After a disheartening first period in Thursday’s Game 1 loss to the New York Rangers, the Penguins gained some momentum in the second two periods, keeping the Rangers off the board over the final two frames. For that momentum to continue, the Penguins will have to find a way to have a better start in Game 2 tonight at Madison Square Garden. Penguins defenseman Ian Cole believes that they key lies in more aggressive play in the early going. “I think that’s something where we were a little ... Read More
Pens need production from stars to even series
After a hideous first 20 minutes on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, the Pittsburgh Penguins found a way to play two decent periods of hockey, something that seemed unfathomable after watching their parade to the penalty box in the opening frame. It was a good sign. The first period was so lopsided; it may as well have been scored Christians 2, Lions 0. The second and third periods proved that the Penguins and Rangers do in fact play in the same league. If the Penguins can limit ... Read More
Pens can’t overcome poor start; fall to Rangers in Game 1
The Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round Stanley Cup playoff series with the New York Rangers got out to a nightmarish start on Thursday night. The Penguins completed one of the worst first periods in recent memory, giving up a goal on the game's second shot and taking four minor penalties in the first 20 minutes en route to a 2-1 series-opening loss. The home crowd at Madison Square Garden didn’t even have time to sit down before Derick Brassard lit the red lamp behind Marc-Andre Fleury, scoring ... Read More
Can the Pens knock off the top-seeded Rangers?
The Penguins and Rangers will face off at 7:00 p.m. tonight at Madison Square Garden for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Get caught up by checking out Monday's discussion on the Penguins reliance on young defensemen to shut down a deep Rangers attack and yesterday's break down of the reasons for the Rangers’ success in 2014-15. Part one of today's two-part series preview, in which I discussed the Penguins and Rangers playoff history, and went over news about the big screen ... Read More
Penguins make return to Stanley Cup playoffs
The Stanley Cup playoffs are back. What seemed to be a fait accompli early in the season turned into a gut-wrenching struggle down the stretch, as the once-dominant Penguins looked like a shell of their former selves, backing into the postseason with a 4-9-2 record down the homestretch. The Penguins have now qualified for the postseason for nine consecutive seasons, but for the first time in a long time, find themselves in the position of being underdogs, as they will travel to New York City ... Read More
Breaking down the Rangers’ success
When the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers met in the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Penguins were prohibitive favorites. The Penguins had finished with 109 points, second in the Eastern Conference, and won the brand-new Metropolitan Division by 13 points. The Penguins then dispatched the Columbus Blue Jackets in six games in the first round and built a 3-1 series lead against the Rangers. Even with all of that momentum, the Penguins’ season came to a screeching ... Read More
Penguins get reinforcements for playoff battle with Rangers
The Pittsburgh Penguins will begin the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday against the New York Rangers. To be successful against the top team in the National Hockey League, the Penguins will need to play better than their 8-11-2 record since the beginning of March. Even more worrying is the fact that of those eight wins, only two have come against teams that qualified for the postseason. The first step toward accomplishing that goal is getting some healthy bodies in black-and-gold uniforms. ... Read More
Previewing the Atlantic Division
With the announcement of a tentative agreement between the NHL and the NHLPA, hockey fans will finally get to see their team back on the ice in a little more than a week. For the Penguins, the new season is a chance to erase the bitter, eight month memory of being humiliated in the first round of the playoffs by the hated Philadelphia Flyers. That being said, the Penguins still put together a very successful season in 2011-12. Evgeni Malkin won league MVP and led the league in scoring. James ... Read More