It was just a matter of time. And on Saturday morning, time ran out on Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Johnston as the team announced through a team-issued release that Johnston and assistant coach Gary Agnew were relieved of their duties effective immediately. “I felt it was time for a coaching change because our team has underachieved,” general manager Jim Rutherford said in the release. “Our expectations are much higher with this group of players." Taking over for Johnston will be Mike ... Read More
Bennett powers Pens past Avalanche
Beau Bennett might finally have found a spot in the Penguins top six. Playing in the spot alongside Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz that was recently vacated by the retirement of Pascal Dupuis, Bennett cashed in with a pair of third period goals that helped the Pens turn a one-goal deficit into a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Thursday night. For Bennett, the beleaguered former first-round pick, it was a relief to finally be rewarded for his hard work, and even more ... Read More
Pens forward Pascal Dupuis retires
Pittsburgh Penguins left-winger Pascal Dupuis has decided to retire, citing continued issues with the blood clots that prematurely ended his 2014-15 season. Dupuis, 36, has been with the Penguins since 2008 and won a Stanley Cup with the club in 2009. “It was very difficult for me to make this decision to have to step away from the game,” Dupuis said in a press release. “My wife and four children have always been my first priority, and playing with my condition has become a constant worry ... Read More
Consistent Lovejoy helping Dumoulin
At the end of last season, Ben Lovejoy, not completely unfairly, shouldered some of the blame for the sudden end to the Penguins 2015–16 season, especially since general manager Jim Rutherford traded promising 24-year-old blueliner Simon Despres for 31-year-old Lovejoy at the trade deadline. To close out 2014–15, Lovejoy finished with three points and a -7 rating in 20 games with the Penguins while Despres scored a goal and finished with six points in 16 games with the Ducks. In the ... Read More
Pittsburgh Penguins Prospects: 3 Up, 3 Down
Three Up 1. Scott Wilson After a fairly productive 2014–15 professional debut hampered by injury at the midway point, left winger Scott Wilson looked to be a top player in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. So far, so good. Wilson ranks second in the AHL with 10 goals and in the top 10 with 17 points in 14 games. UMass-Lowell product notched two goals, including the eventual game winner, in a 5-3 win over the Albany Devils on Saturday to keep the Penguins atop the AHL with a 13-2-0 record. 2. Conor ... Read More
Pens need to let the kids play
Proposed fixes seem to be running thin for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The rollercoaster 2015–16 season continued last week with a pair of 4-3 wins over the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche capped with a 3-1 loss to the San José Sharks on Saturday night. Quite simply, the Penguins lack jump. Outlasting opponents works sometimes. So far, 12 out of 20 times to be exact, but something needs to be done to get the team to play with a higher level of intensity. The top six group of ... Read More
Pens prospects: Three up, three down
One month into the hockey season here are three Pens prospects that have impressed and three that have some work to do. Three up: • Five points in two games, including two goals and one assist on Saturday night, propelled forward Jake Guentzel to the top of NCAA scoring charts with 16 points in 10 games. Give Guentzel some credit for helping the Mavericks jump up to the sixth spot in the rankings after helping the team advance to the Frozen Four last season. • Though disappointed with ... Read More
Pens finally get come-from-behind victory
The Penguins might have played their worst 20 minutes of the season in the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at Consol Energy Center on Wednesday. Despite entering the middle frame with a 2-1 lead, the Penguins were outshot 13-1, gave Montreal three power plays, and gave up goals to Brendan Gallagher and Brian Flynn. With the Habs up 3-2 at the end of the second and the Penguins without a comeback when trailing after two in 22 months, the outlook looked bleak. The Penguins dug ... Read More
Penguins prospects: Three up, three down
We know about what the Penguins are doing, but what about the prospects? We take a look at three up and three down. Three Up Dominik Simon The Pittsburgh Penguins saw a potential late bloomer in Dominik Simon, drafting the Czech forward in June at 20 years old. Simon seems to be quickly adjusting to the North American style of play, ranking second on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in both goals and points with four and six, respectively, in 10 games. Anthony ... Read More
Is Ian Cole hurting Kris Letang and Penguins?
With the Pittsburgh Penguins currently ranked third in the league in average goals against per game, falling two spots after allowing five against the Calgary Flames on Saturday night, knocking the defense seems farfetched. Maybe unfair. However, consider the two players with the worst plus/minus ranking on the team in Kris Letang and Ian Cole at -10 and -9, respectively. Now, consider Olli Maatta and Rob Scuderi lead the team with +9 and +8 ratings, while Ben Lovejoy checks in at ... Read More