Recent Posts
Penguins Thoughts: Prepare for Karlsson; Pens’ Trade Chips
ln an increasingly rare dateline, this comes from the home rink, and the Pittsburgh Penguins battle not only against the quality teams they are battling for a playoff spot but, like an old Polaroid of happier times, to finally recapture the best version of themselves. With each passing day and each gut-punch loss, the Penguins […]
Penguins Six-Pack: Graves Gains Ground; Scenario for Guentzel Return
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a lot of things. In denial is not one of them. They are all too aware of where they sit in the Eastern Conference and Metropolitan Division standings. Of how remote their chances of getting into the Stanley Cup playoffs are. Of how very different their roster might look after the […]
Penguins Postgame: Backstory to Loss; Now the Trade Deadline (+)
EDMONTON, Alberta — The Pittsburgh Penguins were no match for themselves or the Edmonton Oilers Sunday night. Edmonton steamrolled the Penguins 6-1 at Rogers Place, marking both the beginning and end of multiple Penguins storylines. The Penguins locker room must continue to believe they are in the playoff chase. President of hockey operations/GM Dubas is […]
Predicting Penguins Trade Deadline; Devils Could Jump Pens
CALGARY, Alberta — The NHL trade deadline is just one week away, and perhaps it’s fitting the Pittsburgh Penguins are in Calgary because this is the city that could flip the balance of power in the Metro Division and the Eastern Conference wild-card race. The Flames traded sandpaper defenseman Chris Tanev to Dallas, keeping him […]
Penguins Grades: Young Legs & Goaltending Shine, Pens Capable of ‘Better’
The Pittsburgh Penguins scored a power-play goal as the front end of two goals in 21 seconds. The outburst erased an otherwise ordinary, bordering on lackluster Penguins performance as they beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins also got some playoff help as the New York Rangers beat the New Jersey […]
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 […]
Report: More Teams Interested in Acquiring Reilly Smith?
While the big name drawing interest and plenty of speculation on the NHL trade market is Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel, another Penguins winger may be drawing more interest. According to Daily FaceOff’s Frank Seravalli, formerly of TSN, Reilly Smith is drawing broader interest than Guentzel. This season, Smith has struggled with the Penguins amid […]
Silent Penguins Room: Players Devastated, Reality Setting In (+)
CALGARY, Alberta — This one hurt badly. Not just because the Pittsburgh Penguins needed a win to keep pace with their playoff rivals but because they had it firmly within their grasp. They led 3-1 with 10 minutes remaining but were tied 3-3 with nine minutes left. And they lost 4-3 in regulation to the […]
Dan’s Daily: Watch Tortorella Go Nuts; Lots of Penguins Anger
The Pittsburgh Penguins have anger, but it might be more hurt and disappointment than directable hate that could be put to good use on the ice. The NHL trade deadline was both a crushing disappointment and a moment of stark realization. On the ice, the Penguins had another mistake-filled day and were buried by the […]
Former Penguins Winger Alex Nylander Nets Hat Trick; On Fire in Columbus
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Emil Bemstrom last week from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a conditional sixth-round pick and faded prospect Alex Nylander. Ironically, the conditional sixth-rounder becomes a third-rounder if Bemstrom scores six goals. There is no condition regarding Nylander’s performance, but Columbus should be pleased so far. Monday night, Nylander netted his first […]
Capitals Reclaim Matthew Phillips from Penguins
Forward Phillips, who was put on waivers Monday by the Pittsburgh Penguins, was claimed on Tuesday by the Washington Capitals. Or, he was reclaimed. The Penguins claimed Phillips, 25, on Feb. 16 after Washington put him on waivers. He had no real impact, however, getting no points in three games before he became a regular […]
Oilers’ Offense Much Too Slick for Penguins, 6-1
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been utterly unpredictable for most of this season. Although they are the oldest team in the NHL, they won the second game when playing on consecutive days the first six times they were in one. But the ample experience that comes from being the league’s oldest club has been of little […]
Penguins Six-Pack: Losing Mind Games; Cool Moment for Ludvig
There are times when the Pittsburgh Penguins seem fragile, like a team that fully expects something bad to happen. Perhaps because it so often does. Witness their 5-2 loss to Florida Wednesday night at PPG Paints Arena, when the Penguins appeared to take a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Rickard Rakell at 2:32 […]
Penguins Grades: Toxic Power Play, Inexplicable Mistakes Crushing Season
Like peanut butter and jelly, Sidney Crosby and backhand goals, and Jaromir Jagr and a mullet, the Pittsburgh Penguins and self-inflicted losses with a sabotaging power play have become synonymous. Unlike the former examples, the latter is suffocating what was supposed to be a promising season. Nevermore was a greater microcosm of the Penguins’ season […]
Here’s One Place Where There’s No Penguins Trade Talk (+)
CRANBERRY — The Pittsburgh Penguins haven’t been sellers at the NHL trade deadline since 2006. Then again, it’s also been a long time since they were in as perilous of a position in the standings as they are now. In the wake of their 5-4 overtime loss to the New York Islanders Tuesday night at […]
Do Lots of No-Trade Clauses = Few Trades Coming for Penguins?
CRANBERRY — Kyle Dubas remained noncommittal Wednesday about whether the Pittsburgh Penguins will be buyers or sellers — or neither — between now and the March 8 NHL trade deadline. That decision, he suggested, will be determined by how the Penguins perform — and where they stand in the Eastern Conference playoff race — as […]