The Penguins should trade Matt Murray. I’ll wait a minute while you scream at me at the top your lungs. Done yet? No? Now? OK, hear me out. The Penguins have a problem at goaltender. There’s only one net and they have two quality players in Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury. That’s not an ideal situation for any team, but some have made it work. The Penguins even seem as if they would be willing to try make it work. “If it was in a perfect world and (head coach Mike Sullivan) and ... Read More
Penguins face first elimination of 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs
Pittsburgh Penguins For the first time in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins face elimination, as they trail Tampa Bay, 3-2, in the Eastern Conference Finals. And, in Game 6, head coach Mike Sullivan has, somewhat surprisingly, given the nod to rookie goaltender Matt Murray over veteran Marc-Andre Fleury (who played the last period in Game 4 and started Game 5). Another change from Sunday's game will likely be the addition of Conor Sheary back in the lineup on the first ... Read More
Penguins lose in overtime to Lightning, Tampa Bay up 3-2 in series
The Pittsburgh Penguins fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3, in overtime Sunday night at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. The Penguins lost despite having been undefeated this season while leading after the second period. The game started out with both teams playing stellar defense — the shot count was low for both teams, and there weren’t many phenomenal chances. However, with .07 seconds left in the period, Pittsburgh defenseman Brian Dumoulin scored his first NHL playoff goal, and ... Read More
Matt Murray the right choice in net for Penguins in Game Six
Has the torch been passed? On Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan announced goaltender Matt Murray would start in Game 6, keeping Marc-Andre Fleury on the bench. This is the the right move by the Penguins’ management; Murray is the reason Pittsburgh has stayed so competitive against the NHL's best team. The mere fact that Murray was able to stop two breakaway chances by Alex Ovechkin is enough to give Murray the nod for the rest of the series. This isn’t to say Fleury ... Read More
Three reasons why series against Capitals is far from being over
While Game 3's victory over the Washington Capitals was a step in the right direction for the Pittsburgh Penguins, the series is far from over. Yes, optimism is running as fast as Pittsburgh's offense, but do not forget the havoc Washington caused in the NHL during the regular season. Of course, there is reason to have a positive mindset going into Game 4, but with the news of Kris Letang's suspension, the weakest part of the Penguins just got weaker. The defense has already had a tough task ... Read More
Penguins secure series lead at home; Murray continues to shine in net
With a stellar performance in Game 3 of the 2016 NHL Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins took it to the Washington Capitals, winning 3-2. The Penguins got off to a quick start with two goals in the first period — one of a nice tip from Patric Hornqvist and then another, a minute later, off a rush that ended with an attempted pass ricocheting off Tom Kuhnhackl's back into the net. Pittsburgh then extended its lead after Nick Bonino made a nice play, dragging the puck across the mouth of the ... Read More
Three up, three down: Pens beat Caps, have a long road ahead
Game 2 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals exemplified why there was so much hype headed into round two. After T.J. Oshie barley nudged in a goal under Matt Murray's right leg pad, Eric Fehr and the Pittsburgh Penguins stormed back to tie up the series. A win is a win, especially against one of the league's most challenging opponents, but here are the takeaways from Saturday night's game. Three Up: One and Only One The Penguins ... Read More
Three up, three down: Positive and negative takeaways from Game 1
Both experts and fans are split on how the second-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs will unfold between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals. Game 1 didn’t help much in determining the eventual winner — the game went into overtime where the Capitals were able to just squeak by. Let’s take a look at what went right and what went wrong for the Penguins in Game 1. Three Up: Competitiveness Going into the game, there was a lot of uncertainty regarding whether the ... Read More
Old rivals square off in second round
Pittsburgh Penguins (0-0) So far this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have played the Washington Capitals five times, winning three games and losing two. Going into Game 1, the Penguins continue to rely on goaltender Matt Murray, who came back after an upper-body injury to win the final three games in the series against the New York Rangers. Marc-Andre Fleury is still suffering from a concussion, and it is unknown at this time when he will be returning. In general, after a much-needed ... Read More
Penguins can win series at home after decisive win
The Pittsburgh Penguins (3-1) dominated against the New York Rangers (1-3) and came one step closer to capping off the sweet revenge the Pens have sought for the last two years. Matt Murray got the start tonight in net and outperformed himself. Pittsburgh was able to put up an early 2-0 lead thanks to Eric Fehr and a Patric Hornqvist power-play goal. The 5-0 win by the Penguins puts Pittsburgh right in the driver seat of this series. The series will shift to Consol Energy Center, and with ... Read More