Pittsburgh Penguins / NHL category, Page 314
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan has no plans to rest players for regular-season finale
Even though the Pittsburgh Penguins clinched a playoff spot with a win over Detroit on Thursday, expect an all-hands-on-deck approach to continue for their regular-season finale against the New York Rangers on Saturday night. Matt Murray is expected to start in goal, and coach Mike Sullivan said after morning skate...
Newest Penguins savor opportunity to make playoff run
Jared McCann is finding it hard to sleep at night. Erik Gudbranson gave his mother a late-night phone call Thursday to let out a celebratory yell. For many players on the Pittsburgh Penguins roster, clinching a playoff spot – like the team did with for the 13th straight season with...
Expect stars to come out for Penguins in regular-season finale
With some beat-up bodies, star players just ramping back after long injury absences and a frenzied six-week pressure-cooker just to make the playoffs behind them, the Pittsburgh Penguins could treat Saturday’s regular-season finale as a glorified preseason game to avoid injury and get some much-needed rest. The individual who makes...
Casey DeSmith aims to keep sharp for Penguins despite limited workload
Casey DeSmith is proud that he’s established himself as a dependable No. 2 goalie for the Pittsburgh Penguins. “It’s something I definitely do take pride in,” DeSmith said after practice Friday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. “Not because I want to consider myself a ‘backup specialist’ — because I...
Sidney Crosby enters Penguins’ regular-season finale 2 points shy of 100
What once was automatic when he made it through a full, healthy season has morphed into a rarity for Sidney Crosby: 100 points. Crosby surpassed the triple-digit barrier for points during each of his first five NHL seasons in which he appeared in at least 54 games. This season will...
Penguins’ Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin ‘feel strong’ after returning from injury
The Pittsburgh Penguins held an optional practice Friday afternoon in Cranberry, giving key players some time off after the team clinched its 13th straight playoff berth the night before. Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang were among the players who did not skate, but coach Mike Sullivan said both made it...
Penguins send Adam Johnson to Wilkes-Barre after successful first stint in NHL
The return of Evgeni Malkin from a rib injury bumped rookie winger Adam Johnson to 13th on the forward depth chart for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Given his youth and relative inexperience, the Penguins didn’t want Johnson sitting around as a healthy scratch, so they assigned the 24-year-old Minnesota native to...
First call: Pirates pitchers performing, hitters failing; Capitals clinch division
In “First Call” Friday, some interesting early numbers for the Pirates. The Capitals win the Metro. And the Lightning continue to chase history. That’s a good `start` A week into the season, the Pirates starting rotation has been every bit as good as you think it has. Granted, they have...
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...
