Penguins/NHL category, Page 301
They’re in, so now what? Breaking down Penguins playoff scenarios
For those who remained at PNC Park in the ninth inning of the Pirates 2-0 win over Cincinnati, they may have felt a big gust of wind coming across Allegheny River. It was the collective sigh of 18,574 Penguins fans up the hill at PPG Paints arena. The Penguins finally...
Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang return from injury, contribute to Penguins’ cause
Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin didn’t have a Willis Reed moment Thursday night. They didn’t drag themselves out of the trainer’s room and immediately hit the scoresheet like the New York Knicks center did in legendary fashion in the 1970 NBA Finals. Still, their impact on a 4-1 win over...
Kevin Gorman: For sake of seeding, Penguins must take advantage of finaleVideo
Before Mike Sullivan spoke a word about the Pittsburgh Penguins solidifying a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 13th consecutive season, he played the spoiler. Sullivan entered the media room at PPG Paints Arena Thursday night and glanced to his left at a television showing the shootout between...
Phil Kessel’s 2 goals help Penguins clinch playoff spotVideo
There are plenty of reasons Phil Kessel has developed untouchable cult-hero status with the Pittsburgh Penguins fanbase over the past four seasons. His sizzling wrist shot. His everyman appeal. His penchant for scoring goals during a two-minute stretch of the game when every fan in attendance receives a free Big...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Penguins finally take care of business
Two points from the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins drew a rematch with the hottest team in hockey. The Detroit Red Wings, winners of six straight, beat the Penguins on Tuesday and were poised to play spoiler once again Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena. Things looked dim early,...
Kevin Gorman: With playoffs at stake for Penguins, ‘difficult decision’ is a no-brainerVideo
By not clinching a postseason spot sooner, the Pittsburgh Penguins put themselves in a predicament for their game Thursday night against the Detroit Red Wings. If the Penguins had their preference, they would allow defenseman Kris Letang and center Evgeni Malkin more recovery time for their upper-body injuries so they...
Penguins’ Marcus Pettersson still going strong after 82 regular-season games
When preparing for an NHL season, players aim to make sure their bodies can stand up to an 82-game grind. For Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson, that won’t be enough. The 22-year-old Swede is set to play in his 83rd game of the season when the Pittsburgh Penguins take on...
Penguins face playoff bar set higher than ever
The NHL season is a six-month, 82-game marathon. Using history as a guide, the Pittsburgh Penguins probably should have crossed the finished line already. The Penguins came into a home game against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night with 97 points in the standings, needing to secure two more...
Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang return from injury vs. Red WingsVideo
With two games left in the season and a playoff spot yet to be clinched, the Pittsburgh Penguins took an all-hands-on-deck approach Thursday night against the Detroit Red Wings. Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, who are recovering from upper-body injuries, were in the Penguins lineup. Malkin missed eight games with...
Tim Benz: Penguins veterans weigh in on Lightning’s quest for Red Wings’ record
The version of the Detroit Red Wings we will see Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena couldn’t hold a candle to the 1995-96 club that set the NHL wins record of 62. Although you may have thought so Tuesday night, when this year’s 32-win edition of the franchise dusted the...
Penguins’ fate still up in air entering Game No. 81
As the only player on the roster who has played a non-playoff season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby can speak uniquely on the perspective that the Penguins are in a better spot now than they were during his rookie 2005-06 season. These Penguins are worlds better than the 58-point...
Sidney Crosby, Penguins look for ways out of scoring slump
The Pittsburgh Penguins have 19 goals in their past nine games. Their best player doesn’t have a goal – and only three assists – in that time. “Part of my job is (to score goals), so I have got to find a way to do that,” captain Sidney Crosby said....
Kris Letang back at Penguins practice in no-contact jersey, eyes return to games soon
Kris Letang confirmed that the injury that is affecting him now is the same one he suffered in the outdoor game Feb. 23, but the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman was at practice Wednesday and sounded poised for a return to game action before the start of the playoffs next week. “I’m...
