The third annual Three Rivers Classic tournament will once again bring championship-caliber college hockey to Consol Energy Center when the tournament kicks off this afternoon. Host Robert Morris University has brought in an outstanding field this year, with perennial guest Penn State being joined by Colgate and Western Michigan. Today’s semifinal games will pit Western Michigan against Colgate at 4:30 p.m., and Penn State and Robert Morris at 7:30 p.m. The winners will play in the final ... Read More
Orpik & Capitals down Penguins, 3-0
The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost their third straight for the first time under first-year head coach Mike Johnston, as the visiting Washington Capitals shut out the Penguins 3-0 on Saturday night. The Capitals also snapped the Penguins’ five-game home winning streak. Braden Holtby made 31 saves to blank the Pens. It was Holtby’s third shutout of the season and the third time that the Penguins have been shut out. Eric Fehr did most of the damage offensively for the Capitals. His late first ... Read More
Old friends Orpik, Niskanen become foes as Penguins host Capitals
The Penguins will take to Consol Energy Center ice tonight for the first time following their Christmas break, and for a change, they were greeted with some good injury news. Center Brandon Sutter, held out of the last two games as a precaution while being tested for the mumps, tested negative and will return to the lineup tonight. Also poised to return is defenseman Robert Bortuzzo, who has missed five games with an undisclosed injury. “I feel good,” said Bortuzzo after morning skate. ... Read More
What’s on the Penguins Christmas list?
When Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford and head coach Mike Johnston creep down the stairs to take a gander under Mario’s big tree this morning, what are they hoping Saint Nick has left them? Here’s a look at what the Penguins staff hopes they find in their stockings on Christmas morning. A TOP-SIX WINGER: The Penguins come into the holiday break with 49 points, which puts them atop the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference. They lead the second-place New York Islanders by ... Read More
Pens comeback bid comes up short in Tampa
The Penguins tried their hardest, but they couldn’t battle their way out of a four-goal deficit, as they lost 4-3 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa on Tuesday. The Penguins will still be able to cruise into the holiday break atop the Eastern Conference with 49 points despite an 0-1-1 road trip where the team finally showed signs of being hampered by its depleted roster. Further conspiring against them on Tuesday night was a Pittsburgh team fresh off a hard-fought shootout loss to Florida ... Read More
Penguins wind up holiday road trip in Tampa
The Pittsburgh Penguins will have to shake off last night’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers quickly, because they will be right back in action tonight when the travel to Tampa, Florida to take on the Lightning. The Penguins have played on back-to-back nights five times so far this season, and they are 2-1-2 in the second games thus far. Tampa Bay last played on Saturday, when they lost 3-1 to the Islanders in New York. This is the second of three games between the teams this ... Read More
Penguins come back but fall in shootout to Panthers
The Penguins made a furious comeback to force overtime and earn a point, but the Florida Panthers scored the lone goal in the shootout to beat the Penguins 4-3. Alexsander Barkov got the game-winning shootout goal as he beat Marc-Andre Fleury in the seventh round with a one-handed backhand shot. Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo stopped all seven Penguins shooters. Things were looking bleak for the Penguins as they trailed 3-1 with just five minutes remaining in the third period. Nick ... Read More
Pens, Cats do battle again as 3 more players get tested for mumps
The Florida Panthers will get their chance to avenge the Penguins 3-1 victory on Saturday night. The Penguins lineup is again missing some parts as Brandon Sutter, Steve Downie, and Thomas Greiss did not make the trip to Florida with the team. The trio is in Pittsburgh being tested for the mumps virus that has been plaguing the team for weeks. “I think I’m become a medical expert, but I don’t really want to be,” said Penguins head coach Mike Johnston. It’s the second time in a week Greiss has ... Read More
Derrick Pouliot will make NHL debut as injuries again beset Pens
The Penguins continue to battle roster turmoil as they host the Florida Panthers in the first game of a home-and-home series. In their two previous home-and-home series, the Penguins lost once in regulation and once in overtime with the New York BIslanders and split with the Carolina Hurricanes. TONIGHT’S OPPONENT: The Florida Panthers come into town on a roll, having won back-to-back games in dramatic fashion. First, they defeated the Washington Capitals in an NHL-record 20 round shootout ... Read More
Crosby game-time decision for Pens vs. Avs
Sidney Crosby may return tonight when the Penguins host the Colorado Avalanche. The Penguins captain has practiced the last two days and seems ready to play, but will be a game-time decision. The Penguins battles with the mumps continue as Robert Bortuzzo and Olli Maatta still await the results of their tests. Also added to that list is goaltender Thomas Greiss, who practiced on Wednesday, but was not with the team today. Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, held out of practice on ... Read More