Recent Posts
Last Chance? Penguins Game 53 vs. Islanders: Lines, Notes & How to Watch
Blowing up their personnel combinations could be the next step in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ seemingly endless quest to right the ship and make a desperate push to get into a playoff spot. The changes could be in play Tuesday when the New York Islanders visit for a Metropolitan Division clash. The Penguins (24-21-7) sit three […]
Penguins Trade Analysis: Dubas Gambles; Bemstrom Scouting Report (+)
As the Pittsburgh Penguins eeked and creaked their way to a 1-1 first period against the Montreal Canadiens, president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas pulled a small Penguins trade that could be a steal, or it could be quite costly. Dubas rolled the dice on a conditional draft pick that might further deplete the draft […]
Penguins Practice: Bemstrom Skates on Third Line
CRANBERRY — Forward Emil Bemstrom, acquired in a trade with Columbus Thursday, worked at right wing on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ third line during practice Saturday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. It was his first session with the Penguins, since they had a scheduled day off Friday. His linemates were Lars Eller and Smith. Bemstrom also […]
Blackhawks Down: Penguins Pull Out of Nosedive, 4-1
Maybe it’s all Jake Guentzel’s fault that the Pittsburgh Penguins’ playoff hopes have been fading, after all. Perhaps the guy who was tied for the team scoring lead and was on pace to get more than 30 goals again was the culprit behind their struggles of late. OK, probably not. Nonetheless, the Penguins made it […]
Penguins Room: Sullen Sullivan Explains Changes; Graves Argues Calls
SEATTLE — It is not the first time this season that the Pittsburgh Penguins felt they outplayed their opponent but failed to score enough goals. The Seattle Kraken beat the Penguins 2-0 Thursday at the Climate Pledge Arena. The Penguins were outshooting Seattle 29-16 after two periods, but trailed 1-0. According to NaturalStatTrick.com, the Penguins […]
Guentzel Leaves Game With Upper-Body Injury
Jake Guentzel left the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 5-2 loss to Florida Wednesday night at PPG Paints Arena during the third period with an unspecified upper-body injury. His last shift of the game ended at 8:02 of the third period. Coach Mike Sullivan said after the game that his injury was being evaluated, but offered no other […]
Penguins Room: Players in Awe, Jagr ‘Inspiration’ Changes Dynamic (+)
The Pittsburgh Penguins practiced Saturday. They’ve lost three of four games and slipped perilously behind others in the playoff chase. Still, none of that was the news that gripped a couple of thousand fans who packed into the UPMC Lemieux Complex to watch practice or the fans in absentia who were glued to social media. […]
LIVE NHL Trade Deadline Blog: Late VGK Blockbuster; Penguins Quiet
BOSTON — The Pittsburgh Penguins kicked over the first big domino of the NHL trade deadline when they traded Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes late Thursday night. Reliable sources tell Pittsburgh Hockey Now that the Penguins have received interest in more players, who could have new addresses by the deadline at 3 p.m. Lars […]
Better Effort, Same Result for Penguins in 5-1 Loss to Bruins
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ season was threatening to morph from a major disappointment into a flat-out dumpster fire. They had lost four of the previous five games and had usually looked pretty bad in the process. Like the 60-minute self-immolation that was their 6-0 loss to Washington at PPG Paints Arena Thursday. Well, the good news […]
One Honor During Jaromir Jagr’s Visit Has a Nice Ring to it
Perhaps the afterglow of Jaromir Jagr’s visit to Pittsburgh and the related celebrations and activities has diminished a little, but there is something other than the No. 68 banner in the PPG Paints Arena rafters that remains as a reminder. And, while the timing certainly worked, truth be told there is reason to believe it […]
How Penguins Survive without Guentzel; Kids ‘Drag (Malkin) Into Fight’ (+)
SEATTLE — The Pittsburgh Penguins are 4-1-1 since Jake Guentzel was placed on long-term injured reserve. Guentzel has another 10 days of his mandated 24-day LTIR absence and now has company because Bryan Rust is also out week-to-week, also with that most mysterious of hockey terms, an upper-body injury. Because of injuries somewhere between the […]
Capitals Waive Kuznetsov; Dirty Bird Done in D.C.
Evgeny Kuznetsov has long been a staple of the revived Washington Capitals, including their 2018 Stanley Cup championship. The supremely talented player has also dealt with personal demons and has been on the outs with the organization for several years. Saturday, Kuznetsov’s tenure with the seemingly came to an end when the Capitals put him […]
Jake Guentzel to Make Road Trip; Penguins Mum on Status
CRANBERRY — The Pittsburgh Penguins will take winger Jake Guetnzel on their coming west coast road trip, which begins Tuesday in Vancouver and ends on March 4 in Edmonton, but that’s as much as coach Mike Sullivan was willing to divulge Saturday following the Penguins’ practice at the UPMC Lemieux Complex. Guentzel is currently on […]
Penguins Wrap: Jagr’s No. 68 Goes Up; Playoff Hopes Go Down
The Pittsburgh Penguins added a chapter to their history last Sunday by retiring Jaromir Jagr’s number, making him the third player in franchise history to be so honored. A few hours later, they put another hurdle in their path to a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs by failing to protect a lead late in […]
Former NHLer Kypreos Rips Dubas’ Work as GM in Toronto
Dubas, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager, earned mixed reviews for his work as GM in Toronto. It’s not hard to figure the camp in which Nick Kypreos, a former NHL player and “contributing columnist” for the Toronto Star, resides. Kypreos offered a assessment of Dubas’ performance in Thursday’s editions of […]
Bunting Never Saw Trade to Penguins Coming, But Seems Glad it Did
CRANBERRY — No one, especially Jake Guentzel, should have been surprised when the Pittsburgh Penguins moved him as the NHL trade deadline approached. When Guentzel didn’t re-sign with the Penguins and seemed to be intent on testing the free-agent market this summer, they had little reason to keep him once their playoff hopes became a […]