Penguins/NHL category, Page 176
First Call: Bud Dupree may return in time for game against Steelers; Aaron Rodgers, LeBron James wear Pittsburgh attire
Thursday’s “First Call” has an update on the health of former Steeler-turned-Tennessee Titan Bud Dupree. LeBron James and Aaron Rodgers both grab our attention with Pittsburgh-themed clothing choices. And a strange “man-bites-dog” kind of story from the NFL involving a former Steeler. Will Bud be back? The Steelers are hosting...
Minor league report: Nailers rout AdmiralsVideo
A hat trick and three assists by forward Sam Houde helped the Wheeling Nailers claim a 7-2 road win against the Norfolk Admirals at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Va. on Wednesday. Forward Matt Alfaro had two goals and two assists for Wheeling (12-8-1-0) while defenseman Chris Ortiz added two...
Penguins happy with fourth line’s contributionsVideo
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ final goal in Tuesday’s 5-2 home win against the Montreal Canadiens was generated by their fourth line, currently composed of Brian Boyle, Drew O’Connor and Dominik Simon. At 9 minutes, 38 seconds of the third period, Simon hounded Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot into a turnover on the...
After sluggish start, Penguins forward Sidney Crosby is in ‘a way different place’Video
It might have been the best indicator as to how late of a start Sidney Crosby has had to the 2021-22 campaign. Not so much as it pertains to when he first started games this season. But when he started to make a true impact on the ice. During the...
Mark Madden: Amid covid chaos, NHL should keep players away from Beijing Winter Olympics
The NHL is embroiled in covid chaos. Calgary and Carolina experienced recent postponements because of team outbreaks. Covid has caused 10 NHL games to be pushed back this season. More will follow. Covid isn’t going away. The NHL may shuffle its protocol. Some want a pause in play, but that’s...
Minor league report: Penguins fall to BearsVideo
Defenseman P.O Joseph scored the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ lone goal in a 4-1 home loss to the rival Hershey Bears at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday. Goaltender Matt Jurusik made 22 saves on 26 shots for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (9-9-1-2). Highlights: The Penguins’ next game is a road contest against the...
Penguins beat Canadiens, extend winning streak to 5
Entering Tuesday, the Penguins were one of the better defensive teams in the NHL by most basic defensive statistics. They were third in the league with a goals-against average of 2.44 and ninth in terms of average shots allowed at 30.4 per contest. Coach Mike Sullivan is hesitant to share...
Sullivan says Penguins received covid-19 booster in October
Members of the Penguins received a booster shot for covid-19 on Oct. 30, coach Mike Sullivan said. No specifics were offered, but Sullivan indicated “all” members of the team were given the booster. According to Sullivan, the booster was distributed following a 4-2 home loss the New Jersey Devils. The...
Penguins expected to start goaltender Tristan Jarry against Canadiens
The Penguins are slated to start goaltender Tristan Jarry in Tuesday’s home game against the Montreal Canadiens at PPG Paints Arena. In 21 games this season, Jarry has a 12-5-4 record, a 1.92 goals against average, a .934 save percentage and three shutouts. Jarry’s most recent game was a 4-2...
Tim Benz: Penguins need to accept holiday gifts from NHL schedule maker
As Christmas approaches, the NHL schedule makers have already sent the Penguins a few early presents. Let’s hope the Penguins graciously accept them. The next five games for the Penguins, between Tuesday and Christmas, are all extremely winnable contests. • A Tuesday, Dec. 14 home game against the Montreal Canadiens....
Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin continues to progress in recovery
Injured Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust all took to the ice Monday at the team’s facility in Cranberry. Malkin, still recovering from offseason surgery on his right knee, was the only of the three who participated in the formal portion of practice. Wearing a white...
Penguins forward Danton Heinen chases a new high scoreVideo
Danton Heinen didn’t have much stability this past summer. He was a restricted free agent, and the Anaheim Ducks opted not to extend a contract offer to the versatile forward, allowing him to walk away as an unrestricted free agent. The Pittsburgh Penguins, with limited salary cap space, signed him...
