Penguins/NHL category, Page 71
As he potentially saves season, Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic knows to ‘take the bad with the good’
Alex Nedeljkovic wasn’t just mad. He was vulgar. By late February, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ struggles had virtually morphed the team’s remaining games on the 2023-24 regular season schedule into cliched “must-wins.” And Feb. 20, Nedeljkovic and the Penguins failed to muster what was needed in a 5-4 overtime loss at...
Sidney Crosby selected as Penguins’ nominee for Masterton Trophy
Forward Sidney Crosby was selected as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by members of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The award recognizes “the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.” In his...
First Call: Pair of logical Steelers UFA targets with local ties go elsewhere; muddy playoff picture for PenguinsVideo
In Friday’s “First Call,” a pair of logical free-agent targets for the Pittsburgh Steelers with local ties are going elsewhere. We examine the state of the NHL’s Eastern Conference and the Penguins’ place in it heading into a crucial weekend. And the Pirates aren’t the only team going into the...
Alex Nedeljkovic, Penguins improve playoff hopes by beating Capitals
Meetings between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals typically carry significant ramifications. Thursday’s entanglement between the longtime rivals – the 247th regular season game all-time between the two outfits – was no different. Fortified by goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, the Penguins claimed a 4-1 victory at Capital One Arena in Washington...
Penguins recall forward Sam Poulin from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled rookie forward Sam Poulin from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Friday morning in advance of a crucial road game against the rival Washington Capitals. This marks the second time this season Poulin has been recalled to the NHL roster. He was previously summoned on...
Minor league report: Nailers fall to Fuel in overtimeVideo
Despite a goal and three assists by forward Dillon Hamaliuk, the Wheeling Nailers lost, 6-5, in overtime to the Indy Fuel at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis on Wednesday. Forward Dustin Manz had two goals for Wheeling (35-28-4-1) which has lost four consecutive games while forward Jordan Frasca contributed three...
Penguins somehow find themselves in playoff race with 2 weeks left in season
When the Penguins boarded a plane bound for Pittsburgh the night of March 24, after blowing a 4-0 lead and losing 5-4 in overtime to the Colorado Avalanche, they had lost eight of 10 games and were nine points out of a playoff spot. Their goaltending was faltering, their power...
Defensive prospect Jack Rathbone focused on capitalizing on fresh start with PenguinsVideo
One way or another, the future is bright for Jack Rathbone. First, he’s a professional hockey player, a lucrative gig by any measure, even if you’re toiling in the American Hockey League. And second, he is plugging away at a psychology degree from Harvard, an institution of some repute. “Still...
Tim Benz: Penguins flip the script in rare win over Devils
The 2023-24 Pittsburgh Penguins have had their share of fatal flaws all year. • A lousy power play • A failure to hold multi-goal leads • Up-and-down goaltending • Giving up goals moments after scoring them • Disappointing results in three-on-three overtime • Poor performance on the road All of...
Penguins score 5 goals in 3rd period to rally past Devils
With barely two weeks remaining in the 2023-24 regular season, the underwhelming Pittsburgh Penguins have adopted tunnel vision as to their hopes for qualifying for the upcoming postseason. While not mathematically eliminated from the opportunity to play in playoff games, the arithmetic required involves plenty of integers and coefficients that...
Penguins recall goaltender Joel Blomvqist, assign forward Sam Poulin
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled rookie goaltender Joel Blomqvist from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Tuesday. This transaction comes one day after All-Star goaltender Tristan Jarry was scratched due to an unspecified illness during a 5-2 road win against the New York Rangers, according to the team’s X social...
A closer look at Sidney Crosby’s 19-year point-per-game scoring streak
With two goals and an assist in a 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Monday night, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby reached the 82-point mark and clinched the 19th point-per-game season of his NHL career. That ties him with Wayne Gretzky for the most such seasons in league history....