Back at Penguins practice, Evgeni Malkin sees a ‘good chance to play’Video
Evgeni Malkin practiced fully with Pittsburgh Penguins teammates in a non-limited capacity at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex Wednesday. Afterward, Malkin expressed optimism he could return to game action Thursday at home against the Detroit Red Wings. “Obviously, tomorrow if I feel fine I will have good chance to play,”...
First call: Penguins get no help; Bryce Harper’s dramatic return to Washington
Our “First Call” for Wednesday starts with a look at how the Penguins playoff picture was impacted by Eastern Conference results last night. Pitchers make an argument against the DH. The Bryce Harper return to Washington was great theater. And whatever happened to Zion Williamson’s exploding shoe? Not done yet...
Matt Murray’s spectacular save that wasn’t helps Red Wings beat Penguins
DETROIT – At first, it looked like perhaps the most spectacular save of Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray’s career. Upon further review, it was a goal for Detroit Red Wings winger Tyler Bertuzzi. It was a pivotal moment in the game as the Red Wings scored a 4-1 victory Tuesday...
Penguins miss chance to clinch playoff spot in loss to Red WingsVideo
DETROIT – The Pittsburgh Penguins had an opportunity Tuesday night to clinch a playoff spot for the 13th straight season. They had a chance to build some late-season momentum, too. All they had to do was go into Detroit and take two points away from a team that is hovering...
Penguins shake up power play before meeting with red-hot Red Wings
DETROIT – Having gone 2 for 20 on the power play over their previous eight games, the Pittsburgh Penguins could be shaking up their special-teams personnel for a Tuesday night meeting with the Detroit Red Wings. Nick Bjugstad, who has points in three straight games, was bumped up to the...
On verge of clinching, Penguins don’t take playoff berth for granted
DETROIT — Nick Bjugstad was on some pretty good teams in Florida before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in February. Counted Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, Vince Trocheck and Roberto Luongo among his all-star teammates. Yet in his six full seasons with the Panthers, the team made the playoffs...
Penguins’ Kris Letang donates $58K to 7-year-old fan with leukemia
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is doing what he can to help a 7-year-old fan with T-cell leukemia. After practice last Thursday, Letang delivered a check for $58,000 to help defray medical expenses incurred by 7-year-old Ian Rosenbaum of Stoystown in Somerset County. Rosenbaum was in Pittsburgh for an appointment...
Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin out with lower-body injury
DETROIT – Already playing without Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be missing another key performer, defenseman Brian Dumoulin, when they visit the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. Dumoulin is day to day with a lower-body injury, coach Mike Sullivan said after morning skate. Dumoulin did...
Penguins podcast: Tim Benz, Brian Metzer talk about a critical final week
Eventually, Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer and I get around to talking about hockey in this Sided.co podcast. But first, our mandatory review of the KISS show at PPG Paints Arena. Then we try to figure out how — and why — the Detroit Red Wings have gotten so...
Mark Madden: Penguins flourish despite mounting problems in March
Julius Caesar was told to “beware the ides of March.” But the Penguins faced problems the whole darn month. Injuries mounted: Kris Letang played three games; Evgeni Malkin missed the last seven; Olli Maatta the first 14; Bryan Rust the first nine. Slumps pervaded: Patric Hornqvist and Phil Kessel had...
Three Penguins scorers eyeing up 20-goal seasons
Playing perhaps their biggest game of the year Sunday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins got no points from Sidney Crosby or Phil Kessel. Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang didn’t play because of upper-body injuries. Yet, they beat the Carolina Hurricanes anyway, securing a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from fourth-line forwards...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Penguins playoff push, Roethlisberger’s radio show, Pirates opener
In this week’s “Madden Monday,” Mark Madden of 105.9 the X joins me to talk about the Penguins playoff push. How have they survived without Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang? We get into Sidney Crosby’s exceptional performance of late, playing strong tactical hockey, and the perfect playoff hole to hit....
