The Pittsburgh Penguins didn't even make it onto the ice for the puck drop in Game 1 before the injury bug that has hurt the team all season struck once again. With about eight minutes left to go in warmups, expected starting goaltender Matt Murray left the ice with a presumed lower body injury and wasn't even fit to dress for the game. But, luckily for Pittsburgh, the team has one heck of a backup goalie: two-time Stanley Cup champion Marc-Andre Fleury. And Wednesday night, Fleury was ... Read More
Penguins, Blue Jackets ready for physical 1st round playoff matchup
Throughout the regular season, the Pittsburgh Penguins (50-21-11; 111 points) and Columbus Blue Jackets (50-24-8; 108) were easily two of the best and most consistent teams in the NHL — and now the two meet Wednesday in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's the second time in four seasons that the two have faced each other in the postseason (the Penguins beat the Blue Jackets four games to two in the first round of the 2014 playoffs.) Pittsburgh fought through major injuries this ... Read More
Penguins’ 1st-round matchup versus Blue Jackets officially set
The Pittsburgh Penguins' journey to repeat as Stanley Cup champions begins Wednesday night. With the end of the regular season, Pittsburgh's first-round matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets has been set. As the second-seed, the Penguins will have home-ice advantage in the first round over the third-seeded Blue Jackets. First Round Playoff Schedule: Penguins vs. Blue Jackets Game 1: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 — 7:30 p.m. EST vs. Blue Jackets (USA) Game 2: Friday, April 14, 2017 — ... Read More
Fans get early Christmas present with Penguins’ win over Devils
Just a night ago the Pittsburgh Penguins (22-8-5) were pummeled by their division foe, the Columbus Blue Jackets, who, with the win, took over the lead in the Metropolitan Division. But just 24 hours later, the Penguins rebounded against the New Jersey Devils (13-14-7), winning 4-1. Sidney Crosby is firing on all cylinders, and he scored his league-leading 24th goal of the season against New Jersey. Friday's game marked the eighth time this season Crosby has scored the first goal of the game, ... Read More
Penguins, Murray get blown out in 7-1 loss to Blue Jackets
After a 7-1 win in the Pittsburgh Penguins' last game out against the New York Rangers, the roles were reversed Thursday night when the Penguins (21-8-5) went on the road to play the Columbus Blue Jackets (22-5-4). Going into the third period, Pittsburgh trailed just 3-1, but by the end of the period, the Penguins allowed had four goals in their 7-1 loss. WIth the win, Columbus took over first place in the Metropolitan division. Sidney Crosby was one of Pittsburgh's lone bright spots in ... Read More
Who won Pens & Blue Jackets free-agent arms race?
The burgeoning rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and their nearest opponent is heating up as they have been butting heads with the Columbus Blue Jackets over social media and have been vying for free agent supremacy. Whose summer signings look to make the biggest impact this year? Cornerstone Additions: Columbus made a splash when it was announced that they had acquired Brandon Saad from the Chicago Blackhawks, while the Penguins stole the show on the opening day of free agency with a ... Read More
Columbus nabs Pittsburgh native Saad
While the Pittsburgh Penguins have been mostly quiet so far in this offseason, their nearest neighbors to the west made a big splash on Tuesday and in the process, plucked from the Penguins own backyard. The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired the rights to forward Brandon Saad, a Pittsburgh-area native, and a pair of prospects for forwards Marko Dano, Artem Anisimov, Corey Tropp, Jeremy Morin and a fourth-round draft pick. The Penguins, who have sought out to acquire a top-six forward this ... Read More
Some Penguins fans in Ohio could be shut out
A turbulent offseason is upcoming in the American Hockey League. Seven franchises are planning to be playing in a different city in the 2015-16 season and at least four other teams are swapping NHL affiliations. The Penguins have had their top minor league club in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. since 1999 and that doesn’t seem likely to change any time soon. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be affected by the changes. The Columbus Blue Jackets will be moving their prospects from the Springfield (Mass) ... Read More
Pens blow two-goal lead to Blue Jackets
With the Penguins struggling to score goals over the last few weeks, a 2-0 lead midway through Saturday afternoon’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets seemed to be exactly what the doctor ordered. Instead, it was the Penguins defense, which has kept them in so many games lately, that faltered, giving up four consecutive goals en route to a 5-3 loss in Columbus. The Blue Jackets have now won nine consecutive games. The Penguins build their lead with an up-tempo offense that saw the ... Read More
Pens will finally field full squad today at Columbus
The Pittsburgh Penguins will finally have a full lineup again for today’s 2:00 p.m. faceoff against the Columbus Blue Jackets, as defenseman Taylor Chorney has been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. With Evgeni Malkin missing Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to Philadelphia with an undisclosed injury, the Penguins were finally able to bring up a defenseman. Chorney, 27, was chosen over prospects Brian Dumoulin and Scott Harrington. The Pens had played their previous ... Read More