Sidney Crosby leads Penguins past Rangers to boost faint playoff hopes
It would be foolish to suspect the Penguins have anything resembling a good chance at qualifying for the upcoming postseason. It would also be foolish to assume captain Sidney Crosby won’t drag this flawed team as far as he can as long as he can. Such was the case on...
First Call: Steelers in on workout for WVU center Zach Frazier; Marc-Andre Fleury updates retirement stance
In Monday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers eye up a potential NFL Draft choice at center. Some former Steelers shine in their UFL debuts. Marc-Andre Fleury is singing a different tune about retirement. The Penguins open April with a stiff challenge. And the Pirates look to keep the bats hot...
Pestering play of Penguins’ Michael Bunting easing transition from CarolinaVideo
It has not taken long for new Pittsburgh Penguins winger Michael Bunting to endear himself to his teammates. Several factors have aided in a successful transition from the Carolina Hurricanes. For starters, he’s producing at an acceptable rate. Bunting has three goals with four assists in 12 games since being...
Minor league report: Corey Andonovski leads Penguins to overtime winVideo
A goal at 1:17 of overtime by forward Corey Andonovski gave the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 4-3 home win against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. Forwards Austin Rueschhoff and Radim Zohorna each had a goal and an assist for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (33-22-8-1) while forward Avery...
Penguins fall late in shootout loss to Blue Jackets
With little more than a handful of covalent bonds keeping them connected to playoff contention, the Pittsburgh Penguins have turned to backup goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to keep the remainder of their 2023-24 regular season consequential. On Saturday, he started his fourth consecutive game but wasn’t able to buoy the Penguins...
Minor league report: Nailers sunk by Walleye
Goaltender Garret Sparks made 22 saves on 25 shots for the Wheeling Nailers in a 3-2 road loss to the Toledo Walleye at the Huntingon Center in Toledo, Ohio on Friday. The result dropped Sparks’ record to 0-3-0. Forward David Jankowski and defenseman Justin Lee each recorded two assists for...
Penguins recall defenseman Ryan Shea from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled defenseman Ryan Shea from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League under emergency roster conditions on Friday afternoon. While the team has yet to announce the transaction, Shea’s presence on the NHL roster is reflected on the league’s media Web site. His recall comes in the wake...
Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves diagnosed with concussion
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves will be sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with a concussion. His status was revealed by coach Mike Sullivan following a practice session Friday in Cranberry. The left-handed Graves was injured during a 3-2 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. He did not...
Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin draws inspiration from parents’ 1st visit to PPG Paints Arena in yearsVideo
Many could relate to the warm feeling that comes from performing well during a sporting event in front of one’s parents. That’s something athletes of all ages cherish. Evgeni Malkin did just that Thursday evening at PPG Paints Arena as the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets, putting on...
Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby power Penguins past Blue Jackets again
Be it denial or delusion, forward Sidney Crosby hasn’t given up on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2023-24 season. But he’s realistic. “With the position we’re in, I think we just got to take care of ourselves,” Crosby said in Cranberry on Wednesday. “With the amount of teams that are bunched together,...
Former Penguin Alex Nylander, thriving with Columbus, reflects on time in Pittsburgh
Jake Guentzel’s return to Pittsburgh on Tuesday did not mark the end of former players coming back to PPG Paints Arena this week. Forward Alex Nylander, traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets back on Feb. 22, already faced his former team in Pittsburgh for the first time on March 5,...
Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic scheduled to start 3rd consecutive game
The Pittsburgh Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic for the third consecutive game in Thursday’s home contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena. Coach Mike Sullivan announced Nedeljkovic’s status following an optional morning skate. Top goaltender Tristan Jarry has served as the backup for the...
U mad, bro?: Still more on Kenny Pickett trade; venting about the state of Steelers, Penguins, Pirates
You didn’t think one week was enough for Pittsburgh to properly expel all of its emotions over the Kenny Pickett trade, did you? Plus, the Penguins are bad, and another season of expected failure for the Pirates is on the horizon. That’s what this week’s “U mad, bro?” is all...