Minor league report: Penguins shut out ThunderbirdsVideo
Goaltender Matt Jurusik made 28 saves and led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 6-0 home win against the Springfield Thunderbirds at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. Signed to a professional tryout contract (PTO) on Friday, the 24-year-old Jurusik recorded a shutout in his American Hockey League (AHL) debut....
Ex-Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford ready for new challenge in Vancouver
By the time Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko denied Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois on a backhander to secure the Canucks a 4-3 home shootout win at Rogers Arena on Friday night, it was well into Saturday morning on the East Coast. To be precise, it was 12:52 a.m. in...
Mark Madden: The Penguins are playing their way toward sleeper contender status
The Pittsburgh Penguins might yet morph into a sleeper contender. “Might yet” means “not yet.” But there are positive signs. Much depends on the condition and performance of Evgeni Malkin when he returns from knee surgery. (Don’t expect vintage Malkin right away.) The locker room likely sees itself as more...
Minor league report: Penguins return to play, fall in overtimeVideo
Forward Felix Robert had a goal and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins who lost in overtime to the rival Hershey Bears, 3-2, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. It was the Penguins’ first game since Nov. 27. Due to several players and staffers testing positive for covid-19...
Casey DeSmith continues December to remember as Penguins blank Ducks
The latter half of Casey DeSmith’s 2021 has not gone well. After all, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ backup goaltender suffered a groin injury in May that ended his 2020-21 season, then underwent surgery in June to correct the problem. Additionally, he didn’t win a game for the first two months of...
4 Penguins named to NHL’s All-Star ballot
Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel, goaltender Tristan Jarry and defenseman Kris Letang were named to the NHL’s ballot for the Metropolitan Division in this season’s All-Star Game event. Fans can vote on the captain for all four divisions. The “game” is really a two-round tournament between the...
Penguins to start goaltender Casey DeSmith against Ducks
Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith is scheduled to start Saturday’s home game against the Anaheim Ducks at PPG Paints Arena. In five games this season, DeSmith has a 1-3-1 record along with a 3.64 goals against average and an .885 save percentage. DeSmith recorded his first win of the season on...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: NHL not getting maximum exposure on ESPN, TNT
When the NHL left NBC to do rights deals with ESPN and TNT, it seemed good. The season’s first week featured a Tuesday night doubleheader on ESPN and a Wednesday night doubleheader on TNT. The presentation, production and announcing were all sharp. There was lots of fanfare. But ESPN hasn’t...
Kasperi Kapanen pushes Penguins past Capitals
As has often been the case for the past decade and a half, Friday’s game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals was broadcast nationally. Presuming your definition of “nationally” is exclusive to subscribers of a premium streaming service that requires paying a roughly $7 fee monthly to an international...
Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson playing with more confidenceVideo
Representatives of the Sweden Ice Hockey Association, the body that selects members for that country’s national teams, recently scouted a game in Pittsburgh. They were there to watch Pettersson. Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks. On Nov. 24, the Penguins hosted the Canucks, who are led by one of the...
Pittsburgh’s Sports & Exhibition Authority, NHL board OK Penguins sale to Fenway Sports Group
Pittsburgh’s Sports & Exhibition Authority voted unanimously Thursday to approve the sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins to Fenway Sports Group. The National Hockey League’s Board of Governors also unanimously approved the sale Thursday. Reports that Fenway Sports Group entered into negotiations to buy the Penguins began circulating last month. The...
Ex-Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford hired as Vancouver Canucks’ president
Former Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford was hired as president of hockey operations for the Vancouver Canucks. He also will assume the title of interim general manager of the Canucks while leading a search for a full-time general manager. Rutherford abruptly resigned from his role as the Penguins’ general...
Penguins reluctant to make any recalls while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton deals with covid-19 issues
Even with forwards Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust sidelined indefinitely because of injuries, the Pittsburgh Penguins still are expected to have a full lineup of 12 forwards, six defensemen and two goaltenders at their disposal for Friday’s road game against the rival Washington Capitals. They just aren’t likely to have...
