Penguins/NHL category, Page 147
Mark Madden: Penguins GM Ron Hextall hasn’t done anything to lose his job or to keep it
If my program director asks me what’s on today’s show, I tell him. When the home-plate umpire asks a manager for the lineup card, he can’t decline. A chef submits a menu. A football coach designs a playbook. A movie producer needs a script. These are requirements and not kept...
One of the longest-tenured Penguins, Chad Ruhwedel has best season at age 31
As the Pittsburgh Penguins’ most recent Stanley Cup grows further into the rearview mirror, there stands only four players left under contract for next season who appeared in that 2017 championship run. Sidney Crosby, of course. His running mate, Jake Guentzel, was a rookie that year. Brian Dumoulin isn’t surprising,...
Tim Benz: Steelers, Penguins both idling in Pittsburgh playoff purgatory
Pittsburgh once referred to itself as the “City of Champions,” based on the success of its sports teams in the 1970s, 1990s and early 2000s. Of late, though, those franchises have gone from playoff champions to playoff chumps. • The Penguins’ recently completed playoff series loss to the New York...
Does Rickard Rakell expect to return to Penguins next season?
Rickard Rakell spent the past two months living alone. Speaking earlier this week, he was eager to get back to his wife — and not just because of relative newlywed bliss. Married last year, Emmeli and Rickard are expecting their first child. “I am really excited about that,” Rakell said...
U mad, bro?: Fans unload on Penguins for blowing playoff lead; rip Pirates’ hitting; mock Vogelbach’s mad dash
To the surprise of no one, Pittsburgh Penguins fans are ticked off about their team blowing a 3-1 series lead against the New York Rangers en route to playoff elimination. Meanwhile, Pirates fans are ticked off about … everything. That’s why we invented “U mad, bro?” It’s basically a public...
After his swagger abandoned him this season, will the Penguins bring back Kasperi Kapanen?
The son of a former NHL player with the pedigree of being a first-round pick and a flashy-styled game to match, Kasperi Kapanen’s image falls somewhere on the spectrum where extroverted meets brash. Not in 2021-22 for the Pittsburgh Penguins, though. “I kind of let them down this year,” Kapanen...
Mark Madden: Penguins need roster refresh, not more excuses
The ending is just a beginning. The closer you get to the meaning, the sooner you’ll know that you’re dreaming. So, it’s on and on and on, it’s refreshing Pittsburgh Penguins notes. (Look for the answer.) • Sidney Crosby was 100% not cleared to play Game 6. Reports that he...
Tim Benz: Sidney Crosby’s comments on his long-term future should get us thinking
Because Pittsburgh Penguins star center Sidney Crosby is so consistent with his pragmatic, stay-in-the-middle-lane approach to dealing with the media, he rarely lets any quote slip that’s surprising. Frankly, the one he uttered Tuesday may not be all that remarkable either, but, during the Penguins breakup day interviews, the team’s...
Penguins players detail injuries, expand on key playoff moments
Sidney Crosby wasn’t cleared to play in Game 6. Evan Rodrigues disagrees with a penalty called on him in the same game. Brock McGinn and Marcus Pettersson, though, regret their on-ice actions that contributed to the goals that ultimately ended the Pittsburgh Penguins’ season two nights later. That was part...
Penguins core hopes to stay together ‘a little bit longer’
As usual, Evgeni Malkin was the funny one. It’s been that way for 16 years. Even when the mood is — at best — uncertain or — at worst — somber. Such was the case Tuesday at the team’s facility in Cranberry. With the Pittsburgh Penguins staging exit interviews two...
Sidney Crosby, Mike Sullivan say Penguins captain wasn’t medically cleared until before Game 7
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan labeled a report that forward Sidney Crosby was given medical clearance to play in Game 6 of their first-round series against the New York Rangers but was held out by management as “false” on Tuesday during the team’s round of exit interviews with media. Crosby had...
‘I hope I see you next year’ – Evgeni Malkin wants to stay with Penguins, understands situation
To begin his Pittsburgh Penguins career, Evgeni Malkin had to sneak off from his Russian pro team and hide out for days in a Finnish apartment until the American consulate could fast-track a visa that would allow him escape the obligations of a contract signed under duress. Ending his Penguins’...
