Recent Posts
Penguins’ Dubas Will Get Lots of Calls, But How Many Matter?
There will be innumerable breathless reports across North America between now and the NHL trade deadline next Friday at 3 p.m. about general managers, including Kyle Dubas of the Pittsburgh Penguins, fielding calls inquiring about particular players, and which scouts have requested a press-box seat at which games. Many, if not all, of those reports […]
Molinari: Here’s What Matters Most in Penguins’ Deadline Trades
The Pittsburgh Penguins will play Edmonton this coming Sunday for the second time in eight days. The Oilers should expect to face an opponent that is quite different — though, almost certainly, not better — than they one they shredded, 6-1, at Rogers Place Sunday. That’s because losing their final three games on a four-game […]
Penguins Put Matthew Phillips on Waivers
Well, that didn’t take very long. The Penguins have placed winger Phillips, who they claimed off waivers from Washington on Feb. 16, on waivers. If he is unclaimed by 2 p.m. Tuesday, the Penguins will be able to assign him to their farm team in Wilkes-Barre, although they would not compelled to do so. Phillips […]
Penguins Game 62 vs. Bruins: Lines, Notes & How to Watch
Another day, another emotionally charged game for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are at the point of trying to make something – anything – out of the stretch run of the season. Saturday, it’s a national TV matinee for the Penguins (28-25-8) on the road against the Boston Bruins (37-13-15). And if that isn’t enough of […]
Penguins Hoping Phillips Comes Up Big for Their Offense
Shortly before 2 p.m. Friday, Matthew Phillips was a spare part with the Washington Capitals, with only the formality of clearing waivers appearing to separate him from a trip to the American Hockey League. Minutes later, his itinerary — and his life — changed. By 11 p.m., he was in a new town, working for […]
Dan’s Daily: High Trade Cost for Chychrun; The Penguins Had Enough
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan had enough. Significant changes swept the Penguins lineup Monday at practice as the coach shuffled lines, dropping high-paid players either down in the lineup or out entirely. He didn’t mince words after practice, either. Elsewhere in the Daily, the Ottawa Senators are chumming the NHL trade waters but keeping a […]
Dan’s Daily: TSN Sticks Up for Crosby; NHL Trade Deadline Chatter
PITTSBURGH (I think) — We’ve got a lot of Pittsburgh Penguins ground to cover, but first, a post-mortem on what went wrong and why it went wrong. Geno Reda of TSN came loaded for bear, vigorously sticking up for Sidney Crosby, accusing the Penguins management of abandoning him by not adding help. It was a […]
Penguins Pushing Erik Karlsson, Time for ‘Difference-Maker’ to Let Loose
CRANBERRY — Erik Karlsson was the prized get on the NHL trade market last summer. One by one, teams that had visions of adding the Norris Trophy winner who can skate with the elegance of the Russians and the speed of the wind dropped out until two remained. And then one, as the Pittsburgh Penguins […]
Penguins Grades: New Sad Reality on Display vs. Bruins
BOSTON — It was kind of sad, really. After some pathetic performances over the past week, which we now know was aided by the inside knowledge that Jake Guentzel was being traded and the team felt the gnawing disappointment of their GM waiving the white flag (which he wisely did), the Pittsburgh Penguins put forth […]
Molinari: Penguins’ Return for Guentzel is Awful … Unless it Isn’t (+)
The trade that sent Jake Guentzel to Carolina Thursday night just might be the worst in Pittsburgh Penguins history. OK, there’s actually no chance that it will outdo, say, sending Markus Naslund to Vancouver for Stojanov, but you get the idea. The Penguins parted with a proven 40-goal scorer in exchange for a package that […]
Penguins: We’re Looking for Points, Not Scapegoats
CRANBERRY — There are numerous reasons the Pittsburgh Penguins are having such a disappointing season. Their power play has produced more punch lines than goals. Some key veterans — guys like Evgeni Malkin and Karlsson, Rickard Rakell and Ryan Graves — have not performed at the level the Penguins expected. And need. Most of their […]
(UPDATED) Penguins Practice: Harkins Concussed; Letang ‘Nicked Up’
CRANBERRY — Blue-collar winger Jansen Harkins has been diagnosed with a concussion, the apparent result of a hit from Winnipeg center Adam Lowry during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2-1 loss to the Jets Saturday. Harkins did not participate in practice Monday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex and has been placed on injured reserve. Center Evgeni Malkin […]
Penguins Top Flyers, 7-6; Playoff Fate Back in Their Hands
The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t just win a wild hockey game Sunday. In addition to defeating Philadelphia, 7-6, at PPG Paints Arena, they regained control of their playoff fate. The victory, which allowed the Penguins to complete their homestand 2-1-1, means they have the possibility — mathematically, at least — to overtake the four teams separating […]
Penguins’ Bryan Rust Update, Week-to-Week
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust will be out of the Penguins lineup for a bit more than a couple of games. Following the morning skate, coach Mike Sullivan updated Rust’s status. “So, Rusty is going to be week to week with an upper-body injury,” Sullivan said. Rust was injured in the […]
Penguins Game 60 vs. Blue Jackets: Lines, Notes & How to Watch
It’s probably fair to wonder where the Pittsburgh Penguins’ heads will be Tuesday when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Penguins (27-24-8) are coming off a soul-crushing western road trip riding a three-game losing streak and now staring hard at possible impactful changes leading into Friday’s trade deadline. The Blue Jackets (20-30-10) sit last […]
Penguins’ Free Fall Continues With 4-0 Loss to Edmonton
The Pittsburgh Penguins have grown accustomed to playing high-stakes hockey at this time of year. Whether they were competing for a division championship, a good seed in the playoffs or something as modest as a berth in the postseason, every result during the stretch drive has mattered. Not this season. The Penguins are wading through… […]