the field Saturday night at Milan Puskar Stadium, an ocean of tailgaters helped create a college gameday atmosphere about as good as it gets. That much was predictable. Saturday’s contest between the Panthers and Mountaineers, the 106th installment of the Backyard...
Mitch Keller dominant as Pirates take 4-game series from Nationals
Thursday’s series finale at PNC Park between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals featured an interesting pitching duel between Mitch Keller and Josiah Gray. Keller and Gray both were first-time All-Stars earlier this year, but since the end of July, the two starters had seen their 2023 campaigns derail to...