Penguins forward Bryan Rust wants ‘to maximize everything’ as free agent
Bryan Rust didn’t consider the possibility. At least not until Sunday night. Game 7 of the Penguins’ first-round round playoff series against the New York Rangers, a contest Rust and his teammates lost 4-3 in overtime, was potentially his final game in a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey. “Not one time,” Rust...
Mark Madden: After Penguins blow series, it’s time for decisive action from Fenway Sports
Immediately after the Pittsburgh Penguins’ season-ending 4-3 overtime loss Sunday at New York, Jake Guentzel paid tribute: “I thought we had something special here.” Guentzel did: He scored eight goals against the Rangers, the first time that’s happened in a playoff series since 2009. The Penguins used to: They were...
Penguins forward Brian Boyle undergoes knee surgery
Forward Brian Boyle underwent surgery on his left knee Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced via a news release. Boyle did not play in the Penguins’ season-ending Game 7 overtime loss at the New York Rangers on Sunday after he suffered an injury early during Game 6 on Friday. The team’s...
Penguins enter an offseason unlike any other
NEW YORK — In the spring of 2010, Sidney Crosby was asked about the Pittsburgh Penguins’ former home, then named Mellon Arena, which the franchise was about to vacate in a matter of weeks. It was an outdated venue full of leaky pipes, moldy ceiling tiles, narrow hallways and unpleasant...
Madden Monday: ‘Penguins blew it. Choked is too strong of a word. Or maybe it’s not.’
A lot of Pittsburgh Penguins fans seem to have sympathy for the club even though it blew a 3-1 series lead to the New York Rangers. Sunday’s 4-3 overtime result in favor of New York finished off the series comeback for the Blueshirts and ended the Penguins’ season. After all,...
Tim Benz: Blown leads result in blown series as Penguins season ends in New York
The Penguins-Rangers first-round Eastern Conference playoff series lasted seven games and 13 days. With all that happened during that time, it felt like it lasted 70 games and 130 days. We witnessed: • A triple-overtime Penguins win in Game 1 and an overtime Rangers win in Game 7. • The...
5 things: Like series on whole, stats say Penguins ‘deserved’ to win Game 7
Five stats-based observations about the Pittsburgh Penguins’ season-ending, 4-3 Game 7 loss to the New York Rangers on Sunday: 1. Get what you deserve? Let’s get this out of the way first: the team that has the most goals/points/runs is always the one that “deserves” to win a game. In...
Minor league report: Penguins swept by Thunderbirds
Despite two goals by forward Sam Poulin, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ season came to an end on Sunday with a 7-6 home loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds in Game 3 of their Atlantic Division semifinal series at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre. Springfield swept the best-of-five series. Forward Filip Hallander had...
Hobbled Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry makes valiant, ill-fated return in Game 7 lossVideo
NEW YORK – Tristan Jarry didn’t look like the goaltender who melted down less than a year ago. Almost the moment he took the ice at Madison Square Garden on Sunday in Game 7 of the Penguins’ first-round playoff series, he looked comfortable. That was evident when he coolly swallowed...
Penguins drop Game 7 in overtime despite returns by Sidney Crosby, Tristan Jarry
NEW YORK – The Pittsburgh Penguins emptied the tanks. With their iconic captain and All-Star goaltender (and however you want to describe Rickard Rakell) taking to the ice after being sidelined by various maladies, the Penguins dressed as strong of a lineup as they have in weeks (or at least...
Sidney Crosby, Tristan Jarry, Rickard Rakell return to the Penguins’ lineup for Game 7
NEW YORK — Penguins forwards Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell and goaltender Tristan Jarry will all be in the lineup for Game 7 of their team’s first-round playoff series with the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. All three were listed as dressing for the game according to the NHL’s...
Penguins assistant coach Mike Vellucci out for Game 7 due to covid-19Video
NEW YORK — Penguins assistant coach Mike Vellucci is not available for Game 7 of his team’s first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Sunday after being placed into the NHL’s protocols for covid-19. The team announced Vellucci’s status via Twitter about two hours...
Penguins forward Sidney Crosby, goaltender Tristan Jarry ‘game-time decisions’ for Game 7
NEW YORK — Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell and goaltender Tristan Jarry have been labeled as “game-time decisions” for Game 7 of their first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Coach Mike Sullivan announced their status Sunday morning. Crosby, who...
