Pittsburgh Penguins / NHL category, Page 184
Evan Rodrigues finds chemistry with Sidney Crosby on Penguins’ top lineVideo
The Buffalo Sabres have had throngs of malfunctions over the past decade. That’s why they’re on course to miss the postseason for an 11th consecutive season. One of those countless failures was Evan Rodrigues. Not so much him. But what they did (or didn’t do) with him. They didn’t play...
Penguins forward Jason Zucker misses practice as a ‘maintenance day’
Penguins forward Jason Zucker did not participate in the team’s practice in Cranberry on Saturday. Coach Mike Sullivan termed his absence as a “maintenance day.” In 29 games this season, Zucker has 10 points (four goals, six assists). Forward Evgeni Malkin practiced as well but not in a full-contact fashion....
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Evan Rodrigues deserves to stay on Penguins’ top line
Pascal Dupuis was a nondescript talent before playing on a line with Sidney Crosby. Skating with Crosby made him a legit top-six winger. Chris Kunitz was average before playing on a line with Crosby. Skating with Crosby turned Kunitz into a first-team NHL All-Star and Olympic gold medalist. Crosby can’t...
Minor league report: Forward Jared Cockrell leads Nailers past Admirals
Two goals by forward Jared Cockrell led the Wheeling Nailers to a 3-1 road win against the Norfolk Admirals at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Va. on Friday. Goaltender Stephanos Lekkas made 32 saves on 33 shots for Wheeling (13-8-1-0) while forward Bobby Hampton added a goal. The Nailers’ next...
Jeff Carter, penalty killers help Penguins run winning streak to 6 with OT victoryVideo
Jeff Carter was relieved. Sure, scoring an overtime goal and leading the Penguins to a hard-fought 3-2 home win against the Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena will sate the soul. But seeing your teammates kill a penalty you took with less than five seconds remaining in regulation? That will...
Forward Sam Lafferty returns to the Penguins’ lineup
With forward Brian Boyle sidelined by an undisclosed injury, the Penguins inserted reserve forward Sam Lafferty into their lineup for Friday’s home game against the Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena. It was only Lafferty’s eighth game of the season. He has been a healthy scratch for 22 of the...
Penguins forward Brian Boyle out against Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Brian Boyle will miss Friday’s home game against the Buffalo Sabres due to an undisclosed injury. Coach Mike Sullivan labeled his status as “day to day.” Boyle did not participate in an optional morning skate on Friday, a day after he was absent from practice in Cranberry....
Robert Morris plans to reinstate men’s, women’s hockey teams for 2023-24 season
“Hockey is the Goal” has been the rallying cry for fundraising efforts to reinstate the Robert Morris men’s and women’s hockey teams. On Friday afternoon, men’s coach Derek Schooley gave the slogan a new twist. “Hockey is the goal. And the goal was just scored.” Seven months after the Colonials...
Mark Madden: Penguins should extend Kris Letang’s contract now
The Penguins’ management team of GM Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke has difficult work ahead between now and next season. How good do the Penguins have to be to not trade defenseman Kris Letang and/or center Evgeni Malkin before the March 21 trade deadline? Both are...
Confidence, opportunity leading to success for Penguins’ Evan Rodrigues
For Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues, explaining his success this season is a series of progressions. “Opportunity and confidence,” Rodrigues said Tuesday when asked about why he’s been so productive this season. “I got off to a pretty good start early in the year. I got a lot of opportunities to...
First Call: Mike Vrabel shares fond memories of Steelers days; Chiefs offense flashes; RMU hockey’s decision day is here
Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel shares his fond memories of being a Steeler in advance of his team’s game at Heinz Field Sunday afternoon. The Steelers game next week against the Kansas City Chiefs looks like it will be a monumental task. The Penguins are catching the Buffalo Sabres as...
Penguins forward Teddy Blueger sees improvement in faceoffsVideo
It was a fairly one-sided game. And it was against a clearly inferior opponent. But for a brief moment or two, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ fate in their 5-2 home win against the beleaguered Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday seemed to be in question. After giving up a score off a poor...
Penguins anticipate NHL will issue stricter covid-19 protocols
The NHL has forged through a difficult week in which dozens of players, coaches and team staffers from Florida to British Columbia have been placed into the league’s protocols for covid-19. With the exception of skating and skill development coach Ty Hennes being placed in protocol recently, the Penguins have...
Penguins forward Brian Boyle withheld from practice
Penguins forward Brian Boyle was absent from practice in Cranberry on Thursday. Coach Mike Sullivan indicated Boyle is dealing with an undisclosed injury and was withheld for precautionary reasons. “I’d like to say he’s a maintenance day right now but that status may change moving forward,” Sullivan said. “It could...
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...
